Eight

Axel after the game looks at Izumi spread out on the floor and smiles, "If it wasn't for you, we would have lost. Those guys are fast but they couldn't keep running that fast the entire 90 minutes. They eventually got tired." He looks at Jet at the door with local reporters, "I'll be right back."

Rudy who scored 2 goals during the final extra time is shocked when the reporters want to interview him, "No, really I am not the reason we won today. Lin is the one who told us to change our play style. There isn't anything I did." He looks at Izumi thoroughly exhausted.

Axel walks towards Jet, "Yow, you actually came."

"I said I would. The game was absolutely incredible. You were great." Jet looks at Rudy, "You could have scored more, why are you so scared of scoring? You never missed a single shot you went for, your gift for accurately gaging distance, angles, and ability to take the ball exactly where you want it to go is wasted."

Rudy looks at Jet, "Sorry, I'll work on that."

"Where's Lin?" Jet asks, "He was very impressive. He just does not communicate with the team when he notices a problem."

Axel laughs, "He's lying on the floor, I'm afraid all he can manage is breathing at the moment."

"I look forward to the finals, I just wanted to remind you that I'll be coming to get you at 1AM for the trip to the island. There's no need to bring anything. Our rooms are already prepared." Jet smiles at Rudy, "Good game."

"Thanks." Rudy looks at Nijiro giving him a thumbs up. It feels good to be acknowledged as a good player. He never thought someone from an impoverished community like him would be scouted for a junior league that plays matches that are taken as serious as the big leagues, that he even gets interviews, "I'm just glad I came to this club. I almost declined the offer. I thought it was a scam."

The reporter is left speechless that is irrelevant to the question she asked.

"Bye." Rudy walks away still in his own world. He spins around the room to his locker, "Wow, I never knew soccer could be so fun."

"That's what you say after every game Rudy, than you cry the most during training." Axel jokes as he walks towards his locker.

"Playing games is fun, but training sucks." Rudy responds and takes his toiletry bag, "I've never smelled this bad after a game. Today was tough."

"That's true. I'm glad there's 2 weeks before our final game. We need the recovery." Nijiro sighs, "It's my last year as a player on this league, I really want to win this."

"Black Aces won't be easy to beat. Iris has the sudden injury too." Natsu looks at Katsuki in pain.

"What kind of voodoo is this? All my best players just suddenly have serious injuries." The coach sighs, "Lets get you to a hospital son." He calls the medic.

Katsuki feels bad, he's not sure what to do, he was injured before coming here. At his old school, when the other players found out he was recruited by the Lions Youth League, they jumped him and broke his leg. He has been secretly going for physiotherapy and training helped with his recovery, he got the opportunity to play and his doctor said he might aggravate his injuries but he couldn't let the chance pass him by, and it paid off. He just hopes his injury is not too serious, he was careful, thinking about his future career, but the pain is so unbearable. His stomach is churning from the fear he may have damaged it too much.

"This looks serious." Natsu who has been playing closely to Katsuki and never noticed a thing is most concerned, for him, Katsuki's injury is a sudden occurrence, an overnight phenomenon. He hugs Katsuki crying from the pain.

The whole team looks concerned, they can't even enjoy their victory.

"Chin up! He will be okay. Everyone else who had this same illness is doing well too." Nijiro stands up straight, "You better not make his victory be all for nothing by losing! You don't get to blame Iris when we lose against the Black Aces! Now let me hear you make noise like champions!!" He looks at each player one by one acknowledging their presence and listening to their loudest howl, "What did you say?!!" He yells louder and they roar in unison, "I'm sorry what did you say?!!" He smiles, the second roar had some life to it, and the third too, "What are we?!"

"Lions!!"

"Who are we?" Nijiro crosses his arms, the spirits in the room are lifting.

"Lions!!"

"Who won this game?!" He raises his fist in victory.

"Lions!!"

Roaring feels the room.

Everyone stops hearing the sound of banging and Izumi is slamming his locker door repeatedly.

"I'm sorry, but I can't do this. I'm too exhausted." Izumi winces, thinking he ruined the vibe.

Everyone laughs including Katsuki and that's enough for everyone else.

"Come back stronger Iris." Nijiro smiles.

"Will do." Katsuki looks at Izumi, "Make sure the mouse doesn't die in the next game."

Izumi gasps, "Oh, I'm so not playing. No way."

Everyone laughs at Izumi accepting being the mouse.

"We'll try our best not to kill him." Axel pats him on the back and Izumi falls, "Uhm, sorry man."

"Take me to the hospital too." Izumi stays on the ground, he doesn't like physical contact, exercise, and it's even more so with a group.

"At least shower first. You guys stink and the ladies will be waiting outside for you." The coach says leaving with the medical crew taking Katsuki to a hospital.

Nijiro looks at Axel, "What did Jet say?"

"Reminding me about a trip." Axel smiles, "Can you take your best friend's girlfriend home? Akira kidnapped him again."

Nijiro nods, "Sure. Need a ride?"

"I need one to the train station." Rudy says.

"Cool. I'll give you a ride." Nijiro takes his toiletry bag, "Little mouse, pass out in the shower man."

"After a nap."

"Well lock up, and there's a tall angry dude at the door looking for you."

Izumi jumps up running to the door to see his older brother.

"Did he seriously get up that quickly." Nijiro gasps.

"Must be his brother. I heard him say his work keeps him away a lot. There are times where he spends 3 months without seeing him."

"Damn, that's harsh." Nijiro says.

"He works for White Lotus. Why is that news to you?" Rudy asks.

"Well, he must be a top ranking officials personal guard. They work absurd shifts." Nijiro yawns, "Pay is worth it though, or they wouldn't commit to it."

"Why is he such a softie if his brother is a soldier? Doesn't white Lotus hire the best of the best?" Natsu asks curious.

"Izumi is more of a nerd, or did you forget he helped all of you dummies with your home works and projects? He also passed the Royal Academy entrance exam, he is in the top 10." Nijiro says, "You guys are joining and I'm leaving."

"If we win, it will be our first Win since the leagues debute 8 years ago." Rudy smiles, "Can we win?"

Nijiro sighs, "I don't know. We beat the odds playing with our rugged last minute put together team, so if we could make it this far despite the issues we faced, I think it means something guys. We may be the strongest team in the league, and that could be why the first string was attacked. Our training. Our focus, our coach, even the ball boy is good enough to keep up with the team. So go home and remember, that even when we were handy capped we made it this far."

His words inspire confidence and respect in his team. Everyone goes to the showers in good spirits and looking forward to the next game with determination and eagerness.

Nijiro in the shower where no one can see him rests his head on the wall exhaling. It has been mentally straining for him getting to this point. Keeping the team together has been hard, games require him to over exert himself to compensate for the new members short comings. He is physically exhausted and mentally defeated. He has no confidence in winning the next game, and with Katsuki gone he feels worse, their odds are significantly reduced.

He closes his eyes controlling his breathing. Reminding himself of what he told the team repeatedly, there is just one more game left. Despite issues and challenges, he made it here. For him that is a win, and he has already been scouted by many colleges. He has won, but he wanted to be the one who led the come back win, and brought a second trophy to the team.

"One more game. One more win."