BLUE LOCK: UNDYING FLAME

[PREVIOUSLY]

"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!" The announcers shouted out, "What a goal from the upcoming player of Ryoto, Renji Takahara. Seiran had been on top for the majority, but a quick counter from them starting with the captain and one of the twin towers Nikolai Volkov has left SEIRAN stunned." Akira commented.

Taro nodded in agreement, "That's right, now what will SEIRAN so in response to this." He spoke.

Back to the pitch, as the crowd for Ryoto cheered as their new star scored. Renji looked towards the players, a creepy smile on his face. "Care to dance again?" He asked.

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The creepy gaze of Renji bore into SEIRAN. He was an unknown anomaly, but with that dribbling display, he was no longer any other player; but a dangerous one.

Shinji witnessed the goal,.a frustrated expression on his face. Running a hand through his hair, a way to calm his nerves and focus. 'Let's focus, c'mon Shinji this isn't a fabulous display. Let's take the stage now' He thought, though his frustration still lingered in his mind.

Neron stood over the ball, his usual small smile on his face. He wasn't going to give up so soon, that wasn't his way. He just had to try harder, it hasn't failed him since...right?

SEIRAN kicked off the game, the game plan to try and play using the wingers.

The ball made way to Hayato, but the boy has to stop his momentum before it even began. 'Dammit, they've gone back even further. I can't see space to run.' He thought grimly. Osaka had sat back even more, adjusting their style to SEIRAN and it proved fruitful as SEIRAN had no way to play through the low-block.

Hayato begrudgingly passed the ball back, restarting the play.

Shinji recieved the ball, his eyes darting across the pitch to find a path for a pass. His eyebrows furrowed as he couldn't see anything. Before at least there was one or two, but now they were gone.

'Dammit!' Shinji thought in frustration. The team relied on him to break down this low block, and he was letting them down.

Shinji advanced forward with the ball, determined to find a passing lane. But then, then the eccentric Renji intercepted his way to stop his advance.

Renji's smile stretched so unnaturally wide, so wide it looked like it hurt. He's eyes bore into Shinji's with piercing intensity. "Why step into the dance floor if you can't keep up with the rhythm? You're tripping over your own feet like an amateur. Maybe it's time for you to...bow out." He said, his leg shooting out to intercept the ball.

Shinji's eyes narrowed as he narrowly avoided the tackle, an anger welling up inside the boy.

Taking a touch to the left, his eyes scanned in front of him. In his mind, an imaginary arrow was drawn from his feet, curving past a few defenders to the target Kaito. But the line was red, instead of the usual green, indicating that the pass couldn't be made.

Shinji gritted his teeth in annoyance, 'No, this is my stage. If I'm disheartened by such, I can never expect to be on bigger stages. I'll make this pass,' he thought, his leg blurring as he sent a curving long ball. The pass was then suddenly interrupted, the figure of Nikolai immerging with the ball.

Nikolai looked at his options, then sent a through ball to Renji.

Shinji gritted his teeth as he quickly turned to intercept the ball. Renji just smirked, his foot chopped the ball to the left. "Sorry, I don't take amateurs as dance partners." He said, spinning around Shinji; taking the ball with him.

Renji carries on with the ball, dancing past Takeshi. Then Daichi laid ahead, his gaze resolute.

Renji smiled in glee, "Oh, a new dance partner, how fun. Hope you're better than the last guy, he was soooo boring." He said in a mock diahearted tone, before quickly switching back to a giddy expression. Daichi offered no words to the boy, his brows furrowed and his eyes focused in concentration.

Renji unnerved by the silence, carried on. He took a wide touch with the ball to his left. Daichi shuffled his feet, his leg ready to steal the ball. But then with amazing reflexes, his leg curled around the ball like a whip, the ball going through Daichi's legs.

Renji immediately farted after the ball, using his body to shield the ball with strength that surprised Daichi.

Renji kept going, instead of going straight on goal though, he drifted towards the right.

Renji looked up, Shinji was in his view. Sweat dripping down his face, his chest rising up and down as he took deep and uneven breaths. A glare was thrown at Renji.

Renji smiled crudely, "An amateur still trying to dance with me?" He questioned, then a giggle escaped his lips. Taking a touch to his right, before he bursted forward; his hands behind him to shield the ball. "Don't kid yourself." He glanced back in mockery.

Shinji gritted his teeth. 'I won't let him pass me by. My performance won't end like this, I won't let the team down!!!.' He thought desperately, his legs launching for a tackle.

But Shinji's legs were a bit to late. They clattered into Renji, bringing the boy down in the box.

"PHEEEEEEEW" The ref immediately blew the whistle immediately, pointing to the spot. He went to Shinji, putting a hand in his pocket before bringing out a yellow card to the boy. Luckily for him it wasn't a red as he wasn't the last man.

Shinji's head hung low, his shoulders slumped. He gritted his teeth in frustration at the costly mistake he made.

The penalty taker was Nikolai. The boy stood impassive as always, stepping back a few steps. "PHEEEEEEWWWWW!!!" The ref blew the whistle. Nikolai ran up to the ball, passing it into the far bottom left corner. The keeper had dived the wrong way.

The score was now 2-0

"GOOOOOOAAAAALLLL FOR KYOTO. THE CALM AND COLLECTED CAPTAIN MAKES IT 2-0 TO KYOTO WITH A VOOL FINISH FROM THE SPOT." Akira commented

"I CAN'T SEE A WAY BACK FOR SEIRAN NOW. WITH A 2 GOAL MARGAIN, THE GAME SEEMS ALMOST OVER ALREADY. BUT WE SHALL SEE." Taro gave his thoughts.

Shinji felt terrible, his shoulders were slumped in depression. His eyes shadowed by his hair that he didn't bother to flick as usual.

Sophia saw this, a sigh escaping her lips. Had she put to much pressure on the boy? Were her thoughts. The only thing now would be to try and salvage the game and take Shinji out of his misery as he was already on a yellow card.

She immediately indicated for a substitution. Number 16 for number 5. The numbers were shown by the side official for the substitution.

Shinji gritted his teeth in frustration, his shoulders slumped as he walked off the pitch.

He passed by Neron. The boy ran up to him, a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Hey Shinji, you had a bad game, it's okay, don't let this game hurt you." He tried offering some comforting words to his teammate and friend.

Shinji looked up at Neron, a small sad smile on his face. "I appreciate the comforting words Ner-chan, but today I wasn't so fabulous, my performance, stale. Today just wasn't my time or stage for a performance" He said. Walking past Neron, as the ref came by, warning him of time wasting.

Shun nodded at the boy, patting his shoulder before running untk the pitch.

Shinji walked past the bench, plopping unto a seat, his head hung in defeat.

Sophia bit her lip in frustration, not knowing any words of comfort to say to the boy. He had to come off. She sighed as she looked back into the pitch, her gaze on Neron, hoping he and the rest could salvage the game. Though the chances didn't look so likely.

Neron stood over the ball. Shinji had left the pitch with a defeated look, and Neron didn't like it one bit. Seeing his teammates down, he needed to do something to win the game.

His eyes burned in determination, a serious smile on his face.

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A/N: I'M BACK GUYS. Hoped you missed me just as I've missed you. It's a festive period and I do hope you're all in a festive mood, cause I know I am. Just caught up to blue lock, and damn it's fire. But as always:

Well that's this chapter. Shinji's confidence is down in the dumps, and he was subbed, that's a bummer. Neron is now determine to win the game and not let his friends be frustrated as he saw. Will he be able to do it or not, well read to find out silly 😜.

Do throw me some stones while you're at it.

God bless you guys and have a good Christmas people 🙏