"So, what you're saying is… we have to prove ourselves through a match?"
"Now that's the spirit of a pro player!"
"Good. I'll make sure to score one goal at least."
As the others chatted excitedly, Yoichi Isagi thought to himself,
(Which team should I join—and how do I make my mark?)
(It's probably best to pick a team that suits me.)
The screen changed again as Jinpachi Ego began to explain.
"Now, about the twenty-nine players outside the 'TOP 6'—if we divide you into groups of three, that gives us nine trios, totaling twenty-seven players."
"That leaves one group of two due to the numbers being uneven."
"As an exception, I'll allow one player from that group to participate in two matches."
"And that player—ranked just below the TOP 6, at number seven—is..."
"Kenyu Yukimiya!"
"You'll be filling that role."
With his hands casually resting behind his back, Kenyu Yukimiya smiled brightly.
"Alright. I'm honored."
Then, Ego pointed toward the side and continued,
"'TOP 6,' head to the next room."
As he spoke, a large door in the room slowly opened.
"Let's go, Mr. Number Two Rin Itoshi. This is gonna be rough, huh?"
"Except for Ryusei, the other three are all guys we've already beaten. Now we have to crush them again?"
"Why do I feel like we're the villains here, Rin?"
Trailing behind, Tabito Karasu's patience finally snapped.
"You muscle-brained freak! Don't think that just because you beat me once, you'll always win!"
"This round, I'll shut you up with my own strength!"
Kudo Tōya scoffed.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Ryūma. Since that last loss, I'm a completely different player now!"
Ryusei Shido slung an arm around Kudo's neck with a grin.
"Haha, that's right! Hey, Number One and Number Two—better watch out, or we might crush you in seconds~"
Ryūma sighed, scratching his ear in boredom.
"Yeah, yeah. Do your best, then~"
"But really… you think you can beat us? Heh. Keep dreaming."
"Right, Rin?"
Rin Itoshi's expression hardened. He sped up toward the exit, muttering coldly,
"If you ever put your arm on my shoulder again, I'll break it."
"Aw, come on, bro, don't be like that."
By now, Ryūma was nearly immune to Rin's sharp tongue. He quickly caught up, walking side by side as they entered the 'TOP 6' VIP room.
...
Meanwhile, on the big screen, Jinpachi Ego addressed the rest of the players still standing in the hall.
"And the remaining twenty-nine of you—listen up!"
"The key to succeeding in this 'Adaptive Training' is how you balance 'assertion' and 'coexistence' when facing the 'TOP 6.'"
"The 'TOP 6' are players with strong individuality and exceptional scoring ability."
"When facing such opponents, you must assert your value, coexist with them as irreplaceable teammates..."
"...and ultimately, surpass them!!"
"For you, the 'TOP 6' aren't teammates—they're the perfect rivals to challenge!"
"They're not your allies!"
"They're the stepping stones you must crush beneath your feet!"
"Now then, you have twenty-four hours to decide."
"Choose the teammate who will shape your future and your destiny!"
...
Inside the 'TOP 6' VIP room...
"So… we're just supposed to sit here and do nothing?"
"Man, being in the Top Six doesn't come with any perks at all."
"Yeah, this is boring."
"Ryūma, can you please shut up?"
Ryūma gave Kudo Tōya a helpless look and shrugged.
"I'm just trying to lighten the mood. You should learn from Ryusei—he plays along perfectly."
Just then, Jinpachi Ego's image appeared once again on the big screen.
"Alright, sorry to keep you waiting, 'TOP 6.'"
"There's no doubt you've all proven your worth through your previous matches."
"You are the elite of 'Blue Lock.'"
"In Teams A, B, and C, each pair has been chosen as an experimental, hyper-offensive striker duo—the best possible combinations I could devise."
"I want to witness the kind of firepower that no single player could create alone!"
"Treat your opponents as tools for your ascent to becoming the world's best."
"And even if you make mistakes, don't let anyone else steal your 'TOP 6' spot."
"You stand at the very peak of 'Blue Lock.'"
Ego raised his right hand, eyes gleaming as he continued,
"Remember—your football will become the blade that overturns Japan!"
"I want to see your 'challenge!'"
As Ego's image faded, Ryūma scratched his head and grinned awkwardly.
"So... anyone hungry? How about we grab something to eat?"
...
Third Selection — Cafeteria
Inside the cafeteria, some players hesitated while others made their choices without delay.
For example, while Yoichi Isagi and the others were still thinking, Yo Hiori took his card and immediately chose to join the team led by Ryūma and Rin Itoshi.
At one table, all of Team Z's remaining members sat together eating.
"Tata sauce! So good!"
"Hahaha, I bit my chopsticks!"
"I'll give you mine—use these!"
"Will you idiots just eat quietly!?"
After scolding them, Jingo Raichi sighed.
"Still, it's impossible to get the entire old Team Z back together now."
"Yeah," Gin Gagamaru nodded. "With Naruhaya gone, it feels kinda empty."
"Then there's that traitor Kuon, pervy Imamura, Chestnut-Head, and Iemon the keeper."
Yoichi added quietly,
"And... Kunigami..."
"Honestly, I didn't expect Kunigami to get eliminated," Bachira said, chewing thoughtfully.
"That guy was amazing."
"But that's 'Blue Lock' for you," he continued. "If we lose to the U-20 Japan National Team, this place is done for."
"So we don't have time to worry about anyone else, right?"
Raichi nodded.
"Yeah. Voting ends tomorrow. Have you guys decided which team to join?"
"I'll probably go with B or C. Don't know why—just a gut feeling."
"I heard we can rewatch all previous matches in the media room, so I'll check that out first."
"Guess it's best to pick a team that feels right for you. What about you, Bachira?"
"I'll just use rock-paper-scissors to decide. Any team's fine with me."
Bachira turned to Hyōma Chigiri.
"What about you, Chigiri?"
Chigiri looked over at Yoichi and asked,
"Still haven't decided. What about you, Yoichi?"