Chapter Text
The locker room was thick with tension, the air heavy with the aftermath of another brutal defeat. Bastard München had just lost to Manshine City — the team considered the weakest in the league this season. It was their third consecutive loss and their unexpected poor performance has become the shock story of the season kickoff. They’d barely left the field but everyone can already hear the criticism in their heads, each biting comment more brutal than the last.
Isagi Yoichi, usually one of the level-headed players during these times of turmoil, lets out a frustrated groan as he tosses his sweat-soaked jersey into his locker.
“Can’t believe we lost again to Reo and Nagi, of all people.” he muttered, his voice laced with irritation.
“God, I wanna wipe that smug look on Chigiri’s pretty face. So annoying.” Even Kunigami himself can’t contain the disappointment he was feeling.
Murmurs of frustration filled the locker room, with each player coming to terms with the loss in their own way. Some stared blankly at the floor, others punched the lockers. But Hiori Yo, the team’s offensive midfielder, sat apart from them quietly in a corner.
His sunken eyes are glued to his tablet, focused on the screen before him. He’s replaying some of the match’s most critical moments, engrossed with dissecting their performance. The heavy feeling of frustration that sat at the bottom of his stomach only made him more fixated in figuring out what they’re doing wrong.
They didn’t play badly per se; they were just simply scattered, struggling to navigate the field without a commanding anchor like Michael Kaiser.
And it’s not like Manshine City outplayed them. They were only able to exploit those gaps between the seams in both Bastard Munchen’s offense and defense, allowing them to snatch their first victory of the season.
He sighs as he watches Nagi Seishirou effortlessly slip past them and score Manshine City’s winning goal just before the buzzer goes off.
The post-match debrief followed quickly. Coach Noel Noa entered the room, trailed closely by the team’s manager. The debrief was short and direct. Nothing that the players don’t know about. At this point, all they can do is let this pass and allow this frustration fuel them to do better and win the next match.
“This loss will sting. And the critics will only make it worse. They’ll amplify everything that went wrong.” Coach Noa’s voice was firm but calm as he warned.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat, it will be brutal. But remember, it’s a long season. Don’t let the noise get to you.”
Later that evening, Hiori returned to his apartment. Instead of diving right into the new Souls game he bought, he threw his duffel bag on his bed before sinking onto his couch. He pulled out his phone, deciding to “ego-surf” a bit.
Usually, he won’t scroll through the comments after a loss, knowing how unforgiving fans can be. And him being one of the more reserved players made him an easy target, with critics often pointing out the lack of “fire” in him compared to his fellow Blue Lock graduates.
But curiosity got the best of him tonight. He scrolled through the headlines, wincing at the relentless criticism pouring in.
“Is Bastard München all bark and no bite without superstar Michael Kaiser?”
“Noel Noa: Greatest striker of all time, wasted on Bastard München’s bench.”
“Blue Lock graduates fail to hold down the fort, leaving Bastard München struggling to fill Kaiser’s shoes.”
Some articles accused the team of riding on Kaiser’s coattails, while others declared that Bastard München had drawn the short stick from the Blue Lock project, forced to settle for “nobodies.”
Before he can continue, his phone vibrates to life with a message notification from his mom. And like clockwork, another message comes in from his dad. Despite being divorced, they’re still scarily in sync. For all the wrong reasons.
Bracing himself for yet another round of thinly-veiled criticism, Hiori opens his father’s message:
“Yo-kun, I saw your game. Hopefully your team can bounce back. You know, if you’d just put in the extra effort and stay focused, you could be the person Bastard München needs. I know you have it in you—just need to take it seriously.”
The words are meant to sound encouraging, but the expectation and judgment beneath them is all too familiar.
Then, another message pings from his mom. This time, there’s no critique or pressure. Instead, she’s sent a link to an article titled “Don’t Count Out Bastard München Yet—The Brains Behind Their Strategy Are Just Coming Into Focus,” along with a simple note:
“Hi Yo-kun, I hope you’ve had dinner. Thought this might make you feel a bit better.”
At least one of them is trying, despite their strained family dynamic.
He re-reads the article title.
"'Brains'? Whaddya mean by that?", he mutters to himself.
Even if Bastard München is known for its calculated approach, there wasn’t much strategy happening on the field lately—or at least not for most players. Curious, Hiori clicks the link and begins to read.
Don’t Count Out Bastard München Yet—The Brains Behind Their Strategy Are Just Coming Into Focus by Y/N L/N
With the recent departure of Michael Kaiser, Bastard München’s superstar and core playmaker, the team faces an uphill battle. Kaiser's absence has left a gaping hole in their strategy and a noticeable lack of offensive cohesion. After three consecutive losses, including a shocking defeat against Manshine City—the lowest-ranked team last season—it's evident how much the Bastards are struggling to recalibrate. But while the setbacks are significant, it may be too soon to write off Bastard München entirely.
Their performance against Manshine City, despite the loss, showed promise. The team is experimenting with new plays that fit their overall style and individual strengths. To long-time fans, these changes might seem futile, but there’s a method to the madness.
For instance, the decision to use Kunigami Rensuke and Yukimiya Kenyu as the main strikers might seem unusual at first. In hindsight, it allows Alexis Ness and Isagi Yoichi to create more scoring options while still playing to each player's strengths. This strategy leverages Isagi and Ness’ unpredictability, while maximizing the straightforward power of Kunigami and Yukimiya.
Additionally, their midfield defense and offense remain strong, with Benedict Grim and Hiori Yo commanding the center. They provide support and drive plays, utilizing players like Kiyora Jin, and Raichi Jingo to full effect.
This demonstrates the potential of the new Bastard München. Even without Kaiser, the team has the makings of a powerhouse.
And this isn’t the first time the team has faced adversity, nor will it be the last. Last season, despite a critical injury to the Magician, Alexis Ness, they fought their way to the semifinals, proving that resilience is embedded in the team’s DNA.Coach Noel Noa, a world-class striker turned coach, has also acknowledged the challenges ahead. His expertise remains a pillar for the team, alongside long standing veterans like Mensah and Erik Geisner, who provide stability. However, the real responsibility for filling the void left by Kaiser’s raw power and impact now falls on the team’s ‘brains’—Coach Noa, Ness, and perhaps most intriguingly, midfielder Hiori Yo.
Hiori Yo may not be the most flashy player on the roster, but his subtle playmaking has become an essential part of Bastard München's strategy. Both Kaiser and Noa have recognized Hiori’s value, crediting him numerous times during key victories.
“His role as midfielder may not grab headlines, but his precision, strategic thinking and game sense provide the grounding force the team needs” Coach Noel Noa mentions before during an interview mid season last year, after winning a do-or die match against Ubers.
Thus, this could be a transformative season for Bastard München.
For those quick to count them out, this season might just reveal a new side of Bastard München. The team’s resilience, adaptability, and strategic evolution could turn the tide, especially with emerging playmakers laying a strong foundation. As they face the challenges ahead, fans may witness a more mature, tactically sophisticated version of the Bastards that proves they’re far from finished.
The journalist (Y/N) didn’t hold back, addressing Bastard München’s weaknesses head-on. Furthermore, you highlighted how the team could lean into a more dynamic strategy, blending the flashy, ego-driven style that fans loved with a more calculated approach—a style that Hiori himself had been quietly cultivating.
For the first time, it felt like someone truly saw his potential, his value beyond just raw skill or charisma. You acknowledged him as a player who might not command the spotlight but who laid the groundwork, providing the strategic foundation the team needed.
As he reached the article’s end, Hiori felt a strange warmth settle over him. It wasn’t praise, exactly, but it was understanding or validation, something he rarely received. On a whim, he looks you up on Winstagram, curious about the person behind the words.
Your profile was as intriguing as your article. Your feed was a hodgepodge of your life. There are photos from tournaments, interviews with other athletes, and even a few posts about your favorite manga series. You're all over the place and rough around the edges but seemed very passionate by the way you wrote about the things in your life.
A photo of you with a 2B cosplayer catches his eye. You're shyly forming a heart with the cosplayer’s hand, your face flushed as you tries to smile.
“Huh, well aint’cha cute.” he says out loud, before bookmarking your profile. For the first time in weeks, Hiori found himself smiling, feeling an unexpected spark of optimism.
He shares your article to the Bastard München group chat with a simple comment: “At least one person ain't giving up on us.” As the chat notifications pinged with his teammates’ responses, Hiori leaned back, allowing himself to savor this small moment of encouragement.
For now, it was enough.