Blue Lock. Building 5. Team Z Locker Room.
The air was thick with a dangerous substance: Complacency.
"Two wins in a row!" Igarashi cheered, tossing his jersey into the air. "We beat Barou. We beat Niko. We're unstoppable! We're basically guaranteed to pass the First Selection!"
Raichi Jingo was grinning, flexing in the mirror. "Yeah. 6 Points. Even if we lose the next two, we likely go through on goal difference. This 'survival game' isn't so hard after all."
The room was buzzing with laughter and easy chatter. The fear of death—the very fuel that Blue Lock ran on—had evaporated.
Isagi Yoichi sat in the corner, his blue eyes scanning the room like a surveillance camera. He wasn't smiling.
This atmosphere... it's disgusting, Isagi thought.
His Metavision didn't just work on the field; it picked up social cues too.
Igarashi is relaxing. Raichi is thinking about his stats. Naruhaya is joking around.
His eyes landed on Kuon Wataru.
The team's strategist was staring at the ranking board. Kuon had 0 goals. Isagi had 3. Kunigami had 2. Gagamaru had 1.
Kuon wasn't smiling. He was sweating.
He's nervous, Isagi analyzed. Not about losing the match, but about his own survival. If we qualify as a team, Ego will evaluate us individually. A midfielder with zero goals and average stats might still be cut.
"Hey everyone!" Kuon turned around, plastering a fake, bright smile on his face. "Since we're in a safe position, I have a proposal for the Team W match!"
The room quieted down.
"What is it, Strategist?" Kunigami asked.
"Rotation!" Kuon announced. "We should let everyone have a chance to play Forward. I mean, we're a team, right? I've been doing all the dirty work in the back. I think I should get to play as a Striker for the first half to show Ego what I can do!"
"Hah?" Raichi scowled. "Why should we give up our spots for you?"
"Come on, Raichi," Kuon pleaded. "We have 6 points! We can afford to experiment! Let's play 'All-Out Attack'. 3-3-4 formation!"
Isagi watched Kuon.
He's desperate, Isagi realized. He wants to stat-pad. He thinks Team W is weak fodder.
"Fine by me," Isagi said suddenly, standing up.
"Isagi?" Bachira tilted his head.
"If we're already through, I don't care who plays where," Isagi lied. He walked past Kuon, whispering so only he could hear. "Just don't get in my way, Kuon. If you miss, I'm taking your spot."
Kuon flinched but nodded rapidly. "Thanks, Isagi! Let's win this!"
Match 3: Team Z vs. Team W
Opponent: The Wanima Brothers.
Team Z walked onto the pitch. They looked loose. Arrogant.
Across from them, Team W looked like hungry wolves.
The Wanima Brothers—Junichi (Older) and Keisuke (Younger)—had crocodile-like faces and a menacing aura.
Their record was 1 Win, 1 Loss. They needed this win.
"Look at them," Junichi grunted. "They're grinning."
"They think they're safe," Keisuke sneered. "Let's kill them."
KICKOFF.
Team Z started with the ball.
Kuon was positioned as the Center Forward. He demanded the ball immediately.
"Pass to me! I'm open!"
Bachira shrugged and passed to Kuon.
"Alright!" Kuon trapped the ball. "My turn to shine!"
He tried to dribble forward.
But he forgot one thing.
Desperation beats arrogance.
The Wanima brothers didn't just press him; they hunted him.
"Weak!" Keisuke slammed his shoulder into Kuon.
"Slow!" Junichi poked the ball away.
They stole it instantly.
"Counter!" Team W screamed.
Team Z was in their ridiculous 3-3-4 formation. The midfield was empty because Kuon was up top and the others were lazy in tracking back.
The Wanima brothers used their weapon: Eye Contact Synchronization.
No words. Just looks.
Pass. Run. Pass. Run.
They sliced through Team Z's defense like a hot knife through butter.
Raichi was out of position. "Shit! Get back!"
Iemon, the goalkeeper, was left exposed.
Junichi crossed. Keisuke headed.
BOOM.
GOAL.
Team Z: 0 - Team W: 1
The stadium was silent.
"Already?" Igarashi gasped.
"Don't panic!" Kuon yelled, trying to save face. "It was just one lucky break! We're still better! Pass to me again!"
The Downward Spiral.
The game restarted.
Isagi watched from the right wing. He saw the cracks forming.
It's not luck, Isagi thought. It's structural failure. Everyone is playing for themselves.
Raichi got the ball. Instead of passing, he tried to dribble past three people. "I'm scoring to secure my rank!"
He lost the ball.
Naruhaya got the ball. He tried a fancy flick.
He lost the ball.
Team Z was rotting from the inside. They were competing against each other for goals, treating Team W like NPCs.
Team W punished them.
Minute 20.
Another counter-attack. The Wanima brothers isolated Chigiri Hyoma on the flank.
"Move, Princess!" Keisuke roared.
Chigiri flinched. He backed off to protect his leg.
Keisuke ran past him easily.
Shot.
GOAL.
Team Z: 0 - Team W: 2
"What the hell are you doing?!" Raichi screamed at Chigiri. "Tackle him! Why are you running away?!"
"I... I was delaying him..." Chigiri mumbled, looking at the ground.
"You were scared!" Raichi shoved him.
"Stop it!" Kunigami intervened.
Isagi stood at the center circle. The blue aura around him began to darken.
He looked at the scoreboard. 0-2.
He looked at Kuon, who was now screaming for the ball again, desperate to erase his mistake.
He looked at Chigiri, who was visibly shaking.
This is what happens when you lose your hunger, Isagi analyzed coldly.
We aren't a team. We're a bag of egoists who forgot that the prerequisite for ego is survival.
Isagi clenched his fist.
I have to fix this. Not with teamwork. But with dominance.
Isagi walked up to Bachira.
"Bachira," Isagi said low.
"Yeah, Isagi? This isn't fun anymore," Bachira pouted.
"Forget the formation," Isagi commanded. "Forget Kuon. Pass to me. I'm going to teach these idiots that the game isn't over just because they have 6 points."