021 Blue Lock: System Ten Years Early

"What the hell are you talking about? Who would listen to you and go play that trash football that's not even fun at all?!"

"Because I'm the strongest here, and I'm also the one with the most goals on Team Z right now. Giving the ball to the strongest player to score is the real truth, isn't it?" Kira Ryosuke faced Raichi Jingo without backing down, the two pressing their foreheads together, glaring angrily at each other.

"Or do you want to just tuck your tail and roll out like this? When you get down to it, aren't you the one who messes up the team's coordination every time? A troublemaker who has nothing but a loud mouth?"

"Hah—?! You've got some nerve saying that. Wanna fight, bastard?!"

"Not only is your football skill garbage, your brain doesn't work either? Can't you understand human language? Did all your brain cells go into growing those sharp teeth of yours?"

"You bastard, say that again if you dare!"

"Am I wrong? You're bad at every aspect of football. Your dribbling is average, your passes never go to the right spot, your vision and overall awareness are terrible too. Other than running around the field with brute strength, what use are you? You giant-toothed shark."

The two kept arguing, while the others either watched coldly or nodded in agreement. Just as the entire locker room grew tense, as if a full-blown brawl was about to erupt, Isagi Yoichi stood up and with a sharp flick of his arm slammed the towel from his head onto the floor.

...

Under the gaze of Isagi Yoichi's hollow, spiral eyes, Raichi Jingo and Kira Ryosuke unconsciously let go of each other's collars. In an instant, the air itself seemed to freeze, and the room fell into an eerie silence.

"Have you made enough noise?" Seeing everyone calm down, Isagi Yoichi finally spoke slowly.

"Since no one's willing to accept anyone else, then let's settle it on the pitch. Each person plays as the 'ace' on the field for ten minutes. Whoever scores can extend their ball control time by five minutes. During the time that person serves as the 'ace,' everyone has to play according to his ideas and tactics."

"How about it? If you're forwards, then comparing performances through goals is the most fair, right? Or are you determined to keep up this embarrassing show, get punished, and drag the whole team into a miserable elimination?"

Raichi Jingo and Kira Ryosuke exchanged a look, then both turned their heads away unhappily.

"Since Isagi said so, I'll be the bigger man and won't bother with him. Forwards should speak with their shots. I'll use my flashy shooting technique to show that guy how useless fame blown up by hype really is."

"Hmph. Just self-comfort from a nobody. Being recognized by others is what proves real strength. Do you think you can become the world's number one forward without any reputation at all?"

"I just haven't had the chance! That's why Blue Lock will be my springboard to rise and step onto the world stage!"

"More like charging in all excited, only to become someone else's stepping stone."

Even after Isagi Yoichi stepped in, those two still refused to give in verbally, but everyone could see that they had calmed down quite a bit—at least they weren't going to fight anymore.

Isagi Yoichi sighed and looked at the others. "I'll go out and get some air first. After we eat, let's gather again. Everyone report your own weapons and playstyles. In the next match, we need to make sure everyone's strength can be brought out."

After explaining things to Kuon Wataru, Isagi Yoichi walked out of the room and let out a deep sigh.

"Yo."

"Wah!" With his guard down, Isagi Yoichi was startled by the sudden voice. He turned his head and realized it was a teammate from inside the room, whose name seemed to be… Bachira Meguru?

"Hey, are you okay?"

"Ah, no, I'm fine."

That's because you scared me, Isagi Yoichi complained inwardly, then looked at this guy who always seemed absent-minded in his impression.

"Um… did you need something?"

"Nope, nothing." Unexpectedly, Bachira Meguru shook his head. "I just wanted to get to know you. I thought you were just that guy's lackey, but who would've thought…"

"There was actually a monster hiding in a place like this… I'm really looking forward to the next match." With that, Bachira Meguru waved at him and left, leaving Isagi Yoichi standing there, completely confused and feeling utterly baffled.

"What was with that guy…" That kind of talking-to-himself manner reminded Isagi Yoichi of that man. Thinking of it made him shiver, and he shook his head hard to clear the distracting thoughts from his mind.

"Don't think too much. I've managed to fight for an opportunity for myself now. Even in Team Z, the worst team in all of Blue Lock, my talent is still the least outstanding."

"Raichi Jingo, whose stamina is outstanding and whose other stats aren't low either; Kunigami Rensuke, who's good with his left foot and has terrifying shot power; Kuon Wataru, whose jumping ability is extremely strong and who's also very smart…"

"And then there's the gem of Japanese football—Kira Ryosuke—whose stats are all excellent, whose football skills have no obvious weaknesses, and whose football IQ is extremely high. Among all these people, I don't have any standout advantage. If we follow the normal process of showcasing weapons, there's no way I'd get a chance."

"But if we go by my tactical arrangement, no matter what, I'll be able to obtain the opportunity to act as the ace."

Isagi Yoichi took a deep breath. What was this heavy weight pressing down on his chest?

It was pressure, hesitation about the future, fear that his football career might be cut short, and the sense of powerlessness that even if he cleared this hurdle, there would still be a terrifying, sky-blocking figure standing at the summit above him, looking down. It all made everything right now feel utterly meaningless.

"But this is also a signpost pointing out my path. As long as you're still ahead of me, I won't stop."

Isagi Yoichi kept taking deep breaths, his palm repeatedly slapping his own face. Only after a long while did he lower his hand, which throbbed from the rebound.

"But what exactly is my weapon? Ego Jinpachi… what on earth did that man see in me to choose me for this Blue Lock?"

"Damn it! Even now, I still don't know what my weapon is. The only thing I can use is the exploitation of opponents' blind spots in their field of vision that I grasped during my match against Kōken Shinichi."

Isagi Yoichi laughed at himself helplessly.

"That alone isn't enough. Just like in that match, even if I barely got one step ahead, it still wasn't enough to support a shot."

"And aside from that, I have none of the things that help with scoring—dribbling, speed, jumping. Maybe right now, I don't actually have anything that can truly be called a weapon."

"In two days, it's the match against Team W. In that match, only those who can score and create value will continue to get chances. Those who still can't score even with everyone's help… won't be trusted anymore…"

Recalling the humiliation of being substituted out during a match, Isagi Yoichi's gaze grew ever more resolute.

"I need to obtain a more direct weapon—one that can directly help me score."

"Within these two days!"

...

"By the way, this natto tastes way too awful! Can someone bring me a steak?!"