Six

Axel in the lockers during halftime breathing heavily covered in sweat like he poured a bucket of water over his head, struggles to speak breathing heavily. His heart is screaming at him with harsh pangs of pain.

Katsuki looks at the coach who is stressing his brain with coming up with ideas. He scoots closer to Axel, "You sure you can keep this up?"

"Yeah, you're running yourself ragged. That's not how we got the winning goal. Iris, you had a pretty solid strategy in the first half that I noticed was effective against their wild running." Izumi, the teams ball boy comments, and flinches when all eyes are on him. He has never spoken to the team members before, he usually talks to the ones in his age group helping them study before and after practice to keep their grades up.

"I'm all ears Lin." The coach comments, he is out of ideas, even the ball boy's advice could be better than nothing. His players are exhausted.

Izumi is surprised the coach knows his name. He shakes his head focusing on the explanation.

Nijiro, the team captain gives him a pen, "Write it down if you can."

Izumi takes the pen and goes to the drawing board, "Uhm, the goal Natsu scored went very smoothly because of Katsuki's playing style. He's the only one not tired because he has been conserving his energy, he also has been one touching the ball this entire game, but has touched the ball the most because he always positions himself strategically. He only runs when it's necessary."

He draws circles and a goal post, "The first goal was made because of Katsuki. He one touched the ball to Axel, who one touched it to Nijiro, who one touched it to Rudy, who one touched it to Natsu who was coincidentally in front fo the goal and kicked it into the net. You guys can play a slower direct opposite game like Katsuki has been, but it means taking out the most exhausted players and replacing them with players who are best at passing, even if they are bad at everything else."

"Put on the uniform than." Nijitlro says leaning on a locker. Izumi is good at passing but bad at everything else.

Izumi assumes he's joking and looks at Katsuki giving him a jersey, "What? I can't play."

"You train with us, you might not be good at many things, but you pass well." Nijiro looks at the coach.

"Okay, but I need better explanation of the game play." The coach looks at his team motivated enough by a strategy that tells them to run less.

Izumi gulps nervous, "Uhm, well, Axel will have to stay and keep running. Everyone always runs to keep up with Axel, that's something I noticed. Katsuki never pays attention to the ball, he always positions himself close to a teammate, more focused on you guys, and because you guys trust him, when you're in trouble for some reason the ball will always go to him. Even Rudy who was in front of the goal, he panicked and instead of scoring he the kicked the ball halfway across the court to Katsuki." He draws the shot for everyone. Recalling where everyone was standing and where their opponents were standing. Breaking down what the game looks like from the side lines.

Axel calm and listening to Izumi takes his shirt off.

"By the way this team is not fast, they have a strategy, they studied you guys before this game. They don't know what to do about Rudy, who is our second fastest player on the team. It's his first game, they struggle with dealing with him, and put their best players on Katsuki, they expected to make this a one on one battle, but Katsuki completely changed his play style and their best dribbles are nullified. They also put their fastest players near Axel, but Rudy is fast and assists Axel by running behind him catching the passes he can't get or running between Axel and a player, in basket ball they have a move called a screen. When Rudy runs between Axel and a player he acts as a screen stopping them from getting to the ball, the problem is that Rudy never scores. By now we would have 3 goals or at least 3 missed goals." He looks at Rudy directly, he was frustrated from the side lines when he passed for someone else to score, "You are flawless at passing. Think of scoring as making a pass at a specific area of the net."

Rudy looks at his teammates just as shocked as he is to find out he could have scored, "I thought I couldn't score because it's my first game."

Axel pulls Rudy's hair, "Stop thinking, that's what we have Lin for. Fucking score. This is not your previous club, goal scoring is not for special people here. If you're in front of the goal, take the shot."

Rudy looks down, "Sorry, I'll do my best in the second half."

Izumi looks at the uniform, "I'll take Katsuki's position. He should move to mid field."

The coach sighs, "Pay attention to each other more than the ball. That's the key to this strategy working. If you run and behind you or behind you there's no one, who will you pass to?"

Nijiro nods, "Got it coach."

"All I heard is that I have to run more." Axel burning up holds his head.

"As long as you run when it's necessary you can survive the second half." Katsuki looks at the score. 1 to 1.

"Captain. Go help Lin warm up. I will refine the formation. We need to chase the win. We win here we're going to finals." The coach tries to motivate the players.

Katsuki clutches his knee, he played the entire season with his injured knee. One more game, they can sub him out for the finals, but winning today is important.

"Thanks a lot Lin. We needed a fresh perspective, I was too focused on their speed. I didn't think playing at a completely opposite pace could be a solution." The coach leaves the room after thanking Izumi, since Izumi is going to warm up, the coach has to do Izumi's job of preparing bottles, water, and towels. He signals the medics to go in and assess the team.

Izumi smiles wearing the uniform. His brother is here, it feels good knowing his brother will be seeing him on the field, not the side lines.

Katsuki looks at Natsu taping his knee.

"I noticed you flinched when my bad pass hit your knee. Sorry, everyone's legs are tired from running. I didn't mean to do that." Natsu looks at someone else taking a second roll of tape.

"It's cool." Katsuki smiles at Izumi, "Lin, Thanks." He was feeling guilty for not running like the coach said, thanks to Izumi he is not seen as the weakling holding the team back.

Nijiro looks at Axel. He knows they should sub him out, but they need him, "Rudy, you better run, if you scored we would be subbing Blake out."

"You aren't?" The new medic asks.

"No." Axel stands up forcing himself to stay on his feet.

"You kids realize this is not a premier league game right? You're a bunch of high schoolers, you can't break yourselves like this." The medic attempts to enlighten them to the best of her ability.

"Lady, thanks for the advice, but we just have to win this game. We made it this far, we can survive one more game." Natsu stands up after taping Katsuki's knee.

Axel notices his ring glowing and hides his hand behind his back. He nods agreeing with Natsu, "I'll be fine." He feels his dizzy spout going down.

The concerned medic looks at her superiors ignoring the matter, "Aren't you going to say something?"

"We can't do anything, we don't have reserves. These are the reserves. The entire main team came down with some strange illness."

"Forfeit." She comments and winces when all the boys glare daggers at her, the murder in their eyes terrifies her. She can't help but gasp utterly taken aback by how threatening they are, "They are children, they can play again."

"The coach cares for these boys, he would call the game off if they couldn't keep playing. Just do your job as a medic."

Katsuki quickly leaves having an opportunity to escape a medical check. They will notice his injuries and that could ruin the teams morale.

Axel goes outside warming up with Izumi. He feels his energy coming back. He looks at the ring and takes it off. If it glows during a game they will accuse him of cheating.

Izumi takes off his shirt and his teammates try to write his name on it with clothing paint. He smiles, he expected them to be arrogant and mean, but they are very thoughtful and nice. He feels bad for assuming the worst of them.

Nijiro slaps Izumi on the back as hard as he can, "Focus."

Izumi coughs, "Ow!" He's certainly not used to their roughness. He has brother's, but they are not so physical and rough as the soccer boys.

"Dude you broke him!"

"You okay Lin?"

Nijiro winces, "Oops."

Izumi stands up straight, "I'm going to die here."

Everyone laughs.

"You're funny man." Nijiro smirks, "Now pay attention."

"Got it." Izumi warms up with the team. Everyone came out to join him.

Jet smiles, "Wow, our team is good. After all that running they still have energy. The way they walked off the field after the first half ended, I thought they were physically defeated."

Luna smiles, "That's why I support this team. We're the best!" She cheers as loud as she can.

Jet looks at Helia sleeping through the whole thing, "I guess gathering intelligence is exhausting."

"What?" Luna asks.

"Nothing." Jet smiles, his first game has been exciting, "This is really fun."

Luna smiles, "Is this really the first time you've been at a live game?"

"It's the first time I'm watching a game of soccer." Jet listens to the other supporters singing and the opposing team singing louder, "Now it's a battle between fans?!"

"Yes!!" Luna sings at the top of her lungs.

Bridget who knows Absolutely nothing about the sport just holds up her placard.

Hilary glares at Luna, watching enviously as she dances with Jet. She looks up and notices Jet's father is here, seated at the very back. She faces the front wondering why he is here.

Milton sitting next to Akira looks at him watching his son, "You couldn't let him out of your sight for an hour?"

Akira sits back, "He's my only son, and with the things happening between White Lotus and Blackwood, I am not comfortable with him being here without a single guard."

"His guard is here. Just came in casual clothing. He's over there. In a purple cap." Milton smiles.

Akira looks around, "It's his day off, why would he do that?"

"He takes protecting your son seriously. Jet too is also surrounded by his chosen Alpha's, he's in good hands." Milton tries to ease Akira's mind.

"He is my only son. Patu knows how important Jet is to me. I have confidence in you, all of you, I know my son chose you all for a reason. I don't trust my enemies." Akira looks at Helia sleeping, "But .. you make me anxious."

Milton laughs, "Helia is the last person to be seen at a place like this. He came for your son, have a little faith."

Akira looks around, "Alright. I'll give him some space, but after you get your powers, until than, I'm not leaving my son's side."

Milton nods, "Alright." He picks up a random child that ran towards him, "Who might you be?"

Akira looks at the child covering her eyes when her mother pretends she can't tell where her child is.

"Oh, here you are. Found you."

She giggles, "You found me."

"Yes I did."

Milton gives the child back and looks at Luna dancing. He smiles, she's influencing everyone around her with her vibrant energy.

"Shouldn't you be dancing over there?" Akira asks.

"No. I would never be caught dead dancing." Milton is a Black Aces supporter. They already made it to the final. If Luna's team wins they will be enemies at the finals.

Milton notices a Black Aces player watching the game. He narrows his eyes watching his eyes on Luna, "Well, maybe I can dance with my girlfriend this game." He stands up leaving Akira confused about what changed his mind.

Milton hugs his girlfriend possessively, sending a message to the boys charmed by her energy she's not available.

Jet looks at Milton keeping Luna to himself and Bridget hooks their arms together.

"Someone was a little jealous I see." Bridget comments.

Jet nods, "Clearly."