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Group Z in building five was what you would consider a fifth grade class. There were a total of eleven boys with raging hormones and terrible personalities, but who for some reason managed to get along and get along. Well, at least when they were off the pitch.
They had adopted a habit of sharing their meals. Those with lower rankings were reserved for the most cloying canned food and tasteless dishes, while those with higher rankings were reserved for the most refined cuisine found in Japan. They didn't mind sharing. Food was something they wouldn't fight over in that room. As for the dormitories, they didn't mind occupying the beds. They put all the mattresses together in the center of the room and sometimes even shared the space on the mattress - this was more Bachira's doing, as he would often wipe out on any of the mattresses or insist on joining Isagi for no particular reason.
When night fell and none of them could avoid tiredness any longer, they used to sit in a circle and tell each other their stories. Their goals for becoming the best. It was then that they preferred to ignore the fact that soon they would all have to go against each other. The thought plagued most of them, but some of them didn't care. It's not as if they were there to bond, right? That's what they all wanted to think, but even so, they couldn't help it.
Isagi observed his team objectively - after all, that was his strong point - sitting in a corner of the wall while a pillow war was being waged on the mattresses lined up. Kunigami had become surprisingly close to Chigiri. It was funny to look at them like that, without realizing it, because Kunigami, even though he was the most menacing in the room - and perhaps one of the most menacing Isagi had seen inside the Blue Lock -, next to Chigiri he looked like a little boy trying to impress a girl. It was a confusing thought at first glance, but there was no denying how much Kunigami enjoyed being next to Chigiri and how embarrassed he felt when Chigiri addressed him.
Others also had a similar relationship. Gagamaru and Naruhaya had a funny connection from the first time Isagi laid eyes on them. They were as close as if they'd known each other all their lives and fought like brothers. Or something different. Isagi didn't think much of it. Imamura and Iemon also had a friendly relationship. Curiously, Imamura always made a point of being around and consoling Iemon for always being in goal during matches. This was something Isagi never understood. He would never have the kindness in her heart to make a sacrifice like that, in a place like the Blue Lock. Anyway, Isagi always felt his nose sting and his body shiver when he looked at all these doubles.
- hey, wooden leg! - Raichi caught his eye for a moment. - Go and get us some drinks. And take advantage of the fact that Bachira hasn't slept yet and get him to help you.
Isagi took a moment to process, blinking slowly, and nodded. Bachira was already at the door.
They walked in silence to the cafeteria - apart from Bachira's usual singing - and chatted relatively briefly while filling some bottles with fresh water.
- Is that enough? - Isagi asked.
- I don't know. We should get some more. But I'll take these back first.
- All right, I'll get some more from the cupboards. - Bachira nodded in agreement and stacked a few bottles in her arms.
Isagi wandered through the corridors in a bit of a daze, so that he reached a more secluded corner of the floor. He had to walk a short distance to the cupboard where he picked up a few more bottles, hearing a low murmur in the next room, like the sound of a cell phone. He couldn't help but be curious and had to peek in, making an effort not to make any noise with the bottles in his arms.
It was like a sparsely furnished waiting room, with just a sofa, some magazines and a coffee machine - how had they never found a coffee machine in there?
On the sofa was Mikage Reo, Team V's bad boy, reading a magazine with his legs lazily thrown over the sofa. With his head resting on his lap, Seishiro Nagi, his pupil, was watching something on a small cell phone. Reo's hands strolled lazily through Nagi's hair, but he didn't seem to mind. The sound Isagi had heard had been from Nagi's cell phone, who now dismissed it to a corner with a tired huff.
- What a bore - he grumbled, and a smile appeared on Reo's face.
- do you want to read this comic with me?
- no, it must be a pain. - she grumbled, looking at him upside down. Reo returned his gaze.
- hey, don't badmouth my comic. If you gave it a chance, I think you'd like it.
- boring! - he grumbled, and turned his face towards the pillow on which his head had previously been resting. Reo let out a chuckle and turned his attention back to the comic. Nagi looked up at the purple-haired boy, frowning. - Is your comic more interesting than me?
- It depends on the point of view. - Reo replied, but he was smiling.
Nagi then leaned on the back of the sofa, pushed aside the cushion and crawled over to let his head fall on Reo's chest. His legs were now awkwardly over his and Reo was hugging him with his free arm. They both looked incredibly content. Isagi's nose began to itch and he almost sneezed. He took the opportunity to leave the place and try to get back to the cafeteria.
It took him a while to find the door to the cafeteria and Bachira's familiar blonde and brown hair.
- Isagi! I thought I'd been killed out there - he smiled as his friend came to help him with the bottles.
- It was nothing, I just got lost.
They set to work filling the new bottles while Isagi thought about his nose scratching curiously at random situations in the last hour. He was thinking of a way to broach the subject with Bachira - because well, it was Bachira - but he couldn't think of an unashamed way to start the subject.
- Bachira - the smaller man let out an “um” as he screwed on one of the bottles - you know, I've discovered my ability to stand out, right?
- Right. Your field perception. As Chigiri said.
- Yes. And the smell of goals. I can sense when and who's about to score in the middle of the game.
- Uh-huh. And what's up with that?
- It's just that today... - he moistened his lip, thinking. - I think I felt something similar. Not about goals. With our friends. A... sixth sense.
- A what? - Bachira laughed. - What are you talking about?
- Don't you feel it? When you look at Kunigami and Chigiri? Or Gagamaru and Naruhaya? Even with Nagi and Reo! - Bachira frowned as she tried to understand what Isagi was talking about. The latter, thinking he was crazy, tried to explain himself. - I don't know, I feel like there's something about them that makes me know. But know what?
Bachira then understood. And when she understood, she started laughing with impressive vigor. Isagi closed his face, thinking he was making fun of himself, but his friend didn't stop until he was out of breath and had to catch his breath again.
- Oh Isagi, you're so cute. - he wiped the tears from his eyes - and so innocent.
- what do you mean?
- what you felt was almost like your nose for a goal. But it was a nose for something else.
- And what was that something else? - Bachira started laughing again, but this time he stopped.
- I'll let you find out for yourself. But look, this Kunigami and Chigiri thing is impressive. Something I wasn't expecting.
- Are you really not going to explain it to me, Bachira? - the friend denied it, picking up some of the bottles.
- Aren't you the clever one? Find out.
The whole way back to the dormitory, Isagi thought about it. She didn't understand what Bachira meant by 'a nose for something else'. Eventually, they arrived back at the dormitory while the dinner banquet was already underway.
- you guys had the nerve to start without us! - Bachira grumbled.
- You took forever to get back. - grumbled Kunigami - what happened?
- Isagi got lost. But we're here, that's what matters. You left some curry for me, didn't you?
The evening continued with endless chatter and the tasting of a variety of foods. Isagi was satisfied after the second course and sat in his usual corner thinking. Looking at the same people, feeling the same chills. Then something funny happened. His gaze met Bachira's, in the other corner of the room. He had been looking at him for a long time, something told her so. A warm, subtle look. Innocent. And suddenly, he looked different in Isagi's gaze. More alive, more beautiful. Then he smiled, his eyes disappearing as he did so. And Isagi felt it again. The same sniffle. The same shiver.
It happened again.