Chapter 8:Unyielding Resolve

Three days had passed since the start of Blue Lock, and already the pressure was mounting. For Kira, these days were critical—each test, each meal, and each moment was a step toward proving himself. He was determined, laser-focused on one goal: to become the greatest striker in the world. But his rank was holding him back, and no matter how well he performed, there was a nagging dissatisfaction eating away at him.

The first physical test of the day was the running test, and Kira had been prepared. He'd come in first, covering 12.5 miles with an impressive endurance time of 1:13:49. Rank 294 had followed closely behind with a time of 1:15:00, but it wasn't enough to beat Kira's well-honed body. Over the past three days, Kira's stamina and speed had steadily improved, and he was beginning to pull ahead of the rest.

But there was still that lingering frustration. Despite his stellar performance, his rank hadn't risen as much as he'd hoped. He knew he deserved to be in the top five, yet here he was, still fighting to climb. It was a bitter pill to swallow, especially for someone like Kira, who had trained relentlessly to hone every aspect of his game.

In the vertical jump test, Kira once again dominated. His 27-inch leap put him squarely in first place, just ahead of Wataru Kuon, ranked #293, who had jumped 26.8 inches. With each test, Kira's confidence grew. He was stronger, faster, and more capable than nearly everyone else around him. But still, that rank… it wasn't enough. He was restless, hungry for more.

As the players gathered for dinner, the reality of Blue Lock's harsh ranking system became even clearer. Those who performed better were rewarded with better food, while the lower-ranked players were given basic meals. Kira sat down with a plate of pork and rice, glancing across the room to see Isagi with nothing more than miso soup and rice. The inequality was blatant, a constant reminder that only the best would thrive here.

But Kira's thoughts weren't on the food. He was thinking about his rank—about how far he had to go to prove that he was the best. As he ate, his mind raced with strategies to improve, to dominate the next round of tests, and to show everyone that his rightful place was at the top.

That night, after everyone had gone to bed, Kira found himself wide awake. The dissatisfaction gnawed at him, keeping him from sleep. He needed to do more—train harder, push himself further. Quietly, he got up from his bed and made his way to the practice field.

When he arrived, he wasn't alone. Bachira and Isagi were already there, their silhouettes moving fluidly across the field under the dim lights. Kira watched for a moment, his eyes focused on Bachira's movements. There was something about Bachira's dribbling style that intrigued him—the way he controlled the ball so effortlessly, weaving between invisible defenders with a kind of grace that seemed almost supernatural.

Kira studied Bachira's technique carefully, instinctively activating a weakened version of his Ultimate Copy ability. He focused on every detail—how Bachira shifted his weight, how he feinted to throw off an opponent, how he maintained control of the ball even in tight spaces. Kira's body began to mimic these movements, his muscles reacting as if they had been trained for this all along.

Isagi noticed Kira standing there and waved him over. "Can't sleep either?"

Kira shook his head, offering a determined smile. He wasn't about to waste a moment. "Mind if I join you?" he asked.

Bachira grinned widely, his playful energy radiating even in the late hours. "Sure, let's see what you've got!"

Without hesitation, Kira stepped onto the pitch. The intensity between them shifted as soon as the game began. This wasn't just casual practice—it was a competition, a chance to test their skills against each other. Kira and Bachira squared off, and Kira could feel the adrenaline surging through him.

Bachira dribbled toward him, and Kira instinctively mirrored his movements, using the weakened Ultimate Copy to anticipate Bachira's feints. He moved to the right, then cut back left, slipping past Bachira and taking control of the ball. With a swift strike, Kira sent the ball into the net.

Bachira laughed, impressed. "Not bad, Kira! You've got some moves."

Kira's confidence grew with each play. The three of them continued for several more rounds, Kira perfecting his movements and absorbing Bachira's dribbling style more and more with each pass. Isagi watched in awe, still trying to figure out how to match the intensity of both Kira and Bachira.

Suddenly, the loudspeaker crackled to life, breaking the silence of the night. "WE'VE FINISHED COMPILING THE DATA FROM THE PAST THREE DAYS' STAMINA TESTS. PLEASE RETURN TO YOUR ROOMS."

The three of them exchanged glances, the unspoken acknowledgment that tomorrow's rankings would be critical. They headed back to the dorms, hearts pounding in anticipation.

Once inside, the players were already awake, waiting for the updated rankings to appear. Kira rolled up his sleeve, his heart racing as he saw the number on his arm change: 265. It wasn't where he wanted to be, but it was an improvement. Still, he couldn't help but feel dissatisfied. He wanted more. He needed to be higher.

Isagi glanced at his own rank—275. He too had improved, but like Kira, the frustration was clear in his eyes. They were both far from where they needed to be.

Suddenly, the screen flickered on, and Ego's face appeared, his sharp voice cutting through the tension in the room.

"HUH?! NICE WORK, EVERYONE. YOU LUMPS OF TALENT. ARE YOU ENJOYING LIFE IN BLUE LOCK?"

Raichi, ever the loudmouth, complained about the living conditions. But Ego cut him off without missing a beat.

"THE REASON IT'S SHITTY HERE IS BECAUSE YOU'RE ALL SO SHITTY AT SOCCER."

Kira clenched his fists, knowing that Ego's words were meant to sting. This place was designed to weed out the weak, to push those who could rise to the top.

Ego continued, explaining the structure of Blue Lock—how the facility was divided into five wings, with the highest-ranked players enjoying the best food, the best training, and the best accommodations. The higher-ranked wings were living like kings, while Kira's team, Team Z, was at the bottom. They were considered the weakest, the lowest-ranked players in the entire facility.

Kira's dissatisfaction only deepened. Being at the bottom of Blue Lock was unacceptable, but he wasn't planning to stay there. He was determined to climb, to prove that he belonged among the best. He was dissatisfied now, but that only fueled his desire to win.

Ego's voice sharpened as he laid down the next challenge. "THE HIGHER WINGS ENJOY BETTER TREATMENT. IF YOU WANT TO LIVE WELL IN BLUE LOCK, YOU MUST WIN. NOW, LET'S BEGIN THE FIRST SELECTION."

Kira's heart raced. This was his moment. The first selection was his chance to show what he was really made of, to prove to everyone—especially himself—that he was destined for greatness. The next phase of Blue Lock had begun, and Kira was ready to claim his rightful place at the top.