Waking from his peaceful slumber Akira hadn't expected, to find Nagi sleeping on top of him and Reo and Zantetsu sat next to the bed. "W-What are you guys doing?" the curly-haired teen asked his voice slightly horsed from a lack of water. "Akira! How are you feeling? Do you need anything to drink? Should I call the doctor"

"Reo, be quiet I'm trying to nap," Nagi said as he snuggled deeper into Akira, who still hadn't registered a single question the purple-haired teen had asked. "I'm good, meus amigos," he said as he gulped down the water Zantetsu, had graciously handed to him.

"How was the match?" The curly-haired boy asked, to which he was met with silence. "We lost" Oh, dear. "I'm sorry I failed you Akira" Reo said his head hung with shame. "Hey, no. I proud of you Reo, all of you win or lose we all go through that all that matter to me, okay? So no be hard on your self" his words brought comfort to the trio, relieved that he wasn't angry or upset they had lost.

"What did the doctor say about your leg?" the glasses teen asked "I'm all cleared to keep playing," Akira smiled watching relief flood his friend's expression "Oh thank god I was so worried, never scared me like that again!" The Mikage boy exclaimed.

"I'll try, how long I asleep for?" The boy asked looking at the clock, it was already late evening. "Around three hours, why?" Nagi said looking up from his natural sleeping position. "três horas? why did you no wake me up?!" the bronzed teen asked, embarrassed he had slept for so long. He was only supposed to sleep for an hour, not three.

"We were going to, but you looked so peaceful. So we decided to let you rest and wait for you to wake up on your own" Reo explained smiling gently as Akira sat himself up in the bed, Nagi still rested on his lower stomach. "I've already spoken to the doctor, he said once you've taken the last of your medication you are free to go"

The amethyst-eyed boy said handing the golden-eyed teen a tablet, which he quickly gulped down with the help of some water. As he pulled the blanket off, itching to leave the medical ward after being in there for hours. "Ten more minutes" Nagi whined at the feeling of the cool air greeting his skin, prickling it with goosebumps.

"Nagi, we cuddle back in the dorm room no?" the white-haired teen didn't need any more convincing as the group walked towards their shared room. Passing the cafeteria in the process, where Akira wanted to fill his now empty water bottle. "Hey meus amigos, me get some water and be there in a sec okay?" as much as the trio tried to protest the curly-haired teen going off on his own.

In fear that he would reinjure himself, somehow but after some reassurance, they begrudgingly agreed to part ways for a short while. Though the trio had threatened to send a search party if he wasn't back in less than five minutes, that was a promise.

Walking into the cafeteria with his empty water bottle in hand, Akira hadn't expected to run into Isagi and Bachira. The two had yet to notice his presence so he decided to keep it that way, attempting to fill up his bottle and leave in silence without alerting either, accidentally eavesdropping on their conversation while doing so.

"Do you think we have enough?

"Should be plenty...Oh! That's right. thanks for that last pass Bachira. You basically won us the game"

"What are you talking about? I wasn't the one who made an awesome play, you did fact. I know you Isagi, you learned something new right?

"Yeah...so I think I understand what my weapon is and specifically where my talent lies, even if I predict a situation using my spatial awareness. It doesn't matter, when I trap the ball it gives the opponent time to respond and I lose my advantage. So then I started thinking back to my other goals, and that's when I realised all the points I made had been direct shots. I took what I've done intuitively, and turned it into a formula I understand. I feel like my time as a genuine striker is really beginning - eh I'm sorry got kinda carried away"

Now Akira was happy for Isagi, he truly was but he silently wished that his progress hadn't come at the expense of his team and him. "That's a great look for you, very egoistic," Bachira said matter of factly, "You think so?" the blue-eyed teen asked not convinced.

"You sure do get our blood pumping, now put it here you egoist," the dual-coloured teen said offering a high five which his teammate gladly took. "Sure right back at you- AH!" the bronzed teen couldn't help but burst out laughing as Bachira smacked Isagi on the forehead.

Turning to where the laugh was coming from, the Team Z player's eyes widened when they saw the teen that they had been thinking about nonstop, since the end of their match.

"Akira!" the dual-haired teen yelled running to the bronzed boy who stood by a nearby water fountain, pulling him into his embrace. "Bachira be careful he could still be hurt!" his blue-eyed friend was right, pulling back slightly the yellow-eyed teen examined Akira checking for any injuries.

"Are you still hurt?" the team Z player asked, face painted with concern. "No doctor said me all good now," the curly-haired boy said, which led to him being pulled back into the tight embrace of Bachira. Who nuzzled his face into his neck, "Never scare me like that again okay?"

Truth be told Bachira hadn't stopped thinking about Akira, his mind replaying the sounds of his scream of pain and the look of despair on his face. He was so close to killing Kuon, the urge to avenge his darling Akira seized his body. But he would get to that later, for now, he would enjoy holding him in his arms.

"I'm sorry you got hurt" Isagi didn't know why he was apologising, it wasn't him that hurt the tanned teen. Yet he felt responsible, it was his teammate that hurt him after all. The blue-eyed boy silently feared that the golden-eyed boy was angry at him too. "Why you sorry? You no hurt me, so don't worry!"

The boy's words were a relief to the two Team Z players, who felt they could finally breathe properly now knowing that Akira wasn't mad at them. But their attention was drawn away from each other and towards the cafeteria door, where a hoard of upset, dejected, and crying teens were making their way towards the exit. The ones who had failed the first selection.

"My dreams dead"

"I should've scored that goal..."

"Damn it, damn!"

The trio watched the mob of teens, silently grateful that it wasn't them. "So you made it through? Congratulations, it's been a while hasn't it?" Akira turned his head towards the familiar voice, to see Niko Ikki leaning against the nearby pillar. "Niko, hey" Isagi greeted but was ignored by the Team Y player.

"Our game I lost cuz of your goal, but it gave me the push I needed. Instead of holding back and passing to others, I started taking shots myself. Thanks to that point you made, I'm still here at Blue Lock. I won't lose next time, I'll be the one who crushes you."

Niko said as he went to walk away, his eyes meeting Akira's for a brief second giving him a nod of acknowledgement but stopped halfway towards the door to listen to what Isagi had to say. "The reason I made it, is cuz of you. Our last game, made me evolve. Niko, you name the time I'll beat you again" Isagi challenged to which the bang teen gritted his teeth "Guess we'll see" and with one final look to Akira, Nikko Ikki left.

"You are getting mighty popular Isagi, how many rivals does that make? Also Akira, you know that guy? Seemed to be looking at you an awful lot" Bachira said his words laced with subtle jealousy, his monster whispering for him to go and rip Niko's eyes out for even daring to look at Akira a moment too long.

"I play my first game against him" Was all the bronzed teen said, as truly besides exchanging a few words the two hadn't really spoken. "I get going Reo, Nagi, and Zan probably worried where I am" With that the bronzed teen bid the two goodbye, before returning to his room.

"Akira, what took you so long?" The purple-haired boy asked as he watched him being swallowed into Nagi's embrace for his promised cuddles. "Ah- I ran into Isagi and Bachira, we talked a bit" his words caused the three to look at him in mild concern.

"Why would you do that Akira?" The Mikage boy asked, eyes full of concern "Yes Akira, do you truly think it's wise to be conversing with the people who sent you to the medical ward?" Zantetsu agreed, and while the curly-haired boy appreciated their worry he reminded them it wasn't them that injured him but that cadela Kuon.

"Just be careful, okay, I don't want you getting hurt again" Nagi mumbled, still curled into the boy's warm embrace. "Por favor, now worry, please. I all good now" the bronzed teen said to which Nagi mumbled something ineligible under his breath, as they all turned in for the night. Akira once again snuggled in between Reo and Nagi, neither willing to let him move an inch as if they were afraid he would disappear. Not that he minded.

The next morning the team were woken by the face of Ego Jinpachi on the jumbotron. "Starting today players in building five will undergo rigorous strength training, and until it's over you aren't allowed to touch a football." His words were met with protests and questions, mostly protests.

"What aren't we going straight into the second selection?!"

"How long is this conditioning going to last?"

"What a hassle."

"Now this is getting interesting..."

"ah, vá se foder."

"I think we deserve some answers here!"

"Don't get cocky just because you advanced amongst the lowest-ranked players, train until I say stop, you garbage." Ego said leaving the room silent, as the screen flashed with graphics of what seemed to be some sort of virtual reality headset.

"The upper levels were exempt from the first selection and did state-of-the-art training this whole time. You have to wait until they finish, be grateful we're giving gangly spineless nobodies the stamina training you so desperately need you'd be doomed otherwise. You do realise you're the lowest of the low."

With that, their torturous training began, as they awaited the second selection.