Inside Team Z's Dormitory
The room was alive with noise and laughter Team Z was holding a victory party.
Imamura and Naruhaya were tossing pillows at each other.
"Hey, you two, quit messing around and help set up for the celebration!"
Iemon yelled across the room.
Chigiri, chewing happily on a steak, chimed in, "Yeah, listen to him."
Kunikami, standing behind him, sighed.
"And you… you're just focused on eating."
Juuen clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
"Who's going to grab drinks from the cafeteria?"
Ryan raised his hand.
"I'll go."
Isagi stood up too. "I'll come with you, Ryan."
Ryan's eyes sparkled mischievously.
"Eh? Isagi, are you asking me out on a date? My, my, so impatient! You want to drag me off somewhere quiet and do something naughty, don't you? Oh no, no, no~!"
He wagged a finger dramatically.
"Even though my affection level for you has gone up a tiny bit, it's not that high yet! You'll have to keep working to raise it, and maybe then… I'll let you do bad things to me."
Isagi turned bright red.
"N-no! It's not like that at all!"
Chigiri stood up.
"Alright, enough teasing, Ryan. Leave him alone."
Ryan grinned. "Hahaha, our dear Isagi's so innocent. Not like Chigiri here, who's full of dirty thoughts. Hey, Isagi did you know that a few nights ago, Chigiri sneaked into the control room to watch some adults-only videos?"
Chigiri flushed. "Shut up, Ryan! I was reviewing match footage!"
He grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him.
"Run, Isagi!" Ryan laughed, dodging the pillow. "He's embarrassed because I'm right!"
Ryan pushed Isagi out into the hallway.
Two Idiots on a Drink Run
The two of them filled several bottles from the vending machines.
"That should be enough, right?" Isagi said.
"Plenty," Ryan replied. "Oh, and hey thanks for finishing that last match the way you did. Without your goal, we wouldn't have sealed it. Nice job, kid."
Isagi smiled. "Thanks. But really, I should be the one thanking you for that final pass. Without it, I couldn't have scored."
"I passed it because I knew you'd make it."
"Really? Then thank you for believing in me, Ryan."
Ryan smirked. "Yup. And if you'd missed, I was gonna make you wear a maid outfit."
"What?!" Isagi nearly dropped a bottle. "You ruined my gratitude! A maid outfit?! You were thinking about that during the final play?! And where did you even get a maid outfit?!"
Ryan shrugged. "Why should I have been nervous? We were already winning. Oh, and between us…" he leaned closer, voice dropping, "I found a way to sneak out of Blue Lock. I'm leaving tomorrow for a day or two of freedom."
"You mean the one-day exit ticket?"
Ryan blinked. "You guessed it! Since when did you get so smart, Isagi?"
"It's not that I just think you underestimate me."
Ryan gasped dramatically. "Nooo! I don't want smart Isagi, I want my adorable, clueless Isagi back!"
He shook Isagi's shoulders playfully.
"I've always been the same," Isagi laughed.
Ryan stopped and nodded. "Anyway, looks like you've figured out your formula, huh?"
"Yeah," Isagi said, eyes sharp. "For the first time, I really understand my weapon, my spatial awareness. If I pause to trap the ball, I lose the chance that ability gives me. But when I strike directly, when everything connects… that's my formula: the Direct Shot.
I finally turned instinct into a system into logic. This is where my path as a striker truly begins."
He realized Ryan was staring at him.
"Ah sorry, got a little too fired up."
Ryan clapped him on the shoulder.
"No problem. A little passion suits you. Unlike me, old age's catching up, you know. I can't burn like that anymore. Ah, youth… I used to be such a ridiculously handsome stud back in the day. Girls everywhere, you know? But now… well, time's cruel."
He stroked an imaginary beard wistfully.
Isagi sighed. "You're literally my age. Why do you talk like my grandpa?"
Ryan raised an eyebrow. "When's your birthday?"
"April 1st."
"Hah! March 31st here."
"…That's just one day earlier."
"One day older is still older! So show some respect, little brother Isagi!"
"You're impossible," Isagi muttered.
Before he could say more, both of them stopped distracted by the sight down the corridor.
Players dozens of them were crying as they left Blue Lock, luggage in hand.
Isagi froze.
Right. The losers get kicked out… their soccer dreams end here.
"Congratulations on advancing."
A voice came from behind them. It was Niko, leaning casually against a pillar.
"Yo, long bangs! Trying to look cool?" Ryan quipped.
"Long time no see," Niko said.
"Niko?" Isagi blinked.
"I made it too," Niko replied. "Top scorer for Team Y."
"Congrats," Isagi said.
Niko nodded. "We lost that match because of your goals. But that defeat woke me up. I stopped suppressing myself, stopped passing the ball I started attacking for real. Thanks to your goal that day, I'm still here. But next time, I'll crush you."
Isagi met his gaze. "I'm still here because of that same match. That moment and because of you, Niko. Next time, I'll win again."
Niko clenched his teeth, pausing mid-step. "You're seriously pissing me off."
Then he stormed off.
Ryan elbowed Isagi.
"Well, well, you're quite the hit with the boys. Maybe you should just say yes to him."
Isagi didn't respond just stared silently at the departing players.
Our goals ended someone's dreams… but they also gave someone else a reason to fight. I want to keep winning to see where this road leads.
A spiky-haired figure appeared.
"Yo, if it isn't the so-called 'King.' Long time no see. How've you been?"
It was Barou.
He strode right up to Ryan.
"Next time, I'll destroy you. I can't wait to see you kneel before me."
Ryan dug at his ear lazily.
"Yeah, yeah, I've heard that one before. Maybe try some new lines? You've been saying the same thing for months and you still haven't managed it."
Barou glared and stormed off. "Tch. Just wait."
Isagi smirked and nudged Ryan in the ribs.
"Didn't know you were so popular with guys too."
Ryan flipped his hair smugly.
"Of course. I'm the ultimate heartthrob loved by all, feared by many. I used to get so many love letters in school you could use them as insulation. From eighty-year-old grandmas to seven-year-old kids they all swooned. Ah, being too handsome really is a curse. Now even men can't resist me. I truly am a sinner."
Isagi's mouth twitched. He's unbelievable.
When they finally returned with the drinks
"We're back! Drinks are here!"
They found everyone fast asleep, sprawled across the floor.
The Next Morning
The team stood before a screen showing Ego Jinpachi's face.
"Next, you'll undergo physical conditioning training. During this period, you are forbidden from touching a ball."
Raichi was the first to protest.
"What? Why not go straight into the second selection?"
"How long is this gonna last?"
Ego's tone was razor-sharp.
"Don't get cocky just because you survived Building Five. You'll train until I say you're ready, you useless trash."
A high-tech machine appeared on-screen.
"What's that?"
"Looks super advanced…"
Ego smirked. "Players in the top buildings use this for training. Unlike you, they didn't have to go through the first selection. So be patient and wait your turn."
Ryan folded his arms. "Ego, please. That excuse might work on them, but not me. I didn't call you out before, but let's drop the fake news, huh?"
Raichi blinked. "Huh? What do you mean, Ryan? Ego's been lying to us?"
Ryan sighed.
"Use that wrinkle-free brain of yours for once. He says we're the lowest level, right? And that there are over 200 players above us. Do you seriously believe there are 200 high schoolers stronger than Barou, Nagi or me?"
Raichi froze. "…When you put it like that, yeah, no way. If someone's stronger than you, they've gotta be aliens or something."
Ryan smiled. "Thanks for the compliment but next time, pick better words."
Isagi asked, "So… why's Ego lying?"
Ryan sighed. "You've caught the Raichi brain rot. He's trying to make us jealous angry. To make us think, 'Why do they have it better?' That frustration becomes motivation to grow stronger."
Chigiri nodded, thinking aloud.
"So the five buildings are actually all the same. Ego probably tells every group they're the lowest, with the same five teams Z, Y, W, X, and V. There's no B-team or C-team at all."
"Bingo," Ryan said. "No prize, though."
On-screen, Ego chuckled.
"Fascinating, Ryan. You're so confident in your ability that you refuse to believe anyone could surpass you."
Ryan smirked. "Can you blame me? You, of all people, know exactly what I'm capable of."
Ego's grin widened.
"Fine, I'll admit it. You're right the same speech is given to every building. Each group fights to produce twenty-five survivors. But don't slack off in the next training phase every other building's doing it too. Fall behind in conditioning, and you'll pay for it later."
Raichi crossed his arms. "You don't have to tell us twice."
Ego gave a satisfied nod, then the screen went dark.
Anri, standing beside him, asked softly, "Was it really okay to tell them the truth?"
Ego shrugged. "If they figured it out, that's their intelligence at work. They would've realized soon enough anyway. No point in playing dumb now."
Back in Team Z's room, everyone was buzzing from the revelation.
Then Raichi frowned. "Wait… Ryan, why are you in casual clothes? Don't tell me "
Ryan perked up instantly.
"Heh. Tell me, guys… what do you think is behind that wall?"
Our resident goof, Igarashi, tilted his head. "What is it?"
Ryan grinned. "Freedom."
Everyone stared.
"I used ten of my points to get a one-day pass outside. While you all train, I'm heading out… to go on a date with my girlfriends."
Chaos erupted instantly.
"You bastard! You're ditching training?!"
"Wait, girlfriends?! As in plural?!"
Imamura suddenly dove forward, clutching Ryan's leg.
"Ryan-sama! Take me with you! I'm small, you can hide me under your coat!"
Ryan tried to shake him off.
"Idiot! You're way too big for that! Let go! I'm off to enjoy my romantic freedom, don't stand in the way of true love!"
Imamura clung tighter.
Ryan finally punched him lightly in the head, freeing himself.
He waved dramatically as he headed for the door.
"Train hard, everyone! I'll be thinking of you… while eating steak and flirting with beautiful women. Ciao!"
Even Chigiri, Kunigami, and Isagi joined in on the mock farewell, acting like scorned lovers.
"Ryan, don't go! Without your pretty face, how will we survive?!"
"Team Z is nothing without you! The second you leave, Raichi might start a rebellion!"
Raichi exploded. "WHAT?! What's that supposed to mean, Isagi?! You think I'd betray you?! Say it to my face!"
Raichi and Isagi immediately started wrestling, and the "Save Ryan" alliance crumbled instantly.
Ryan listened to the chaos fade behind him. A faint smile crossed his face.
Then, without looking back, he stepped out of Blue Lock.
Freedom
He inhaled deeply, stretching his arms wide.
"Ahhh… this is what freedom smells like. I've never appreciated fresh air this much before."
From the gate's speaker, Ego's dry voice echoed:
"Idiot. The air outside has the same oxygen ratio as inside."
Ryan turned, wagging his finger at the camera.
"No, no, Ego. You don't understand. After being stuck in that prison-like building for days, this feeling this taste of rebirth it's priceless."
Ego sighed. "Sure. Just don't waste your free day breathing and hugging trees, alright?"
Ryan's grin widened. "Oh, don't worry. I've got much better plans."
He climbed into the waiting car and drove off from Blue Lock
toward a day of freedom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you're interested, you can read advanced chapters:
pat reon .com / Samorash
~> Bonus Chapter every 300PS!!