BLUE LOCK: UNDYING FLAME

[PREVIOUSLY]

Neron stopped walking, he turned towards his sister; looking at her for a few minutes. Then a chuckle emanated from the boy, a smile making way to his face. "You're right. I'll talk to Shinji, as a friend I'll try my best to cheer him up even though he doesn't agree." He said confidently, a plan forming in his head.

Alina had a small smile on her face, which she quickly hid so he couldn't see it. "Well that's good. Now let's hurry up and go home, or else we'll miss dinner." She said, walking past him.

Neron smiled, following his sister. A determined look on his face, he was going to help his friend out of the state he was in.

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The next day arrived. Neron woke up early again today. Quickly wearing his uniform, and putting his kit in his bag, he left the orphange to school. A determined look on his face to help his friend.

As always, Neron met Baro on the way to school. The two greeted each other good morning. The two reached school in a few minutes, and the same as yesterday-Shinji was there training again.

Neron immediately walked up to Shinji, a smile on his face but his eyes conveyed a sense of seriousness in them. "Hey Shinji can we talk." He asked the boy.

Shinji, who was doing some shooting drills, turned in annoyance to who interrupted his training. "What is it?"

Neron took a deep breath to collect his thoughts, "Look Shinji, you need help. You've not been acting like before, not been talking with your friends, your team. You're burning yourself out man." He said, a concerned look on his face.

Shinji's eyes furrowed at the statement, "I'm not, now if that's all you have to say, I want to get back to practice.

Neron's brows furrowed, "Shinji wait-"

"I said just leave me alone." Shinji barked out, getting back to his practice.

Neron sighed in frustration, "Damnit" he muttered under his breath. He looked at Shinji's receding back, his eyes burned in determination, not willing to give up on his friend.

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It was lunch period. Neron sat at a table in the cafeteria, joined with Baro, Daichi, and Hayato.

Neron looked down at his food in frustration, he has been trying to talk to Shinji all day, but the boy has just been avoiding him. He felt he wasn't doing enough as a friend.

Daichi looked at the frustrated Neron, "Hey Neron, what's wrong?" The boy asked.

Neron sighed, "It's Shinji, I've been trying to talk to him throughout the day and help him, but he's been ignoring me." He answered.

Daichi's eyes flashed in understanding, he too has been also trying to talk to the boy, but no luck at all.

Neron threw his hands up in frustration, "I'm just trying to help him. If he keeps holding unto his frustration, it's going to become much worse. But how can I help him though?"

Daichi sighed, a troubled look on his face. "I'll try to talk to him again, I've known him the longest." He spoke up, a determined look on his face.

Neron smiled, nodding at the boy. "We're with you Daichi, now let's help our friend guys."

Hayato nodded as well, though he's not as close with Shinji as Daichi, Shinji is still a friend and part of the team, so he would help.

Neron looked towards the last person, Baro, who was eating some pudding.

Baro looked up, seeing the determined looks from everyone, he sighed. "Fine, I'll help." He said.

Neron nodded.

After school, Shinji was just about to leave school but then the figure of Daichi appeared in his way. Shinji's eyes furrowed in annoyance, "Oh, it's you. Daichi what are you doing here? I've already told you guys I'm fine and too leave me alone." He said, looking to go past the boy, but Daichi didn't allow that.

"I can't let you leave like this, until I get the old Shinji back, until I get my best friend back." Daichi answered stubbornly.

Shinji's eyes furrowed, "What's that supposed to mean. Look, I'm leaving."

"Is this what Hana would want Shinji?" Daichi said.

The hallway suddenly got silent. Shinji turned abruptly to Shinji, his eyes blazing in anger. "What did you say!!!"

Daichi, not backing down, glared at Shinji. "I know you heard me. What would Hana say now. You keep blaming yourself for her accident when you know you could t possibly do anything, now will you forget your promise to her-"

"Shut up!!! You don't know me and never ever mention my sister again." He shouted, lifting Daichi against some lockers.

Daichi stared straight at Shinji, "So would she want this, huh? Her brother getting frustrated over a loss, or would she want her brother never to back down even through failure huh?. Shinji answer me!!!" Neron shouted back.

Shinji glared at Daichi, his teeth gritted. His mind brought up a memory from years back, when his sister was still fine.

Flashback

We see a young Shinji and Hana in the backyard of their house playing football.

Shinji dribbles past Hana, then scored a goal; celebrating it

Hana cheered even though she just conceded a goal. "Yay, big bro is the best."

Shinji smiled at the compliment.

"That's right sis,one day you'll watch me on the biggest stage." Shinji grinned at himself, carrying Hana on his shoulders.

Hana cheered, "I can't wait big bro, promise me." She held out her hand for a pinky promise.

Shinji gave her a childish grin, "Promise." He also gave a pinky promise.

FLASHBACK END

Seeing that his words looked to be getting to the boy, Daichi continued. He put his hand on Shinji's shoulder, "Shinji, I know that game frustrated you, I was frustrated as well. But we move on from that, if you keep shouldering that burden, you'll eventually crack. That's why we're a team, we work together." He explained to the boy, hoping Shinji would be back.

Shinji's eyes were covered by his hair, then a chuckle escaped his lips, tears flowing from his eyes. "Sorry I've been a bad friend?" He asked

Daichi chuckled a bit, "It's okay, I forgive you and the team as well, but you do have to tell them."

Shinji chuckled as well, giving the boy a small hug before pulling away. He cleaned his tears, "Thanks" he said, smiling at Daichi.

Daichi grinned, "No problem, what are friends for." His hand out for a fist bump.

Shinji grinned back, bumping his fist with Daichi's.

Shinji and Daichi walked out of the school. Shinji's eyes widened slightly, as he saw his friends outside school. He walked up to them before bowing, "I'm very sorry for my behavior over the past days. I promise I'll try to be better." He said.

Neron smiled at the boy, bringing him into a hug. "Just good to have the old shinji back now, hahah." Neron joked, earning chuckles from the rest.

Sophia and the rest smiled, already accepting the apology. Receiving hugs from the rest, the team was finally back to how it was.

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The team worked hard thoughout the days leading up to their next march. Neron, Baro, Shinji, Daichi, And Hayato all came early during the day to train with each other. A family-like bond forming between the five.

Time flew quickly and before they knew it, Saturday was finally here. Their second match of the Tensei cup.

The two teams were warming up for the game.

"HELLO FOLKS AND WELCOME TO MATCHDAY 2 OF THE TENSEI CUP. I'M AKIRA

"AND I'M TARO"

"AND WE'RE YOUR COMMENTATORS FOR THE GAME. MATCH BETWEEN SEIRNA AND SENDAI, BOTH TEAMS ALREADY ON A LOSING MOMENTUM AND CANNOT AFFORD A LOSS IN HOPES OF QUALIFYING." Akira said

"THAT'S RIGHT AKIRA, BOTH TEAMS ABSOLUTELY CANNOT AFFORD TO LOOSE. LETS GIVE YOU THE LINEUPS FOR THE GAME

WITH SEIRAN, THE LINEUP IS A 3-5-2 WITH:

GK- Kazuki

RCB- Takumi

LCB- Ryo

CB-Daichi

CM- Ton

CM- Takeshi

AM- Shinji

RM- Hayato

LM- Neron

ST- Ryoji

AND WITH SENDAI, THE LINEUP IS 5-2-2-1, WITH:

GK- Rennosuke

LWB- Koki

RWB- Akihiro

LCB- Sota

RCB- Kenzo

CB- Hiroto

CM- Kento

CM- Sota

AM- YOSHITO

AM- Akihiro

ST- Naoki

THAT'S THE LINEUPS FOR THE GAME." Taro said.

Back on the pitch, the two teams lined up. After the coin toss, SENDAI would start the game. Takeshi was captain for SEIRAN, whilst Naoki was their captain.

After the two lined up, the referee set his watch and blew his whistle for kickoff. "PHEEEEEEEW!!!" The game starting off.

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A/N: Okay, that's this chapter done. Quite an emotional one at that, but at least Shinji is back to his usual and determined.

Will Neron and co loose this game and be eliminated or will they win, heck will it even just be a draw. Who knows, read and find out.

Also, do throw me some power stones while you're at it. That is if you are enjoying the book.

Stay blessed 🙏