Chapter 94: Team Rosters
Early the next morning, the boys of Blue Lock trickled into the connection room one by one.
Isagi and Bachira were among the crowd.
Those who had to vote for their desired team had already cast their ballots into the box. Now, they were just waiting for Ego's verdict.
The large screen in the room displayed the objective: Third Selection Ultimate Mission — [Talent Tryout].
"So, Isagi, you've made your choice," Bachira chirped, leaning in close.
"Yeah. What about you, Bachira?"
"Oh, I decided ages ago using an Amidakuji."
Bachira's answer made Isagi speechless. This guy really had the nerve to do that. To leave such a critical turning point up to a game of chance was insane.
Ding-dong.
"I've tallied the votes. Here is the distribution."
As Ego's voice cut through the speakers, the voting breakdown appeared on the screen.
"Oh-ho? The team with the most votes is Team A, led by Kira and Shidou. A total of 12 players."
"Next is Team B, with 9 players."
"Finally, Team C, with 8 players."
"The specific details are on the screen. Check carefully to ensure it matches your choice."
"Whoa, Team A is packed..."
"Looks like everyone wants to team up with the strongest players!"
"But Team B and C aren't exactly empty either. It's not too lopsided..."
Everyone began analyzing the lists and discussing the results.
***
Meanwhile.
Top 6 VIP Room.
Kira, Rin, and the other members of the Top 6 were already in position.
"You know, Rin, this is going to be our first time officially facing off inside Blue Lock," Kira said, striking up a conversation with Rin beside him.
Rin nodded. Deep down, he felt a flicker of anticipation. He was calculating just how much he could exploit this matchup against Kira.
'Detected attribute that can be absorbed...' Kira's mind registered the system notifications showing the absorbable attributes from the other five players in the room.
Silently, Kira absorbed the Trial Cards from Rin, Shidou, Karasu, and Otoya.
He noticed that after the match against Team World Five, the attributes he could drain from the Blue Lock players had diminished significantly.
It was likely because his own abilities had skyrocketed across the board after that match. The system had told him before: once his abilities exceeded someone else's by a certain margin, he could no longer siphon attributes from them.
'Looks like the day I truly become the undisputed Number One of Blue Lock isn't far off,' Kira thought to himself.
"Eh? Look at the screen..."
Yukimiya noticed the change on the room's monitor. It was displaying the rosters for their respective teams.
"My, my. It seems my team has quite a few less people than yours," Yukimiya noted, seeing that Kira's squad was the largest.
Kira looked up to scan the list.
Team A Members:
Jin Kiyora, Nijiro Nanase, Jyubei Aryu, Seishiro Nagi, Meguru Bachira, Shizuka Haiji, Gurimu Igarashi, Shingen Tanaka, Yoichi Isagi, Hajime Nishioka, Yo Hiori, Aoshi Tokimitsu.
Kira instantly spotted the trio: Aryu, Bachira, and Isagi.
Kira smiled confidently. Those three definitely came here for him.
(Igaguri: Me too!)
Aside from Tokimitsu, the one who really caught Kira's attention was Yo Hiori. That guy was a genuine diamond in the rough. Kira was actually looking forward to playing with him.
Next, Kira looked at the roster for Team B.
Team B Members:
Shoei Barou, Kairu Saramadara, Jingo Raichi, Kyohei Shiguma, Ikki Niko, Hyoma Chigiri, Tetsu Sokura, Rensuke Kunigami, Tsurugi Zantetsu.
'Huh? Kunigami didn't choose my team?'
Kira had planned that if Kunigami picked him, he would feed him a few perfect passes on a silver platter during the match, maximizing his potential as a hold-up striker.
What a pity.
Kunigami must have had his own plans and considerations.
Kira didn't linger on it and moved his gaze to the final row.
Team C Members:
Akira Endoji, Taiga Tsunzaki, Gin Gagamaru, Junichi Wanima, Reiji Hiiragi, Mikage Reo, Yukio Ishikari, Ranze Kurona.
Uh...
Aside from Wanima, Gagamaru, and Reo, Kira didn't really know the others.
But Reo... he actually split from Nagi? That was something Kira hadn't expected.
"Alright, Top 6 elites. There will be a total of five matches..."
The screen switched to the match bracket.
Team A had four squads. Team B had three. Team C had three.
Matchups:
A1 vs B1
A2 vs C1
B2 vs C2
A3 vs B3
A4 vs C3
Kira groaned internally. There are only five matches total, and I have to play in four of them?
"First up is A1 vs B1. Elites of both teams, please head to the field and wait for your teammates..."
With that, Ego vanished from the screen.
Kira guessed he was rushing to the connection room screen to announce the roster for A1 and B1.
He vaguely remembered that the members of A1 were Isagi, Hiori, and Nanase. He wondered if anything would change.
"You guys are up first. Good luck, everyone," Yukimiya smiled, waving to the four who were leaving.
"Yeah." Kira nodded.
Rin gave a curt nod in response.
Then, the two of them turned back-to-back and walked down their separate paths toward their respective player tunnels.
***
A few minutes later.
In the connection room, the lottery for the A1 and B1 members was complete.
Inside the Team A tunnel.
Isagi felt a knot of tension in his stomach. He was a member of A1.
The thought of teaming up with Kira again made him anxious.
'I have to demonstrate my value in Kira's team. I need absolute focus.'
After giving himself a pep talk, Isagi felt his nerves settle. He began to observe his two teammates.
'They must be thinking the same thing. In this so-called aptitude test, teammates are also undisputed rivals.'
Isagi's gaze sharpened, looking at the other two with a hint of hostility.
"Holy cow... I feel like as long as we play decent in this match, making the U-20 National Team isn't just a dream anymore..."
The guy in front, Nijiro Nanase, suddenly turned around and spoke, startling Isagi.
'This guy is so positive? And what implies "Holy cow"?'
Isagi looked confused.
"Hahaha! Sorry, that's just my home dialect. It basically means I'm super pumped."
"If I accidentally slip into dialect, just ignore it."
Nanase was extremely friendly and greeted Isagi like they were old friends.
"I'm Nanase. First year in high school. Nice to meet you."
"Um... Oh. I'm Isagi. Second year." Isagi awkwardly played along.
"Oh, oh, oh! So you're my senpai! I'll be sure to learn from you. Let's do our best!"
Isagi: "Oh."
Isagi felt weird inside. There was a sense of dissonance. This guy was even sunnier than Kira.
Kira was sunny, but he had a mature, reliable side. This guy just seemed... genuinely simple-minded.
That was Isagi's assessment.
After greeting Isagi, Nanase immediately turned to bother Yo Hiori.
"Hello, hello! You're Hiori, right? Nice to meet ya!"
"No need to be so formal. I'm a second year too. Nice to meet you," Hiori replied, turning around.
"Kansai dialect?" Isagi instantly picked up on Hiori's accent.
"Eh? I'm from Kyoto. Is the accent that obvious?"
"Hahaha! Of course, it's super obvious! Kyoto people speak in a very... what's the word..." Nanase jumped in but forgot the adjective.
"Elegant," Isagi interjected.
"Right, right, right! 'Hannari'!" Nanase realized.
"Pfft. If you put it that way, I guess I should speak a bit more gently then," Hiori said in his soft Kansai lilt.
"Ahahahaha..."
"Geez... but having teammates like you guys makes me feel really at ease."
"Me too. I get the same feeling."
Isagi thought. 'Well... I guess I feel it too.'
'What's going on with this friendly, harmonious vibe?'
'Why is there this mysterious sense of unity?'
'Have I ever felt this before? Everyone around me used to be maniacs, tearing themselves apart just to win.'
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