Chapter 136: The Interview
"My god, it's over! In the final second of the match, the Blue Lock Eleven put one more in the back of the net!"
"The unstoppable Japan U-20 National Team, even with Itoshi Sae in the lineup, just got dismantled 5-2."
"Ladies and gentlemen, believe your eyes. You are witnessing a miracle in this Stadium."
"These unknown teenagers just told the world exactly who they are. Today, they are the only stars that matter."
***
On the pitch, the Blue Lock Eleven had completely lost it.
The players from the bench swarmed the field, a wave of blue jerseys colliding in a frantic, high-energy celebration. As the undisputed protagonist of the match, Ryosuke Kira was being tossed around and hugged by everyone at once. He was actually starting to get a little dizzy.
Yoichi Isagi, the only other player to find the back of the net today, was vibrating with adrenaline. He still couldn't believe Kira had actually fed him that ball in the final seconds.
The boys were jumping, screaming, and losing their minds in the center of the stadium.
***
On the Blue Lock sidelines, Anri Teieri was a mess. Tears were streaming down her face as she sobbed with pure relief.
Ego, however, remained a statue of indifference, wearing a look that said he had predicted every single second of the match.
In sharp contrast, the U-20 players were crumpled on the turf or staring into the abyss, unable to process a defeat of this magnitude.
"Whew..."
Shidou glanced back at the rowdy celebration in the center of the pitch. His side was looking a little pathetic by comparison. He chuckled and strolled over to Itoshi Sae.
"Hey, 'Genius.' You actually failed to stop Kira on that last play. I guess you aren't as perfect as everyone says, huh?" Shidou's voice was dripping with mockery. "If you'd realized he was passing instead of shooting, you could have blocked it easily."
"Shut up."
Sae's expression was a blank mask, but his mind was replaying Kira's final decision.
"That guy is even more of a realist than you or me. The game was already decided. He didn't want to waste the energy on a shot that didn't change the outcome. He took the path of least resistance."
Sae had realized it: Kira hadn't passed out of the kindness of his heart. He'd passed because he had already won and couldn't be bothered to finish it himself.
"So you're saying you lost to Kira's laziness?" Shidou laughed, a jagged, manic sound. "That's hilarious. Suddenly, I don't think I want your number anymore."
Shidou tucked his hands into his pockets, deciding Kira was much more interesting.
"Suit yourself," Sae replied.
"Aww, come on. I'm just messing with you. I still want the world-class midfielder on speed-dial." Shidou followed Sae toward the tunnel, acting like a persistent shadow.
***
While the celebration was in full swing, Oliver Aiku walked over, looking surprisingly at peace.
"Hell of a game, Captain," Aiku said, offering a hand to Kira.
"You weren't so bad yourself, Officer. That Iron Wall was the real deal," Kira replied, accepting the handshake.
Aiku rubbed the back of his head, looking a bit sheepish. "You were too much for us. No matter how we shifted, we couldn't pin you down. You earned this. Congratulations, Blue Lock."
The two captains shared a moment of genuine respect. The U-20 had given everything they had; they hadn't lost because of a lack of effort. They had simply been outgunned by a superior ego.
***
Elsewhere on the pitch, Rin sat on the grass, his hands covering his face.
The match was over. Kira had dominated. Sae had dominated. Shidou, Aiku, and even Isagi had made their mark. But Rin felt like a ghost.
In his mind, his performance was a failure. Whether he had been on the pitch or not, the result likely would have been the same. That thought was poisoning his victory.
"I was wrong. I didn't think this country was capable of producing a real striker."
Sae's voice came from behind him. Rin looked up, startled. "Sae..."
"Ryosuke Kira... he might be the one to change the DNA of Japanese football," Sae said, his voice unusually heavy with significance. "No... he might be the one to change the entire world."
Rin's eyes widened. He had never heard his brother talk about another player like that. The jealousy in his gut flared into a new, darker ambition.
***
"Kira! The TV crew wants you for a post-match interview!"
Hiori called out, pointing toward the media platform. Before Kira could even process it, his teammates were shoving him toward the lights.
Camera flashes exploded around him. For a second, Kira felt a flash of self-consciousness, but he quickly suppressed it. He was the star. He belonged here.
"And here he is! The superstar of the match, the man who put four goals past the national elite! Kira-kun, tell us, what's going through your head right now?"
A reporter shoved a microphone into Kira's face with the speed of a professional boxer.
'Man, these guys are aggressive,' Kira thought.
"Well, first off, I'm satisfied with the result," Kira said, his voice smooth and confident. "Winning is the only thing that matters."
"This victory wasn't just me, though. The rest of the Blue Lock guys worked their asses off to keep me in the game, and I have to give them credit for that."
"But honestly? The best part was the four goals. For a striker, putting the ball in the net is the only form of glory that exists. Everything else is just noise."
In the background, Isagi's jaw dropped. 'Is he serious? He's just saying exactly what he thinks.'
Isagi couldn't imagine himself on that stage. He'd probably be stuttering and giving some humble, "I'm just happy to be here" answer. Kira, however, was owning the moment like he was born for it.
"Hahaha! Love the confidence!" the reporter laughed. "One last question. With a performance like that, you're a lock for the new U-20 National Team. What's the next goal for Ryosuke Kira?"
Kira took a slow, deep breath, looking directly into the lens of the camera.
"If I'm leading the U-20, the goal is simple. We're going to win every single game we play. Period. Thanks for having me."
The stadium roared as Kira's words were broadcast on the giant screens.
"KIRA! KIRA! KIIIRRAAAA!"
***
Kira finally made it back to the locker room, where the chaos continued.
"That was legendary, Kira! You looked like a pro out there!" Nanase cheered, his eyes sparkling.
"Tch. Don't get a big head just because you can talk to a camera," Raichi barked, though his scowl was less convincing than usual.
"Oh, let him have it, Raichi. He's the man of the hour," Bachira said. He was already completely naked, heading for the showers.
Kira immediately looked away. 'Still not used to the casual nudity in this place.'
Zantetsu adjusted his glasses, looking a bit envious. "I wish someone would interview me..."
"It's 'I wish I could be interviewed,' you idiot," Reo sighed, exhausted by Zantetsu's constant grammar fails.
Kunigami was watching everyone with a quiet, genuine smile. He hadn't played, but the victory felt like it belonged to all of them.
"You guys really did it... I'm so proud of you."
Anri appeared at the door, her eyes red from crying.
Bachira quickly grabbed a towel to cover up. "Hey, Anri-chan! Don't cry, we won!"
"Ignore her. She's a sap," Ego said, strolling into the room with a triumphant stride. "Keep your heads on straight. This victory was exactly what I predicted. Nothing more, nothing less."
'Sure it was, Ego,' Kira thought, noticing the slight tremor of excitement in the coach's hands.
"Congratulations, you diamonds in the rough. You've achieved something remarkable today," Ego continued. "And as a reward... the cafeteria is serving a luxury steak dinner tonight. On the house."
The locker room exploded into a final, jubilant roar.
"STEEEEEAK!"
The war was over. The feast was beginning.
***
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"POOOWEEEERR STOOOONEEESSS!"
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