"I'm fine, you idiot! It's just a scratch."
"Oh, please. Your nose is practically about to explode and you're still acting tough."
Ryūma Banjō spread his hands helplessly. He knew saying anything else would be pointless. Right now, Rin Itoshi was so dead set on defeating Sae Itoshi that he'd basically lost his mind.
(Alright… Sae really does know how to train his little brother.)
Watching Rin fight with such desperation, Yoichi Isagi thought to himself:
(This isn't the Rin I used to know.)
(He always played for himself—only cared about scoring, completely self-centered.)
(But just now… he was throwing himself into defense like his life depended on it, sprinting to that spot with everything he had.)
(Did he really change his playstyle at the last second just to shut down Sae Itoshi?!)
(Amazing, Rin!! But how did he even do it?!)
(I don't really get it, but it's something I know I could never pull off. It must be something only Rin can see!!)
(Everyone aiming for FLOW has pushed the level of this match higher.)
(And in response, Sae has elevated his own state too, awakening something inside Rin——)
(Now he wants to become the one who crushes Sae Itoshi! He's transforming——!)
At the sideline, Jyubei Aryu set the ball down and unexpectedly kicked it straight into play.
"You seriously don't put me↗ in your eyes at all, huh?!"
The ball tore downfield and was cleanly stopped by Seishiro Nagi.
"Strikers, gather up! Time to counterattack~"
Beside him, Yoichi Isagi kept his eyes locked on the U-20 National Team's defensive line, thinking:
(If Rin can take Sae down, everything will change!!)
(My link-up play, my vision—everything will evolve!! Even the scenery will change!!)
(If I change, the people around me will change too!!)
(Starting from Rin, everything will be reborn. Blue Lock can still keep evolving——)
(Instant reflex!! Create the chain attack that only Blue Lock, right now, can pull off——)
(The chain woven from immersion—draw it out!!)
And in that moment, how could Yoichi Isagi's side be complete without his very first partner—Meguru Bachira!
"You calling for me, Yoichi?"
"The monster's here! And the key to winning this… is obviously me~"
A bright, excited grin spread across Yoichi Isagi's face.
"Perfect timing, Meguru!"
"I'm not here to assist you. I'm here to score for myself!"
"Hmph, that works for me!"
Both of them charged forward toward the U-20 National Team, smiles blazing with passion.
"Bring it on, Meguru Bachira!"
"Move it, Yoichi Isagi!"
Just then, Shōei Barō came sprinting in at top speed, shattering the perfect moment as he lunged for the ball at Isagi's feet.
"Taking back my throne!! You let your guard down, Yoichi!"
"You think that just because you're not in front of the goal, I can't steal the ball?!"
There was no way Yoichi Isagi would give up the ball to Shōei Barō.
"O—open… Open your eyes! Like hell I'm giving the ball to you, damn King!"
"Gh—!!"
From behind them on the left, Seishiro Nagi shouted urgently:
"Hey! Stop fighting over it, you two idiots!"
But Meguru Bachira pounced on the moment and stole the ball cleanly.
"I said it's a counterattack! Don't waste time, you two rookies!"
"Finally, it's my time again!"
Far on the wing, Ryūma Banjō sighed as he sprinted back toward his own defensive third.
"Tōya, do you have some kind of problem?"
"Or did you fall for me, Tōya?!"
"Why've you been tailing me ever since the throw-in?!"
Ryūma Banjō was stuck in a tough spot. If he went to stop Bachira and Bachira managed to pass out to the wing, they'd be in trouble.
Blue Lock could now produce coordinated link-ups. If Kudo Tōya got the ball, with his anticipation, the shot lanes for the entire Blue Lock squad would open wide.
So Ryūma Banjō had no choice but to guard the most dangerous right flank. That way, none of the Blue Lock Eleven would dare pass to that side.
Even if it restricted him, he chose to trust Sae Itoshi and Oliver Aiku to stop this attack.
Dribbling full speed, Meguru Bachira finally stepped halfway into his FLOW state!
"I'm gonna dance with the ball!"
"Let your body move with the impulse inside————"
"Instinct!! Improvise!!"
At that moment, Teppei Neru, thanks to his Speed, was the first to cut Bachira off.
(Use my speed—do whatever I can to delay him!!)
The old Meguru Bachira might've struggled getting past Teppei Neru, but the Bachira of now breezed through him like it was nothing.
(Empty your mind. Just play————)
(Let my heart run toward joy!!)
Bachira's rapid feints, followed by a heel flick, completely shook Neru off.
(His touch is crazy fast?! A feint—then a spin?!)
(A straight nutmeg? No—wait! A flick?!)
While Neru was still processing how he got beaten, Bachira was already charging deeper into the backfield.
"Stick to him, Neru! Press!"
"Double-team him!"
"Alright—crush him!"
Kazuma Nio moved to close in while snapping the dazed Neru Teppei back to attention.
But they had no idea—Meguru Bachira was already having fun.
"Roll! Roll!"
"Meow! Meow!!"
With Bachira's gleeful noises echoing, their double-team fell apart instantly as he slipped right past them.
"What is this guy doing?! Is he dribbling purely on instinct?!"
In the commentator's box, Atsuto Tereasa couldn't stay calm anymore.
"H-he… he beat them!!"
"Feint—Marseille turn!! Meguru Bachira breaks through!!"
On the field, Bachira now faced the U-20 National Team's most dangerous defender—Oliver Aiku.
"So this is the hidden blade you were keeping!"
"Ah—hey!"
Luckily, Seishiro Nagi and Yoichi Isagi rushed in alongside Bachira—one on the left, one on the right.
"Look here!"
"Over here!!"
(Shut up, you background characters——)
In this state, Meguru Bachira wasn't passing to anyone.
He used rapid step-overs to close in on Oliver Aiku, and once he was right in front of him, he twisted his ankle and flicked the ball upward.
(You egoists—2% chance you pass, 98% chance you dribble!!)
(Then let's see… you flick it up and use this moment to take a shot?!)
But that thought had already been read by Meguru Bachira—
or rather, Meguru Bachira had deliberately made Oliver Aiku think that!