"Alright, your second selection is officially over.
During this phase, you should have learned the principles behind creating chemical reactions on the field.
Next is the Third Selection.
As previously announced you will be participating in a training camp against the greatest players in the world.
Twenty-four hours from now, you will play 5v5
against top talents gathered from around the globe.
You frogs in a well…
the time has come to witness the world."
Ego's voice cut off.
After that, everyone headed to the bathhouse.
Inside the Bathhouse
"Ahhhh… paradise.
Nothing beats soaking in hot water after intense training.
My muscles are vibrating like they're about to explode."
Ryan reclined against the edge of the pool, a towel on his face, arms stretched out lazily like a king in his palace.
Chigiri clicked his tongue.
"Can you at least pretend to have some crisis awareness?
Tomorrow we're playing against guys we've only ever seen on TV!
Shouldn't you be panicking or something?
Why do you look like you're on vacation?"
He stepped into the bath, freshly washed, looking annoyed.
Ryan took the towel off and looked over casually.
"Why would I panic? I'm so fired up I can barely sit still.
My cells are literally trembling in excitement."
Chigiri stared.
"…You're insane."
Ryan shrugged.
"And if you ever start panicking, that's when we're all doomed.
Honestly, the only thing that could scare you is probably the Earth blowing up."
Just then, Kunigami, Bachira, and Aryu entered the bath.
"Facing world-class stars… that's unbelievably stylish."
"Mhm! I'm super hyped too.
Just imagining playing against such monsters I might not sleep tonight."
"Tomorrow, I'll finally learn the results of my training.
I want to know how far I am from true world-class forwards."
Chigiri looked at the four of them, all fired up like maniacs.
He suddenly wondered if he was the weird one.
Why were they acting like they were confessing to their crushes tomorrow instead of playing global elites?
Ryan slapped the water surface lightly.
"Relax, Chigiri-chan.
I'm invincible, you know?
Just watch
Tomorrow, I'll send them crying back to whatever country they came from."
Chigiri felt something ease inside him.
Right.
If the strongest guy in Blue Lock wasn't scared…
why should he be?
If the sky falls, the tallest person holds it up.
Why worry?
I just need to defend properly.
Not screw up.
Feed the ball to Ryan.
The rest is his job.
"Yeah… you're right."
Ryan noticed Chigiri calming down.
He walked over and patted his back proudly.
"That's the spirit.
Tomorrow, watch me shine."
"Mhm. But could you stand a little farther away?"
Ryan blinked, looked down at their completely naked bodies
and IMMEDIATELY sprinted ten meters away at mach speed.
He covered his chest dramatically.
"Chigiri!! Why are you so focused on these kinds of things?!
Your brain is full of nasty thoughts!
You pervert!!"
Chigiri closed his eyes and sighed.
"Yes, yes. My head is full of filth."
He was immune to Ryan's nonsense now.
Back in the Dorms
Everyone gathered in front of the TV, watching the profiles of tomorrow's opponents.
Chigiri explained:
"From Spanish powerhouse RE.AL
Leonardo Luna, the noble prince of La Liga.
England's league top scorer
Adam Blake.
One of the world's best free-kick specialists
the freckled genius, Pablo Cavasoz.
Born in the slums, a ravenous war machine
Dada Silva."
Aryu whistled.
"So stylish…
Didn't know you knew this much, Chigiri."
Chigiri nodded.
"When I was injured and quit football…
I still watched the European leagues every week.
I guess… I always loved football.
I just couldn't face it back then."
Aryu flicked his long hair dramatically.
"What a tragic backstory.
How very stylish."
Bachira, drying his hair, grinned.
"What a lineup!
Facing players this strong…
I'm getting chills.
But the excited kind."
Kunigami suddenly pointed at the screen.
"But I don't recognize the buzz-cut kid in the middle."
"That's Julian Loki," Chigiri explained.
"A supernova rising in the French league.
He's seventeen."
Kunigami froze.
"Seventeen?! He's my age and already a national team-level talent?!"
Aryu stepped forward, hair swaying.
"If I defeat him…
the world will finally recognize me, Aryu."
Chigiri suddenly realized someone was missing.
"Where's Ryan?"
Bachira replied:
"He said he was going to grab food at the cafeteria."
Chigiri facepalmed.
"That idiot… eating again this late at night."
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