"Hey, you noisy idiots.
All that chirping is annoying.
If you're here to work, then work properly.
Stop slacking off."
Ryan stepped forward, speaking in clean, flawless English that shocked his teammates.
Bachira and the others stared wide-eyed.
"Ryan…?"
"Ryan knows English? That's kinda cool…"
The massive Black striker narrowed his eyes, looking Ryan over with contempt.
"You think I want to be stuck in a place like this?
I'm only here to make some extra cash while traveling abroad."
Ryan didn't even look at him directly
his tone bored, dismissive, insulting.
"Ohhh, I get it.
Only someone who can't score in his own league,
who can't even make his national team roster,
would have no choice but to come earn money in a tiny little country like Japan.
Honestly…
I kinda feel bad for you."
The Black striker didn't snap,
but the insult definitely stung.
He leaned down, face inches from Ryan's.
"Watch your mouth, kid.
Once the match starts, you won't even touch the ball."
Ryan's eyes narrowed
a cold, dangerous glint.
"Then try it.
If you can."
Just as the tension skyrocketed,
a blonde pretty-boy stepped between them.
Leonardo Luna clapped his hands lightly and held them out to separate the two.
"Alright, that's enough.
We're supposed to look dignified at least."
He looked Ryan up and down.
"So you're Ryan Hoshino, right?
Ego told us about you."
"…Huh?"
"He said you're strong.
So he specifically reminded us to go extra hard on you during the match."
Ryan's eyes ignited like wildfire, his grin spreading.
"So Ego's trying to crank up the difficulty for me, huh?
Fine by me.
Bring it on."
At the back of the world-star group,
the dark-skinned buzz-cut kid watched Ryan with an unreadable expression.
For reasons he didn't understand…
he felt his pulse spike.
The Match Rules Announced
"Blue Lock Third Selection:
World All-Star 5v5 Exhibition Match.
Same rules as the Second Selection.
First team to score five goals wins."
Luna turned to his team.
"Let me take the gray-haired one."
The bearded Blake shrugged.
"Do what you want.
I'm betting 150,000 you can't stop him."
"Tch. Then I'll bet 200,000 I will."
Luna sighed.
"Enough gambling, idiots.
The match is about to start."
Blue Lock Side
"My body is shaking
from excitement…"
"Bachira, don't pee on the field."
"Ryan's about to play.
Can you not act insane for once?"
"Yes yes, I get it~♪"
The referee blew the whistle.
Kickoff - Blue Lock Ball
Ryan tapped the ball to Bachira.
Bachira advanced with that familiar grin
directly at Cavasoz, the freckled rainbow-haired free-kick wizard.
"Let's get started, Freckle Star~"
Cavasoz scratched his head lazily as Bachira approached.
Bachira spun
a smooth Marseille turn.
"Ooh, very nice spin."
Cavasoz pivoted, extending his leg to block
"Nope!"
Bachira flicked the ball with his inner foot,
slipping it straight through Cavasoz' legs.
"One more touch
Meg of Love!"
He burst past Cavasoz' backside.
Cavasoz blinked.
"Well then…"
"Nice, Bachira!"
Chigiri sprinted down the middle, calling out:
"Pass it here!"
But Bachira shook his head.
"Nooope.
Watching Ryan shine all day made me hungry too~"
Cavasoz stayed glued to him, closing in quickly.
Ahead, two world stars were waiting
Luna and Blake.
Chigiri saw he was perfectly positioned between them.
If Bachira passed now,
with his top speed he'd beat both defenders and go 1-on-1 with the keeper.
One calm shot.
One goal.
He glared at Bachira
Hurry up and pass!
But suddenly
A figure blocked his path.
Chigiri's peripheral vision caught a shadow.
He jerked his head forward
It was Loki.
Where did he come from?!
Fine.
Then I'll just outrun him.
His speed is fast
but not faster than my maximum.
Chigiri cut speed, preparing to curve around him.
Bachira finally passed the ball
but it didn't go to Chigiri.
The ball curved behind Blake and Loki
to another spot entirely.
Confusion hit Chigiri
Until he saw who was there.
Ryan.
And clinging to his side like a drowning man
Silva, the hulking tank forward.
Silva's face twisted with effort,
throwing every ounce of strength into stopping Ryan…
But Ryan didn't move even a millimeter.
He stood there like a mountain,
unshakable.
The ball came in.
Ryan raised his right leg.
And when the ball reached him
his leg snapped forward like a whip.
A sonic crack.
For a brief moment, the ball dented inward under the impact.
Then it shot forward like a cannon round.
The keeper's eyes widened
but the ball was already past him.
Net.
Impact.
Spin.
And then…
thump
It dropped to the ground.
GOAL!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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