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Chapter Text

5 years old isagi yoichi was the result of an affair between a Japanese idol, isagi mai and the infamous French footballer, Noel Noa. It was a pure mistake, Noel Noa was drunk on victory and went clubbing with his team the day he won the Champions League, and coincidentally, bumped into isagi mai when he was completely intoxicated from the alcohol. The two parted ways after that night, never to meet again, until 2 years later.

The winter two years later, isagi mai called Noel Noa to give custody of the child to the French man due to financial difficulties. The footballer, although reluctant at first, eventually agrees to take full custody of his son, isagi yoichi.

When noel Noa first met isagi yoichi, the child was just a new-born, at the age of one year old, isagi yoichi could not speak, only being able to interact with people through hand gestures. Yet, despite his incapability to speak and young age, the child was highly intelligent. While other children would cry and make a fuss over small things, isagi yoichi would rarely cry, even when he was displeased over something. This trait of his definitely made parenting ten times easier for Noel Noa, who had zero experience in taking care of a child. The young isagi had also taken resemblance to his mother, having dark blue hair and bright cornflower blue eyes, nut barely having any similarities to his father, other then some of his facial structures.

Noel Noa struggled to manage his football career and taking responsibility for his son when he first took over the young boy. Being new to all this parenting stuff, Noel Noa had faced many difficulties and had no one to turn to and did not want to hire a nanny in fear of news of isagi yoichi being Noel Noa’s son. While that is true, the professional did not want to expose isagi yoichi to the public at such a young age. He had seen many other celebrities announce their children to the public and face negative backlash. Noel Noa could not care less about people hating him, but he would not allow anyone to mistreat his blood son. He may not have been there for isagi yoichi for the first year of his life, but nevertheless, Noel Noa would do his best to be a good father for the mixed-blood child.

Maybe it was natural fatherly instincts (something that my father never had), or out of guilt, Noel Noa never let isagi yoichi be alone by himself, especially in foreign places, nor had he ever said no to whatever isagi yoichi wanted. Growing up financially challenged, noel noa had promised to himself long before that if he ever had kids, not once would he ever allow his child to suffer in the slightest, he would grant every wish isagi yoichi has, even if they seemed impossible, noel noa would find a way.

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When Isagi Yoichi turned 3, Noel Noa decided it was time to introduce the young boy to peers of his age. being only a few months away from starting school, Noel Noa worried that the mixed-blood child would have trouble communicating with the people his age. Isagi yoichi has only interacted with full-grown adults, Noel Noa’s teammates and friends, but other than that, no one else. So, Noel Noa had arranged a play date with the son of a teammate of his. However, despite the arrangements going well, the playdate itself was the challenging part.

Isagi yoichi had always been hypersensitive to the things around him, being able to sense the changes in weather, seeing things as small as mosquitoes from far away, being able to hear much better than the children his age, isagi yoichi has become extremely wary of his surroundings, people included. Noel knew this well enough to warn his teammate’s son when he came over to play.

“Hello, I'm Noel Noa, yoichi’s father. You’re Julian Loki, right? Thank you for coming to play with yoichi, make yourself at home. Please be careful to not make too much noise when playing later, yoichi is a bit sensitive to loud noises, ok? Have fun.”

The 3-year-old Julian did not know what sensitive meant at that time, but he did know to not make big noises. And while the young French boy did everything to not make commotions, isagi yoichi would still end up being triggered by the loud sirens of a toy police car. Noel and his other teammate had rushed to the scene to calm isagi and the now also crying Loki down. The first playdate had not gone well, but it was still somewhat successful. By the end of the playdate, the two children would be able to bond over their love for football.

By the time Loki had to leave, the young French boy clings on to isagi, begging his father and Noel Noa to let him stay with isagi. Pulling Loki away from isagi was a hard task that took a lot of convincing and bribing and a promise to meet isagi every Saturday for playdates.

That day, isagi yoichi made his first-ever friend.

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With the 2 years spent together with his father, Noel Noa, the father and son would bond together over a collective interest, football. The first time isagi yoichi was exposed to the sport was when he was four years old. Noel was sitting on the couch beside isagi watching the Champions League playing on the TV, reviewing his and his opponent's plays now that the season had ended. Obviously, Noel Noa led his team to victory, being one of the best players in his generation, Noel Noa has almost a perfect 100% win rate.

4 years old isagi sat beside his father silently watching the Noel Noa on the screen. It was fascinating, the way the older French man would manoeuvre his way around his opponents, the way he could work perfectly with his teammates yet still make sure that the spotlight was on him. Noel’s selfishness was something that isagi yoichi had never seen before. In front of him, Noel had always been the dotting father who would do anything for him at a moment's request. Noel’s ego was something…fresh, something completely new to him.

Noel would see the light in isagi’s eyes as he watched the intelligent plays shown on the screen. That moment was when Noel knew that isagi had potential, potential to be the best. And Noel Noa would do anything to ensure that isagi would become the best. As long as isagi wanted it, Noel would do everything in his power to make it come through.

It was only when isagi turned 5 that he finally asked Noel to train him in football.

“Papa, can I train with you?” the small child, who had been watching Noel Noa train for ages, finally asked, after much contemplation.

Noel paused in his tracks, he had been waiting for isagi yoichi to ask him to train him for quite some time, and now, he finally had the opportunity to act out his plan, to make Isagi Yoichi the best. Without questions, Noel agreed and started teaching isagi the basics of football. Isagi yoichi was a natural, he could grasp onto the basics incredibly fast and would be able to copy Noel’s movements, from basic passes to the fundamentals of dribbling, isagi yoichi could do it all.

Noel knew he had struck gold as he watched the young isagi practice the basics. He saw the way isagi yoichi would pay close attention to every movement that he made when demonstrated it to him. Isagi yoichi made Noel Noas the proudest father in the entire world, and the young child would continue to make wonders. isagi yoichi would be the one to devour them all.

Chapter Text

As time passed, noel noa would quickly come to realize how much of a genius isagi yoichi was. His brain was like a puzzle, piecing together information every second of every day, managing to shock and amaze many of his peers and superiors. Noel had detected his high intelligence when he first taught isagi how to do a cut back. To perform a cut back, one needs to use the foot furthest from the defender and use the top outside edge of your foot to cut the ball back. that was what was told to isagi. After only having to explain and demonstrate it once, isagi would perfectly replicate the cut back that noel showed him. While a cut back may be a basic skill, for a five year old to perfectly copy it on his first try, it was definitely something not everybody could do.

And as isagi yoichi continued to gain new information and mastering the basics of football, noel would soon come to conclusion that he was not fit to teach isagi. He may be able to demonstrate to the mixed-blood how to perform out high level skills and how to rationalize his thoughts to pick the best option during a real life situation, noel knew he wouldn't be able to teach isagi the most important part of becoming the best. Ego was what guaranteed success in the world of football, and while noel definitely has an unparalleled ego, he was unable to train the young striker to become more egoistic.

However, while noel was unable to do that, he knew someone else who was more than qualified to take over the role of isagi’s coach. Jinpachi ego was his name. A japanese footballer who ranks first in his own country, and most importantly, a master of strategies and the embodiment of ego. Jinpachi ego’s ego was what allowed the man to become one of the best strategists in the entire world, he had the skills and the brains to rival noel noa, and has more than enough rights to ensure the growth of isagi yoichi’s ego.

So, when isagi had mastered foundations of football, noel noa introduced him to ego jinpachi. To say the least, isagi loved the japanese man. and the older? Jinpachi ego absolutely adored the young half japanese child. Isagi yoichi was everything that he could wish for in a child prodigy. Good foundations? Check. Good at adapting and collecting information? Check. ego? Check. Isagi yoichi was just perfect, a new found jewel waiting to be polished into pure perfection.

And so, hell started for the young isagi. The day that jinapchi ego took over his training, isagi thought that the man would be kind on him. After all, he is the son of noel noa, he’s respected all over the world and his son should get the same, if not, some level of respect too, right? Plus, it was how all of noel’s teammates treated isagi, like a prince under the highest level of protection. But isagi thought wrong. Jinpachi ego was rough, he couldn't care less if isagi was the son of his rival and the most respected person in football, all he cared about was isagi becoming better. The japanese man would not hesitate in the slightest to scold isagi and cuss the shit out of him when he sees isagi make rookie mistakes, giving him to room for mess ups and barely anytime to rest.

Isagi would go on without complain. He hated the intensity that his trainings are at, it was insane to think that one of the smartest strategists on earth would think that it would be a good idea for a 5 year old to undergo training that professionals follow. But he did it all with no complain, he knew better to miss the opportunity to become better, and he knew better to talk back to ego. He didn't dare disobey the older, fearing the consequences that could come with it.

Noel would regularly check up on isagi on how training with ego was going. The french man knew that his fried could go a bit far when he has to train others. Noel still remembers the first time he saw ego coaching the new batch of players for the kashima antlers during a practice match against paris saint-germain. He was harsh on them, but noel had hope that jinpachi would have enough integrity to go softer on a child. Clearly, noel was wrong to have faith in the japanese man. Noel was oblivious to the whole situation until one day when noel finally thought it would be wise to watch how the trainings take place.

Being occupied by an interview earlier the day, noel had came to see the training session much later. And the moment he stepped onto the field, he would hear the scoldings of the ramen-loving male

“Isagi yoichi! How many time have i told you to keep your head up when dribbling? Go run one lap!”

And at an instance, isagi dropped all that he was doing and began to sprint around the field. Slowly making his way to Jinapchi ego as he kept his eyes on the young child, noel decided to remind ego about something.” ego, you do realize that yoichi is 5 right? You cant push a toddler into running full on laps whenever he makes a mistake, his physical and mental health would take a toll if this continues”. As he comments on ego’s riduclous training, he signalled for isagi to stop running and motioned for the child to come to his side.

Being displeased with noel sticking his nose in other people’s business, ego scoffed as he mocked the man beside him. “ ‘you cant push a child into tunning laps when he makes a mistake’, then how else is he going to learn to not fuck up? You need to be more strict with isagi, you cant expect him to be the best if he is being babied by you”. The number one looked at ego with a face of disbelief, does he really think that punishments is the way to coach a literal child? Dissatisfied by ego’s methods of coaching, noel takes note to have a proper conversation with the man about the intensity at which the training should be at. Noel wanted isagi to shine, wanted him to be the best, but he would rather isagi never stepping foot on the field than isagi’s own well-being being affected for the sake of achieving.

Nevertheless, noel was definitely pleased at the rate that isagi was improving at. Back before he was under his own coaching, isagi while being ale to copy skills perfectly, was unable to execute skills according to the situation and being unable to think for himself. Now that ego was coaching, isagi has learned to use his brain to piece together all the information he has collected from all the palys he had watched and apply skills accordingly to get around noel to the best of his ability. Unsurprisingly, isagi could not beat noel no matter how hard he tried, noel could see the clear difference between the current him and the old him. This made noel anticipate the future isagi yoichi would have. If he already is this good at such a young age, then how much of a monster would he become when he is older? He would be unstoppable. With noel noa and jinpachi ego by his side, isagi would be able to achieve all he wants to achieve, no matter the price. It is only a matter of time.

.

Being the son of noel noa was hard. The man was barely around most of the time, being occupied by training and other work related stuff, isagi never really got to spend time with his father. Sure, he could understand why his father was absent, but he would still feel the loneliness as time passed by, especially as he is so young, without an adult to be by his side, isagi would often be left alone in a big empty house with no one to talk to. Isagi had toys, lots of them, and he would train l by himself when ego wasn't around, but none of it was enough to fill the void in his heart.

After much contemplation, isagi finally decides to set foot out of his house out of boredom. He knew that noel would not be happy about him leaving without adult supervision, but isagi had a gut feeling that if he goes out that day, something good would happen.

So, isagi set off on his little adventure. With his blue and white bomber jacket, a pair of denim shorts and a little crossbody bag, isagi would explore every corner of his neighborhood with the hope of discovering something interesting. While most of his adventure was dull and overall just boring, isagi would come to find something that would pique his interest.

At the very end of the neighborhood near the garbage disposals, isagi would find a Shadow of a figure, one that looked similar in size as his. Intrigued by his discovery, isagi made his way towards the mysterious figure. Expecting some sort of alien, or some interesting animal, isagi was rather disappointed when he realized it was just a boy.

However, that boy was different from isagi. The boy was untidy, dirty, and outright looked like he was basically just skin and bones. The very opposite of the clean and tidy isagi.

The unknown boy would look up to his visitor with a look that could only be described as a combination of hatred and helplessness. Seeing as the boy had no intentions to talk, isagi would start off the conversation first.

“Hello, I'm isagi yoichi. Who are you? Are you by yourself? You looked like you just got beaten up, what happened to you?”

The boy, bombarded by a ton of questions, looked at isagi with caution before replying “ Michael Kaiser, that's my name. My parents left me a while back, and no I didn't get beaten up, I just look like that cause I fell while trying to hunt for something…”

‘michael Kaiser, what a nice name …’ isagi thought in his head as he observed the boy in front of him. Isagi couldn't understand Kaiser’s situation completely, but he knew what it was like to be abandoned by a family member. So, out of sympathy and curiosity, isagi brought the very reluctant kaiser back to his home.

As the two boys would reach the front gates of isagi’s home, kaiser would look up in awe, and nostalgia. He used to live in a house similar to isagi’s, grand and big. But now, he lives on the streets beside a garbage disposal, left alone to fend for himself. He loathed his parents for what they've done, and swears that one day, he would prove to his parents that leaving him was the worst decision they ever made in their life.

Seeing how kaiser paused as they reached the gates, isagi would grab onto Kaiser's hands and lead him inside to the living room.

“ Papa’s not at home right now so it's just us, do you want to take a shower? I'll give you my clothes, just take what you like from my closet. Are you hungry? I can't make proper meals yet but I know how to prepare snacks. We also have a lot of other stuff like chips, yogurt and candy, just take what you want when you're done with your shower.” Isagi offered generously to the stranger as he made his way to the Kitchen to make a snack platter.

Kaiser, although touched by isagi's hospitality, was completely weirded out by isagi’s behavior. Who would just bring someone you found on the streets to your house and let them do whatever? But either way, Kaiser took up his offer and went to clean himself. Coming down back to the living room, he would be greeted by a plate of a variety of snacks on the coffee table, with isagi sitting on the sofa, seemingly having trouble picking out a show to watch.

Noticing kaiser approaching, isagi scooted to the side of the sofa and motioned for kaiser to sit and handed the plate of snacks to him. “What do you want to watch? I really like one piece but I figured you probably haven't watched it and I don't want to spoil it for you” the mixed-blood asked and he took a handful of popcorn and stuffed it in his mouth.

Taking the tv remote, Kaiser would pick out a show called “the worst witch”, one that's popular In Germany. Isagi would pick up that Kaiser is German, instead of french.

The two boys would sit there watching the show for an hour as they occasionally talked to each other about each other's interest (more of Kaiser's actually), and would later find out that Kaiser also plays football.

As the other episode came to an end, Noel would come home to find two boys, one at the age of 5 and one at the age of 7, sitting on the sofa chatting happily as the tv played a show that Noel could not identify. Confused by the situation, noe would stop the two to get some answers.”yoichi, who is he? Did you leave the house? I told you not to go out without an adult with you right?”. While Noel's tone was not fierce, he was definitely demanding for answers.

Isagi, although afraid that he would get in trouble, would quickly answer to his father's questions “ his Michael Kaiser…and I'm sorry I left without permission, I got bored…anyways, papa, can we pleaaaase let Kaiser stay with us? He really has no place to go and I really want another friend. Please papa?”

The previously once serious noel would immediately melt as isagi pleaded him to let kaiser stay with his puppy eyes that worked miracles. As much as noel wanted to say yes, for legal reasons, noel had to deny isagi's request. Which made isagi sulk on the spot. But noel did help kaiser to find a new foster home not too far away from where they live, and gave kaiser access to their house whenever he wants to play with Isagi. Kaiser, although a little upset he wouldn't be able to live with isagi, is still extremely grateful towards noel for giving him a new family.

Soon enough, isagi would introduce kaiser to loki, who holds the title of isagi's first and best friend proudly. And no doubt, the french boy would forever have a feeling of unhappiness whenever he sees Michael Kaiser, who now wants to claim the title of isagi's most loyal friend, during his playdates with isagi. Kaiser didn't get along with loki well too, not liking how the boy would cling onto isagi every opportunity he gets. But he would never tell isagi that, and neither will loki. They knew that if isagi found out the two hated each other, isagi would be very sad. And god forbids that that ever happens. Hopefully.

Chapter Text

Noel Noa, being the number one striker, has quite a big social circle of other impressive players, many of whom isagi watches religiously. While Noel had worried that someone might spread the word of him having a son, Noel had decided one day that he could start to introduce his closer friends to isagi. So, he made a call to some of them to invite them over. It would keep isagi occupied as Kaiser was unable to come over until the weekends and Loki was overseas with his father for a business trip, and he supposed the adult idiots who were coming over could give the aspiring footballer a few tips and tricks.

Within an hour after his phone call the group of idiot adults started to arrive one by one. The first to come was Lavinho, Spain's ace striker nicknamed the “dance man”. The moment the door was opened for the Spanish striker, Lavinia would run towards the little isagi, completely ignoring the other adult in the room. “Heyyyyyy, look who's here!! I got you a shit ton of snacks. Noel, why didn't you tell me you got an adorable ass kid earlier?” the Spanish man asked as he picked the isagi. While isagi may be ecstatic over the fact that a master striker is here, Noel on the other hand did not look as pleased to have isagi's affection wasted on another man.

“I didn't tell you for a reason Lavinho, now put isagi down, I dont want him to get injured because of your recklessness”

“He's always brooding isn't he?” lavinho asked with a look of sarcasm as he reluctantly put the young child down. Isagi would fawn over Lavinho as the man talked about all his accomplishments and how cool he was, all that isagi already knew but he would still fanboy over his idol because who wouldn't?

But isagi’s affection towards the Spanish man would be short-lived as the other two, one idiot and one somewhat normal, would arrive at his house. Chris Prince, the number two striker, and Marc Snuffy the “crown bringer”. The instant they stepped foot in the living room, isagi would turn his head so fast that Noel worried that his neck was going to snap, and gave the two newcomers all his attention.

“Yo Noel, rare of you to invite us over. Guessing that's your son?” snuffy asked as he greeted the isagi who stood before him and Chris in awe. Chris would hug isagi to the point of near suffocation as his way of greeting, one that Noel is heavily against, making it a rule to not do that to isagi again later on. With the “two normal and two idiots” squad now fully esembled, they had to think of what to do now. Which was extremely difficult. The idiots of the group were suggesting stuff like going skydiving, surfing, and other stupid shit that would be very unsafe for a child to do even with adult supervision. And the two normal ones were suggesting things like arts and crafts and other boring stuff.

While the adults would argue over small matters that they could solve if they would just ask isagi what he wanted to do, the person in question would be found with his hands covering his ears and shutting his eyes in an attempt to shut down the noise. It seems that every adult in the room has forgotten isagi is hypersensitive. The loud shouting from lavinho and chris would make isagi’s ears ring and it makes his brain dizzy and sends signals to his brain to enter fight-or-flight mode.

As much as isagi would love to leave the scene of commotion, he didn't want to be seen as a brat who couldn't stand people behaving like humans would, but he knew he couldn't pick a fight either as that would just get himself into trouble.

Overwhelmed by all the emotions he was facing, isagi would cry silently in his spot, unnoticed by anyone, until Snuffy finally had enough brains to ask the child his opinion to end the pointless arguments.

“Ugh, why are we even fighting over stuff like that. I'm so glad I'm not in the same team as any of you. Isagi, what do you want–” snuffy paused mid-way through his sentence, finally noticing the crying isagi, who was desperately trying to wipe away his tears. This sight could bring the adults into a state of panic. Noel being the one responsible for isagi would swiftly pick isagi up and try to comfort him.

“Yoichi, I'm sorry. Papa got carried away and neglected your needs. Forgive papa okay? We'll go get ice cream and we can go shopping for new toys instead alright?” Noel consoles, doing his best to calm the overwhelmed isagi down with the help of the other three adults. See how easy it is to just come to a decision on what to do? This is why you ask questions when you're lost.

Now that the destination is set on the mall, the squad now makes their way to the mall. With noel driving, snuffy, the only other sensible adult, would be the one who takes charge of keeping an eye on isagi. With the mixed-blood child sitting on his lap, the idiot duo would attempt to cheer isagi up with stupid jokes that isagi did not find funny at all. Snuffy on the other hand, found it very amusing to see isagi unfazed by Chris and lavinho’s antics.

With the footballers all wearing masks and sunglasses (Chris did not bother with the mask cause he wanted to show off his ‘handsome’ face) and noel at the front carrying isagi, snuffy and Chris on his left and lavinho on his right, it looked like isagi was protected by four bodyguards. As they ordered ice cream for isagi and a certain Spanish man, passers-by would occasionally turn their heads to take peaks at the four attractive mens and the absolutely adorable toddler with looks of envy ( I mean who wouldn't, if I was male I want their looks too. Also, can someone agree with me that lavinho is fucking gorgeous??).

Isagi, now with his chocolate mint and matcha ice cream and in a much better mood, would proceed to lead his bodyguards to the toy store. Upon his arrival, isagi would make a beeline towards the puzzle section. Despite his young age, isagi has always been talented in piecing together information, and puzzles help him to train his thought process and reaction speed. And he would challenge himself to finish a puzzle in record time everytime Noel or Ego buys him a new set.

Picking out three new puzzle sets and passing them to Chris for him to hold, Isagi promptly made his way to the plushie section to pick out a new friend to hug and cling onto when he sleeps. It was definitely a cute but weird sight to see as isagi made the two men carry the plushies and have them pick up after his mess as he himself continued to dig for the right plush.

Now you would notice I said two men instead of four, because the other two men ,which I assume that everyone knows who it is, were occupied by the toy guns in the aisle beside the plushie aisle, and have been pretending to fight for the whole duration in the toy store.

Noel had suggested sneaking away from Chris and Lavinho when they aren't watching to get rid of them, but Snuffy would remind him of the possibility of those two getting in trouble. This made Noel forgo his plan entirely. Sometimes he can't believe that those two are some of the best strikers in the world, and that he is friends with them.

But none of that matters as isagi would come to find the perfect plushie for his nightly beauty sleep. And plushie of a red lobster. The plushie was literally bigger than isagi but i guess it's okay because it's isagi and he gets what he wants. With Noel paying for the toys, the footballers would proceed to drag isagi to various different stores to buy him clothing and other accessories that they thought would be cute on isagi. Which they were, obviously, because again, it's isagi.

The day ended at the Noa mansion with heaps of shopping bags, thousands of dollars wasted on ridiculously overpriced clothing, and a passed out isagi, who clinged onto Noel like a koala as he dreamed of football. Though the day was tiring and chaotic for all four of the men, needless to say, they would definitely be hanging out together again just to see isagi happy, even if it means getting death stared by noel every five minutes because they were being public embarrassments.

Why, you may ask? Because it's isagi. Need I say more?

Chapter Text

Years passed quickly for Isagi whose life revolved around football. With Noel and Ego training isagi, he would have had more opportunities to be exposed to the world of football than the footballers his age. With so many opportunities, it would be a matter of time before Ego decides to bring isagi to Japan for a training trip. While ego says it is a training trip for isagi, in reality, it was more of a chance to see how strong isagi was compared to the brainwashed children of Japan who have zero sense of egoism in them.

The teacher and student duo would be overseas for a whole week in Japan. As much as ego hates to be in his homeland for more than a day, the sight of isagi crushing those mindless idiots outweighed his distaste for the country. Isagi knew egos dislike for Japan, but that had not influence him in the slightest. He wasn't familiar with the Japanese football culture so he thought that it would be unfair if he were to make a judgment without experiencing it firsthand. And now, it was a chance for him to understand why ego thought so lowly of Japan.

When he heard that the lanky Japanese male was going to bring his only son to a foreign land, Noel Noa had originally refused to this. Isagi Yoichi was Noa’s only son, his escape from the judgmental and corrupted life of a public figure. Whenever he would come back from training after a long and tiring training day or competition, seeing the young boy and hearing “Welcome home, papa!” was enough to make him forget his fatigue and frustrations. So a whole week apart from the sole treasure of his life is equivalent to spending a week in hell. As Isagi Yoichi’s father, he has every right to decline the offer on behalf of the young boy, but as his mentor, he knows it’ll be the best for isagi if he went. A tiger cannot be trapped in its cage forever, it’ll leave one way or another to get what it wants. And what isagi Yoichi wanted was to be the best, and him staying in his cage would never allow him to achieve that goal. So Noel watched as the isagi get through the boarding gates clinging onto ego’s hand, then returning to his now empty house.

…

When the Japanese mentor-student duo made their way to Ego’s apartment, the younger of the two would start to make observations on the new and unfamiliar surroundings. He noticed how the people behaved, and what their socially acceptable normalities were, and searched the internet for more details on how to fit in better. Isagi would never admit it but he’s deathly afraid of being a sore thumb sticking out especially if he’s alone, so he does extensive research whenever his father or ego would bring him to a new place or meet people of different ethnicities. Just another habit of his that helped him in his football career.

Currently, ego is watching isagi play with an infamous youth football team. It's a completely mediocre team, but despite seeing how shit they are, isagi insisted on playing a 1 Vs 11 match. It would be ridiculous if someone else were to suggest this idea, but this is isagi we're talking about. No matter how impossible it may be, if it's isagi, it's possible.

On the field, it was blatantly obvious that the Japanese team was overconfident. All except for two. they was the reason why isagi wanted to play against a shitty team. The ones who caught his attention were none other than the red-haired and dark blue-haired boys named Itoshi Sae and Itoshi Rin. While all their teammates looked as if they were guaranteed to win, only the two brothers looked alert and ready even during drills. While the boys may not look older than the rest of his teammates, the aura that they gave off told isagi that they were far more capable than the rest of their team, and would probably be a challenge for him.

The game started off with isagi in possession of the ball. Because he has no teammates, isagi did not need to pass the ball to someone else before they started. The Japanese players would quickly crowd towards isagi in attempt to block his way, thinking that that would stop him as he has no option to pass. However, before anyone would even get close to him, isagi had already sprinted down the field, dodging whoever came to stop him. Effortlessly, isagi brought the ball down the field and made his first goal. This would shock the Japanese team tremendously. No one in their right mind would think that one person could beat eleven players, but here isagi was doing so like it was second nature.

Ego watched from the sidelines, smiling creepily to himself. It was clear that isagi was on a whole other level compared to the so-called “best” Japanese youth club. Isagi was personally coached by the best, there was zero chance that anyone his age could beat him.

The game came to an end rather quickly, but according to what Ego said, it could've ended faster. If it wasn't for the itoshi brothers getting in the way all the time, isagi would have been able to devour that team and break them into shambles within minutes.

about to leave the field, isagi was unexpectedly stopped by two figures, one taller and one shorter. Isagi looked at the two brothers blocking his way, waiting for them to say something. nothing came out so they stood there in silence for a minute, before the younger brother finally spoke. “Isagi san, you were really really amazing just now! Nii-san and I were wondering if it would be okay for us to be friends! Don't look at Nii-sans face and think he doesn't like you or anything, he’s just shy to ask you to–”

“Shush rin! Um…like what my brother said, can we be friends or something…?” the older itoshi asked with his face blushing from embarrassment while giving Rin a soft smack on the back of his head. Isagi looked at them in amusement, it was the first time that anyone had complimented him so directly after facing a crushing defeat. Back in France, most people there would give you a dirty look after they lost, so it made isagi feel something different when he heard the compliment from the younger itoshi.

With a glance towards his mentor and a nod of approval from him, isagi would enthusiastically accept their invitation. The three boys would click instantly thanks to their shared love for football. Within a day of interactions, isagi would have bonded with the itoshi brothers. isagi saw the way rin would copy sae’s every move, how their eyes sparkled whenever they talked about football, and how they would stare admirably at him when they thought isagi wasn't looking. isagi thought it’s cute to see the two brothers look up to him as up until now, isagi has always been the one looking up to other players.

Isagi wished that he could stay with the brothers longer, but before he knew it, a week had passed and it was time for him to return to France.

The boys would exchange contact numbers in the hope of staying connected even if one of them was on the other side of the world. Before isagi left, he gave Rin and sae each a keychain of a lobster, his favourite animal, as a token of gratitude for their newfound friendship. isagi was sad to say goodbye to the brothers, perhaps it was because the two of them didn't fight with each other like some other people, but he felt more at peace when with them.

when it was time for isagi and Ego to leave, the brothers would be at the airport sending them off. Isagi could see Rin bawling his eyes out as he waved goodbye to the mixed-blood boy. Sae on the other hand looked indifferent, but isagi swore that he saw sae crying to his mother just before he left.

Now on the plane sitting in his seat, isagi would sulk quietly in the corner of his seat. He was glad that he was sitting in business class with his own compartment, or he would have to deal with the judgement of strangers walking past him. Ego sat in his own seat, staring annoyingly at his student’s dejectedness. He had allowed isagi to become friends with the itoshi brothers so that he could use the two boys for more insight on how exactly they had been trained. He got what he wanted, but he didn't expect isagi to grow an attachment toward the two brothers, hopefully it won't affect his own training.

…

Back in France, isagi would come home to Loki and Kaiser fighting about who missed isagi the most. but isagi couldn't be bothered about them and ran straight to his father. Isagi was no stranger to time away from Noel, but it was the first time that had extended over three days. Undoubtedly, isagi missed Noel the most, but his longing for his father’s affection was short-lived as noel had instructed isagi to begin his training immediately. Isagi supposed that his father was not the best at showing his love and training was just the only way to show he cares, but he would still dread his training session.

Chapter Text

10-year old isagi sat in his seat quietly watching the streets of Marseille. Noel drove in silence, focusing on the road ahead. He knew the way to their destination like it was on the back of his hand, he once was a student taking the same route to get to training too, and now it was isagi’s turn. isagi was scouted last Week after an astounding performance in a match against Saint Etienne. isagi led his team to victory with his flawless gameplay and strategies. it just so happens that many scouters were present at the match and took notice of isagi immediately when isagi took possession of the ball. By the end of the match, isagi had received many invitations to try out matches, but isagi had set his eyes on one team and one team only, Marseille. They were one of the best in the country and had won many junior leagues recently. It Would be most fitting if isagi had joined them, And it just so happens that Noel Noa was once part of this team too

Arriving at the stadium. isagi would walk in with Noel by his side. isagi carrying his shoe bag would look small beside the over 6 feet tall Noel Noa, but that did not matter because the more other people would look down on Nim, the more satisfying it would be to crush them into pieces. And he Was right in his thinking. the moment Isagi walked towards the team, he could see the looks of confusion and arrogance on the faces of the younger Members. But he could tell that the senior members were more alert. Partly because the team has always had strict requirements when scouting so they knew isagi wasn't a player of regular levers, and Partly because of the man beside him. Everybody knew who Noel Noa was, you'll be stupid to play football and not know. So for a newcomer to be accompanied by the greatest striker currently, means that isagi was a force not to be reckoned with.

Noel would leave on his own as he gets ready and proceeds over to the
head coach. Coach Raphael has been coaching for decades and has produced some of the best players, one of them being Noel himself." noa, how nice to see you again! see your son shares the same talent for football with you. Takes me back, to When you first joined.." Coach Raphael continued talking about the days of junior Noel Noa, it was embarrassing to hear his mentor talk about embarrassing old
times.

…

the 14-year-old White-haired boy peered through the doorway of the stadium into the field. His eyes bright and his blood pumping with excitement, he wanted to run onto the field and experience it himself, The blowing of the whistle, the sound of the ball being kicked into the goal post, the sound of your teammates and audience cheering you on after a spectacular goal, noel noa wanted it all. But he couldn't.

He comes from poverty, growing up, he barely had enough to buy food for his parents and him. So There was no way that he could afford to join such a prestigious football club. He discovered the club a year ago and it just so happens that their training grounds were only half an hour away from his home. Hence, Noel had been going to the stadium and watching their training from onar.No words could describe the Strong yearnings he had to run onto the field and play with the team, but he did not.

Someday in the middle of summer, Noel had been Watching The steam train again. The scorching sun would burn the skin of the young boy hiding behind a large pillar. Noel saw the team start their warmup under the instructions of their team captain. it seems like the coach would be late today. starring in awe at the aspiring footballers, Noel was stuck in a trance and failed to notice his surroundings "Hey kid, how much longer are you going to hide here?" a voice came from behind. Noel Jumped at the sudden voice and whipped his head around to see Who it Was. To his surprise and utter horror, it Was The head coach of the team. Noel wanted to run there and then, and it was clear that he was shaking under the gaze of the older man. The coach quickly caught on to the fact that the White-haired boy was terrified of getting in trouble. He didn't bother to calm the bay down, only asking Noel to follow him down to the
field

Noel followed obediently with the coach, he looked timid and small, partly because Of his lack of nutrients but mainly because he was terrified. Noel followed Coach Raphael down the stairs onto the field where he would be passed a pair of old cleats that they had spared in case someone had forgotten to bring theirs. “Put them on and show me what you’ve learned” was what coach Raphael said as he threw the shoes to Noel Noa.

The young boy would obediently do as told. It was an opportunity for him to be seen and he wasn’t going to let it go so easily. Quickly tying his shoelace, Noel would be ready to play. He was put against a junior. His strengths were his speed and agility, noel knew this well as he would see the boy manoeuvre his way around his teammates all the time. It was going to be a tough match but Noel was ready, more ready than he had ever been. The whistle blew with Noel in possession of the ball, he had another junior to team up with for gameplay's sake, so he passed the ball to the guy beside him. His temporary teammate’s strength was his dribbling and accurate passes, an exceptional midfielder. Sprinting across the field, Noel would run forward without looking back. Coach Raphael was dumbfounded by this. ‘ what an idiot, he isn't even trying to communicate with his teammate. Seems like I was wrong about him.’ but the next moment would make coach Raphael take back his words. Noel ran swiftly past his defender, towards the ball. And as if everything had been planned beforehand, the ball came flying words Noel. With Noel successfully trapping the ball midair, he was able to shoot the ball into the goalpost before the goalie could react.

Silence was all there was when the ball went in, then, applause. The junior Noel had gone up against was considered a genius at his age, yet a boy from slumps was able to outplay him. Coach Raphael made his way to Noel with his eyes sparkling as if he had just found the most precious jewel known to mankind. “Boy! What do you think of joining Marseille, you would be an excellent addition to our team with your natural talent for football!” you could hear the excitement in coach Raphael's voice as he attempted to get Noel to join them. Noel was of course elated to be recruited, but after a moment of bliss, he would return back to his usual dull and sad self. He knew that there was no way he could pay for the training, so he left. After that day, Coach Raphael never saw Noel spying on them during training anymore. This would go on for two whole weeks before coach Raphael decided that it would be too much of a waste to let someone with Noel’s talent go just like that. So he went and looked for him. He suspected the boy would be living nearby to the stadium as he was always there for training and most likely living in the poorer side of the city as his clothes would suggest. It was late by the time Coach Raphael started to look for him so he could barely see anything if not for the very little sunlight still up. Not only that but the stench was insufferable too, it made his nose sour. But ultimately, he was able to find the young French boy. He was playing football with his two other friends. It was evident even in the dark that Noel loved the sport deeply even though he knew that he may never have the chance to make it pro. staring at the thorn-up football made him feel all types of emotions that he couldn't explain, and without thinking, he would join in their game of passing. That was one of Noel’s best memories of his whole life, coach Raphael joining in their game, the talk with his parents about his exceptional football talent, the exempted fees covered by coach Raphael himself, the followed up hundreds of training sessions, it all felt fake even now as a thirty plus-year-old professional footballer. Without coach Raphael, Noel knew that he would have never been able to be exposed to the football world, he would probably still be living in the slumps with his parents.

…

"You were truly amazing back then! can't wait to see what your son is capable of!” "He won't disappoint, that much I can promise" Noel Stated As he watched isagi join the official members for warm-up. isagi fit in well with the players. He had me skills to be on par with the seniors of the team. It was evident that when compared to the people his age, he was much better with a Stronger foundation. Like the young Noel Noa, isagi was like a star, shining brightly among the bland and dull sky. He caught the eyes of all Who were there, mesmerising the ordinary and amazing the strong. warm-up continued with the seniors leading the rest. Noel continued to sit beside his old coach, chatting about the past and what was to come in the future. say, noa, what do you plan to do next? you're the best striker now, don't you feel lost on what to do?" Noel stared dully at the young strikers on the field, he didn't know how to answer his coach. He was right, he doesn't Know what to work towards anymore. But he wasn’t afraid, maybe if he was still the little boy living off food scraps, he would freak out, but that’s not him anymore. He was the best striker in the world and father to the next greatest striker, he would figure it out one day, but not now. now he needs to watch isagi as he grows into the monster that he will be in the future.

Chapter Text

" wonderful goal by Noel Noa once again! Ladies and gentlemen this might just be his best game yet!" The announcer went on about how amazing Noel Noa was. None of which isagi was listening to. Sitting at the VIP stand gave him a good view of the field and of all the players. He remembers the first time he sat here. It was Paris-Saint Germain vs FC Barcha. They had won that match. So had the next. And the next next. Noel Noa and his team were known to have an extremely high win rate. The reason was Noel Noa. He was the gold bringer, the luck that was needed to ensure a team's Victory. No one in football didn't know his name. Isagi was glad that his father was this brilliant. He envies, but admires him. Everything about him was amazing. Right now as the final match for the 2024 season played out in front of his eyes, isagi gawked in admiration like he always does and once again is thinking of his father's excellence. Only this time, isagi fears that Noel Noa's success is what caused harm.

Two days ago after a match against Liverpool, someone approached Noel Noa. Isagi was there with him at that time and heard the conversation. The person was a manager from Bastard Muchen, one of the biggest clubs in the European league. His purpose in approaching Noel Noa was to get Noel to join them. Bastard had taken notice of Noel noa long before, but due to unforeseen circumstances, their recruitment process was delayed. They had placed a bid of 800 million, almost double the amount Noel Noa is worth right now. At first, isagi was urging Noel to take the deal and change teams, but as the conversation continued, isagi's ecstaticity clearly diminished.

"As part of this contract, you will have to come to Germany so you can take part in all official training if you want to be a part of the starting team".

Those words struck isagi harder than any bullet could. Noel Noa was cautious from the beginning when the man went up to him. He knew that the contract wouldn't be so easy to get. Even if he was the best player currently in the world, every choice has and will have consequences. So he wasn't fazed when the man spoke those words, he knew he would say something like that. It's expected since most clubs expect you to move, he had to move cities in France back when he first signed his contract with his current club. He instinctively looked down to where isagi stood, he could see the hesitation and disbelief on his face. 'It's better not to go' Noel thought immediately, he couldn't bring himself to accept a better club offer if it meant seeing isagi upset, especially if he was the cause of that unhappiness, that just wont happen. He turned back to the manager, certain of his response, but isagi would cut him off.

" Papa, it's okay, you can go. I know I won't be able to go because of my clown club and all but that's fine. I won't be alone, I have Jinpachi san, kaiser, Loki and their parents to check up on me. So rest assured that nothing will happen when you're away. Just promise to bring back snacks and souvenirs when you come home!" Isagi would exclaim enthusiastically. His displeasure was no longer on his face, replaced with pure pride and confidence. Noel could see through the mask, he could always tell when isagi wasn't feeling well.

Ultimately, Noel accepted the offer under constant pressure from the younger boy. As much as he wanted to sit down with isagi to talk things through to make sure that he was alright on his own, and whether he should cancel the contract, Noel just didn't have time for that. The next day was followed by long hours of gruelling training to prepare for the finals, and finals day came, he left home early to practise before the game. Leaving isagi alone in the house.

The match came to an end. Unsurprisingly, Noel Noa once again led his team to victory. only this time, isagi wasn't cheering for him. He found himself sitting there solemnly staring at the French man as he was approached by interviewers. Isagi left the stadium and headed to his own training fields. It wasn't far since this year the Champions League was in France. It was a short trip to the small stadium, he's taken this route many times. but that day, it felt like isagi was walking for hours as he got lost in his thoughts. He went through his training as usual, not letting his emotions get the better of him as he ran past his defenders with ease. But at the end of the day, isagi would have to go home and meet his father. He was going to leave tomorrow, very soon, but it was what was required of him.

Walking into the living room, isagi noticed how big it really was. He remembers Kaiser gawking at his house the first time he came over, the time that isagi picked him off the streets. He never understood why he was reacting like that, now he does. But not in the 'wow this place is so big, it's amazing!' kinda way like Kaiser, but rather a 'this place is too big, it's lonely' kinda way. Isagi knew Noel was somewhere in the house, probably in his room packing for the move, but he couldn't help already feeling alone. It was horrifying to know that his father, the one who looked after his every need and want, was now leaving him. Isagi thinks he's too harsh to think like this, but it was the truth.

"Yoichi, how's training? Have you eaten yet? I can make you some food if you want" Noel's voice rang from above the stairs. Isagi was going to miss this. The way that his father would dote on him every chance he gets even if he's not good at showing affection, it was comforting to know that someone was there for him. " Yes please" a quick response from the mixed-blood child. He would savour every last bit of fatherly love there was before he bids Goodbye to it.

Classic pasta with sauce and meatballs, a common family meal. The father and son would sit at the table eating in silence. Isagi because he had no words to say, Noel, because he had too much he wanted to say. As they finished up, Noel stopped isagi in his tracks to leave the table " Yoichi, are you sure you're okay with this? I'm perfectly fine with not changing clubs, so if it bothers you that I'm leaving, I can stay." A long silent pause followed. Then isagi spoke "Yeah it bothers me a lot. But there's no way that you're not going. You're the number one striker of today, and now you'll be able to join one of the biggest and strongest clubs in Europe. I'll never forgive myself if you threw this opportunity away because of me. So stop bringing it up and pack up and get ready to leave." Finishing, isagi made his way to the sink, left his plate, and ran up to his room, where he'll spend the rest of his night.

Noel watched as isagi went up the stairs and heard the loud bang as he slammed his door shut. He sighed in his seat. It was hard for him to have a clear head and think things through. Isagi was right, joining bastard munchen would be a life-changing opportunity that no one in the world would miss. But as a father, Noel didn't feel at peace knowing that he was essentially abandoning isagi, like his mother 12 years back. Getting up to get the dishes done, Noel would continue to be in a deep state of thought.

Morning came quick, isagi had school so he left earlier than Noel. Which meant that he most likely wouldn't see Noel when he left. Noel got up only a few minutes later than isagi. He knew the child had woken up already as he was always on time. Dragging himself out of bed was especially hard for him that day, perhaps it was the dread that was starting to weigh in on him. Didn't matter. Noel did his usual routine, by the time he left his room, he was able to catch a glimpse of isagi before he left. He should've left later. Bringing down his two luggages, one for his normal wear and one specifically for football, took forever. Before he left, Noel would do a quick cleanup of the house and leave instructions on how to clean certain things. And finally, leaving behind his card for isagi to use. He would still be sending him money, the card was more like an apology gift for leaving. Nonetheless, that card still contained a hefty sum of money that was sufficient to last isagi a year even if he were to go on massive shopping sprees every day. Part of Noel had actually wished that's what isagi would do so that the child could remember his father in some ways, even if it's not the most conventional way.

Before he knew it, Noel found himself dragging his two luggage with him through the check-in line. He didn't have to wait long since he was flying first class before the weight of the luggage left his hands and was passed on to some airport staff responsible for delivering the luggage. He wishes that he could do that. To pass his emotional and mental weight to someone else and not have to worry about it until the end. With his boarding ticket and passport in his hands, Noel would make his way into the plane comfortably. He looked at the time on his phone, 12.07, ' it's yoichis lunch time...' he thought to himself. He'll regret it later on, but Noel would leave isagi one final text before he left for better or for worse.

"If it ever gets too much for you to handle, pass your weight to me and you won't have to worry about it anymore"

Sent 12.08 p.m.

Delivered 12.08 p.m.

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Read 12.09 p.m.

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No reply

Noel stared at his phone a little longer, quietly glad that isagi didn't responded. He wouldn't know how to reply to his response. With one final glimpse at a photo of the two of them on the cover of his lock screen, Noel would shut down his phone and sit through the long and gruelling flight.

...

Sent 12.08 p.m.

Delivered 12.08 p.m.

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Read 12.09 p.m.

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No reply

Isagi stared at his phone screen. It was opened on his chat log with Noel. 'pass your weight to me and you won't have to worry about it anymore', isagi wanted to laugh at his father's stupidity. In what world would he possibly be brave enough to show, much more give, the Noel noa his own personal burdens? Especially not when part of that burden is the man himself. He didn't say that though, instead, isagi would excuse himself from the table where Kaiser, Loki, and himself sat and head to the abandoned janitor's closet where he'll let his tears fall to their heart's content. It's been a while since he cried, the last time he let himself become so vulnerable was years ago when he first got accepted into his current club. He remembers that some of the seniors were picking on him during training and saying things like how he should be ashamed of himself for performing so poorly when he's the son of the greatest striker. It hurt isagi deeply, not because he was getting picked on, but because Noel Noa was the reason for his humiliation. Isagi wouldn't bring it up to his father, he fears getting reprimanded for his weakness, he fears that like what those seniors of his said, Noel would be disappointed in him. Eventually, isagi proved himself to be worthy of being the son of Noel Noa, something that he shouldn't have to prove in the first place. Thinking back to that incident, isagi would cry even harder. Every time he has allowed himself to cry, it is related to Noel Noa in some way. So how exactly is isagi supposed to pass on this weight to Noel?

As the bell rang for the next period, isagi made his way to his classroom where he'll sit in silence for the rest of the school day. He was too exhausted to do anything, he even turned down Kaiser's request to train together. Isagi thanked the gods that he didn't have training today or he would've been scolded for his lack of attention. He wondered how Noel was doing as he heated up some food he got from the convenience store down the street. It's been forever since the last time he ate anything that wasn't homemade or from a proper restaurant, Noel says it's not healthy especially since he's still growing, but he's not around to bite isagi's ear whenever he does anything not acceptable in Noel's terms so isagi would have as much junk food as he pleased. It was then that isagi realised that he didn't actually know how to cook. Sure he knew how to make those tik tok recipes, but was he going to live off of the salmon bowl for the rest of his life? He'll have to figure that out soon if he doesn't want to starve himself to death.

Another thing on his mind was the card Noel left behind. Earlier the day, isagi had gotten a notification that his own card had received a large sum of money from Noel, so he figured that the card left behind was an apology gift. A shitty one if isagi had the right to say. It was as if Noel was trying to buy his forgiveness and isagi hated it. He'll make sure to make Noel regret ever leaving that black card in isagi's possession. Perhaps it's time to buy that Porsche that he's had his eye on for a while now. he won’t be able to drive it since he's only thirteen, but it'll be good decoration.

Chapter Text

Summer was always the season Isagi hated the most. The scorching sun hung in the sky without a care in the world, its relentless heat slowly draining the energy from everyone below. Even for a football prodigy like Isagi, the heat dulled his senses, causing his shirt to stick to his back like glue and giving him pounding headaches that mirrored the intensity of his matches. But there had always been one thing that made these exhausting summer days bearable: his father, Noel Noa.
Coming home after a tough training session meant being greeted by his father, who would always have popsicles and a plate of freshly prepared fruits waiting in the fridge. For Isagi, those little gestures from his dad, amidst the frenzy of his global career, were what he cherished the most. Noel was his idol, not just for his skills on the field but for how he made time for him despite everything. Now, with Noel gon to join bastard munchen, the absence of that comforting presence left a void that seemed to grow larger each day.
Kaiser and Loki walked with him after training since they were in primary school. Kaiser was the confident and bold one, and Loki, clever and speedy. But today, the usual banter between them seemed to carry an undercurrent of tension, one Isagi didn’t fully grasp. He was too lost in his own thoughts, his mind drifting to the empty kitchen he would find at home.
"Hey, you good, Isagi?" Kaiser asked as they reached his front door. His voice was softer than usual, his eyes lingering on Isagi’s face with a rare expression of concern.
Isagi forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine," he replied, though his voice lacked energy.
Loki, not missing a beat, stepped in closer, his eyes narrowing slightly at Kaiser before he turned to Isagi with a bright grin. "How about we come in and hang out for a bit? We could kick the ball around in the field, or just relax and chat. Might take your mind off things."
Isagi hesitated, sensing something unspoken between the two. "Sure…" he finally, shrugging off the weird feeling.
As they stepped into the house, Isagi’s eyes instinctively went to the kitchen. He half-expected to see Noel there, finishing up dinner preparations or slicing fruits like he used to. But the kitchen was empty, and the fridge was bare of the comforting presence of his father's small gestures of care. The only thing in the freezer was a collection of popsicles he had bought himself earlier in the week. The emptiness seemed to echo back at him, a reminder that Noel was gone.
Right… he remembered. Noel had been away for the past three weeks, and every day felt like a little piece of his world was missing. He sometimes wondered what Noel was doing right now. Could he be deep in training? Or maybe he was out, making deals, or handling the countless demands that came with being the world's greatest football player? He doubted Noel had changed much—he was always driven, always striving to be the best. But still, Isagi wished he knew.
Isagi opened the freezer, grabbing one of the popsicles. He unwrapped it and leaned against the counter, lost in his thoughts. A moment later, Kaiser leaned beside him, his expression unusually serious.
"You know," Kaiser started, "it’s okay to miss him. The guy’s a legend, but he’s also your dad."
Loki nodded. "Yeah, and besides, we’re here. Let’s hit the field. Football always clears your head, right?"
Isagi looked between them, feeling a surge of gratitude. "Yeah…, let’s go."
…
The three of them headed to the stadium where they would train with their club. They had no training today so it was empty for their use. As soon as they stepped onto the field, a familiar excitement coursed through Isagi’s veins. Football had always been his sanctuary, his escape. And with Kaiser and Loki, two of the most talented players he knew, he could forget everything else and play without a care in the world.
“Alright,One-on-one-on-one. The first to five goals wins. No holding back.” Kaiser suggests, his eyes gleaming with competitive fire with his usual smug look on his face. Isagi grinned, his earlier melancholy fading away. "Sounds good. Let's see if you can keep up, Kaiser."
Loki laughed, already dribbling the ball between his feet with skilful ease. "I hope you’re both ready to lose."
The game started with a burst of energy. Isagi immediately took control of the ball, his movements sharp and precise. Compared to the older two, isagi might be weaker in terms of endurance, but when it came to his agility and vision on the field, isagi was second to none. He feinted left, then darted right, easily bypassing Kaiser's attempt to intercept him. But loki was right there, a wall of defence.
“Not so fast, Isagi!” loki smirked as he closed the distance, his footwork equally quick.
Isagi felt a rush of adrenaline. He loved these moments—when it was just him, the ball, and the challenge ahead. With a swift movement, he flicked the ball over Loki’s foot, spun around, and fired a shot toward the goal. The ball soared, a perfect curve, and hit the back of the net with a satisfying thud.
“0-1-0,” Isagi announced, a wide grin spreading across his face.
“Lucky shot,” loki grumbled, though there was a playful spark in his eyes.
As the game continued, the tension between kaiser and Loki got stronger. When loki had possession of the ball, Kaiser instantly doubled his efforts, his eyes narrowing with a fierce intensity. Loki would also steal glances at Isagi whenever Kaiser scored, as if silently competing for his attention.
With Loki scoring another goal making the score 4-3-3, he would proudly exclaim his superiority.“See that, Isagi? That’s how you take down a defender,” he said, his voice laced with a hint of challenge directed more at Kaiser than Isagi.
Kaiser’s eyes flashed. "Don’t get too comfortable, Loki. It’s not over yet."
There was an edge in Kaiser’s voice, a hint of rivalry that went beyond the usual competition. When he took possession of the ball, his movements became sharper, almost as if trying to prove a point—not just to himself, but to Isagi.
At one point, Loki found himself face-to-face with Kaiser, the ball between them. The air seemed to crackle with tension. "Back off, Kaiser," Loki said, his tone still light but with an underlying seriousness. "This one’s mine."
Kaiser smirked, not backing down. "You wish"
They clashed, both trying to win the ball, their movements fierce and determined. Isagi, caught in the middle of their silent battle, watched in confusion, unaware of the deeper motivations driving them. To him, it was just a friendly match. though, to Kaiser and Loki, it was something more.
The more they played, the clearer it became. Every move, every pass, every goal was a silent bid for Isagi’s attention, a way to prove themselves not just as players but as someone worthy of his admiration.
By the time the sun began to dip below the horizon, they were all drenched in sweat, breathing hard but smiling wide. The game had been fierce, but in the end, Isagi had managed to edge ahead, scoring his fifth goal with a powerful shot that left Kaiser and Loki stunned.
“Alright, alright, I concede,” Kaiser said, panting. “Maybe you are the son of the world's number-one player after all.”
Loki chuckled, patting Isagi’s hair. “Nice job, Isagi. But next time I'm not letting you win.”
Isagi looked at the two, feeling a warmth that was so familiar to him.”thanks, but I'm not going easy next time either”
As they walked off the field, the sky painted in hues of orange and purple, Isagi realized that while he missed his father, he wasn’t alone. He had Kaiser and Loki,two of his closest friends who understood him, pushed him, and reminded him of the joy of the game. And with them by his side, he felt ready to face whatever came next.
And maybe, just maybe, the next time Noel came back, he’d be ready to show him just how much he’d grown. Not just as his son, but as a player in his own right.