While Ryūma was still in shock, the two of them had already entered Team V's dormitory.
The loud chatter snapped him back to his senses. He glanced around and asked,
"Huh? Where's Rin?"
"No idea, partner. Haven't seen him."
"I just spotted him, Ryūma. Looked like he was in the cafeteria."
Ryūma raised an eyebrow and muttered,
"What, that sneaky guy's eating alone in secret?"
"Don't worry, guys! I'll go drag him back myself!"
"Alright~"
"Go get him, Ryūma! I believe in you! ξ( ✿＞◡❛)"
With a mock-serious expression, Ryūma marched out of the dorm like a man on a mission, heading straight for the cafeteria.
...
Cafeteria, Building 5
Sure enough, Ryūma spotted Rin Itoshi in the cafeteria, calmly eating a plate of steak.
"Hey! Gotcha, you little rascal!"
Rin glanced at him coldly.
"You idiot. Can't you stop bothering me for once?"
"Come on, Rin. We're having a celebration party, and you're here eating by yourself? That's cold."
"I told you, childish stuff like that isn't my thing. You guys can celebrate all you want, just don't drag me into it."
"Besides, who said I was hiding? I'm just eating like a normal person."
Ryūma didn't get angry. He sat down beside Rin with a grin.
"I know, but come on—we've played four matches together and spent all this time as a team. Having one last victory party isn't too much to ask, right?"
"A bunch of weaklings. My victories have nothing to do with them. And besides—"
Before Rin could finish, Ryūma grabbed his steak in one hand, hooked his arm around Rin's shoulder, and started dragging him toward the dorm.
"Yeah, yeah, fine—it was all thanks to you, okay?"
"Whether you eat here or at the dorm, you're still eating. Come on, let's go~"
Rin protested verbally, but still ended up being pushed along by Ryūma.
Just as they reached the cafeteria doors, a voice rang out behind them—calm, but carrying an unmistakable edge.
"Hey! Ryūma Banjō, Rin Itoshi!"
"Next time, I'll be the one who wins!"
Ryūma turned to see who it was—red light flashed in the man's eyes, and his fiery red wolf-tail haircut stood out vividly.
Kudo Tōya.
Ryūma couldn't help thinking the guy's whole look screamed show-off.
But if there was one thing Ryūma refused to lose at, it was showing off. He immediately fired back, smirking.
"Well, well~ look who it is."
"Mr. Passing King himself, Kudo Tōya~ What's this? Finally fixed that little habit of only passing the ball?"
"Hmph. You'll find out soon enough."
Kudo shot back sharply, then turned and left without giving Ryūma another chance to taunt him.
Watching him walk off all cool and smug, Ryūma fumed and turned to Rin.
"Seriously? Rin, that guy's unbearable. He acts like we lost to him! And you—you just let him say that? You didn't even respond?"
"Hmph. You're no different from him. Childish fool."
Rin brushed past him without another glance, heading back toward the dorm.
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean, Rin? Wait up!"
...
Team V Dormitory
Everyone, including Rin, gathered around a table piled high with food. Ryūma cleared his throat, poured himself a drink, and raised it with a grin.
"To our four straight wins—cheers!"
"Cheers!!"
"Alright, let's dig in, partners!"
...
One Day Later – Team V Dorm
Team V had gathered once again, waiting for Jinpachi Ego's broadcast to begin.
"Well, all you diamonds in the rough—congratulations on advancing together."
"Next up, you'll be undergoing enhanced physical conditioning. And during this time—none of you are allowed to touch a ball!"
"Huh? Isn't the second round starting soon? Also, Ryūma, do you even need physical training?"
"Haha, Hiori, you guys better work hard. For me, this kind of training's basically just fun and games ╮( •́ω•̀ )╭"
"Hey! Jinpachi Ego, how long do we have to train? I can't wait to fight alongside my big brother on the field again!"
Putian Daiwa asked excitedly, staring up at the massive screen.
Jinpachi Ego's voice turned mocking.
"Hah? You just won in the lowest-level building—Building 5—and you're already bragging?"
"You'll keep training until I say stop, you trash!"
As he spoke, the screen displayed a Blue Lock player in training gear, with every physical stat listed beside him.
"Players in the higher-ranking buildings don't even need to go through the first selection. They're already in the middle of advanced training."
"So just wait until they're done."
"I'm giving you bottom-tier weaklings a chance to build some stamina. You should be grateful, idiots!"
"Never forget—you're the ones at the bottom!"
When Ego's feed cut off, the new training schedule appeared on screen:
8:00 – Meal Time
9:00 – Two-Hour Endurance Run
12:00 – Meal Time
14:00 – Core Strength Training (1 hour × 2 sets)
16:00 – Weightlifting
18:00 – Sprint Training (100 reps)
20:00 – Meal Time
...
Physical Enhancement Training, Day One
"Alright, let's move it, partners!"
Ryūma charged straight to the treadmill and started running. The rest of Team V quickly followed, giving it their all.
...
Physical Enhancement Training, Day Two
"Come on, everyone! Sprint! Sprint! What's the point if you're not sprinting?"
"Yeah, you! Ice-face! Move it!"
"Haha, I'd love to see your back, ξ( ✿＞◡❛)"
Listening to Ryūma's nonstop teasing, Rin finally snapped.
"You brainless idiot! When I catch up to you, I'll tear that mouth of yours apart!"
Ryūma pretended not to hear, glancing back with a grin.
"Hiori, try not to use that posture. You'll just wear yourself out faster and never reach your top speed."
Yo Hiori adjusted his stance as Ryūma suggested—and immediately felt the difference.
"Damn, Ryūma, thanks!"
...
Physical Enhancement Training, Day Three
"Ugh~~"
"Ugh!"
Several retching sounds echoed through the cafeteria. Ryūma rubbed his temples as he looked at the triplet brothers and Putian Daiwa, all looking like they were about to collapse.
"I told you to wait before eating... You guys just never listen."
"Let's eat back at the dorm, Hiori. I can't stomach the cafeteria food."
"Haha, alright, Ryūma. Let's go."
The following days of training all went the same way. Jinpachi Ego's provocation worked like a charm—everyone trained like mad, burning with determination.
Everyone except Ryūma.
He already understood what Ego was doing, so there was no way he'd fall for that kind of manipulation. Ryūma knew perfectly well that the same situation was playing out in all four of the other buildings.
He could only sigh.
Jinpachi Ego really was full of tricks.