Chapter 30: The New Goalkeeper
Team Z Video Room
"Hey, Kira, I thought you were at training, not hanging out in the video room…" Isagi slipped in, his face flushed with embarrassment, scratching the back of his head.
Kira cringed inside, mortified. 'Why are you sneaking around listening in?' He fought the urge to bop him on the head.
"I overheard you and Chigiri talking out there," Isagi admitted, looking sheepish. "I came to review my match footage, trying to figure out my 'weapon.' Got any tips, Kira?"
Isagi plopped down next to him, eyes hopeful.
"Nope. Work it out yourself," Kira grumbled, standing to leave. "I'm heading back to shower and crash."
"Wha—? Wait, Kira, don't go!" Isagi's voice shot up, startled by the brush-off.
Kira waved a hand dismissively. "Spatial awareness. Think about it while you watch. I'm out." He turned toward the door, ignoring Isagi's wounded puppy look. 'What's with the drama? Feeling left out or something?'
'Spatial awareness?' Isagi mulled over the phrase, his brow furrowing as he settled in to study his footage.
Forty minutes later…
"That's it!" Isagi's eyes lit up. "I get it now. It's starting to click." A spark of clarity hit him, new insights settling into place as he rewatched his plays.
…
Monitoring Room
"Ego-san, seriously… littering everywhere?" Anri Teieri pinched her nose, picking up scattered snack wrappers with a grimace.
"Can't you just toss your trash in the bin?" she huffed, glaring at Ego.
Slurp.
Ego, mid-bite of cup noodles, didn't even glance her way.
"Hey! Ego-san, I'm talking to you! Hello?!" Anri's voice spiked, her patience fraying.
"My bad," Ego muttered, barely audible over the sound of his slurping. "Got lost in the noodles."
Anri sighed, exasperated. "You should at least try to listen. Eating junk like that every day—can your body even take it?"
"It's fine," Ego shot back. "When I was a pro, I couldn't eat anything fun. Now? I'm making up for lost time."
Anri blinked, catching a rare glimpse of Ego's lighter side. 'He's… almost human?' Shaking it off, she remembered something. "What about the report for the Football Association? Is it ready?"
"All set," Ego said, waving a hand. "You've seen the selection process these past few days. Everything's on track."
Anri nodded, though her stomach churned at the thought of facing the Football Association's stuffy old suits. 'Hope he's right.'
…
Team Z Training Ground
"Nice one, Kira!"
Team Z was deep in an internal practice match, and Kira had just slotted another goal past Iemon with ease.
"Ugh, Kira, if you keep blasting shots like that, maybe someone else should play keeper," Iemon groaned, slumping in frustration. Conceding goal after goal was soul-crushing. 'Whoever wants this miserable job can have it. I'm done.'
"Let me try!"
A voice cut through the chatter.
All eyes turned to Gagamaru, who raised his hand with surprising enthusiasm.
'Gagamaru? Volunteering for goalkeeper?' The team exchanged confused glances. This was Blue Lock, a program for strikers, and here was their wild card wanting to guard the net?
Gagamaru strode to the goal, snatching the gloves from Iemon. "I've been thinking," he said, his voice low but firm. "My flexibility's my weapon. It's perfect for goalkeeping. And if I can stop shots from the best strikers, doesn't that make me stronger than them?"
His logic was airtight, at least to him. The team stared, half-impressed, half-baffled.
Kira grinned inwardly. 'Finally, no more butterfingers in goal.' But a new worry crept in—could Iemon handle defense? Their backline was looking shakier already. 'Whatever. Let's test this.'
"Alright, Gagamaru, try saving my shot!" Kira called, readying himself.
Before he could, Igaguri popped up, eager to challenge. "Me first!"
Igaguri took his stance, sprinted forward, and kicked. The ball sailed gently… straight into Gagamaru's arms.
Gagamaru blinked at the ball, unimpressed. "Maybe let Kira or Kunigami shoot. That was too easy." He hadn't even moved; the ball practically hugged him.
Igaguri's face fell, his pride wounded.
Kira stifled a laugh as Kunigami stepped up beside him. The two took turns firing penalties at Gagamaru, who surprised everyone. His flexibility and instincts shone, saving several shots from Team Z's top scorers.
Iemon, watching from the sidelines, looked like he'd found salvation. "Gagamaru, please, take the goalkeeper spot!" he pleaded, eyes misty with relief.
Gagamaru thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I'll do it."
Kira's lips curled into a satisfied smirk. 'Team Z's leveling up.' His gaze flicked to Chigiri, who was practicing alone, his movements sharper, more focused. 'Even the princess is stepping up.'
[Detected absorbable attributes!]
[Speed +30 (Continuous decay)]
[Duration: 10 minutes]
[Retention Time: 24 hours]
[Absorb?]
'Chigiri's Trial Card?' Kira's eyes widened. 'Let's borrow that princess speed.' "Absorb," he commanded silently.
[Absorption successful. Obtained Hyoma Chigiri Attribute Trial Card x1]
[Speed +30 (Continuous decay)]
[Duration: 10 minutes]
[Retention Time: 24 hours]
[Silently chant 'Use Hyoma Chigiri Trial Card' to activate!]
'Perfect.' Kira's confidence surged. 'Team Z's getting stronger. Who's up next this afternoon? Team W? They're in for a rough one.'
Beeep!
"Hello, diamonds in the rough of Team Z!" Ego's voice crackled over the training ground's screen, his chopsticks poised over a cup of noodles.
"Check the current standings on the big screen."
The rankings flashed up:
1st: Team V – Defeated Team W 5-1. 6 points, +12 goal difference.
2nd: Team Z – Defeated Team Y 3-1. 6 points, +3 goal difference.
3rd: Team W – Beat Team X. 3 points, -1 goal difference.
4th: Team Y – Defeated Team X 4-3. 3 points, -9 goal difference.
5th: Team X – No wins. 0 points.
'Team X with Barou hasn't won a single match?' Team Z's players gaped, stunned. Barou's overwhelming presence from their last encounter still lingered in their minds.
Kira's thoughts raced. 'Didn't expect this. In the manga, I barely paid attention to other teams' results. Team Y, with Niko and Okawa, beating Barou's squad? Niko's getting sharper.'
"Oh, one more thing," Ego added,. "Based on your performances, Team Z's individual rankings have shifted. Check the numbers on your shoulders."
"Seriously? They changed?!" The team scrambled to look.
Latest Team Z Rankings:
265th: Kira Ryousuke
266th: Isagi Yoichi
267th: Rensuke Kunigami
268th: Meguru Bachira
269th: Gin Gagamaru
…
274th: Hyoma Chigiri
275th: Gurimu Igarashi
Igaguri stared at his unchanged rank, visibly crushed. "Still the same…"
Kira nodded, unfazed. 'No surprise there.'
Isagi, now second-highest in the room at 266th, stood taller, his confidence growing. Chigiri, though, had slipped to second-to-last, a shadow crossing his face.
"Rankings don't matter right now," Kira said, clapping his hands to snap everyone's focus. "Win our next match, and Team Z advances together. Let's make it happen!"
The team's spirits ignited, their doubts melting away. 'One more win, and we're through.' No hesitation needed.
Training resumed, the air crackling with determination.
----
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