Hearing Sae Itoshi's scathing remark, Ryūma Banjō sat in the very back row, grumbling in his head:
(Seriously? I just woke up from a nap and I'm already getting insulted? T﹏T)
(A yearly salary of about fifty million yen, plus being a gravure idol—that's already pretty impressive.)
(Well, for normal people anyway. As for me~ I'm obviously number one in the world!)
"I want to become the world's best too!" Shuto Sendo yelled back, refusing to back down.
"You? You're not even fully awake yet, are you?"
"Hah?" Shuto Sendo turned toward the voice.
There stood Ryūma Banjō, stretching lazily as he walked over with a grin, then casually sat on the desk beside him.
Seeing Ryūma's laid-back attitude, Shuto Sendo snapped, "Sae Itoshi is one thing, but you? A nobody like you thinks you can mock me?"
"Don't get the wrong idea—I'm not mocking you. I just genuinely think you're trash~"
"What? You—!"
"Enough. I'm too lazy to waste breath on you." Ryūma straightened up, looking down at Shuto Sendo with a smile. "A player should speak with his skill."
"Aren't you always bragging about being the starting striker in the domestic Division 1 league?"
"Great. Since you're so amazing, play me one-on-one."
"The loser backs off from the striker position. On their own."
Shuto Sendo let out a derisive laugh, his eyes full of contempt.
"Hah? Do you think I'm stupid? Why would I go one-on-one with some unknown nobody like you?"
"Just because you're the lapdog Sae Itoshi brought with him? Don't make me laugh."
"And I'm already the U-20 national team's striker. Why would I waste my time playing against you?"
Ryūma didn't react to the mockery. He simply kept smiling faintly.
"I was chosen by Sae Itoshi."
"And President Buratsuta paid a hefty price to bring me out of Blue Lock."
"If you beat me, not only will President Buratsuta take notice of you—you'll also get to slap Sae Itoshi in the face. Doesn't that tempt you?"
"Or are you scared?"
Truthfully, Shuto Sendo was tempted—especially by the idea of taking Sae down a notch, while earning extra favor from President Buratsuta at the same time.
"Hmph. If I win, you won't play a single minute in the match against Blue Lock!"
"Fine. But don't forget—if you lose, you'll roll yourself off the striker position."
"Hahaha! Don't be ridiculous. You? If you beat me, I'll eat this table!"
Shuto Sendo was about to continue mocking him when another youth—also sporting heterochromatic eyes—stood up and cut in.
"Alright, Sendo. Are you really betting your striker position on this?"
"What, Aiku? You don't think I can beat him?"
Yes—this young man was none other than Oliver Aiku, captain of the U-20 Japan National Team.
"Relax, Aiku. You know what I'm capable of."
"Be the witness. So no one tries to worm their way out later."
Shuto Sendo shot Ryūma a few meaningful glances, making his intentions very clear.
Ryūma only chuckled. Soon enough, he'd show Shuto Sendo what despair truly meant.
...
U-20 National Team Training Ground.
Before long, a crowd had gathered—
including Buratsuta Hiroto, who had been specially invited, as well as the full roster that had been assembled.
On the pitch, only Ryūma Banjō and Shuto Sendo stood ready, joined by referee Hoichi Yasumori and the designated goalkeepers.
"Gentlemen, friendship first, match second."
"The rules are simple: first to five goals wins."
"Goalkeepers will be selected from the assembled players."
"If there are no objections, I'll flip the coin."
Ryūma and Shuto Sendo both nodded.
Off to the side, three players stood beside Oliver Aiku. One of them spoke up first:
"Aiku, do you think Sendo can win?"
The other two quickly added:
"Yeah, Aiku! That kid was picked by the genius Sae Itoshi—he must have something special!"
"Wait—doesn't that mean Sendo's doomed?!"
Oliver Aiku waved them off and focused on the two facing off at the center of the pitch.
"Enough, all three of you. Trust our ace."
The three were Teppei Neru, Miroku Darai, and Kazuma Nio—together with Oliver Aiku, they formed the U-20 national team's defensive line.
As Aiku finished speaking, the match officially began.
Shuto Sendo kicked off!!
"Haha, perfect! Let me teach you a lesson, you arrogant brat!"
With that, he burst forward toward Ryūma's left. As Ryūma moved to intercept—
Sendo suddenly shifted direction, executing a Chop Feint to evade him and sprint toward the right.
"Hmph. Go home and study soccer for a few years before you try to one-on-one me!"
But before he could brag any further, he suddenly realized—
The ball at his feet was gone.
"What? How—?!"
"So this is your full strength?"
Hearing Ryūma's voice, Sendo whipped around—
only to see the ball already under Ryūma's control.
(That's impossible. I clearly got past him. When did he steal it?!)
Sendo couldn't understand it—but the spectators could.
Especially the more observant ones. Oliver Aiku frowned, thinking:
(Coincidence? No—if it were, it wouldn't be that precise.)
(The moment Sendo tried to pass him, I clearly saw him intercept exactly at that spot—and he even controlled his strength.)
(All so Sendo wouldn't notice. He's toying with him.)
"Huh? After stealing the ball, why isn't he going for goal? Why is he just standing there waiting for Sendo?" Jinō asked, confused.
Oliver Aiku smirked.
"Hmph. He's toying with Sendo."
"Ryūma Banjō wouldn't do that unless he was certain he could completely overwhelm him. That's why he's in no rush to shoot."
Exactly as Aiku said, Ryūma patiently waited for Shuto Sendo to recover and charge him again.
But now Sendo was furious. He could tell Ryūma was messing with him.
"Damn you! You'll pay for this!"
"Haha, I hope so."
Ryūma burst forward, unleashing a series of feints that sent Sendo collapsing onto the turf.
"Tsk. Too weak~"
[BOOM]
GOAL!!
Ryūma Banjō 1 : 0 Shuto Sendo