A/N: Hey guys, so before this chapter starts I want to include Hibari's Egoist Bible entry. If you don't know what that is, it might be easier to look it up. Pretty much it's just a bunch of interesting information about the characters answering questions. This is Hibari's entry.
HIBARIYAKUSHIJI
Weapon: Shot Architecture, Body Control, Dribbling
Birthday - December 4th
Age - 18 (3rd year of HS)
Zodiac sign - Sagittarius
Birthplace - KyotoHeight - 180 cm
Blood type - B
Team played for (before Blue Lock) - Kagesaki Tech
Dominant foot - Right
Football player you like - Ronaldinho
Motto - "Dogs should learn their place and sit."
Nickname - N/A
Food you like - Cold soba
Food you dislike - Anything loud, messy, or "fun."
BEST companion for rice - Maybe a little pickled radish.
Hobby - Playing chess against myself and losing on purpose
Season you like - Winter
Music you like - Classical, but only the dissonant kind
Movie you like - "No Country for Old Men"
Manga you like - "Monster"
Character color - Light Sea Green
Animal you like - Fox (It's cunning)
Something that'll make you happy - A woman
Something that'll make you sad - Someone who doesn't know their place
Sleep time - 6.5 hours (Any more is indulgent)
Where do you first wash in the bathroom - Chest
Fetish - Thighs
Mushroom or bamboo shoot? - Don't care
What you cried about recently - "Next question"
Until what age did you receive presents from Santa - When I realized Santa doesn't scout forwards
What present you asked Santa for - A red card for the concept of hope
What you would do on the last day of Earth - Play soccer
What you would do with 100 million yen - Put it all on black
How you spend your day off - The gym or video games
HIBARI POV
The door slammed shut behind us, sealing off the remnants of that sad little fairy tale.
Reo didn't say a word. Not even a breath of protest. Just followed in step.
I didn't blame him.
It was the natural reaction when a part of you dies.
"You really think he's not gonna come back swinging?" Shidou asked beside me, cracking his neck. "He had that look. You know the type. The kind that spends the next six months doing pushups and crying into protein shakes."
"Good," I muttered.
"Good?"
"Let him rot. Let him boil in that shame. If he ever crawls back up, then maybe he's worth keeping around."
We reached the end of the tunnel. Another door hissed open. The next corridor was brighter, sterile and clinical, like everything in Blue Lock. As we walked, Reo trailed behind us.
"You picked him," Shidou said again, louder this time, like he was still chewing on it. "Over musclehead. What? because he's prettier?"
I didn't answer.
Mostly because I didn't need to.
Reo walked like a ghost, but his eyes weren't dead.
They were calculating. Twitching. Watching us. Listening.
That was what made him useful.
Shidou might be a wildfire, but this one, Reo, he was a fuse.
"You wanna say something, Mikage?" I asked suddenly, not even glancing back.
No response.
I clicked my tongue.
"Thought not."
Shidou laughed. "He's soaking in his own humiliation. Give him a minute."
We stopped at a door. Another scanner. Myself and Shidou pressed our hands into it, Reo with his somber attitude reluctantly joined us.
The light blinked green and the door opened.
Shidou shoved Reo lightly as he walked past. "Welcome to the fun house, Topknot. You better keep up. We eat slow learners."
I glanced at Reo. Still no words. But his jaw was set tighter now.
"At least we've got someone to get us games now," I muttered, stepping into the next chamber.
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THIRD PERSON POV
They stepped back into the room where it had all started. The same sterile arena where they'd first arrived with Igaguri, still as empty and cold as before.
Reo walked in last, eyes scanning the familiar surroundings. "It's been days," he muttered, his voice low. "Since we've had someone even think about playing us."
Shidou was hunched over near the wall, dragging a piece of chalk across it, tally marks stretching into double digits.
"Welcome to prison," he said with a twisted grin. "Day 12, no sign of civilization. Rations low. Morale lower."
Reo gave a small sigh and said, "No luck today either. No one's biting."
Hibari stood up from the bench, cracking his neck. "Then I'll try."
"Be my guest," Reo commented. Without another word, Hibari headed for the lobby.
The second he entered, his eyes darted through the space. Players milled around in small packs, most of them worn down, either from defeat or dread.
But not all of them.
Near the edge of the room, a group of three sat in a triangle formation. He recognized them immediately.
He walked over like he was reuniting with family.
"Saramadara," Hibari greeted with a smooth smile. "Still riding the wave?"
Saramadara smirked. "And you're still alive? Color me shocked."
Hibari's head turned slightly to the boy on Saramadara's right. Light blue hair.
"Hiori," he said, voice gentler. "Fancy seeing you here."
Hiori nodded respectfully. "I think that's my line, Hibari!"
Then Hibari turned to the last one in the triangle.
"Well if it isn't the Messi of Aomori!" Hibari's grin widened. "Didn't think I'd run into royalty today."
Nishioka lifted his chin. "And you are?"
"Hibari Yakushiji, but call me Hibari"
Hibari clapped his hands. "Listen. We should play a match. For old times' sake. We're all familiar with each other's game, right? Could be fun."
Saramadara raised an eyebrow. "Who's your team?"
"That purple-haired topknot you saw earlier," Hibari said, nodding back toward the corridor. "He's one."
Nishioka frowned. "Which means that pink-haired maniac is the third, doesn't it?"
Hibari shrugged. "Shidou's just...enthusiastic."
The three exchanged glances.
Hiori looked between them. "We'll think about it," he said in a happy tone with a reassuring smile.
Hibari gave a lazy salute and turned away.
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HIORI POV
The cafeteria was mostly quiet, save for the low hum of machines and a few murmured conversations. I stood before the selection screen, undecided.
Curry rice? Too heavy. Chicken? Too bland.
I reached for the tablet to make my choice when a voice cut through the silence.
"Heya Hiori. What a coincidence, huh?"
I turned. Hibari.
"Hey," I greeted. He always made eye contact for just a second longer than normal.
"You know," he began, smile still in place, "I really admire your playstyle. It's Smooth."
I blinked. "Thanks. I've seen you play too. Naturally."
His smile twitched wider. "Of course you have. I'm hard to miss."
Then the smile shifted. Subtly. It grew darker around the edges.
"And you know," he added, leaning in just a little, "you wouldn't have to worry about not getting picked...if we win."
My hand hovered over the screen, frozen.
"No one can deny your playmaking ability," he said smoothly. "In fact, I'd say you'd fit right in with a group of strikers like us."
I started to object, but he raised a hand, silencing me.
"Don't say anything. Just listen. All I'm offering is an opportunity. Because let's be honest, with the strikers around you, if you guys lose...do you really think they'll pick the guy with no goals?"
My chest tightened.
"I don't see your passes the way they do. I see the gentle arc, the spin, the way you disguise your timing like it's magic."
His voice dropped into something almost conspiratorial.
"You won't have to worry about losing if you come with us. You'll see that firsthand if you play us."
Then he turned, not bothering to get any food.
"Just something to think about," he called over his shoulder, waving lazily. "Night."
I stood there, still staring at the screen. My hand hadn't moved.
I rubbed my thumb against my knuckle. A nervous tic.
Then crossed my arms. Then uncrossed them.
My eyes were locked on nothing, my mind spinning.
Was he right?
I'd seen Hibari play firsthand. Allowing our team to play theirs, would be a death sentence to my teammates.
Having someone like that to pass to...
It would be fun.
But...
What about Nishioka? Saramadara? Would I really betray them the first chance I get?
Would I trade it for a better chance?
Would they really even pick me if we lost?
Would I trade them for a golden ticket to passing the Second Selection?
My breath caught.
I looked back at the empty cafeteria table behind me.
Then I closed my eyes.
I knew what I would do.
Whatever happened next,
I wouldn't let this opportunity slip past me.
THIRD PERSON POV
The morning came fast. Fluorescent lights blinked on in the dorm ceiling.
Hibari stood in front of the sink, brushing his teeth with calm precision. Steam curled from the shower behind him, Shidou's usual chaos soundtrack echoing off the tiles.
He finished brushing, took his shower, and slipped into the Blue Lock bodysuit.
Reo was on the other side of the room, finishing his bed, every corner tucked perfectly. The silence between them had grown familiar, but less heavy.
There was a knock at the door.
Hibari moved toward it casually, expecting another staff call or maybe a food drop.
He opened the door.
Three faces stood outside.
Hiori.
Saramadara.
Nishioka.
Hiori's eyes met Hibari's without flinching.
"We accept your match."
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ADDITIONAL TIME
THIRD PERSON POV
THE NIGHT BEFORE
"No."
Nishioka's eyes bulged, arms thrown in the air. "Absolutely not. I like my limbs attached."
Saramadara was face down on his bed, groaning into his pillow. "You mean the pink-haired psycho, the dead-eyed sniper, and the guy who looks like he reads Dostoyevsky for fun?"
"Shidou. Hibari. And Reo," Hiori replied calmly.
White lines of stress popped across Nishioka's temple.
"Reo doesn't even count! He looks like he regrets being born right now!"
"He'll still play better than most."
Saramadara peeked up from his pillow, sweat-drop anime-style hanging from his brow. "Hiori. Buddy. Are you trying to kill us for sport?"
Hiori blinked. "No. Just proposing a challenge."
"A challenge?!"
Nishioka fell backward onto the bed. "Next he's gonna ask us to fight Godzilla in 2v3."
"Would you prefer we wait around for weaker opponents and never get picked?" Hiori asked, voice still calm.
They both groaned.
"Just think about it," Hiori added. Then left the room.
"We did," Saramadara muttered. "And we hate you."
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A/N: Well.
Yea the updating process hasn't been going well, things are starting to get hectic and it's really only gonna get worse from here. Going forward I may only be able to work on chapters on Saturdays and chapters might have to be shorter (around this length) if semi-consistent updates are gonna be a thing.
Nothings set in stone yet, but just want to keep yall in the loop as to how things might be down the line.
Again, not the case yet but I'll see how things pan out.
Have a fantastic day everyone!
Ussylliss out