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...
Listening to Ikki Niko's analysis, Yoichi Isagi nodded. "Exactly!"
(They're using four defenders to reinforce their back line!)
(Then, taking advantage of our lack of a decisive finishing tactic, they steal the ball and launch a fast break starting from Sae Itoshi!)
(This is the U-20 Japan National Team's strategy!!)
(How do we break through this?!)
Inside the Blue Lock locker room, Anri Teieri looked anxiously at Jinpachi Ego.
"Mr. Ego, we've already conceded two goals!"
"That kid Ryūma really shows no mercy! Hmph! And here I thought he felt deeply attached to Blue Lock."
"And the tactics we practiced during the final training camp aren't working at all."
"Is this really okay, Mr. Ego?"
Jinpachi Ego remained perfectly calm. Looking at him, one might think Blue Lock was the team leading by two goals.
"This is normal, Anri. Practice is just practice."
"Eh?!" Anri stared at Ego, thinking he had completely given up.
But Ego obviously meant something else. He continued:
"In practice, all you need to do is execute your skills consistently when there's no pressure."
"It's the same in every field—people who perform beautifully in practice but fall apart in 'official matches,' right?"
Hearing this, Anri recalled her own piano background.
"Yeah… I've been there too."
"Messing up in piano competitions…"
Ego nodded. "Exactly. The biggest difference between 'practice' and an 'official match' is…"
"Whether there's pressure!"
"The stadium environment, the strength of your opponents, your physical condition, psychological shifts, muscle tension, mental freeze…"
"A real match is full of factors that pull you into a negative spiral."
"No player can perform exactly like they do in practice. There's only one way to break free from this 'pressure'—or you could call it a 'burden'—"
"And that is improvisation!"
Anri froze for a moment, then grew even more anxious.
"What?! You're not going to give them any instructions?!"
"If we keep watching silently like this, I'm afraid—"
Before she could finish, Jinpachi Ego cut her off with confidence:
"Quiet. Just trust them."
"Our egoists are built for official matches."
...
Blue Lock's possession—Rin Itoshi starts from the center circle!!
After kickoff, Blue Lock sticks to their plan: Yoichi Isagi receives Rin's pass and begins directing the attack!
(The elements needed to break U-20's defense still aren't enough!!)
(And I don't even know what we're missing. To me, they're just overwhelmingly strong and unreadable.)
(But I've been in situations like this many times. What I need to do is clear—)
(Throw away all the unnecessary thoughts!!)
(Focus on what I can do right now!!)
(Pour everything I have—)
(Into linking up with Rin!!)
(Forget everything else. Just follow Rin's intent and go all out!!)
"NO, NO! Don't move up any further!" Teru Kitsunezato said as he rushed in, blocking the path between Rin and Isagi.
At the same time, Kento Cho arrived, stretching out his leg to stop Isagi's dribble.
But Isagi and Rin reacted instantly. Their continuous passing left Cho and Teru with no chance to intervene.
Then Rin suddenly flicked the ball backward with a heel touch.
Accelerating from behind Rin and Isagi was Meguru Bachira.
"This is how you pass?"
Just as Bachira reached out for Rin's pass, a silhouette burst into view and cut it off.
"What?! Ryūma?!"
As Bachira shouted in shock, Ryūma spun and struck the ball, grinning.
"Alright, Mr. Male Model."
"You can't stop me!"
Before the words even settled, Kenyu Yukimiya rushed up behind Ryūma—but the ball had already left his foot.
Luckily, Blue Lock hadn't pushed too deep, so the team still had time to retreat.
At the ball's landing point stood Sae Itoshi—and Seishiro Nagi, arriving fast.
(It's too late to trap the ball. In that case…)
As Nagi neared Sae, the ball hung about 2 meters above the ground. His sharp eyes locked onto it.
Just as Sae stepped in to take position—
Nagi spun and used a back-trap to knock the ball forward, sending it over Sae's head.
Sae froze for a moment, genuinely surprised by the white-haired boy's boldness. But to him, it was merely amusing.
Rather than chase the ball, Sae stepped sideways, neatly blocking Nagi's path.
(Tsk. So this is Sae Itoshi—the speed of his decision-making is insane.)
(He knew chasing the ball was pointless, so he instantly chose to block me instead, cutting off any chance I had to regain control.)
At that moment, Haru Hayate seized the opportunity and slid in, knocking the ball away.
Nagi's heart skipped—his peripheral vision caught Ryūma charging toward the ball.
"Hey, hey—hold up. How about we talk this out?"
Ryūma turned his head, looking back at Yukimiya relentlessly chasing him, and laughed.
"Haha, you're not seriously trying to slow me down like that, right? Glasses model guy?"
With that, Ryūma inhaled deeply and lunged forward.
His right leg swept back in a huge arc, channeling his entire body's tension into it—then struck the ball dead center.
[BOOM!!!]
Seeing Ryūma's motion, Yukimiya froze.
(Is that… a shot?! No—it's a pass to Sae Itoshi!)
The power behind the ball was terrifying, and its trajectory aimed straight toward Blue Lock's left midfield.
Ryūma watched two figures sprinting toward the landing spot, amused.
(If Sae doesn't beat Chigiri to this one, I'm definitely teasing him later („ಡωಡ„) thanks~)
Those two figures were Sae Itoshi and Hyōma Chigiri.
The outcome was obvious. Although Chigiri reached the spot first—
Sae adjusted his body, used flawless positioning, and completely shut Chigiri out from the ball as it hit the ground.
"Damn it!"
Realizing he couldn't escape Sae's positioning, Chigiri stepped back and tried to circle around him.
...
(Full Series)
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