"Are you kidding me? Ryūma Banjō!!"
"I told you not to lose your temper, President Buratsuta!"
Ryūma still wore an easy smile as he looked at Hirotoshi Buratsuta.
"Just let me finish, President."
"You said it yourself—football is a business."
"So why are you so sure Blue Lock can't earn you a fortune?"
Buratsuta looked at him strangely.
"It can earn me a fortune?"
"Hahaha, you're joking again, aren't you?"
"Don't think I can't see through you! You're just trying to protect Blue Lock!"
"And now you're telling me it'll make me money? You think I'd believe that?"
Ryūma didn't react to Buratsuta's contemptuous stare—he simply kept smiling.
"Heh, don't be so quick to shut me down, President."
"Honestly, yeah, I do want to protect Blue Lock. But the part about it earning you money is also true."
"You won't believe me now. But once the U-20 match with Blue Lock ends, you'll know whether I was lying."
"Fine. Let's wait and see," Buratsuta muttered doubtfully before leaving the lounge.
(Just as I thought. This guy's a complete money grubber. As long as he doesn't shut down Blue Lock right away, the situation can blow up nicely.)
(Then I'll team up with Ego and suggest a live broadcast plan. That'll guarantee Blue Lock survives.)
(Though… if I end up losing by accident… well, that'd be bad.)
Anri Teieri followed after Buratsuta, but not before throwing Ryūma another sharp glare.
"Uh… Sae? What exactly did I do to offend her?"
"No idea. Maybe he just dislikes you on sight."
"By the way… are you short on money?"
Ryūma blinked and looked at Sae, confused. "Nope. Why?"
"But just now—"
Ryūma cut him off, already understanding.
"Ahh, you mean the condition President Buratsuta brought up."
"Sae-san, you really think I joined the U-20 national team for money?"
"Huh? You didn't?"
"Of course not!" Ryūma said, draping an arm over Sae's shoulder with casual familiarity.
"I joined because I get to team up with you, Sae-san. Money? I couldn't care less."
"Heh. I hope you mean that."
Sae turned toward the door without looking back.
"Come with me. I'll take you to the training ground."
"I've seen your skills in match footage, but I want to see them myself."
"And check if there's anything you still need to improve."
Ryūma's eyes lit up and he hurried after him.
"Alright—let's go, Sae-san!"
(Hehe, classic big-brother-obsessed Sae.)
(The moment he heard I was friends with Rin, he started treating me like royalty.)
(This upcoming match is going to be fun.)
...Back at Blue Lock...
Jinpachi Ego continued addressing the group.
"It wasn't any of you that Sae Itoshi chose."
"It was Ryūma."
Everyone froze.
Especially Rin Itoshi—whose brother picking Ryūma sent a surge of inexplicable anger through him.
"Huh? So Ryūma… is our enemy now?!"
Ego nodded, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Correct. He'll be facing us as a member of the U-20 Japan National Team."
Hearing that, Yo Hiori spoke up in disbelief:
"How… how can this be?!"
"There's no way Ryūma would abandon us and stand against us!"
Ego let out a helpless sigh—he didn't want to lose a weapon as sharp as Ryūma either.
"There's nothing we can do. With Buratsuta's threats, and Sae Itoshi personally naming Ryūma, he had no choice but to go."
"If Sae refuses to participate, Blue Lock will be dissolved immediately."
Yo Hiori clenched his teeth, grief and anger rising in his chest.
(Ryūma must've been forced by Sae Itoshi!)
(Don't worry, Ryūma—I'll definitely save you!)
(Sae Itoshi! No matter how strong you are, I'll make you pay!)
Ego cleared his throat twice, drawing everyone's focus.
"Alright. With Ryūma gone, we need to revise our plans."
"We're switching to a dual-striker system, built around Ryusei Shido and Rin Itoshi."
"We'll arrange several matches to test your chemistry."
"Heh. I chose Rin Itoshi and Ryusei Shido. Sae chose Ryūma."
"So who'll turn out to be right?"
"In fifteen days, every fan in Japan will see the answer."
"Oh, one more thing." Ego pushed up his glasses.
"We can register up to 23 players, including substitutes."
"The remaining twelve—aside from the starters—aren't decided yet."
"That includes who'll fill the gap left by Ryūma's departure."
"Anyone not selected needs to prove themselves now. This is your last chance."
He paused briefly, letting the pressure settle.
"Unexpected things have happened, but the stage is ready."
"If we lose this battle, your futures will vanish along with Blue Lock."
"There are fifteen days left. In that time, I will forge you—"
"Into a combat group strong enough to crush the U-20 Japan National Team!"
"I'll lay out a full training regime to mold you into a team that wins!"
"Bet everything you have on this challenge, you rough gemstones!"
"No more mistakes."
"Hmph." The fighting spirit in Rin Itoshi's eyes was unmistakable as he glared at Ego.
"You're too naive, four-eyes."
"This match is just another stop on my path to becoming the world's best."
"Ohhh—" Ego drawled, unfazed.
Hiori was the first to laugh and join in.
"Yeah, same for me."
"Coming here meant betting my whole life."
Tabito Karasu, Eita Otoya, and Kenyu Yukimiya spoke up as well:
"That's right. Anyone still hesitating now is just ordinary."
"I'm getting pumped up!"
"I'm actually looking forward to this."
On the other side, Seishiro Nagi muttered eagerly:
"Mm… I can't wait to play against them."
But the one Nagi most wanted to face—
The one he wanted to defeat and surpass—
Was Ryūma.