The score changed to 2–1.
"Get up already. Lying on the ground like that, what does it look like?"
Chigiri extended a hand toward Kunigami.
Kunigami grabbed it and pulled himself up, brushing the bits of grass off his clothes.
"They're even stronger than I imagined."
"Yeah. Everything we've learned in Blue Lock so far barely works. At our current level, we simply can't surpass them. This is the gap between us and the world's top players."
"…But that guy should be able to do it, right?"
The two of them unconsciously turned their gaze toward Ryan Hoshino.
At the moment, Ryan was chatting with Loki, looking completely relaxed, as if he wasn't even in the middle of a match.
Seeing how leisurely he looked, a vein popped on Chigiri's forehead as he clenched his fist.
"That guy… he still has the nerve to chat at a time like this?"
Kunigami, on the other hand, laughed.
"Hahaha. That's just how he is. Who knows what's going on in his head."
"Hey, why is your palm so white? Do you only apply sunscreen on your hands or something?"
Ryan grabbed Loki's hand and examined it closely.
Loki's mouth twitched nonstop.
This guy… does his train of thought really jump this much?
Loki slowly exerted force and pulled his hand back, escaping Ryan's grasp. He let out an awkward laugh.
"Haha… Black people are like this. Go check Silva's hands, his palms are just as white."
Hearing Loki suggest Silva, Ryan immediately shook his head.
"No thanks. I don't want to talk to him. That big black guy looks scary"
"Achoo!"
"Silva, did you catch a cold? Stay away from me, I don't want to get infected."
Blake walked away with a look of disgust.
Silva wiped his nose in confusion.
Strange… I don't even have a cold.
"Ryan, stop chatting and get back in position."
Chigiri walked up from behind, glaring at Ryan with irritation.
"Got it, got it. Can't help it, Loki kept dragging me into a conversation."
Sigh. I didn't expect my charm to be this strong. Even foreigners can't resist me, huh? I really am guilty of too much charm.
Chigiri grabbed Ryan by the arm and dragged him back.
"You're the one who kept pestering Loki. You're just taking advantage of the fact that he doesn't understand Japanese."
"No way. Why would I lie to you? He talked to me first."
Ryan complained as he was dragged away.
"Bye-bye, Loki."
Ryan waved at him.
Out of basic courtesy, Loki waved back.
Back in their own half
"Chigiri, please. I'm trying to have a sophisticated football conversation here."
"I haven't even scolded you yet. Why didn't you go defend just now? You were just standing back there watching the show."
Ryan looked at Chigiri with his big, sparkling eyes.
"But I trusted you guys! And besides, I was keeping Loki busy. Look, he couldn't attack at all just now."
Hearing Ryan's shameless excuse, Chigiri pressed a hand to his forehead.
Referee, I want to surrender.
Blue Lock Team kickoff.
Chigiri passed the ball to Bachira.
The moment Bachira got the ball, Loki rushed over.
Facing Loki, Bachira hesitated for a split second.
"Are you afraid of Loki's speed?"
Luna appeared behind him like a ghost and snatched the ball away.
"Lack of experience. You need to broaden your field of vision."
Bachira looked completely confused.
"Sorry, you probably don't understand English."
Luna took possession and prepared to advance.
"Hey, don't bully people who don't understand English. If you're that good, say it to me."
Ryan suddenly cut in from the side, blocking Luna.
"Whoa. Finally meeting you. I've been really looking forward to facing you."
"Is that so? Even you've fallen for me? You're very handsome, but I've heard white people have body odor. Sorry, I care about that kind of thing, so I'll have to reject you."
"Hahaha. You really are just like Loki said. Interesting."
As he spoke, Luna's movements never slowed.
His feet moved rapidly around the ball.
Bachira's pupils shrank.
That fast scissors move (stepover) was way faster than his own. He could barely see it.
What looked like nothing but afterimages to others
In Ryan's eyes
It was no different from a cheap juggling act.
In front of Ryan, Luna was completely exposed.
What he wanted to do, when he wanted to do it Ryan saw it all clearly.
Luna's feet kept shaking the ball, but inside, alarms were ringing nonstop.
What is this feeling?
In front of him, it's like I have no secrets at all.
He shook his head, forcing those absurd thoughts away.
Let me see it, Ryan.
Your true strength.
Ryan kept adjusting his footwork calmly.
Suddenly, Luna's eyes lit up. He caught what looked like an opening.
Now!
With the inside of his foot, he poked the ball forward, sending it straight between Ryan's legs.
In Luna's eyes, Ryan looked like he was completely frozen.
A flash of white light
"…Got you."
But at the exact moment the ball flew out, Ryan moved as if he had already seen it coming, sharply intercepting the ball from behind.
The ball, which should have passed through Ryan, instead shot backward, flying behind Luna.
Luna's eyes widened.
Impossible.
This wasn't something that could be explained by "fast reactions" anymore.
It was as if he had seen it in advance.
Luna looked up at Ryan's eyes.
Crimson red.
Vertical pupils.
Filled with an unquestionable, imperial authority.
Just what…
can your eyes actually see?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you're interested, you can read advanced chapters:
pat reon .com / Samorash