Chapter 28: Hyoma Chigiri
Monitoring Room
Whoooosh…
The sound of a flush echoed from the restroom as Ego Jinpachi emerged, his face pale and slightly haggard. Spotting Anri Teieri diligently scribbling notes at her station, he raised an eyebrow. 'This woman's noisy, but her work ethic's solid,' he thought, his opinion of her ticking up a notch.
"So, who won?" Ego asked, strolling over.
Anri's eyes lit up at his return. "You're finally out! Team Z crushed Team Y, 3-1!" She gestured animatedly, barely containing her excitement. "Team Y's last-ditch counterattack was fierce, but Kira shut it down like it was nothing! And that long pass he sent—oh my god, it landed right at his teammate's feet. Pure perfection!"
'Long pass?' Ego's brow furrowed. 'Kira's got that in his arsenal?' He began to question the data he'd reviewed on Kira. Dribbling, long passes—these skills hadn't shown up in Kira's high school league matches. 'Was the competition too weak to draw out his full potential?' Ego mused, puzzled.
Anri kept gushing. "If Team Z keeps this up, they could top the group—"
Ego's patience waned. 'Noisy again,' he thought, tuning her out.
…
Blue Lock, Team Z Room
The Team Z players sat in a circle, the air buzzing with camaraderie. Three juicy steaks sat on the table, a rare treat after their victory.
Kira, learning from his last cafeteria fiasco—where he'd been chased and playfully swatted for hogging the food—didn't dare keep these to himself. As the self-proclaimed captain, he'd pooled Isagi's goal points with his own to secure the steaks for everyone to share.
"Come on, Kira, say a few words!" Kunigami clapped him on the shoulder. "No one's eating till you speak."
'Wow, Kunigami, still not calling me 'Captain'? Rude,' Kira thought, feigning a pout. But he didn't hesitate, raising his cup of plain water with a grin.
"Alright, everyone! To Team Z's second victory—cheers!"
"Cheers!" The team raised their cups in unison, the clinks echoing through the room.
"Sniff… Buddha, it's been forever since I had meat…" Igaguri's eyes glistened as he chewed, savoring the steak's rich juices.
Naruhaya said nothing, wolfing down his share with relentless focus.
"Hey, hey, hey! Slow down, Naruhaya!" Imamura snapped. "Those steaks came from Kira and Isagi's goals. Don't hog it all—spit it out!"
"Let's share all the dishes today!" Isagi chimed in, hauling everyone's regular meal trays to the table. "That way, we can all try something new!"
"Yay! So many options!" Bachira beamed, then hesitated, overwhelmed by the spread. "Uh… which one first?"
"Karaage!"
"Saury!"
"Pork liver?!"
The team marveled at the variety.
"Hey, don't forget my pickled radishes!" Igaguri protested.
"Keep those to yourself," Kunigami shot back, deadpan.
The room erupted in laughter, the post-victory joy infectious.
Between bites, Kunigami mumbled, "Kira, your dribbling was insane today. Been sneaking lessons from Bachira or what?"
'Here come the questions,' Kira thought, ready with an answer. "Nah, I've practiced dribbling plenty. It just came out instinctively today."
"I know why!" Bachira blurted, drawing every eye. "Because Kira's a genius!"
Silence. The food suddenly tasted less sweet.
"Dammit, why are you so infuriatingly perfect?!" Raichi growled, lunging at Kira with punches.
'Thanks, Bachira. Really painting a target on me,' Kira thought, dodging Raichi's swings. 'Tone it down, man. You're pulling all the aggro.'
"Quick, while they're distracted, let's eat!" Kunigami whispered, revealing a rare mischievous streak.
'Sneaky, Kunigami?' Kira grumbled internally, weaving through the room as Raichi chased him in a playful scuffle.
Isagi watched the chaos, his mind drifting to the match's final moments. Kira's subtle headshake during Team Y's counterattack. How he'd trusted Kira's signal, stayed forward, and scored. 'Was that all in your calculations, Kira?' he wondered. 'You're so far ahead…'
Amid the laughter, one figure stood apart. Hyoma Chigiri, the long pink-haired pretty boy, observed the scene with detached eyes. His melancholic expression hinted at unspoken worries, as if the team's joy existed in a world he couldn't touch.
…
Late at Night, Team Z Room
The dorm was quiet, everyone fast asleep—except Isagi. He bolted upright, too wired to rest. 'I scored a goal! A real, proper goal!' Even if Kira's assist had set it up, the thrill was electric. 'Is this what scoring feels like? Kira must get this rush multiple times a game. So jealous!'
His thoughts turned to his developing "weapon." 'I'm starting to get it…' He needed to analyze today's match footage to refine it further. Slipping out of bed, he glanced at Kira's bunk.
'Empty again?'
'Of course he's off training in the middle of the night.'
Isagi dressed quietly and headed out, determined not to be outworked.
…
Team Z Video Room
Kira, drenched in sweat, approached the video room. Isagi's guess was spot-on—he'd just burned through his two remaining Trial Cards in a late-night training session. Noticing the room's light on, he paused. 'Someone's here?'
Building 5, their pentagonal home in Blue Lock, housed each team's facilities: training rooms, dorms, and a video room for reviewing match footage. Curious, Kira pushed open the door.
A long-haired figure sat inside, turning at the sound.
Hyoma Chigiri.
"Oh, it's you, Kira," Chigiri said, his tone cool and distant. "Not sleeping? What're you doing here?"
Kira, unfazed by the chilly reception, flashed a grin. "Just finished training. Saw the light and got curious." He plopped down next to Chigiri, casual as ever.
"Hardworking genius, huh?" Chigiri muttered, his posture stiffening, clearly unused to someone invading his space.
"And you? What's up?" Kira asked, genuinely curious.
"Watching your goals from every match," Chigiri replied, his voice flat. "Couldn't sleep, so I came here."
Kira blinked, caught off guard. 'He's… watching my goals?' A grin tugged at his lips. 'Do I have a fan? And it's Chigiri of all people?'
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