*ೃ༄ third person pov

Chigiri entered his bedroom and closed the door behind him, his gaze softening at the sight of his girlfriend.

He then plopped himself down on the surface of his bed, tearing the envelope in his hands to read it.

The lady's gaze shifted from the screen of her phone to her boyfriend sitting on the edge of his own bed.

Not a word was uttered as he stared at the same paragraph over and over again, rereading it to make sure he wasn't going crazy.

Y/n sat up and set her phone aside to call out his name. Much to her surprise, she didn't receive a response from him.

Shuffling her way towards him, she looked over his shoulder to take a peek at the paper he was holding.

"You have been selected to become a certified athlete."

She quietly read the letter, studying its content. A smile appeared on her face when she saw who it was from, glad that Anri took her words into consideration; though, it was more of pressure.

"Should I?" Chigiri finally spoke, unsure if he should participate.

"Is there a reason not to?" she fired back with a question of her own.

This made him hesitate.

"Well...I can't run as fast as before. Plus, what's the point if I don't have the one thing that made me better than everyone else?" he laughed as he brought himself down, upsetting the lady.

"You know-" she draped her arms over his shoulders, "I used to think that you could be the best in the world, so I supported you and watched you put everything you've got into football."

Her voice was soft and gentle, exuding a sense of reassurance and security to anyone who sought guidance or comfort.

"Hey, Hyōma." she called out his name once again, leaning closer to his face.

But despite the silkiness of her tone...

"Are you scared?" she questioned.

The sound of her sweet-sounding voice sent chills down his spine, his heart anxiously dancing to the rhythm of the fear she had instilled upon him.

Her left hand rested on his left arm as she brushed her fingers against his shirt. She then went a little lower, stroking his exposed forearms in a way that made him gulp.

"Are you afraid of no longer being a genius? Are you scared of injuring your right leg again? Or does the idea of not being able to play soccer anymore frighten you?" she interrogated, her other hand inching closer to his collarbone.

The young man couldn't ignore the unceasing throb in his heart, as if there was a heavy, fervent vortex that consumed the space in his chest.

"Are you really going to let everything go just like that?" she asked, and before he could respond to her, he let out a gasp when he felt her cold fingertips touch the bare skin of his neck.

"The sensation of kicking into high gear and eating up the ground, isn't outrunning someone what soccer's all about for you?" a cunning smile forming on her face before continuing, "Isn't that the joy only you get to experience?"

The pressure of her words weighed down on him as if they were a bag of bricks, threatening to suffocate him at any moment.

"I..." he croaked out, struggling to get even a word out.

With her hands all over his body, she pulled him closer to her chest, making him look up to meet his lover's eyes, eyes that screamed masked danger.

"Hm?" she hummed, patiently waiting for him to finish his sentence.

Oh, how he feared her gaze, a gaze so enticing that it always made the man's heart quiver in frisson.

Oh, how far he had fallen into the abyss she set out for anyone who met her eyes, eyes so enthralling yet so poisonous.

Chigiri couldn't hold himself back anymore as he pinned her against the bed, using enough strength to make sure she didn't try anything.

"What are you doing, Hyōma?" Y/n found his small tantrum quite adorable.

In an instant, Chigiri found himself under her- pinned with his arms above his head.

"That's no good, Hyōma. You have to answer me when I speak to you." she gently scolded, intertwining their fingers slowly and delicately as they gazed into each other's eyes.

He could easily fight back. He could flip their positions with ease. He was obviously stronger than her in terms of physical strength.

And Y/n knew that.

She inched her face closer to his, their lips only a few centimeters away from making contact, "Hyōma, I have a request."

He couldn't fight back.

"What...is it?" he gulped, losing his mind at the sound of her honeyed voice as she tugged a strand of his hair behind his ear.

"I want you to participate in the Blue Lock project for me." she said in a hushed voice, "It'll make me really happy if you do."

Chigiri thought he loved the lady because of her ability to remain calm, serene, and understanding of any situation she was in; but the way she danced with the waves, moved with the sea, and allowed the rhythm of the water to cover up the deceitful smile she masked from everyone...

He realized that his childhood friend, L/n Y/n, wasn't the sweet and timid girl who had trouble expressing her feelings.

She was selfish.

A lady who sang words that others wanted to hear and played psychological games with others all for the sake of her own interests.

And yet, he could only submit to her.

"I-I...I'll go then." he stammered.

Hearing his response, a demure smile appeared on her face as if she did not just pressure him into going along with her desires.

"I'm glad to hear that." Y/n praised, rewarding him with a kiss on his soft lips.

This guiltless action of hers made him forget how treacherous she could be.

She unpinned his hands, giving him permission to sit up. He rested his hands on her hips, allowing his lips to be claimed by her.

After a few seconds, he was the first to pull away to catch his breath. Y/n was a little flushed as well.

"I love you, Hyōma. You know that, right?" she placed her forehead on his, wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him closer.

But to him, she was like water; gentle enough to cleanse you, kind enough to save you, and strong enough to drown you.

"I love you too, Y/n." he connected their lips once more.

He would never find the right words to describe the thrill he felt for it as he had grown to fall in love with the water.

He cherished the way it hugged him with so much care and warmth as it dragged him down into its infinite depths.

But because of his love for the water, he didn't mind drowning.

That's how much he loved the water-how much he loved Y/n.

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*ೃ༄ your pov

As selfish as this may sound to others, I do not wish to see Hyōma lose his love for soccer.

I want to see him run and be better than any other player out there, just as he always had throughout the years.

That sparkling glint that shone in his eyes. It was as if a fire vigorously burned within them.

But now, just like a candle on a chilly night, the flames of that fire were slowly disappearing as time went on, waiting for the day it completely fades away.

In spite of that, even if that fire, that illuminated every field, struggled to keep itself from maintaining its burning state, I refuse to allow it to disappear.

I will do everything in my power to keep that candle burning until it can burn no longer.

I won't allow his dreams to disappear as I know deep down inside, he wishes for that candle to be ignited once more.

So, just this once, allow me to be the lighter to your vanishing flame, Hyōma.

Allow me to see that fiery fire burn inside of you again.

Allow me the chance to see you outshine everyone.

Just one last time...

Burn for me.

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