The moment Ryusei Shido heard he was being taken out of the starting lineup, he immediately exploded.
"Hah!? Hey, four-eyes! Taking me off the field? I'll kill you!"
"What do you mean I can't create chemistry with the others? That's because they're weak! How is that my problem!?"
"Besides, me and Kudō alone could crush the U-20 national team!"
"Put me back in the starting lineup, four-eyes!!"
But Jinpachi Ego didn't respond at all—he simply stared at the tablet in his hands, as if lost in thought.
"Hey! Four-eyes! Are you even listening to me!?"
"Enough, Shido. Trust me. You're definitely going on in the second half."
Kudo Tōya stood up, resting a hand on Shido's shoulder to calm him down.
"Without the two of us, do you seriously think this bunch can beat Ryūma, plus Sae Itoshi—one of the so-called New Generation World Eleven?"
Shido paused at that, then turned toward Kudo's faint, confident smile.
"Haha! You're right, Kudō. I'm actually looking forward to watching these weaklings get stomped into the dirt!"
Just then, Jinpachi Ego cleared his throat.
"Alright. Quiet."
"Next, I'll announce the three players filling the open starting positions."
The room fell absolutely silent.
"Ikki Niko—your ball-winning ability and spatial perception stand out. You'll replace Kudo Tōya as the left center-back."
"The other two positions are newly added."
"Two flank-roaming ball controllers with both speed and technique."
"Left back: Hyōma Chigiri."
Chigiri clearly hadn't expected to be chosen—he froze for a moment before replying, "Here!"
"Right back: Meguru Bachira."
"Oh, so that's how it is~" Bachira responded with a bright grin.
"Alright, everyone. The starting lineup announcement is complete."
"Go rest and prepare for tomorrow's decisive match."
...
Meanwhile, at the U-20 National Team training camp...
"Alright, Banjō. Take the afternoon off."
"Tomorrow's the big match. Make sure your condition is perfect."
"You're back, Sae?" Ryūma wiped the sweat from his forehead as he looked toward Sae Itoshi entering.
"Yeah, just got back. Come on—Hoichi is about to announce the starting lineup."
"Crap, I completely forgot! Let's go!"
Ryūma hurried after Sae toward the U-20 conference room.
Inside, the seats were already filled. Yasumori Hoichi stood at the front, clearly waiting for everyone to arrive—or more precisely, waiting for Sae and Ryūma.
"Oh? There you are, you two geniuses."
Oliver Aiku leaned lazily against the doorframe, smiling as the two strolled in.
Ryūma scratched his head helplessly. "Not my fault, Aiku. Sae said there was no rush."
Seeing them finally arrive, Yasumori Hoichi waved them in.
"Hurry in! The starting roster is about to be announced!"
Once Sae and Ryūma sat down, Yasumori Hoichi cleared his throat.
"Our team will be built around the genius—Sae Itoshi."
"Combined with Ryūma's overwhelming offensive firepower, we'll tear apart the opponent's defensive line."
"Kento Cho, Teru Kitsunezato, Shuto Sendo, and Haru Hayate—your role is to further amplify the offensive potential of the Sae–Ryūma duo!"
"The backline will be our Iron Wall four."
"Left back: Miroku Darai."
"Left center-back: Oliver Aiku."
"Right center-back: Kazuma Nio."
"Right back: Teppei Neru."
"And finally, goalkeeper: Gen Fukaku."
Yasumori Hoichi paused to let the team absorb the announcement.
"Alright. The starting lineup is confirmed."
"The rest of you will be on the bench. We have three substitution slots—don't get discouraged."
"Stay in match-ready condition. We might need your help at any moment."
"Now go rest. I expect your best performance tomorrow—we absolutely must win!"
...
The next day, Blue Lock Main Stadium, locker room...
Wearing his new number 8 jersey, Meguru Bachira approached Yoichi Isagi, who had already finished changing.
"Yoichi, hey—does this look okay?"
Isagi straightened his own uniform before turning. "Yeah. Looks good."
"Come to think of it, this is our first time wearing the Blue Lock match kits, huh?"
"Yeah… it finally feels real."
Hearing them talk, Hyōma Chigiri—still tying his laces—added:
"To think we're actually facing the U-20 team… we really made something of ourselves."
"But today isn't the end of Blue Lock—it's the beginning!"
As Seishiro Nagi spoke, Jinpachi Ego finally rushed in right before kickoff.
"Whew! I'm late!"
"I was torn about this up until the last second—"
"But the substitute list is finally finalized!"
The giant screen lit up with the substitutes' names.
"There are three substitution slots. Stay in perfect condition."
"You must be ready to enter at any moment—no slacking!"
"In just two weeks, you all managed to form a real team."
"The world still knows nothing about you. Isn't that the perfect stage?"
"Use these 90 minutes to change your fate."
"Go win it, Blue Lock!"
"Let the world remember your individuality today!"
Ego's words ignited the entire team.
"Yeah!!"
"Let's go!"
"Time for the final battle!"
...
As the Blue Lock players arrived at the tunnel, the U-20 starting eleven were already lined up.
Meguru Bachira scratched his head innocently. "Oh, everyone's already here."
(So these are the U-20 Japan National Team's Eleven…)
Just then, Yoichi Isagi spotted a familiar figure.
"Huh? Ryūma!"
Hearing the voice, Ryūma stopped chatting with Sae and turned with a grin.
"Long time no see, everyone! Miss me? ٩(๑•̀ω•́๑)۶"
The Blue Lock members reacted instantly.
"So you really are starting, Ryūma?"
"Hmph, still looking like someone begging for a beating."
"This time, we're definitely winning."
"Uh… he's our enemy now, right?"
Nagi's sudden comment made Ryūma look betrayed.
"Nagi, do we have to draw the line that clearly?"
Just as Ryūma was about to say more, a cold gaze stabbed into him—making him tense up instantly.
...
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