Chapter 50: The Promise with Riko — I'll Win Until the Very End
"R-really?"
A look of shocked disbelief spread across Riko's face.
"It's true, it's true, it's really true. If you make me repeat it a third time, I might start reconsidering, you know?"
Kira teased lightly.
"I… I…"
Riko felt a dizzy lightness wash over her, as if everything happening right now were unreal—like she was floating inside a dream.
She hadn't even known Kira for that long. Thinking about it now, her confession earlier had been far too impulsive. She hadn't planned it, hadn't thought it through—
she'd just acted on that rising feeling born from the events earlier today, that sudden fear that if she didn't take the initiative, someone else would steal him away, and also… the tiny hope that maybe, just maybe, she could try.
Tentatively, she reached out and took Kira's hand.
The warmth of his palm made her realize she wasn't dreaming at all.
"Wanna walk a bit more?"
Kira asked.
"Mm!"
Riko nodded immediately without any hesitation. A smile bloomed on her face again.
Honestly, anything she did felt fun as long as she was doing it with Kira.
Hand in hand, the two strolled along as they chatted.
Riko talked nonstop about various sports-related stories, completely different from her usual strict, serious coaching demeanor.
Before they knew it, they reached a small park and found a bench to sit on.
"U-um, um… did I just talk about a whole bunch of boring stuff…?"
It was as though her ability to think had vanished—she'd been talking without filtering anything.
Only several minutes later did she finally realize how much she'd rambled.
"No, not at all. It was interesting."
Kira smiled as he reassured her.
Riko looked at his face, and for a moment she blanked out entirely.
Then she realized she'd been staring too long, and her cheeks flushed bright red as she quickly turned away—
but then the thought hit her:
Wait! We're actually… an official couple now.
If I don't look at him, who am I supposed to look at?!
With that declaration in her heart, she turned her gaze right back to Kira's face, her expression earnest and a little stubborn.
"Ryosuke… does the Blue Lock program really… really destroy the careers of the eliminated players?"
She asked quietly.
She had no idea what kind of pressure Kira was under inside that environment.
They were literally wagering their entire futures on one project.
If she could, she wanted to shoulder even a little bit of that burden for him.
"I don't know for sure. Ego doesn't strike me as the type who jokes around. If he's really the one making the decisions, then… yeah, it's probably true. He's the type who'll do absolutely anything to reach his goals."
Kira shook his head.
"But I also don't think things will necessarily turn out the way he says. Because he's not the one with final authority. The higher-ups in the Football Association might not fully approve his methods. Still, no matter what, everyone inside Blue Lock will fight with everything they have for that final spot. And I plan to keep winning—not only for myself, but because I want to prove that Ego's philosophy is wrong."
"Fine then! Let's make a new pinky promise! You still remember our last one, right? You have to win all the way to the end in Blue Lock!"
Riko raised her hand, her pale little pinky finger hooking slightly.
"And I'm adding one more bet on my side—
I'm definitely going to lead Seirin's basketball team into the Inter-High preliminaries. When that happens, you have to come watch!"
"Yeah. It's a promise."
Kira hooked his pinky around hers, smiling as he nodded.
"You boys really are something."
Riko tilted her head back to look at the glittering night sky. Then, after a brief hesitation, she shifted her body and gently laid her head on Kira's shoulder.
His broad shoulders felt deeply comforting.
Just then, Kira's phone buzzed—an incoming text.
It was from Uncle Aida.
Uncle Aida:
If my precious Riko isn't home within an hour, I'll slice you into pieces tomorrow.
Even through the screen, Kira could practically feel the murderous aura radiating from Kagetora.
Then another message arrived.
Uncle Aida:
But if you make my precious Riko unhappy in any way, I won't just slice you—
I'll use your head as a basketball.
Kira couldn't help smiling. He typed back:
"Got it, Uncle. I'll send Riko back soon!"
About two hours later, after some more talking and walking, Kira escorted Riko home.
"Dad, I'm home!"
Riko pushed open the door with a bright smile. Her steps were practically bouncing—she looked as if she were glowing.
"Welcome back. Why do you look so happy?"
"No reason! But Dad… why are you wearing your shoes? You look like you're about to go out. And why are you holding a knife…?"
"Haha, nothing much."
"Uh-huh…"
Riko didn't press him.
She rushed into her room, closed the door immediately, and eagerly started a long late-night call with Kira.
Kagetora sighed and shook his head with a wry smile.
"At least he managed to keep his head attached…"
…
The next morning, Kira woke up early, ready to return to Blue Lock.
But the moment he opened his door, he froze.
Riko was standing right outside, hand raised mid-knock.
"Riko? Good morning. What are you doing here? Don't you have class today?"
Kira asked, confused. Riko was absolutely a model student at school.
"I took a half-day off! I already studied this morning's lessons last week anyway—
and since you're heading back today, I came to see you off!"
She beamed, gesturing behind her.
A car was parked by the curb, the driver being none other than Kagetora.
"I also prepared some things I know you'll need over there! And also—
a bento! I made it myself! You didn't eat breakfast yet, right?
And I brought homemade snacks too! You can take them with you to eat later!"
"Wow, thank you so much. But… we're usually not allowed to bring anything in. Ego probably won't let us take things inside."
Blue Lock's rules were notoriously strict.
Anything unnecessary was absolutely forbidden.
"My dad said it's fine. He already arranged it. You just need to bring it in."
"Uncle arranged it…?"
Kira felt a bit uneasy.
He glanced toward the car window—
where Kagetora sat, glaring at him with the expression of a man fully prepared to murder him on the spot.