Chapter 78: An Unhappy Goal
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"Soccer is just something we do on the side. Isn't that right, Cavasoz?"
While Kira was internally cringing at Blake's hobbies, Blake turned to ask Cavasoz.
"Yeah. I want to go to Harajuku."
The baby-faced Cavasoz responded with a bored expression. "I want to see with my own eyes what Harajuku, the holy land of the 'Land of the Cute,' actually looks like."
"Hahaha, you say that..."
Silva laughed loudly, ignoring everyone around him. "But you definitely just think you're the cuties one there, don't you?"
"You baby-faced narcissist," Blake commented, crossing his arms over his chest.
Teased by his two teammates, Cavasoz blushed slightly and pouted. "I happen to be the world's cutest twenty-three-year-old."
"Only Pikachu can compete with me."
In the distance, Aryu frowned. "These guys... they're treating this match like playtime."
"Huh? Aryu, you understand English too?" Bachira discovered another English speaker beside him.
"I can just understand it. It's because I love listening to English songs... but I can speak a little, too."
"Oh?" Bachira looked expectant.
"I AM STYLISH!!!" Aryu suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs.
The entire stadium fell silent.
Those who spoke English, and those who didn't.
Everyone looked at him with speechless expressions.
'Stylish is an adjective, not a noun...' Kira complained inwardly.
Rin was getting angry. He looked at the World Select players with an unkind expression and said, "Think whatever you want about this match."
"I'm going to crush you. I'll make this trip to Japan a trauma you'll never forget."
'As expected from Rin.'Kira thought to herself, quietly impressed.
Not wanting to be outdone, Kira added, "Same here."
The gazes of the World Select team instantly converged on the two of them.
Rin stared back without showing any weakness.
"You're still wet behind the ears, but you sure talk big. I'd like to see how much skill you actually have," Silva said with clear disdain.
"What did you say?"
Rin was genuinely ticked off now.
Seeing this, Kira hurriedly stepped in front of Rin. He was really afraid a fight would break out; Rin would get crushed by that guy. Silva's body was like a giant bear.
"Alright, alright. You three are acting like children."
Luna, the Scion of Re-Al, stood between them to diffuse the tension.
"I heard you're Itoshi Sae's little brother. He's quite famous in the Re-Al youth academy."
"Since you're his brother, you should be pretty talented. I look forward to playing you."
Luna's words were gentle, but his expression remained indifferent.
"Eh? I recognize you, too, kid. Rumor has it you're the 'Supernova' of Japanese high schoolers."
"I flipped through a magazine on the flight over. There was an article about you."
"I just wonder how much substance there actually is to a Japanese Supernova."
'He actually recognizes me?'
Kira's estimation of Luna rose a notch. This guy wasn't as casual as he appeared on the surface.
He was a guy with exceptional observation and memory skills.
Luna's gaze swept across the entire stadium, and his mouth didn't stop moving. "Still, you Japanese really come up with some wild ideas."
"To actually create such a fantastical project."
"To burn so much money on such a brainless program... Japan really is a filthy rich country."
"Hey, hey, hey. Did you come to Japan just to mock us?" A glint of hostility appeared in Kira's eyes.
Although Kira didn't feel much attachment to Japan, this guy's arrogance was crossing the line.
"Huh? Sorry, sorry."
Luna seemed to only just realize his words were inappropriate. After apologizing, he continued to smile.
"Actually, I was praising you."
"I think betting your life on something that is eternally impossible..."
"Makes you guys the world's greatest masochists."
"This guy..."
Kira clenched his fists.
Rin's face was equally dark.
The other members stood behind the two of them, staring at Luna with unfriendly expressions.
They thought this guy had come out to ease the atmosphere, but it turned out he was just here to spit in their faces.
"Apologies, everyone. He really doesn't mean any harm."
A black teenager with a buzz cut walked out.
His demeanor surprisingly polite.
He shook hands with Rin and Kira one by one.
"Mbappe (Loki)?" Kira couldn't help but speak up.
Loki raised an eyebrow. "You know me? Don't pay attention to the adults."
"Let's play a wonderful match."
Kira could feel Loki's politeness.
But in Loki's eyes, he couldn't see a trace of fear or wariness toward them.
Kira understood internally. This guy was just like the others; he didn't take the five of them seriously at all.
"Don't worry. We'll definitely make your trip to Japan memorable."
"I hope so," Loki responded with polite detachment.
"Beep. Blue Lock Third Selection, World Select Match, five-on-five!"
"The rules are the same as the Second Selection. The first team to score five goals wins!"
"At the same time, this match is a special selection match for the U-20 World Cup Japan National Team players."
Kira's blood couldn't help but boil.
The U-20 World Cup.
That was the highest-level world tournament for their age group.
He had to show these guys something they wouldn't forget.
"Beep. Match Start."
As the buzzer sounded, the match officially began.
On the Blue Team's side, Kira, Rin, and Bachira stood in the front row.
Isagi and Aryu stood in the back.
The front three for the opposing team were Loki, Luna, and Cavasoz.
The backline consisted of Silva and Blake.
After Rin kicked off, he played a lateral pass to the right, giving the ball to Bachira.
Kira understood Rin's intention: use Bachira's dribbling to test the waters against the World Team.
After Bachira received the ball, Cavasoz approached him slowly.
Bachira's feet became a blur, his legs shifting constantly.
In an instant, Bachira turned and bypassed Cavasoz.
Kira, running into position in the distance, frowned.
Cavasoz hadn't moved his feet at all. That guy isn't even trying!
"Nice turn! Bachira, this way!" Isagi shouted excitedly.
Bachira didn't even lift his head. He didn't look at Isagi at all.
Because Cavasoz was already chasing him from the side.
'Oh my, he caught up already?' Bachira was surprised internally. 'Such fast recovery speed after a turn?'
Cavasoz's cute baby face showed no fluctuation in expression.
It seemed that for him, this was just a routine operation.
Bachira grit his teeth and continued to break through forward.
Isagi and Rin began to run simultaneously.
They were preparing to support Bachira's attack.
At the same time, the White Team's reaction was fast.
Luna and Blake immediately pressed up.
'Crap!'
Isagi cursed internally. Bachira's crossing lanes had all been seen through.
As if unaware of the situation on the field, Bachira launched a long ball directly toward the other side of the field.
"This pass...?"
Isagi's gaze followed the trajectory of the ball. It was Kira.
Kira was running alone on the far side. Bachira's pass was meant for him.
'Rin and I... we both became decoys for Kira?'
Kira raised his leg, aiming for the goal.
A direct volley.
BOOM!
GOAL!
The Blue Team had executed a lightning-fast combination.
Kira drew first blood.
Isagi stared blankly at the scene.
'Is this the chemical reaction between Bachira, Rin, Kira, and myself?'
'Have we grown to a level where we can compete with world-class teams?'
"Nice, Kira!!" Bachira shouted happily.
"That goal was too stylish~" Aryu couldn't help himself either.
Rin just grunted, a faint hint of approval on his face.
Only Kira, after scoring the goal, didn't feel happy at all.
'What are you guys so happy about?'
Sweat dripped continuously from Kira's forehead.
The moment he scored just now, an image had flashed in his mind.
He saw a future where Loki, Blake, and Luna intercepted him.
They didn't come to defend him purely because they couldn't be bothered to move.
"You don't seem very happy that you scored."
Loki appeared in front of Kira with a smile on his face.
"Shut up. If you're a true genius, show us your real skill and play!"
Anger burned in Kira's eyes.
"Oho. He's angry."
Clap, clap, clap.
Loki applauded, then looked back at the various World Team players who were slacking off.
"Oi, oi. Everyone, let's get a little serious. We've hurt the Japanese Supernova's pride."
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