Chapter 19

“Scared to lose yet?”

Blue Lock Fifth Stratum Last Game – Half Time

Team V 3:3 Team Z

*Team Z Locker Room*

Gento was currently stretching his right leg, whilst sitting on the floor in front of Bachira, who was actively downing an entire bottle of water. Turning his head to the side he watches the commotion in the middle with Kunigami being surrounded by a multitude of strikers.

“All right! We’re even!!!” Igaguri yells standing next to Kunigami. “That shot was insane, Kunigami!” Naruhaya compliments Team Z’s most recent goalscorer. “Why didn’t you tell us you could do a no-spin shot like that?! You’re a real superhero muscle-boy!” Igaguri questions the striker in front of him.

“No, I was freaked out too.” he quickly takes a sip of his water before continuing, “If I shoot from over 27 meters, I normally use too much strength and the ball goes flying off.” turning to his side and locking eyes with Gento, who was now stretching his left leg, “Thanks to Gento, I didn’t need to predict the ball’s movement before shooting, so I could just focus on my strength on one point so it wouldn’t fly off.” looking down at his hand he continues, “And then I think I grasped some kind of new ‘goal intuition.'”.

“You trying to sound like Ego with that speech?” Gento teases the ginger, with Bachira snickering behind him. “Anyways we might wanna change our system up a bit.” Iemon turns to the younger striker confused, “Huh? But we defended them well at the end there, why should we change it?.”. Looking up at the taller striker, Gento stretches his arms above his head before standing up, “We defended well, because we defended for like only two minutes. As soon as they get the idea I’m not on the same level as them physically our left side is going to get exposed.” Walking over to the white board, Gento uncaps a marker before quickly drawing a new formation, “this way our defense works roughly the same as before, but my weaknesses aren’t as exposed.”. Throwing the marker across the room Gento turns to the rest of Team Z with a fire behind his eyes, “With this formation, they won’t score more than once.”

Team Z Formation – Last Resort

Looking at both Chigiri and Bachira, Gento speaks up “Sorry you two, but you’re going to have to run your asses off to make this work,” scratching the back of his head he continues, “Naruhaya and Igaguri aren’t going to move much and depending on the situation I might need to switch with you Raichi.” he looks at the surprisingly calm striker.

Looking at both Chigiri and Bachira, Gento speaks up “Sorry you two, but you’re going to have to run your asses off to make this work,” scratching the back of his head he continues, “Naruhaya and Igaguri aren’t going to move much and depending on the situation I might need to switch with you Raichi.” he looks at the surprisingly calm striker.

Gento’s eyes widen at the missing interjection from the usually argumentative striker ‘Huh, weird.’, “Anyways, Isagi and I will distribute the ball so all of you, minus the defense and Raichi get chances to put them in the dirt, got it?” he finishes his speech looking around at Team Z players tentatively listening to him, “All right!” “Got it!” accepting Gento’s plan the members of Team Z begin leaving the locker room.

Walking a bit behind Team Z, Gento notices Isagi still standing in the locker room, seemingly lost in thought, “Isagi, you good?”. Hearing Gento’s voice Isagi startles for a second before quickly shaking his head and making his way towards Gento, “Yeah, don’t worry about it.” Gento narrows his eyes at the striker before walking beside him on their way towards the field, ‘Eh, not my problem. If he chokes, he chokes.’ he thought to himself shrugging his shoulders.

“Let’s kill those guys, right striker?” Gento teases Isagi before making his way into his spot on defense, ‘Let’s see how this half plays out.’

Blue Lock Fifth Stratum Last Game

Team V 3:3 Team Z

Second Half – Start!!!

With a loud whistle signaling the start of the second half Isagi passes the ball to Kunigami, officially kicking off the final moments of the first selection, “Go, Kunigami!”. With the ball now at his feet and Gagamaru by his side Kunigami dashes forward beginning Team Z’s first offense.

Before he could make it far, two members of Team V intercepted his path to the goal, ‘I knew it! They’re guarding me tightly after my goal, shooting from back here would be way too reckless, so what I should do is…’ looking around he sees the free Bachira before thinking to himself, ‘pass to Bachira!’ He finishes his thoughts by sending a quick pass to Bachira.

Upon receiving the ball, Bachira immediately sent a high pass into Gagamaru’s path, “Coming right at you Gagamaru!”. “Huh?” not expecting this, the surprised Gagamaru misjudges the ball’s path ‘Huh? I ran too far. Guess I’ll just have to shoot!’ he thought to himself before jumping forward and hitting the ball with his heel.

Back in defense Gento’s eyes widened at the caveman’s shot ‘Damn, a scorpion kick?! No way the goalie saw that coming.’. Just as Gento predicted, Team V’s goalkeeper, not having expected the acrobatic shot, begins moving towards the ball, currently heading into the top left corner of his goal, way too late. He jumps towards the ball, with his arm fully stretched, although thanks to his delayed reaction he couldn’t reach the ball.

However before the ball could cross the line, putting Team Z in the lead, Zantetsu jumps forward and manages to scrape the ball off of the line, just barely denying Team Z’s goal. Laying on the ground Gagamaru looks up shocked, “Huh?! Damn, I didn’t know that Zantetsu plays defense!!”

‘Guess they’re upping their defense as well.’ Gento thought to himself watching the situation playing out in front of him, beside him Igaguri began yelling at their offense “Second ball! Get it!”. Isagi immediately begins rushing towards the ball’s destination, ‘I made it!’ he thought to himself.

Stopping the ball and setting it down in front of himself Isagi begins analyzing the situation in front of him ‘Ok, 23 meters to the goal left. Do I shoot? With my shooting power, it’ll just barely reach!’ finishing his thoughts Isagi begins pulling back his leg, preparing to shoot. However in the time it took for Isagi to decide his next actions, Team V’s number three managed to close down his shot-path.

‘Damn, they sealed off my opening?!’ Isagi thought to himself, whilst pulling the ball back from the defender’s outstretched leg. “Behind you, Isagi!” Kunigami yells out, warning the aforementioned striker of another defender closing in on him. Isagi, however, was too slow to react and Team V’s number five managed to steal the ball and send it high up the field, “Clear it!”

“What the fuck are you doing, shithead?!” Raichi yells from his position back in Team Z’s midfield. “Sorry!” Isagi shouts back, before beginning to run back towards his own goal, aiming to help defend Team V’s attack. During his run Nagi positions himself right beside him, before speaking up “Why didn’t you shoot? You do a lot of pointless stuff.”.

Locking eyes with the striker beside himself, Isagi continues running, “Why don’t you just give up gracefully? You guys are totally different from everyone else we’ve beaten. Why do you keep trying? If I had your level of talent I would’ve quit soccer by now. Come on tell me, what is it that makes you push yourself so hard?”

At the question Isagi becomes enraged before shouting back, “Shut it, prodigy! This is the good part!”. Afterwards Isagi sprints forward, leaving Nagi behind him. Back in the midfield Reo receives the ball sent forward by his defender, “Come on, Nagi! We need to counter!”.

Moving forward Reo feels a cold shower run down the back of his neck, ‘This is-!’ realizing what’s about to happen, Reo just barely manages to pull the ball back in time, to avoid a foot shooting forward from his blind spot.

Turning to his right, Reo spots Gento who was looking back at him with his eyebrows raised, “Wow, you’re the first one to actually see me coming.”Gento praises the rich kid with a surprised tone. Managing to get himself in front of Reo, Gento crouches down a bit not wanting to let the striker past himself.

“Think you’ll do better this time?”

Gento Hirako vs Reo Mikage

“I’m better on offense anyways.”

Gento’s leg shoots forward, aiming to hit the ball away from the purple haired boy in front of him, although before he could reach the ball Reo pulls it back and pushes it forward towards Gento’s right side. Seeing this Gento quickly turns his body, grabbing Reo’s jersey and using it to pull himself in front of the striker, cutting off his advance again.

Locking eyes with the white haired striker blocking his path, Reo tries to before a body feint similar to the one Gento used to get past Zantetsu. Gento realizing this pretends to fall for it and as soon as Reo begins his roulette, he shoots his leg forward slightly moving the ball away from Reo causing him to pull out of the roulette and take a few steps back away from Gento.

With Reo’s balance now offcentered, Gento begins his offense pressuring the chameleon, trying to get any opening to steal the ball. At this Reo continues pulling the ball back, just barely managing to keep it out of the younger’s grasp before looking around and gaining a small smirk on his face. Seeing this Gento looks past Reo, spotting Raichi rushing at the two of them.

“I’m gonna devour you!!” Raichi yells nearing the two dueling strikers, “Wait dumbass!” Gento yells at his teammate. However before Raichi got the chance to attack, Reo flicked the ball up and over the advancing pitbull, before stepping back and causing Raichi’s path to interlock with Gento’s.

At this Gento tries to take a step back, however with his leg still extended Raichi steps onto his foot, hard, causing the boy to fall on his ass. “What was it you said? See ya at the climax, loser.” Reo teases the boy currently holding his foot with a pained expression on his face, ‘Fuck, that hurt!’ Gento thought to himself, still nursing his foot. “Shit, sorry!” Raichi says quickly moving past Gento and again aiming for Reo.

Reo, now completely free, sends a pass over towards Zantetsu who was pushing up the right side of the pitch. Zantetsu doesn’t manage to get far before being pressed by both Chigiri and Naruhaya, not finding a way past the two Zantetsu sends the ball back towards Reo, “Reo! This side is too heavily guarded! Set it up again!”.

Receiving the ball again, Reo is immediately pressured by Raichi coming from behind, “Hey, what’s wrong?! You’re going nowhere!” looking back Reo gains a stressed expression on his face, whilst staring at the striker actively harassing him.

Whilst Reo was thinking of a way past his pursuer, Raichi begins taunting the striker “Passing, dribbling, speed. I’ll admit that you’ve got me beat with all those things but I figured out how to spot you. Every-single-fucking-time you get that ball, you try look for Nagi!”. The two of them look at the aforementioned striker, who is currently being closely guarded by Naruhaya and Igaguri.

“Without that little boyfriend of yours, you’re just a fancy jack of all trades!” At the taunts, Reo reaches his breaking point and roughly elbows Raichi in the throat, causing the taller boy to fall onto the ground.

“Team V #9 Reo Mikage! Yellow card for that malicious elbowing!!” The intercom’s announcement is underlined by a loud whistling echoing across the pitch.

“Yeah get mad, You’ll get tossed out if you get another one.” Raichi rasps, whilst holding his throat. During this Gento picks up the loose ball, setting it down and immediately sending it high up the field, “Your turn, Princess!”.

Receiving the ball Chigiri rushes forward before quickly being intercepted by Zantestu, “Just try it princess.”

“I’m faster than you.”

                Hyoma Chigiri vs Zantetsu Tsurugi

“I’m no princess.”

With his path now being intercepted by Zantetsu, Chigiri performs a quick body feint, hoping to get Zantetsu onto the wrong foot. Seeing this Zantetsu reacts instantly “Over here, huh?”. Not having expected this, Chigiri pulls the ball back standing still for a second trying to find a way past Zantetsu.

‘His weapon is probably his explosive acceleration power!! At this distance, in a battle of reactions he’s faster than me!’ Chigiri thinks to himself, before his eyes widen suddenly, ‘Wait, I just managed to touch the ball earlier, that means I need to change my strategy!’

Finishing his thoughts Chigiri launches the ball forward, far away from both him and Zantetsu. Seeing this Zantetsu turns slightly, surprised at the pink-haired striker’s decision, “Hey now, there’s no one over there. Getting desperate?”.

“It’s to me.” Chigiri responds before sprinting towards the ball’s destination. At this Zantetsu narrows his eyes, before turning around and sprinting ahead of Chigiri “Planning to race me again? You ignorant princess, I already told you I’m faster.”

During the sprint the distance between Chigiri and Zantetsu grows smaller and smaller every second, “I know stupid four-eyes. At least your initial burst is, but when it comes to top speed…”

Chigiri begins pulling ahead of Zantetsu arriving at the ball’s destination just a second before the raven-haired striker, “I’m faster than you!!!”. Taking a touch he gets past the last defender in front of him “Get lost, weaklings.”.

Finishing his sentence, Chigiri hammers the ball into the top corner of the goal, right past the goalkeeper.

Goal! – Scorer: Hyoma Chigiri!!

Team V 3:4 TEAM Z

“YES! We’re in front again!” Igaguri yells, whilst rushing towards Chigiri with multiple members of Team Z. “Nice one, Chigiri!” Gento yells out, choosing not to rush over and instead just wait for the game to restart.

During Team Z’s celebration, Kuon stares annoyedly grumbling to himself before loudly complaining “What the hell Team V!? Losing to just 10 players, aren’t you embarassed!?”

“Keep quiet, trash…” Reo says to himself before returning to his postiion, while Zantetsu picks up the ball and puts it back on the halfway line, preparing to restart the game.

Game Restart! – Team V 3:4 Team Z

Zantetsu passes the ball to Reo, before immediately turning and sprinting at Team Z’s goal. Having received the ball, Reo instantly sends it high up the field, right into the path of Zantetsu.

Receiving the ball Zantetsu continues his sprint, before Chigiri pulls up beside him forcing him to back down, not wanting to risk losing the ball again. Not finding an opening Zantetsu pulls the ball back and passes it back to Reo, who upon receiving the ball gets pressured by Raichi, “Is losing so scary? You spoiled brat? I’ll give you your first loss!”

Reo narrows eyes, beginning to get nervous, ‘Are… are me and Nagi going to lose?’. At this moment Nagi started running on his own, “Reo, pass to me!”

Hearing his teammates’ command Reo sends the ball out wide, towards Nagi who expertly flicks the ball over the approaching Igaguri moving towards Team Z’s goal.

‘Shit!’ Gento thinks to himself rushing towards Nagi, leaving Raichi to guard Reo.

Nagi now in front of Team Z’s penalty box, pulls his foot back and tries to shoot. However before he could shoot, Gento slid in intercepting the shot, causing the ball to tumble towards the sideline.

He immediately stands up rushing towards the loose ball, but Nagi manages to reach it faster, looking down at the younger boy before speaking.

“Let’s see if you can make this interesting.”

Seishiro Nagi vs Gento Hirako

“Sure thing, Genius.”

With the ball at his feet Nagi stares at Gento, who stares back at him with narrowed pupils.

Aiming to create some distance, Nagi pulls the ball back taking a few steps away from Gento who was tracking his movements perfectly with his eyes, whilst the rest of his body was completely relaxed.

A couple meters in front of him Nagi had his right foot resting atop the ball and his left hand on his own hip, waiting for Gento to make the first move.

The two white-haired strikers stare at each other before both of them slightly lean forward and accelerate towards the other.

Nagi flicks the ball up high trying to get it over Gento, who upon seeing this takes a few steps back and controls it using his chest, gaining possession of the ball.

With the ball now at his feet Gento performs a roulette similar to the one he used against Zantetsu, Nagi however sees this and moves to intercept his path.

Now being positioned between the ball and Nagi, Gento flicks the ball over himself, aiming high enough for it to curve over the taller striker’s head.

Watching as the ball flies over his head, Nagi quickly turns around using his right arm to push Gento away from the ball, not letting him get it. Gento, not wanting to give Nagi an opening, just barely manages to slip under the genius’s arm tapping the ball slightly, so that Nagi couldn’t control it properly.

With the ball barely out of reach for the two of them, Gento chooses to push his way into Nagi’s path, trying to slow him down enough to reach the ball before him. However due to the difference in stature Nagi manages to push past Gento and yet again gains possession of the ball.

Not giving the older a second to breathe, Gento again goes on the offense, forcing Nagi to move backwards and away from the goal.

The two aces are locked in a stalemate for a couple of minutes, constantly trading possession, not giving the other a chance to disengage. With the two of them becoming more and more fired up as their duel goes on.

With the two taking a step back at the same time, leaving the ball lying in between the two, they lock eyes yet again.

Gento now has a large smile spread across his face, whilst the upper half of his face appears to be covered by a black viscose substance. “Still bored, genius?“

Staring back down at the younger striker, with cold eyes was Nagi, whose face was beginning to get covered by a skull. “No… this… this feels so fun right now.“

Unbeknownst to the two of them, back in his office Jinpachi Ego was watching the duel between the white haired geniuses closely with a smile on his face.

– End of Chapter 16 –