“You'll hurt yourself going this hard, you know.”
It was the night before the Japan U-20 vs Blue-Lock 11. With the fate of Blue-Lock, professional careers, and dreams all determined by the outcome of tomorrow's game, the atmosphere was tense and dutiful. There was no more practices to endure. No more film to study. Nothing more to do but wait for the next day to arrive.
As an intern shadowing the exceptional athletic trainers within Blue-Lock, you try your best to be attentive to the player's needs and make yourself useful wherever you can. You assist a grateful Chirgri with his leg care, ensuring that he is feeling and recovering steadily. You drag a reluctant Nagi to do his cool-down stretches post-training whenever he tries to sneak off. And now, you're attempting to stop a terrifying (and from the looks of it, pissed off) Rin Itoshi from his excessive weight lifitng.
"This is nothing. I can still do more.” Rin replies, his voice slightly strained as he continues his reps, seemingly unfazed by your presence. Getting him to listen to you would be challenging, and even more so to convince him. Throughout your time in Blue-Lock, you've mostly stuck by the other athletic trainers, filling out paper work and refilling supplies. While you've gotten close to a few of the players, you could count on both hands the amount of times you've spoke to Rin, and you would only need one to count for the times Rin would talk with anyone outside of practices.
You move from the door frame and walk towards the leg press he’s using, trying again. “You already had a weight training session earlier in the day. You should be starting to wind down, not double down.”
“i’m not taking advice from an intern. Come get a professional trainer, then maybe i’d listen.” Rin grunts, pushing the weight up with his legs and locking it in place.
Your eye twitches in irritation. He definitely lives up to his reputation of being an asshole.
“Well, if you were a professional soccer player, then maybe I would leave you alone.” You retort. "Maybe you would've been smart enough to not overwork yourself the night before a game."
he bites his tongue, going quiet; you got him there. there’s silence as he pauses his routine. You stare at him expectantly, and Rin lets out a sigh before speaking,
"This is game is different," he starts. "He will be there."
Ah. You start to put together the pieces in your head.
"He? You mean... your brother?" You ask.
A cold expression washes over his face, giving you goosebumps. His nonchalant demeanor always seems to crack at the mention of his older brother.
Rin leans back on his bench, getting ready to start another set. “i’ve waited for this day for so, so long. i’ll show all of them…i’ll show him…” He mutters with a renowned sense of determination, anger, and... a hint of longing? You start to think he’s talking to himself rather than you. “i don’t expect you to understand.”
"You shouldn't assume things about people," You said, rolling your eyes at his last comment. “I do, actually."
His eyes widen and glances towards you as you move to sit yourself on the bench to his right.
“I played field hockey at my old high school, left forward. I guess that would be the equivalent to a striker”
“...were you any good?” Rin asks eventually, the slightest bit of surprise laced in his voice.
You grin. “I was great! I won nationals with my team! there were headlines about the game, you know?” You look down at your feet, reminiscing. “I think that was the best day of my entire life.”
Rin stares at you. He knows that feeling. The rush of adrenaline that comes from playing a hard, close game, the ache in your body from pushing it beyond its limits, and the thrill you get from coming out of it all on top.
You continued. “The next time I played was at showcase event for recruiters from universities.” Your voice grows softer. Bitter. “it was just one misstep...”
You trail off and Rin quietly takes in your words.
“That’s different,” Rin says, breaking the silence. “You couldn’t do anything about your injury. That wasn't your fault.” He glances at you. You look up, hopeful. Was he trying to comfort you? Did you reach him?
“But i’m not stupid. I know my own limits, so you can spare me your cliche, half-baked story.”
of course not. you glare at him. “you’re a total asshole, you know that?” He lets out a scoff, and you continue.
“A torn ACL, slacking off during recovery, pushing yourself to prove a point, it doesn’t matter how it happens or what your intentions were. At the end of the day, you’ll be sitting on a bench watching your dreams slip right from your grasp, and no amount of ego or determination can stop it from disappearing.”
To your surprise, Rin’s expression soften at your words. Finally, he moves to sit upright on the bench, his full attention on you.
“Nothing at this point will be beneficial for you, Rin.” You point out, your voice gentle. “Trust the work you put in and yourself as a player, and look towards tomorrow knowing you’re the best you’ve ever been.”
Another pause passes between you both as he stares at you, digesting your words, and you begin to fluster under his gaze.
"...annnd go to sleep." You added teasingly, wanting to break the silence and his intense stare.
Abruptly, Rin gets up and grabs his towel, heading towards the door. A sigh of relief escapes you and you feel your body start to relax.
you look up and see Rin paused before the door, his back towards you.
You smile. “that’s a pretty half-baked thanks. You can do better than that!"
Surprisingly, and you think probably for the first time in his entire life, he lets out a huff of laughter and walks out of the room.
Huh, you think to yourself. Maybe he isn’t as bad as you, and perhaps the rest of blue-lock, make him out to be.
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