Yoichi's appearance caught everyone off guard — even Rin hadn't expected him to show up here.
"This guy... did he use me as bait?" Only when he saw Yoichi preparing to shoot did Rin finally understand his opponent's strategy.
Yoichi hadn't just positioned himself as bait — he had counted on Ryōsuke being able to block his shot.
"This guy!" Rin's frustration peaked.
Yoichi's foot was about to strike the ball!
But someone else moved faster.
"Boring."
Sae Itoshi had arrived!
"What?!" Yoichi stared in disbelief.
He couldn't fathom Sae's presence.
'Why is he here? He wasn't even on this side before! How did this happen? Did he read my move? Or did he know Kira could block the shot? Or both?' Questions raced through Yoichi's mind.
Before he could process it, his shot attempt had been neutralized — Sae had intercepted the ball and cleared it out of bounds, destroying the attack.
"How did you do that?" Yoichi asked, stunned.
Sae didn't utter a word or even look at him properly — he simply walked away.
'Sae Itoshi is incredible... he used my blind spot for that defensive cover, which is why I never saw him coming. But how? Even earlier when he passed to Kira — it's like he can see every movement on the field at once...' Yoichi's thoughts whirled.
Meanwhile, Oliver and the other U-20 team members approached Sae with raised hands.
"Nice clearance, genius!"
But Sae brushed past them, casting only a contemptuous glance at the group.
"It's because worthless trash like you can't pull your weight that we have to clean up your mess."
The 'we' he referred to meant himself and Ryōsuke.
"Because of your defensive gaps, Kira has to cover for you, and because of your incompetence, I have to clear the ball. From forwards to defenders — this entire team is utterly worthless." Sae's words cut like ice.
Shūto was about to argue back, but Oliver quickly held him back with a smile, "Yeah, yeah, we get it, genius. We'll work harder."
Sae didn't respond, simply returning to his position.
Meanwhile, Ryōsuke smiled as he watched Yoichi, impressed by his unexpected growth.
He recognized that Yoichi had calculated every recent move. Though lacking refined technique and physical prowess, Yoichi possessed unmatched game sense, excelling at orchestrating plays and setting traps. In this regard, he even surpassed Rin.
"This will certainly be an interesting match." Ryōsuke muttered, his expression turning serious.
While Yoichi could orchestrate the entire field — a talent Ryōsuke lacked — Ryōsuke's greatest weapon was his overwhelming individual ability.
Yet no matter what plays they crafted, Ryōsuke would tear them apart.
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
"That was so close!" Anri exclaimed, "If not for Sae Itoshi, Isagi would have scored! We could have tied the game — just a little more!"
"Not even close, you useless peon." Jinpachi cut in coldly.
"Useless peon?"
"Isagi's shot was never going in. Sae Itoshi watched his every move — the very idea of him getting a shot off was impossible. Sae would always block that shot. Even without such a strong opponent, Isagi would've only managed one attempt. With Kira's speed and reflexes, don't you think he could make a second save?" Jinpachi adjusted his glasses as he spoke deliberately.
Anri fell silent, knowing he was right.
"It's still not enough. We need more pressure — the kind that makes it hard to breathe. Only then will they find life in the midst of death." Jinpachi continued.
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
Back on the field, after the Blue Lock team took the throw-in, they began organizing their attack again.
Facing U-20's iron-clad defense line and having lost their chance for a quick counter, Blue Lock's players struggled to break through. They could only pass the ball around, searching for an opening.
But Oliver spotted a gap in their passing pattern and made a clean interception! His long pass landed perfectly at Sae's feet in midfield!
U-20's counterattack was beginning again!
"Damn you, big brother!" The moment Sae touched the ball, Rin was there. His eyes blazed with fighting spirit — this was his moment for revenge.
A chance to prove himself before his brother!
But unlike Rin's intense, combative expression, Sae's face remained unchanged, as if facing just another opponent.
Rin pressed forward to tackle, but Sae skillfully shielded the ball with his arm, using Rin's own body as a pivot point.
Rin matched his speed, anticipating the turn and countering with his own reverse move to position himself in front of Sae.
"I won't let you pass!" Rin declared fiercely.
"If that's all you've got, you'll never surpass me." Sae replied coolly.
Only then did Rin realize the ball at his brother's feet had vanished — precisely passed to Ryōsuke.
Sae had completed the pass mid-turn!
For Rin, this was a crucial one-on-one battle. But for Sae, it was merely an unnecessary distraction. He simply needed to make the optimal play.
The fact that he could make the pass without Rin even noticing showed the absolute gap in their abilities. Rin wasn't yet qualified to compare himself to his brother.
The moment Ryōsuke received the ball, he accelerated toward the opponent's goal!
"Damn it! Don't think you can get past, you idiot!" Tabito rushed forward, blocking his path.
"The man himself, descends." Meanwhile, Jūbē moved in to double-team him.
But Ryōsuke didn't slow down. Instead, he turned, preparing to break through in another direction.
❖ Thunderclap and Flash ➠ Straight Run! ❖
As Jūbē and Tabito shifted their weight, Ryōsuke unleashed the First Form, explosively pushing off his left foot for a lightning-fast direction change!
Though the movement seemed simple, the sudden shift in rhythm completely threw off Tabito's balance, letting Ryōsuke slip past effortlessly.
"The man himself, stands firm!" But Jūbē held his ground, still blocking the path.
Yet such defense meant nothing against Ryōsuke.
❖ Rice Spirit ➠ Spin Cycle! ❖
With masterful control, he moved the ball with his right foot, using his left as a pivot to spin clockwise around Jūbē. Just as his opponent retreated to defend, Ryōsuke reversed direction, instantly creating space between them!
"Incredible! Ryōsuke Kira has performed an unthinkable dribble, beating two defenders! Not only does he possess extraordinary speed, but his footwork is pure artistry! He's made his mark across the country — no, the world! Ryōsuke Kira!"
The commentator's voice soared, and the crowd's excitement surged watching his spectacular moves.
"Ryōsuke Kira!"
The crowd chanted in unison, while Riko leaped to her feet, crying out "Ryōsuke! Ryōsuke!"
Watching his gallant figure on the field, her heart swelled with pride!
Having outmaneuvered two players with his brilliant individual skill, Ryōsuke pressed forward.
"Don't think you can pass!" A crimson blur flashed by as Hyōma appeared beside him.
He had burst forward at full speed, taking the shortest path to cut off Ryōsuke!
"This time, I'll definitely beat you!" His flowing red hair blazed like flames, matching the intensity in his heart.
To contain Ryōsuke, Hyōma gave his all, not sparing a thought for conserving energy — his only goal was stopping this monster right now, whatever the cost!
Meanwhile, Tabito and Jūbē, still reeling from being beaten, sprinted at top speed to close in.
Ryōsuke was surrounded!
Yet he remained calm, smoothly lifting his foot to strike the ball.
❖ Thunder Swarm ➠ Curve Pass! ❖
"Is that... a pass?!"
The ball Ryōsuke kicked curved impossibly through the gap between the three defenders, as if possessed by its own will!
The target of this pass was Sae!
"Since you mentioned it, let me see what you're capable of." Sae controlled the ball effortlessly, immediately passing it onward.
Though he seemed to pay no attention to Ryōsuke, he knew exactly where he was at all times.
The pass soared high and far — a seemingly impossible ball to control.
"The man himself, intercepts!" Jūbē sprang into action, using one arm to block Ryōsuke while leaping upward to intercept, confident his height would give him the advantage!
But as he jumped, the ball sailed just centimeters over his fingertips, like a perfectly placed lure.
Sae had crafted this trap specifically for him, using the ball's deceptive trajectory to make Jūbē believe he could reach it when it was actually just beyond his grasp.
The moment Jūbē jumped, he'd be caught out of position!
Everything had played out exactly as Sae planned!
Understanding the strategy, Ryōsuke didn't contest the header with Jūbē but instead sprinted past him toward where the ball would land.
But another defender stood ready.
Ikki Niko!
Having read the ball's path and anticipated it clearing Jūbē, Ikki had positioned himself perfectly.
'The ball's going to land between us — I could get it!' He thought, before reality struck him. 'No, this is another trap! Sae Itoshi didn't just set up Aryū—he's targeting me too! Even though the ball will land closer to me, there's no way I can match Kira's speed. If I challenge for it, I'll be caught out of position and wreck our defensive formation! But if I hang back and let Kira take it, I don't stand a chance defending him one-on-one!'
Even as these thoughts raced through his mind, Ikki's body moved forward!
Trap or not, this was his only opening!
As expected, Ryōsuke's superior speed got him to the ball first. But this was exactly what Ikki wanted!
He'd been waiting for the moment of control. No matter how skilled Ryōsuke was, he couldn't match Seishirō's ball control!
He'd need that split second to settle the ball — and that was his chance to strike!
He spun mid-air, his right leg shooting out like a striking snake, aimed directly at the ball at Ryōsuke's feet!
"Kira, I'll stop you — you've already fallen into my trap!"
❖❖❖
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