[10] Campus Tour (3)

"Well... I guess, that was to be expected"

Izumo commented after seeing the scoreboard on the match.

2 - 4

Just as Izumo expected, the Aoba Academy won the match with a 2-point lead. After all, they had geniuses like Aiku as well as that buzz-cut guy.

On the other hand, Osaka Academy didn't have any notable players at all.

"Tch!"

The kid beside Izumo clicked his tongue in annoyance and looked disappointed at the outcome.

And Izumo clearly heard it and glanced at him, realizing the kid was cheering on the other team.

"Oh, you were actually a fan of Osaka Academy, huh..."

"..."

"Ah! I'm not trying to sound insulting or anything. It's just that most of the ones here are fans of Aoba which took me by surprise, that's all"

Izumo panicked a bit and placated the kid, realizing how his words could have been misunderstood.

However, in the end, it turned out to be for naught since the kid couldn't even understand what was insulting with what Izumo said.

'Right... I keep forgetting'

Izumo internally face-palmed himself and blamed his old habits, always assuming he was speaking to an adult.

"Well, since you're a fan... are you planning to enroll in Osaka Academy?"

Izumo asked, partly curious but it was mostly because he wanted to change the subject and forget his earlier blunder.

"Yeah"

"Oh! Good for you!"

"...What about ye?"

The kid suddenly asked, staring at Izumo with a strange glow in his eyes.

"Me? Well... I-"

Izumo was about to answer but stopped when a very familiar voice called out to him in the distance.

"Izumo!!"

Turning his head, Izumo saw Haruto run up and arrive next to him with an aggrieved expression.

"Why did you leave me behind?!"

"That... you look like you were having fun. I just didn't have it in me to intrude upon your enjoyment"

"Argh! But still, you don't know how awkward it was for me"

"Yes, yes... I know, I know and I'm sorry for that"

Izumo apologized and patted Haruto's back, trying to pacify his frustration.

"Want some candy?"

"..."

Hearing Izumo using treats to appease his irritation, Haruto somehow felt even more angry and popped a small vein in his forehead.

"Did you think some candy could make me forgive you?"

"Yes?"

"You!"

Haruto was annoyed before he calmed down and felt helpless instead, letting out a sigh of defeat.

If he kept getting enraged then by the time he became a teenager, he might already have wrinkles on him.

With no other choice, Haruto decided to forgive the boy as he extended his arm and opened his palm toward Izumo.

"Hm? What's this?"

Izumo asked, wondering why Haruto suddenly stretched his arm toward him with his palm open.

"Candy"

"Oh... you actually believed me"

"..."

"I was just joking"

"...I give up"

Haruto raised both his arms in defeat and couldn't be bothered to retort Izumo anymore.

"Haha, ye two are funny"

The kid laughed, seeing the comedic act between the two.

And Haruto hearing him, tilted his head to the side and saw the kid behind Izumo, wondering who this was.

"Oh! This is... um..."

Izumo was about to introduce the kid to Haruto when he realized he didn't even know his name at all.

"I'm Tabito Karasu"

"...ah!"

Hearing the kid utter his name, Izumo had his eyes wide open as the realization hit him, finally understanding why he had always had this feeling of familiarity.

Tis was because the kid who sat upon his right was in fact...

Tabito Karasu, the ranked three player in Blue Lock.

'Who would have thought I'd meet him'

Izumo internally chuckled, amused at meeting not one but two famous characters in a matter of one week after his system's awakening.

He couldn't help but wonder whether this was brought about by fate or something.

However, as he thought about it, Izumo did faintly remember that Karasu was indeed from Kansai alongside Yo Hiori.

And knowing this, he quietly looked around, hoping he might chance upon Hiori next but alas, he didn't seem to be here.

"Cool name! My name is Haruto Sasaki, nice to meet you"

Haruto heartily greeted Karasu while praising his name at how cool it sounded, knowing the meaning behind them.

"I know... especially ye, Izumo Kizashi"

"Huh? You know me?"

Izumo raised his right eyebrow, looking quite confused as he didn't recall ever meeting him at all.

If he did, he would surely remember since there's no way he would forget a character such as him.

"I was there at the park... I saw the whole thing"

"..."

"I was impressed by yer skills, particularly yer dribbles"

Karasu said with a smile, praising Izumo's dribbling skills with the ball.

On the other hand, Izumo was still surprised by the fact that Karasu was there and was watching their match.

However, it couldn't really be blamed since he was too immersed in the game to notice if there were any spectators around.

"Ehem... thanks"

Izumo accepted the praise but deep inside, he felt very pleased that a character from his favorite manga complimented him.

And just as he was about to continue the conversation, a mature woman walked toward Karasu and called out to him.

"It's my mom"

Karasu explained, introducing the woman to be his mother.

"Let's go home, Tabito"

Karasu's mother said, planning to go home since the match had already ended.

"It was nice meeting ye two, I hope we meet again"

Karasu slightly bowed his head, expressing his goodbye to the two which both Izumo and Haruto responded the same.

"Cool guy"

"Hm"

Izumo nodded, agreeing with Haruto's comment toward Karasu.

"Right... let's go back"

Izumo conveyed, seeing the crowd around them gradually leave, making the stands desolate of people.

"Are you not going to meet Aiku?"

Haruto asked, knowing it was Aiku who invited them, specifically Izumo, and thinking it would be proper manners to meet up.

"Hm... no need, let's go"

"Oh, okay"

Haruto nodded and followed Izumo from behind as they left the site.

"By the way, do you happen to know any Jiu Jutsu dojo I could apply?"

Izumo abruptly asked, making Haruto tilt his head in confusion at the sudden question.

"Jiu... jutsu?"

"Oh, nevermind then"

Haruto narrowed his eyes, staring at Izumo suspiciously.

And Izumo merely shrugged his shoulders and gave an amused smile which prompted Haruto to be even more suspicious.

"Come on, I'll treat you to some lunch"

"Really?"

"Yeah"

Haruto instantly perked up, forgetting the earlier matter as if it hadn't happened at all and only had food on his mind.

'So easy'

Izumo silently chuckled, taking one final glance at the sight of Aoba Academy, and flashed a mysterious smile before he turned around and walked away.