BLUE LOCK: UNDYING FLAME

[PREVIOUSLY]

Neron looked at Baro. He nodded in agreement, a determined smirk on his face. "We will, we'll train even harder than before. We'll show all of them." He replied, hand out for a fist bump.

Baro grinned, bumping fists with him as well.

Today was not a good game for the two young strikers, but their determination to get better raises their spirits. Will they succeed, well only time will tell.

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It was early in the morning, the sun hadn't yet risen. A chilling breeze blew through the neighborhood, it was always cold in the morning at this time.

Shinji walked on the streets in the chilling morning. He had his school uniform on, though it didn't look as ironed as it always was-evident on the wrinkles in his uniform.

Dark circles were under the boy's eyes, indicating a lack of sleep for the boy.

He's walk soon slowed down as he reached his destination. Looking up, he was met with the same building he had always visited for the past 6 years, though he was quite early today unlike his usual schedule.

Shinji walked into the hospital, the usual nurses and doctors were moving about, doing their respective rolls. Though they weren't much patients this morning, due to it being so early.

Walking up to the secretary for the usual protocol. Sakura, an elderly woman, looked up to see who was quite early today. Her eyes widened in mild surprise, "Shin, you're quite early today." She said.

Shinji nodded, a small smile on his face. "Yeah, just felt like coming early today. Any improvements?" He asked, though he already knew the answer, it didn't do any harm to still ask.

Sakura gave him a sad look, "No Shinji, nothing yet. Though I'm sure, she'll improve with the way you're visiting her everyday." She attempted to cheer him up.

Shinji gave a half smile at the attempt.

Sakura sighed, "You already know her room shin, I'll fill in your attendance." She said.

Shin nodded, the turned and walked off. Sakura looked sadly at his back, pitying the boy. She hoped in her heart that they would be improvements, but it wasn't looking likely. She sighed as she looked to get back to work.

Shinji made way to familiar set of hallways, before finding himself Infront of a familiar door.

Prepping himself, he opened the door.

Inside the ward, a bed was situated to the side with the usual equipments beside it. A girl, looking about 14 years of age. Long blonde hair sprawled on the bed, her eyes closed like she was asleep, her face impassive.

Shinji walked up the bed, sitting on a chair just beside it. He held the girls hands in his, "Hey sis, it's me shinji again. Yesterday... yesterday was quite a dreadful day for me, not fabulous at all." He did a small chuckle, he felt his eyes tearing a bit. "I was...I was so terrible yesterday. I know you'd not want to watch that terrible display yesterday." He said, gently clenching her hand.

"I promise you, your fabulous brother will play better, that's a promise. So wake up soon so you can watch him, like old times. Please...." He smiled melancholy, small tears spilling down his face as he held her hand to his head.

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Neron, Baro, and Alina are seen walking to school. Alina was yawning as she walked beside the two. Baro raised an eyebrow at her, "You know you didn't have to follow us right?" He asked.

Alina just weakly glared at the boy, rubbing her eyes as she walked. "I was already awake, besides this is around the time I go to school anyway." She replied, though the reason she followed of course was to secretly watch her brother train, is it weird, yes, but will Alina agree it is, well you're on your own on that.

Alina's eyes narrowed, she felt as if someone was talking about her and not in a good way. (WELL PEACE ✌️✌️✌️🏃🏃

Baro shrugged at the answer, as the trio continued to walk in silence.

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After bidding each other bye, Baro and Neron changed to their kits then headed towards the football pitch to get some early morning training.

The two boys walked into the pitch, surprised expressions were on their faces as they stared at someone already practicing.

Walking closer, the person was Shinji, already practicing. It seemed he had been here for a while, evident on the large amount of sweat and the heavy breathing.

Shinji dirbbled past some comes, taking a touch outside before shooting the ball with power. The ball whizzed through the air, hitting the cross bar and going out. "Dammit!!!" Shinji shouted in frustration, going to pick the ball up and restart the drill.

Neron looked at Shinji in concern, since yesterday the boy's mood hadn't been very good. Neron looked to hope to cheer him up.

About to walk up there, Neron was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. Neron looked at Baro in confusion.

Baro shook his head, "Leave him, his mind is chaotic at the moment. It's best to let him let out his rage." He said. He used to do the same thing when he was also frustrated as well, putting it in training was a way to channel that.

Neron had a look of understanding, though there was still a part of him that wanted to try and cheer him up, he understood sometimes people need their space. Neron nodded, the two moving into the other side of the pitch to do their personal practice.

Neron and Baro stood across from each other, small beads of wear dripped down their face as they finished their warmup.

Neron looked towards Baro, "We need to improve our game. Yesterday's game showed us our weaknesses. But one I wanted to work on today is our link-up play with each other." Neron said.

Baro nodded, their link-up play with each other wasn't the best. With baro recalling the only time they did link-up together was the tryouts they did.

Neron and Baro passed the ball to each other with pace, starting from the center of the pitch.

One will pass, dribble through a cone then pass to the other, and vice versa before the last one would finish the move with a shot in goal.

The two kept practicing their link-up throughout, then rested an hour until the rest of the team arrived.

Sophia wasn't really surprised as she saw Baro and Neron doing early training, but she was a bit shocked as she saw Shinji as well. She looked at the boy in worry, hoping his mindset was okay.

Sophia then focused her mind back to what was at hand. "Okay guys, we need to prepare for our match against SENDAI, who also lost yesterday as well, so they'll be desperate as well for a win." She explained, her eyes serious.

"We can't afford to loose that game on Saturday, cause our next game after that is against another member of the big five, Nagoya. So this game is a must win."

"SENDAI uses a similar style to Kyoto, employing a low-block style then counterattacking, but this time they use a target man and their wingers, unlike Kyoto who uses more of their midfield and striker. So we'll need to train to break it down." She said, looking towards Shinji. "Shinji we'll need you again for this game, are you going to be okay?" She asked the boy.

Shinji swept his hand through his hair, a serious look on his face. He nodded, a determination to do harder than that game yesterday.

Sophia nodded, "Okay guys, ware your bips and let's start practice." She blew her whistle.

The practice began, Neron was wearing white bip while Baro would imitate the lone striker for the other team.

The practice started. The ball found its way to Shinji. Shinji took the ball forward, his eyes scanning the pitch for any passing channels.

A green arrow travelled from the ball towards Hayato on the wing. The boys grin on his face, waiting for the pass.

As Shinji was about to pass, an image of Nikolai appeared, intercepting the pass. Shinji gritted his teeth, taking a touch forward, avoiding that option. Hayato looked at Shinji in confusion, wondering why the pass wasn't made.

Shinji took another touch forward, then sent a long pass to Neron. But the pass was over hit, resulting in a turnover. Shinji grunted in annoyance.

Sophia looked at this, her brows furrowed in worry.

Ton recieved the ball from Daichi. He looked to run past Shinji, Shinji remembered how Renji passed by him several times. His teeth gritted in annoyance, his leg shot out bodying him forcefully off the ball.

"PHEEEEEEEW!!!" The ref blew the whistle.

Shinji gritted his teeth in frustration, glaring at the ref, before walking away.

This trend continued on, Shinji forcing passes, overhitting the passes. The next sequence, Shinji fouled a player.

Sophia had enough of this, "Shinji, that's enough, bench now!!!" She shouted.

Shinji's nose wrinkled in annoyance, throwing his bip on the floor and walking off the pitch.

The team all looked at Shinji in worry, before continuing with practice; hoping that Shinji would be okay.

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After school, we see Shinji get ready to go home, but then a running Neron came into his view.

"Shinji wait." He called out to the boy, panting a bit, he settled himself. "Shinji are you-" but was quickly cut off by Shinji.

"Neron, I'm fine. Today I acted improper, it won't happen again." He said impatiently, looking to leave.

"But-"

"Look, I said I'm fine. What more do you want, I'm fine. I'll see you at practice tomorrow." He said, walking away from the boy.

Neron sighed in defeat, walking away.

Nero and Alina were walking home together, Baro had to go home early as he's relatives were visiting. There was a silence between the two

Alina's eyes furrowed slightly, she stared at Neron. "Okay, what the heck happened." She asked

Neron sighed, "It's Shinji, he's not been acting his usual self since our lost yesterday. Honestly I don't know how to help him." He explained.

Alina looked at her brother, "Why don't you try talking to him then?"

"I've tried, but he didn't listen at all. Yesterday's match was humiliating for all of us, but it seems it hit him more so." He said. A silence permeating between them again.

Alina looked at her brother, she didn't like seeing him like this. "Well are you going to give up just like that."

Neron glanced at his sister, "Alina, ive-"

"No, the brother I know won't give up so easily. If he's down, talk to him, if he doesn't listen, do so until he does. Isn't that your motto, keep trying until failure, then still try." She said.

Neron stopped walking, he turned towards his sister; looking at her for a few minutes. Then a chuckle emanated from the boy, a smile making way to his face. "You're right. I'll talk to Shinji, as a friend I'll try my best to cheer him up even though he doesn't agree." He said confidently, a plan forming in his head.

Alina had a small smile on her face, which she quickly hid so he couldn't see it. "Well that's good. Now let's hurry up and go home, or else we'll miss dinner." She said, walking past him.

Neron smiled, following his sister. A determined look on his face, he was going to help his friend out of the state he was in.

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A/N: Calm chapter I'll say. Shinji is really frustrated and it's showing in his life. Will Neron succeed in cheering the boy back to his usual self before the game, or will he not. Well, read to find out.

Also, do throw me some stones people. Won't take much from you guys.

Stay blessed 🙏