40. AN ABSOLUTE BUST!

note: i have a question! out of every character (including the managers!) which relationship do you like the most with them and [name]? 

personally, mine has to be either komi and [name] or chigiri and [name]. 

(there is another one but she's not even in the story yet so she doesn't count sad face. you guys aren't ready for the homoerotic relationship between you and bastard's pretty blonde manager hehe)

*⋆｡˚𖦹࣪˖ ִֶָ⋆｡°✩

THIS 

game was an absolute bust, you decided right then and there. After that embarrassingly easy goal that was practically handed on a silver platter to Karasu—you are glad to say that you've given up. Go team.

Hiori tugs his shirt upwards, and Isagi wipes dripping sweat from his forehead, but all you can focus on is the heavy huffing of Rin and Shidou—crouched in front of each other in a terrifying silence. Like the calm before a storm, the peace before the—!!!

"THAT WAS MINE!!!"

"You bumbling antennae!!"

"You stupid eyelashes!!"

Their loud voices ring out through the stadium, and you physically dig your nails into your clothed thighs to stop yourself from moving. Your jaw is clenched so hard that Merodi fears you may break it—but this fear is pushed right down by the entertainment she was receiving.

Rin grabs onto the front of Shidou's shirt and tugs him forward, tilting his head and getting all up in Shidou's face. They're like animals trying to assert dominance in their wild world.

Veins on their face are pulsing out of pure unadulterated rage on each of their faces, so hard you think they may burst a blood vessel. Nanase tries to be the mediator between the two top players, but they pay absolutely no attention to the boy.

Shidou grits his teeth together so hard that they may just fall out at any moment, and tilts his head back while shoving Rin's hand off his shirt, "Hey, manager-chan! Wanna see me kill this stupid undereye lashes~?!"

You instinctively palm your pocket, where a certain button that activated a certain taser is laid. You give him a deadpan look, sucking in deep breaths to stop yourself from stomping over on that goddamned field and shoving them away yourself. Making my job so much harder than it has to be... do they get off on making me mad?

Rin snarls back, angrier than you've ever seen him, "How about you actually put those antennae to use, you fucking insect."

Nope, those two will never be able to work together. What an absolute bust.

This game really is over—to you, anyway.

*⋆｡˚𖦹࣪˖ ִֶָ⋆｡°✩

After a few minutes of heavy huffing and threats that eventually grew quieter and quieter, the game finally continued on. Shidou passes to Rin, who, similarly, passes back to Hiori. They both run up and try to replicate the same move, when Otoya rushes in front of Rin, clearly aware of their method by now. 

They both hesitated, frozen in place—just as Isagi ran forward, calling for the ball—but it proved useless again, because of the sheer persistence that is Karasu Tabito. Nanase looks to copy Isagi's moves, so he follows after him, right beside Karasu.

Even if just for a moment—Karasu's attention is diverted to Nanase, but it seems a moment is all Isagi Yoichi needs (really, you would know) to fall back, catching Karasu off guard. Even as the crow tries to use his hands to block Isagi once more—the striker doesn't allow him to get handsy and dodges his moves.

Finally, for what feels like the first time in forever, Isagi receives the ball. His mere field presence expands exponentially, and you even feel a little more hyped-up about this (what does Isagi do to you? It's a mystery). He runs forward with the ball in tow, eyes darting in every direction—presumably trying to figure out the next best play.

But he didn't need to, because Shidou (good ol' reliable Shidou) calls out for the ball with open arms, positioned right in front of the goal—the penalty area, his favourite shooting range, you learned after many sleepless nights of him ranting about it.

Isagi obliges to the demon's command, and slams his foot into the ball, sending it over to Shidou, who blushes with a grin in response—not even receiving it—he sends it flying into the goal with a high-spin drive shot.

Shidou sticks his leg up, while the rest of his body is taut on the ground, giggling with his tongue out, "Ta-da~♪!! I am the strongest lifeform in the P.A~♪!"

Nanase and Isagi huff and puff—and no matter how incredible that goal was, you can't deny the obvious disappointment on Isagi's face. Did he want to score that goal? Someone like Shidou passing in his favourite area is fantasy.

You scoff at the thought.

The game restarts and Karasu is quickly met with the ball—and even quicker, with Isagi. But this time he is not alone—accompanied by Rin, who digs into Karasu for targeting the weaker guy, saying, "Enough at pecking at a corpse. Let's square up."

Karasu grins, though it is strained and a bead of sweat drips past his beauty mark and down his cheek, "Oh, I hate this. That whole what's yours is mine and what's mine is mine mentality. I'm gonna sue for power harassment."

The two top players aren't even looking at Isagi at all—rather, their own little match-up with each other.

Karasu and Otoya have deliberately been avoiding confrontations with Rin... Otoya tried to face Rin head-on but failed, and got chewed out by Karasu... You suck in a deep breath through your nose, an irritated focused expression painting your features, Oh, he's good. I hate it.

Karasu tries to put some chop feints to get around Rin, pushing back on his chest to keep him at arm's length—but his arm is quickly elbowed away, not hard enough to warrant a yellow card, but with enough force to halt Karasu's movements.

The smug expression that the crow usually carries with him has all but disintegrated, teeth grit and jaw taut with obvious annoyance instead. He's paused, trying to figure out what to do to get around Rin Itoshi—paused for a little too long, because Isagi comes running in, eyes flaming hot and receiving shocked expressions from both Karasu and Rin.

Quickly, Nanase, Isagi, and Hiori form a triangular passing route, even if Nanase stumbles a few times, he gets the hang of it and Isagi receives with ease. Hiori receives a pass, but is blocked by Chigiri—who's running at top speeds towards the so-called cyan-head.

Hiori only lets out a heavy sigh at the revelation, looking around and locking eyes with Shidou, who calls out, "One ticket please, for the goal express!"

"Here it comes," Hiori's soft accented voice rings out through the stadium, and soon follows the sound of his shoe colliding with the ball. The arched pass flies overhead, above Shidou who looks innocently surprised, and to an open spot, where Isagi is bolting towards it.

He looks like he's going to make it, even with just the tip of his shoe—but his foot falls past the ball, it bounces flat on the ground and he looks distraught. Isagi falls, and Otoya immediately slides across the grass to catch the loose ball. He wastes no time in kicking it over to Karasu—a move you question since Rin is stuck to him like a piece of gum.

"This is why I hate abnormal dudes!" Karasu growls, lip curled upwards in annoyance, while Rin digs his fingers into Karasu's shirt to get a better grip.

"Then back off, you shitty ass crow!" Rin lurches forward, instinctively pushing Karasu back behind him so his leg is not in his way—and swings his foot forward, and the ball flies into the goal, evening the score for both sides in an instant.

Every player looks tired and puffed out from the intensity that is this match, and it's exhilarating, at least, to Merodi. She squeals, cheeks flushed and clasped tightly in her hands, "Woah! This is amazing! This game isn't even high-stakes, and yet, it feels this intense!" She giggles, lashes slathered in mascara fluttering shut.

"They're all useful towards the top players now." You point out, which makes Merodi stop her rant and her eyes open, darted towards you. Your eyes do not leave the field, you only stare down at a spot on the grass, with a thoughtful expression, "It must be exciting to play with such incredible people. Each has their own weapon and style that is unique to them... I would be excited."

Merodi blinks owlishly at your words, dark lips parted slightly as she wonders what exactly you mean by what you had said—but the thought fades as quickly as it forms when the whistle blows, and once again, you are both drawn into the intensity of the match.

Otoya passes to Karasu, who is almost immediately pressed by Isagi himself. This time, it seems, Karasu has no time for playing any games with his painfully normal foe and chooses to pass back over to Otoya, creating a one-two chain.

Karasu receives once more, but this time, he is pressed by both Rin and Isagi—and this time, he does not look the least bit distraught by it. He only smirks, calling them morons, and sending the ball flying over their heads towards Chigiri—who is running down the field at his wonderfully top speeds.

The ball starts its downward spiral, falling down just enough—so that Shidou Ryusei, in a motion that makes it look as if he's truly flying, rebounds the ball mid-air between the dip of his foot and ankle, with a wide-eyed, intensely excited expression, "The star has entered the stage~!"

Shidou falls flat on his back, while Chigiri uses this time to turn on his heel and as quickly as possible, takes off and calls out that there is a loose ball. The ball ends up landing right at Nanase's feet, and with a burning intensity in his eyes, he kicks it over once again, calling out Isagi's name.

Isagi compliments his junior and receives his amateurish pass, rushing forward while nobody is marking him, and forms his triangular passing method between himself, Nanase, and Hiori once more. Isagi is stopped by Karasu and his wicked grin, telling Isagi that he's here for the kill.

Rin draws attention away from the crow and towards himself—Mr. Underlashes—by calling for a pass, and replacing Hiori in their triangular passing route. They push past the crowd with both Isagi's sight and Rin's ridiculously smooth techniques, and catching sight of a certain cyan-head near the goal—Isagi sends the ball over.

Hiori is quickly marked by Chigiri once their prized possession is in his hands (figuratively, of course), and in his eyes, must be met with the sight of each egotistical striker on his team rushing forward to try and tempt Hiori to pass to themself.

Hiori feints Chigiri out and dribbles forward a bit—until his eyes catch sight of a striker in such a perfect position, that it would be foolish to not pass to him. None other than the egoist himself, Isagi Yoichi, blasts past both Rin and Shidou and with his killer direct shot, sends the ball soaring into the net.

Just one touch, and the whistle blares into your ears, signalling the end of the game. Each player pants, some look in shock, others look away with unreadable faces, while Nanase, sweet Nanase, runs over to Isagi's fallen body in an excited hug.

You almost laugh, Maybe this game wasn't such a bust.

"GAME SET! The score is 5 — 4! Team A wins!"

A smile spreads across your lips, and you sling your bag over your shoulder, standing up without a word and taking your leave onto the field—all while Merodi sits there, black lips parted in absolute shock. You can't say you weren't surprised too—because you're not a liar.

In that moment, Isagi really did beat both Rin and Shidou. You cover your mouth with your hand and crouch beside Isagi, looking down at his dripping, flushed face with a grin, You stupid, stupid egoist. How do you do it?

For this moment, you forget about any lingering, confusing feelings, and all you can think about is that Isagi Yoichi truly is incredible.

*⋆｡˚𖦹࣪˖ ִֶָ⋆｡°✩

edit: i just made this and do not like feel waiting to post another chapter to share. i made a tierlist ranked by how much i like them. idk. u might be a lil surprised. this is ranked from left to right by how much i like them (except the ur not important tier bc i can probably remember their names i just dont care to LOL).

idk if i shared how much i love zantetsu. but i do love him a lot. he's legit the silliest pookie ever. bring back my man !!!