★🀄🎼⋆｡ °⋆ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁
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THE MOMENT YOU STEPPED into this facility, it was hell. You hated it, you wanted to go home, you just wanted to lay in the comfort of your own mattress and take a big fat nap, perhaps also practice your guitar skills, listen to music do whatever. You certainly didn't want to be waking up at daybreak every single day and work out for hours straight.
Currently, you were running 20 fucking kilometers per hour. You were astonished how your legs haven't given out by now. To your right was Igarashi, Isagi, and Raichi running on the treadmills with you as well. 'They look fine.' You think. Well, maybe not Igarashi, he looked like he was about to ascend to heaven any second now.
"Your endurance's is fucking shit !" You heard a loud voice perk up a few feet away from you. "You morons think you can be the best striker in the world ?!" You decided to ignore his belittling, focusing on getting this over with. But you could barely focus the second Igarashi next to you started throwing up, truly a disgusting sight to see.
Raichi voiced up yet again, mocking Igarashi for vomiting already, "Fucking pathetic, even that short ass next to you can do better." You knew he was talking about you, but you didn't know to take it as a compliment or an insult.
Finally after a nonstop running session, you took a quick break and sat on the floor, panting heavily while sipping on your bottle of water. After that, you decided to go and find Meguru since you had grown a little bored, you knew you could always count on the brunette to entertain you in some way.
You found him on the ground resting as well, quickly walking up to him as he greeted you with a wide smile. "Yay my favorite N/N~" he beams with a wave of his hand, "What have you been doing ?" Proceeding to sit parallel to him, you gave him a tired look while shaking your head.
"I'm sooo tired.. I wanna go home, lay on my bed and sleep forever." You put a hand to your forehead and leaned back dramatically, feigning exhaustion. He giggles as to hearing that, pinching your cheek in amusement. "So dramatic as always, don't die okay ?" The brunette snickers, in which you roll your eyes in response.
Momentarily, the speaker rings as to signify it was officially meal time. You stood up with Meguru following suit, he looked especially enthusiastic whenever meal time commenced. "Let's go, let's go~~ I'm so hungry I could eat 3 cows." He chirps happily, immediately rushing out the training room to head to the cafeteria.
♡
Propping up your arm against the scanners, you patiently waited for your food to emerge. On the other hand, Meguru was trembling in place as he couldn't wait a mere five seconds for his tray to come out. Turning your attention back to the machinery that births your food out, you receive your plate of curry along with rice and miso soup. You didn't really mind it, it tasted alright you suppose.
You turned around to see Meguru waiting for you with a joyful smile on his face, with you returning it with a small smile, trailing behind him as you two sat at a random table. The both of you started engaging in conversation. Meguru was mostly doing the talking as you listened intently, you enjoyed hearing him ramble about whatever was on his mind.
Unexpectedly, both Igarashi and Isagi invited themselves to sit next to you two. You stiffened up, shakily turning your head towards Meguru, giving him a 'wtaf' look. The brunette sweatdropped in return, turning towards the other two with a grin, greeting them. You prompted to stay silent, focusing on eating your food while the other three conversed.
The dark haired male sitting next to you noticed your silence, pondering if he should include you in the conversation. "L/N ? You alright ?" He asks, his tone clear with concern. You snap your head up at him, furrowing your eyebrows as you glanced back down. "M' fine." You say softly, Isagi barely managed to catch what you were saying.
To the others, you were very unapproachable as you looked like you would curse anyone out if they dared mutter something slightly offensive. But Meguru, he obviously knew you were just.. socially awkward. In truth, you were just afraid to interact with strangers.
Isagi frowned in response, sighing softly as he gaved up the attempt to talk to you. The brunette sat infront of you noticed this and immediately started a conversation with you. "N/N, is your food yummy ?" He grinned, leaning towards you as he watched intently, which was a bit creepy..
You shrug, scooping a spoonful and shoving it into your mouth as you thought for a second, "It's good actually, not bad at all." You nodded in approval as Meguru chuckled gleefully, giving you a toothy smile. The dark haired make took note of the way you were way more comfortable talking with Meguru compared to him, so he decided to question.
"Are you two friends, Bachira ?" He turns his gaze towards Meguru, giving him a curious look. Your best friend gives the other a wide smile, vigorously nodding his head in confirmation. "Mhm, mhm !! N/N is my bestest friend~!" The brunette then turns to look at you, tilting his head to the side."Right ? :3"
You sweatdropped, growing slightly flustered as you hesitantly nodded in response. On the other hand, Isagi looked fairly taken aback. The juxtaposition between you and Meguru was unbelievable. To the dark haired male, you were quiet, unapproachable as hell, and too elegant for someone like him. Meanwhile, Meguru was cheerful, friendly, and sociable to anyone, even if they were a stranger.
'What a strange duo..' Isagi internally thought as he chuckled nervously. A moment later, you got up all of the sudden, holding your food tray in hand. "I'm putting this away and heading to bed. Meguru, you coming ?" You turned back to avert your gaze to the brunette. He immediately nodded and stood up simultaneously.
With that, the both of you left Isagi and Igarashi sitting there alone. Though you didn't even realize that the monk was sitting at the same table as the three of you... Meguru waved his hand towards the two, bidding goodbye for now as he accompanied you to the showers.
♡
It was approximately 2am by the time you were in bed, laying there motionless as you attempted to fall asleep. But to no avail as you've been trying for the past hour. Even with your best efforts, switching sleeping positions every 5 minutes, your brain still insisted your body to stay awake.
You were growing agitated, your eyes stung with drowse as you declared that attempting to fall asleep was fruitless. So, you decided to get up and explore. No way in heaven OR hell you were going to willingly get up at 2am and train.
Quietly, you snuck out of your mattress and left the room filled with stinky teenagers. You heaved in a big sigh, inhaling the fresh purified air throughout the corridors. Why did you decide to go exploring exactly ? Answer is, no fucking idea. You couldn't sleep, so why not.
So, for the next 20 minutes, you spent your time aimlessly roaming around the facility, checking out the minimalistic interior. It looked all the same honestly, and you were afraid you could get lost if you wandered too far. In the far distance, you swore you could hear the sound of a football getting kicked around.
With that, your curiousity got the better of you and you decided to go explore the source of the noise. You peeked around the corner to find both Isagi and Bachira practicing with eachother. You watched from where you stood, it even seemed like they were having a conversation while going against one another one on one.
The both of them hadn't exactly noticed your presence yet as they were too engrossed on eachother, which you guessed was a good thing since it would be hella awkward if you were just seen standing outside and spying on the two of them.
Soon after, the loud sound of the speaker blaring an announcement rang throughout the spacious "football field ", unnerving you as your eardrums rang in response to the deafening and unwelcomed noise. The announcement had declared everyone a change in their rankings, ushering everyone to make their way back to their assigned rooms.
Before you could leave peacefully, unfortunately you were spotted by both Isagi and Meguru before you could even step a foot away from the training centre. The brunette chirped in happiness as he jumped on you, surprised to see you here at this hour. "N/N ! Why are you here ? Spying on the two of us, perhaps~?" The boy stated cheekily.
You shook your head to deny the idea as you responded, "N-no.. I couldn't sleep so I wanted to explore. Heard the noise of a football and.. yeah here I am.." Attempting to shake the brunette off you, you struggled to keep balance as you felt your legs trembling with each step. Isagi turned to you with an evident look of worry plastered on his face.
"Bachira get off him.. He looks like he's gonna fall any second." The dark haired boy grabbed Meguru's shoulder, pushing him off as you sighed in relief. Stabilizing yourself, you stood up straight and muttered a quick thanks to Isagi, which he honestly didn't expect out of you.
Meguru giggled while ruffling your hair as you cringed, swatting his hand away as you glared straight at him. "Ew, stop, no. You're hands are dirty." The other merely laughed in amusement as you tried to brush your hair back in place. Isagi stood there dumbfounded, honestly feeling like the third wheel in the current situation..
♡
Finally, the three of you made it back to your respective rooms. Gathering around as the rest marvelled at their new rankings. "Hey, Isagi look ! I climbed the ranks from 300th !! Ain't that amazing ? I'm 275th now !" Igarashi exclaimed in joy, overly enthusiastic about this whole ordeal. Curious, though, you turned to look at your own rank, reading '266' plastered onto the side of your uniform.
You kept an impassive expression at the new ranking, you really didn't care about this ranking system. You found it dumb, and extremely demotivating for others to know their such low ranks among 300 others. Following that, Ego Jinpachi appeared on the big monitor once again, greeting us all with that horrifying expression we all know and love.
After a few grumbles from a few others, he started rambling on how this facility was apparently split into five stratums, and we were the worse among them all. Basically, the worst of the worst. Despite having no interest in this project thingy at all, you were pretty disappointed by the fact you were categorized in the worst of the worst. Mom and dad wouldn't be happy to know about this.
You crossed your arms, frowning the whole time as you listened to Ego's tangent. What caught your attention though was the fact higher ranked players had better meals and food, oh how you envied them. You wished you were better in that moment, just to get better tasting and quality food.
With that, he officially began the first selection among stratum 5. In your stratum consisted of Team V, Team W, Team X, Team Y, and lastly, Team Z. You doubt the team, worst of the worst, could win against higher ranked players. You were certainly paranoid about how much better the other teams were than yours. But on the other hand, you could be kicked out and be able to head home.
Yet, that would mean your entire team would be sent home right ? You didn't want Meguru to be banned from ever representing Japanese football, football was everything to Meguru, but not to you. Despite that, you prioritized Meguru's happiness over yours, so for now..
You'll comply with the rules, you'll play your best, you tell yourself.
You'll do your best for Meguru to have a chance out there.
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WC: 2056
Author note: gaahhaha sorry for the later than usual update my midterms r soon
❤️🩹☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ 𝟒𝟒𝟒 ꒷꒦ ٭