Chapter 32: Chigiri's Resolve
Monitoring Room
Anri Teieri's eyes were fixed on the screen, filled with amazement as she watched Team W's seamless coordination. "Whoa, those Wanima twins are like a single brain split in two! Team Z's in hot water…" Her voice trailed off as the action shifted. "Oh, nice clearance by Kira!"
She leaned closer, caught up in Kira's slick move on the pitch. Then, she blinked, realizing something was off. "Huh? Ego-san, aren't you watching this match?"
Ego Jinpachi sat slouched in his chair, not even glancing at the screen. Instead, he was engrossed in a stack of documents, flipping through them with a bored expression, comparing stats like he was solving a puzzle.
Anri moved closer, peering over the papers. "What's that? Team V and Team Z's data? But… it's Team W versus Team Z right now." Her brows knit together in confusion.
Ego didn't look up, his tone flat as ever. "This match's outcome is already set. Nothing worth my attention."
"Set? It's barely started!" Anri protested, glancing back at the screen where the battle raged on.
The pitch told a different story—one far from decided.
…
On the Pitch
Team W's throw-in. As expected, the ball went straight to the Wanima brothers, their synergy practically a weapon in itself.
Keisuke, the younger twin, caught the ball and shot a glance at his older brother, Junichi. A silent signal passed between them, and Junichi took off, his sprint signaling the start of their deadly combination play.
But just as Keisuke fired the pass to Junichi, a towering figure burst between them and intercepted the ball mid-air.
Kunigami.
"Same trick won't work twice," he growled, his voice brimming with confidence. Without missing a beat, he launched a long, arcing pass toward the right flank.
Kira was already there, waiting.
As the ball soared, Kunigami's mind flashed back to the previous night in Team Z's room. The team had huddled around, listening to Kira's plan. Kira had laid it out plain and simple: Team W's offense lived and died with the Wanima twins. Cut their connection, isolate them, and Team W would crumble. Kunigami had taken it to heart, watching for his moment. The second the throw-in came, he positioned himself perfectly to disrupt the twins' rhythm—and it worked.
"Nice one, Kunigami!" Kira called, effortlessly controlling the long pass.
'Damn, that pass was with his right foot?' Kira thought, impressed. Kunigami's weaker foot had clearly leveled up in training. Smirking, Kira charged forward, the ball glued to his foot as he eyed the defense.
Team W's backline reacted fast, closing in to smother him. Kira's gaze flicked to Bachira, who was hovering nearby, ready to move. A quick nod passed between them—perfect understanding.
Kira sent a crisp lateral pass to Bachira and bolted forward. A wall pass. A one-two.
Bachira took the ball, dribbled a few steps, and fired it back to Kira with pinpoint accuracy. Kira collected it mid-stride and blew past a defender like a ghost.
From across the pitch, Keisuke Wanima's jaw dropped, his face twisting with rage. "Brother! They're mocking us! Stealing our move!"
Junichi's eyes burned with the same fury, but they were too far back to do anything.
Kira faced another defender closing in. No problem. Another quick pass to Bachira, who was ready and waiting. Their coordination crackled with energy — a mirror to the Wanima twins' perfect sync.
Isagi, watching from a distance, felt his mind reel. 'Since when did Kira and Bachira sync up like that?' The twins had just pulled off a flawless one-two, and now Kira and Bachira were matching them move for move. 'What, are they secret brothers too?'
Then it was Bachira's moment to shine. With the ball at his feet, he became a whirlwind. Facing a defender, he flicked the ball, spun, and executed a flawless Marseille Turn, leaving his opponent grasping at air.
One-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Bachira didn't hesitate. He unleashed a rocket of a shot.
The keeper had no chance—Team Z's counter was too swift, too precise. The ball rocketed into the net.
Boom!
Goal!
Score: 1-0. Team Z takes the lead.
"Beautiful pass, Kira!" Bachira whooped, sprinting over and leaping onto Kira in a celebratory tackle. The two laughed, caught up in the moment, as the rest of Team Z swarmed them, cheering wildly.
Keisuke, still reeling, turned to his brother. "Bro, they're strong! What do we do?" His voice cracked with frustration. No wonder Team Z, like Team V, was undefeated.
Junichi's face was a mask of uncertainty, his usual confidence shaken.
The match rolled on, and the tide turned decisively in Team Z's favor.
20th Minute, First Half
Kira, wielding the Kunigami Attribute Trial Card, caught a pass from Isagi just outside the penalty area. With a single, fluid motion, he unleashed a blistering long-range shot that screamed into the net. 2-0.
Not one to hog the spotlight, Kira flipped the script. Using the Isagi Attribute Trial Card, he set up Kunigami just before halftime. A pinpoint assist found Kunigami in a similar position, and the orange-haired striker buried it.
Kunigami dropped to his knees, roaring to the sky, his first goal in Blue Lock finally in the bag. The arena echoed with his triumph.
Halftime Score: 3-0.
Team W wasn't completely out of it. Junichi had a moment of brilliance, weaving into the penalty area and firing a shot from a tight angle. But Gagamaru, the wildcard goalkeeper, dove with catlike reflexes, denying the goal with a spectacular save.
Junichi stared, dumbfounded. 'Aren't we all strikers here? Since when does Team Z have a keeper this good?'
Team Z, on the other hand, erupted in cheers. Gagamaru's save was a game-changer, letting them focus on their attack without worrying about their backline.
…
Locker Room, Halftime
Team Z was buzzing, the mood electric. This match felt like a victory lap already. But one player wasn't sharing the vibe.
Chigiri sat quietly, his expression bitter. He felt like dead weight. Team Z was steamrolling Team W without him lifting a finger. His value, his place on the team—it was slipping away.
Kira noticed, his sharp eyes catching Chigiri's slumped shoulders. He walked over, his usual swagger tempered with purpose. "Chigiri, second half. Start running."
Chigiri looked up, confused. "Why? You guys are killing it. You don't need me, right?"
Kira's gaze hardened, his voice uncharacteristically sharp. "Exactly. Everyone's in top form. If you don't step up now, you're choosing to be ordinary. You ready to let your football dream die here?"
Chigiri's brow furrowed, a spark of defiance flaring at Kira's tone. He didn't like being called out, but deep down, he knew Kira was right. If he didn't change, he'd be left behind—by Isagi, by Kunigami, maybe even by Igaguri. The thought stung.
"Hmph," Chigiri muttered, his eyes narrowing. "Just watch me in the second half."
Kira hid a grin. 'That's it, Chigiri Hyoma. Show me that spark.'
…
Second Half
Beeep!
The whistle blew, and the Wanima twins came out swinging, their pride bruised and their tempers flaring. Three goals down was a humiliation they couldn't stomach. From the kickoff, they launched into their signature combination play—faster, sharper, more precise than before.
Team Z's defenders, despite knowing the twins' tricks, struggled to keep up. The Wanima brothers tore through the midfield, their passes a blur, their movements a dance of perfect sync.
Kira watched, his eyes narrowing. 'They weren't even going all out in the first half? These guys are a whole different beast when they're pissed.'
Just as it seemed Team Z's defense would crack under the pressure, a blur of red hair flashed across the pitch.
Chigiri.
With a burst of speed that seemed to defy reality, he stole the ball right from between the twins, his movements ghostly and precise. The Wanima brothers froze, their jaws dropping as memories flooded back—the legend of Chigiri Hyoma, the prodigy who once ruled the pitch with untouchable speed.
Chigiri's face burned with resolve, his eyes blazing. The princess of speed was back.
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