Chapter 103: Kenyu Yukimiya
"Look, we did our part. We put our stamp on that game," Hiori said, breaking the silence.
"Exactly. I left everything out there. No regrets, regardless of how the chips fall," Isagi added, nodding firmly.
"Same here. All we can do now is wait for the numbers to come in," Nanase said, his voice steady with the confidence of someone who knew they'd played their best.
The three of them shared a sharp, synchronized fist bump, their laughter echoing through the small video room.
"Check it out. The second match is about to kick off. Let's see who's up next," Hiori noted, nodding toward the screen as the players began their walkouts.
The third selection's five-on-five was moving fast. It was Team A2 versus Team C1.
Team A2: Ryosuke Kira, Shidou Ryusei, Igaguri, Aryu Jyubei, and Nagi Seishiro.
Team C1: Eita Otoya, Kenyu Yukimiya, Mikage Reo, Ishikari Yukio, and Gin Gagamaru.
"Well, look at that. Nothing but familiar faces," Kira said, scanning the lineup.
"My glamour isn't ending here. The world still needs to see more of this style," Aryu said, obsessively running a hand through his long hair.
"Hey, Kira. Long time no see. I'm here to catch up to you." Nagi said, his voice as detached as ever, his eyes fixed on the ball.
"Hell yeah! I'm riding with the heavy hitters! This win is already in the bag!" Igaguri shouted, practically buzzing with opportunistic energy.
On the opposite side, Reo's gaze was fixed on Nagi. His expression was a mess of complicated emotions, but he eventually steeled himself and walked over to his former partner.
"Hey, Nagi. Just so you know, I'm coming to take you down," Reo said.
"Sure," Nagi replied. His voice was flat, almost bored.
Reo's face tightened, a flash of annoyance crossing his features before he turned and headed back to his own half. On the far side of Team C, the towering Ishikari Yukio caught everyone's attention.
"That guy's almost as tall as I am. Impressive," Aryu remarked, rarely finding someone who could challenge his vertical presence.
Kira felt a twinge of competitive envy. 'I'd kill for that kind of height.'
"Match start! Team C kickoff!"
Yukimiya adjusted his glasses and tapped a quick pass over to Reo. Reo took the ball and immediately surveyed the field, his mind a blur of tactical data.
Since coming to Blue Lock, the distance between him and Nagi had only grown. Reo had been grinding, pushing himself to the absolute limit just to stay within Nagi's orbit. But Nagi wasn't that same lazy kid from high school anymore. He was hunting for something higher.
Reo had deliberately avoided being on Nagi's team this time. He needed Nagi to see his evolution. He needed to prove that he was the only one worthy of standing beside a genius.
The ball moved smoothly. Reo executed a lightning-fast one-two with Gagamaru, ghosting past a wild, over-aggressive lunge from Shidou.
'Shidou's defense is a joke. A hollow defender.,' Reo thought.
"I've got the 10!" Aryu shouted, stepping up to intercept Reo.
Reo's eyes flickered to the flank, spotting Otoya making a move. He unleashed a long, arching ball that hummed through the air.
"Nice pass, purple-hair!" Otoya shouted, tracking the flight of the ball.
But a shadow eclipsed him. Nagi launched himself into the air, his eyes burning with focus as he intercepted the pass mid-flight. He didn't even land before flicking the ball accurately toward Kira.
Nagi hit the turf and spared a single, cold glance toward Reo. It was a look that screamed: 'You're still just as weak as the day I left you.'
Reo gritted his teeth so hard he thought they might shatter.
"Yeah! Counter-attack time! Let's go, Kira-chan!" Shidou screamed, charging toward the box like a starving wolf. He didn't care about the formation; he just wanted blood. Even the massive Ishikari found it difficult to impede his path.
Suddenly, Kenyu Yukimiya was in Kira's face.
"In a 1v1, I have the absolute advantage. Want to test it, Top 1?" Yukimiya challenged.
Kira knew from the scouting reports that Yukimiya was a specialist in individual duels. He didn't want to get bogged down in a ego-clash just yet. Instead, he fired a crisp pass over to Igaguri.
"Your turn, Igaguri! Go get 'em!" Kira shouted.
'Wait, what? Me?!' Igaguri's heart nearly stopped.
He'd been planning to just slack off, but suddenly the ball was at his feet. It was a rare moment—someone had actually passed to him on purpose.
'I can't waste a pass from Kira. I have to make this count!'
His legs were shaking, and his first touch was clumsy, but he managed to keep the ball moving.
"Hold it right there, monk! I'm sending you back to the temple!" Reo shouted, closing the distance instantly.
Igaguri froze, his mind frantically scanning the field. He knew he wasn't beating Reo in a footrace or a duel. He needed an out. Shidou? Or Kira?
It wasn't even a question. He fired the ball straight back to the person who had trusted him.
"Nice pass!"
Kira trapped the ball perfectly and, without a second of hesitation, lofted a high ball toward the danger zone. Shidou lunged forward, ready to tear through the defense, but someone was faster.
Nagi exploded from the side, leaping into the air with the grace of a predator. He seemed to hang there, defying gravity, as he killed the ball's momentum with a world-class aerial trap.
"Is that the Top 7? He's a total freak," Yukimiya muttered, impressed despite himself.
"Look at that core strength. He's a monster," Otoya added.
Nagi landed, spun, and unleashed a devastating strike in one fluid motion. The ball screamed into the back of the net.
1-0. Team A takes the lead.
Reo stared at the net, stunned.
'That was... perfect.'
The realization hit him. The Nagi standing in front of him wasn't the Nagi he knew. The synergy between Nagi and Kira was something he couldn't replicate.
"Nice finish, Nagi. I knew you'd be there," Kira said, offering a high-five.
Nagi gave a simple, short nod. He wasn't celebrating; he was already reset for the next play.
"Hey, Kira-chan! I was wide open! Why the hell are you feeding the quiet kid?" Shidou complained, having already charged into the box for a ball that never came.
Kira just gave a small, apologetic shrug.
"Who cares? We're winning! Let's just keep this momentum and crush them!" Igaguri shouted, his face lit up with the joy of a man who was successfully riding a winning wave.
"Otoya, let me take point on the next one," Yukimiya said, his voice dropping into a serious, competitive register.
Otoya shrugged. "Go for it. Let's see what a Top 6 can really do."
Match continues. Team C kickoff.
Otoya started the play, but the ball went straight to Yukimiya. He didn't look for a pass. He drove the ball forward, heading straight for Kira.
Kira was surprised by the directness. The guy was coming for the throne. He squared his shoulders and dropped into a defensive stance.
"Top 1, right?"
Yukimiya's feet began to move in a blur of high-speed feints. Kira's vision felt like it was being pulled in three directions at once. Even with his elite reaction time, the sheer technical speed of the dribble was staggering.
Suddenly, Yukimiya ignited.
'He's fast!'
Kira reacted, shifting his weight to intercept the breakthrough, but Yukimiya used his superior momentum to shoulder past him. He didn't just beat Kira—he overwhelmed him.
Kira was beat.
'Damn... he's the real deal,' Kira thought, his heart hammering against his ribs. He remembered the manga mentioning Yukimiya's one-on-one prowess, but experiencing it was a different story. The guy had reached top speed in a heartbeat.
"I can't believe it... Kira actually got beat," Igaguri whispered, his face pale with dread.
The easy win he was expecting suddenly felt a lot more complicated. Team C had a monster of their own.
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