Chapter 44: Heading to Seirin — The Troubles of Being a Star Player!
Kira quickly hailed a taxi nearby and headed toward Seirin High School. The two locations weren't far apart, so the ride didn't take long.
While in the car, Kira opened his system interface.
He currently had 160 Points — just enough to unlock another skill.
[Football Skill: Thunder Breathing — Third Form: Thunder Swarm (Locked | Unlock Cost: 150 Points | Requires Rice Spirit)]
Kira immediately unlocked the skill. New knowledge flooded into his mind.
[Football Skill: Thunder Breathing — Third Form: Thunder Swarm LV1 | Proficiency 0%]
He had 10 points left — just enough for another training session inside the Practice Space.
There, he was unaffected by time or location.
The scenery shifted. One moment he was sitting in the taxi, the next he was standing in the middle of a training field.
Without hesitation — time was precious — Kira activated Thunder Swarm on the ball at his feet.
The ball shot out—
But unlike Thunderclap and Flash, it didn't fly straight.
Instead, it curved sharply in midair.
A curveball.
By striking specific parts of the ball's surface, a player could generate spin, affecting its path through the air. Curveballs often created miraculous passes and shots — especially in free-kick situations.
But using one effectively in a real match required exquisite technique.
Thunder Swarm allowed Kira to execute curveballs with expert-level proficiency.
"This is going to be really useful. It'll create great chances in matches… but the speed and power are lacking. Maybe I can combine it with Thunderclap and Flash to make something special."
With that thought, he began experimenting with combining the two skills.
...
An hour passed quickly. Kira's consciousness returned to reality — seamlessly back in the taxi.
To the real world, he had never left.
About an hour later, Kira arrived at his destination: Seirin High School.
Newly founded, its facilities were surprisingly decent.
Kira pulled out his phone and messaged Riko that he had arrived. She replied saying she still had some work to finish with the basketball club and needed a moment.
He had nothing else to do, so he stood at the school gate, idly scrolling through his phone.
Soon, passing students began staring at him.
"That boy… he's so tall and handsome!"
"Wait— I recognize him! He's that soccer star from a nearby school! Ryosuke Kira!"
"That's him? I've heard of him!"
While Kira continued playing on his phone, he suddenly realized he was surrounded by a group of girls.
"Excuse me, are you Kira?!"
"Kira, I'm your fan! Can we take a picture together?!"
"Kira, why are you at Seirin? Can I get your contact info?"
Within just a few minutes, Kira was completely encircled.
All he could do was maintain a polite but awkward smile.
On the other side of campus, Riko had just finished assigning training routines to her team. She hurried toward the entrance, afraid of keeping Kira waiting.
But the moment she arrived, the sight in front of her shocked her.
"What on earth…?"
For a second, she thought some big incident had happened at the school gate — that was the only explanation for such a huge crowd.
But a few seconds later, she spotted Kira in the middle of the group and instantly understood.
Ryosuke Kira had become the center of attention.
Riko didn't hesitate. She charged straight into the crowd.
"Excuse me! Let me through!"
She pushed her way in, grabbed Kira's hand firmly—
"Riko?"
Kira finally noticed her. She tugged him along at full speed, pulling him out of the crowd and toward the basketball gym.
"Who was that girl?"
"I think she's a first-year."
"The one from the basketball club?"
Students' eyes followed them, while Riko kept her head down the entire time, avoiding eye contact with anyone.
At last, after a few minutes, they reached the front of the basketball gym.
"Good… they didn't follow."
Riko checked behind them cautiously, then looked up at Kira.
"Thanks, Riko. You saved my life."
Kira laughed lightly. Had she not come when she did, he might have been stuck at the gate forever.
"It's my fault. I should've gotten there sooner!"
Riko said, feeling guilty.
It had only been half a month since she'd last seen him, but to her, it felt even longer.
And for some reason, now that they'd reunited, she felt… happy.
A little too happy.
Seeing him surrounded by girls earlier had even made her slightly irritated—
though she didn't dare think too deeply about why.
She looked at Kira, wanting to say something meaningful, but after thinking for so long, all she managed was:
"How… how have you been over there?"
The moment she asked, she wanted to smack herself.
She'd asked him this question almost every day since he got his phone back.
But asking through a screen and asking face to face were very different.
"Mm, I'm doing all right."
Kira smiled and nodded.
"T-then let's head inside. Everyone's still training — you can come watch!"
Riko said quickly.
"After training… we can go home and have dinner togeth—"
She stopped abruptly, realizing what she'd just said.
Her face turned red as she corrected herself:
"I-I mean the gym! Home as in the gym! I already told my dad, so he's preparing lots of ingredients! I heard the meals at Blue Lock are really plain, so I got a bunch of tasty and nutritious food ready!"
"Sounds great."
"T-then let's go inside first. You can rest a bit! Or watch their training if you want — maybe it'll even help you somehow!"