"Ito Akira, please follow the map on the screen to retrieve your personal property"

It was the morning of the match against the World Five, and Akira had spent the morning, listening to Bachira apologising for the hundredth time, doing yoga and meditation with Rin, having a quick shower, doing his skin and hair care with Aryu, then his eyeliner, and finally had breakfast with his team.

But something was missing, his beloved music that he had been robbed of. Granted it was only his headphones that had been broken, but he didn't want to play his music aloud. To avoid disturbing the rest of his teammates, as Akira suspected not all of them wanted to listen to Brazilian Phonk first thing in the morning. And he liked the feeling of blasting his music through his headphones, as it made him feel like he was worlds away. In his own little safe space, where he could collect his thoughts and prepare himself for what was ahead.

So it was no surprise to anyone that as soon as he received instructions to receive his beloved headphones he was off, with not so much as another word. Dashing through the corridors and following the memorised map in his head until he arrived outside his destination. An unfamiliar door that he had never seen before, stepping into the room and was met with an unexpected surprise.

The world five, dressed in casual clothes gathered about a large table in the center of the room. Who were now all staring at him as if he had grown a second head. "Ito Akira, please wait in the board room. Anri Teieri will be with you shortly to hand you your personal effects, thank you for your patience." The voice over the loudspeaker instructed, leaving the curly-haired teen alone with the professional players for god knows how long.

"Who's this guy?"

"No idea, he's cute like me though. We should go to Harajuku together!"

"He doesn't look like your typical Japanese person"

"Stay in line, Luna"

"What, did I say anything wrong Loki?"

"Akira, é você?"

Everyone in the room ceased as they all turned to look at Dada who stood up from his seat, but the dreadlocked Brazilian ignored their looks of confusion and instead focused on the teen who had yet to move away from the door. "Ei, Dada, faz muito tempo que não nos vemos, né?" Akira said speaking in Portuguese to avoid others picking up on what they were saying.

Dada said nothing and continued to stare holes into the curly-haired teen, who now began to panic. 'Is he mad at me?' he thought, "Você ainda está chateado por eu ter saído?" The bronzed teen prodded, treading on eggshells as the last thing he wanted to do was get into a fight. The dreadlocked Brazilian once again said nothing, but this time he walked towards the teen.

But before Akira's fight or flight could kick in he was pulled into a tight embrace, "Você tem ideia do quanto senti sua falta?" the human tank whispered his voice trembling slightly, the two breaking apart at the sound of someone clearing their throat. "So I take it you two know each other?" Adam Blake asked his English accent clear as a summer's day.

"Know each other, I basically watch this kid grow up!" Dada laughed ruffling the bronzed teen's full curls much to his dismay, "Hey! Cut it out, Dada! Do you have any idea how long it takes me to do my hair in the morning?" Akira responded in English his Portuguese accent only slightly noticeable, surprising the others in the room. They hadn't expected him to speak multiple languages, let alone so well.

"You speak English? Supongo que los japoneses están llenos de sorpresas." Leonardo Luna said eyeing the teen in mild intrest, "Sí, lo somos y para futuras referencias, también sé español". Akira said narrowing his eyes at the blonde who seemed shocked at the revelation that he spoke four languages. But before the two could clash any more the golden-eyed teen's attention was pulled in another direction, "Hey do I know you from somewhere, cuz you look mighty familiar" Pablo Cavasoz asked eyes narrowed as he tried to place where he knew him from.

Akira opened his mouth to answer but Dada beat him to it, "He's Miguel Ribeiro's son!" the dark-skinned man said his words met with gasps of realisation. He was the son of a legend, how had they missed such an uncanny resemblance? "So what the hell is he doing here?" Adam asked confused as to what the son of someone so well-known, was doing in a project like Blue Lock.

"Yeah, now that you mention it, Blake. What are you doing here Akira? I thought you weren't going to play after leaving Brazil." Dada questioned as he gently nudged the boy to take a seat, which he did so without complaint. Sinking into the chair, as he prepared himself to be grilled with questions (mostly from Dada).

"Well, I didn't plan on it, well not really. I joined my school's football team because of some friends, and all three of us got the invitation to come to Blue Lock. So I kinda just went along with it, cuz what the heck? It's not like I had anything better to do." The golden-eyed teen explained how he ended up in this situation.

"How's it being going so far?" Dada asked and as if the universe was listening, the jumbotron on the far wall turned on. Displaying all of Akira's goals from the first and second selections, much to his embarrassment. "So I guess that an 'It's going great, cuz I'm beating the crap out of everyone'" The dreadlocked Brazilian laughed as the group watched the replay in its entirety.

"Yeah, it's not been too bad, though can't lie this place ain't for the faint of heart. I mean we're locked up in this bitch for like months, with more nuts people than the psych wards probably have right now. Not to mention, I haven't had chocolate in like two months. Like I get it, eat clean and all that shit but there's only so much salad I can eat before I start to lose my shit" Akira complained throwing his head back in frustration, what he would do for a morsel of chocolate right now.

"Well are you in luck, meu amigo" Dada said as he pulled something out of his duffle bag, a bar of Brazilian chocolate which he threw across the table. Catching the bar, Akira could have shed a tear. "Dada, Deus, eu poderia beijar você agora mesmo!" the bronzed teen said as he peeled back the wrapper and snapped off a block of chocolate, not indulging in too much to avoid affecting his performance in this afternoon game, instead deciding to save it for later.

"Obrigado cara eu precisava disso" the golden-eyed teen thanked once more, looking at the man he considered an older brother. "Excuse me for asking, but when are we playing you?" The voice of Julian Loki spoke up, addressing Akira directly for the first time since he had entered. "This afternoon," he replied simply smiling at the buzz-cut teen, who gladly returned the gesture.

"Ha! Seriously?" Dada asked, to which the curly-haired teen merely nodded. "Looks like we can finally have that rematch huh?" the dreadlocked Brazilian said referring to an old wager the two made before Akira moved to Japan. "Yeah, just don't get too upset when I kick your ass, Dada. You know you're an ugly crier right?" The bronzed teen laughed, his friend's reaction was priceless.

"You think you can beat me?" the fellow Brazilian asked, "Every day of the week," Akira said leaning forward, his confidence in his skills unshakable. "I'm stronger" Dada argued, "And I'm faster and more agile, no offence Dada you're like a bull in a china shop. Not the most delicate, I mean the ice-skating incident is proof enough"

"What ice-skating incident?"

"Can it Blake, it's none of your business! That was one time!"

"Someone's awfully sensitive today"

"Shut up Luna before I come over there and make you!"

"Stop making that face Dada, it's so uncute"

"You too Cavasoz?! What is it pick on Dada day or something?!"

Akira couldn't help but laugh as he watched the chaos unfold but it all came to a halt, as the door to the office opened and in walked Anri Teieri holding the curly-haired teen's beloved headphones. Standing up to greet the woman Akira bowed slightly, "Hello, Anri-Sensei." before walking towards the woman "Thank you for getting me headphones fixed, otherwise I go crazy without them"

"It's not a problem Akira glad I could help, have a good day and good luck with your match this afternoon." with that the woman turned to leave, but Akira stopped her with a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I have a question, when do we find out who made it past the second selection?" the taller asked removing his hand as quickly as he placed it, not wanting the gesture to be seen as inappropriate. "After the match with the world five, why?"

"Is there no chance me finding out sooner?"

"You want to know if Reo and Nagi made it through?"

"Yes,"

"...I shouldn't be telling you this, and I hope you keep it to yourself. They both did make it through, but one of your other friends didn't"

And with that Anri Teieri left leaving Akira both confused and relieved, 'Thank god Reo and Nagi made it through, but who the hell was she talking about?' the bronzed teen thought to himself as he walked back to the table where the five professionals were eyeing him in unabashed curiosity. "What was that about?" Leonardo Luna asked curious as to what was said between, the teen and the woman to cause such a massive shift in mood.

"Nothing, don't worry about it" Akira said in an attempt to downplay the situation, but the concern on his face made that rather difficult. "If you say so! By the way your Japanese has gotten good huh? Also, what's the dating scene looking like for you? Got a boyfriend? Girlfriend? Or let me guess you are one of those people who can't be tied down by nobody, god you're just like me!" Dada said switching the topic of discussion in a heartbeat, leaving the bronzed teen at a loss for words.

"Only reason my Japanese is good is cuz my friend tutors me, otherwise it would still be shit. Uh-um, yeah no not interested in a relationship, or sleeping around," Akira said, face morphing into a look of disgust at what was suggested. "How come?" Leonardo prodded rather liking this new topic of conversation, as Akira's love life seemed to interest him far more than it should. But was quickly shut down by Julian Loki who was having none of it.

"Don't force him to speak about something he's not comfortable with" The French men said, acting as the golden-eyed teen's saving grace. Which he was very appreciative of, but decided to end the topic himself. "Are you getting laid so little, that the only thing you have left to do is ask a seventeen-year-old about their sex life? Really Dada, makes you sound like a first-class freak don't you think?" Akira retorted, his words leaving his fellow Brazilian at a loss for words, and his fellow pros breathless as they laughed until their lungs hurt.

"Hey, you know I didn't mean it like that!" Dada whined, "I know, I know" The curly-haired boy laughed wiping a non-existent tear, but all friendliness and joy exited his body after hearing his friend's next question. "By the way have you talked to Lavinho recently?"

"No why would I?"

"I just thought-"

"Just thought what?"

"That you would have forgiven him after what happened-"

"Drop the topic, Dada"

"Akira-"

"Now!"

"você não deveria se apegar ao passado Akira aprenda como enterrar a machadinha"

"Eu enterrei a machadinha, mas guardo mapas de onde os coloquei"

"você não o perdoa?"

"Depois do que ele fez ao meu pai? Nunca. I'd best get going, gotta start getting ready for the match. See you on the pitch, meus amigos"