Chapter 31 : Team-Up

"No, Wait for the 4th entry and then you can go ahead"

Isagi firmly dismissed Rin's words with an unwavering tone, his expression revealing no trace of hesitation. From the outset, Isagi had harbored no expectations of Rin, whose aloof and abrasive demeanor made him undeniably difficult to be around.

Deep down, Isagi couldn't deny that he wanted to play alongside Rin. Rin's skills were nothing short of extraordinary, his performances in Blue Lock are a testament to his brilliance. The mere thought of partnering with Rin—Isagi as an attacking midfielder, orchestrating plays with Rin by his side—painted a vivid picture of an unstoppable duo, one capable of overwhelming any opponent. The idea alone sent a thrill coursing through him. 

Yet, Isagi knew better. Joining forces now wouldn't serve his purpose. To truly grow, he had to establish his own identity. He needed to prove to everyone in Blue Lock that his dominance on the field wasn't just comparable to Rin's—it surpassed it. Only then would he truly earn his place at the top.

""Tch... What's the point of standing around wasting time? Walk with me, and I'll show you the fastest way to advance" 

Rine said, his voice sharp with impatience and confidence.

"No need for your hospitality"

Isagi said with an unwavering tone.

Rin's brows furrowed as Isagi rejected Rin's subtle proposal to team up for the Second Selection. Turning fully, he cast a sharp glance at Isagi, who seemed utterly unfazed. Isagi was sprawled on the ground, eyes closed and a faint smile playing on his lips, gazing at the ceiling as if savoring a fleeting moment of tranquility amidst the chaos.

"Take somebody else as a Teammate, I'm waiting for someone"

Isagi shot Rin a fleeting glance, his expression unreadable, before casually returning to his quiet sightseeing, as if Rin's presence was nothing more than a passing thought.

"Don't get the wrong idea" 

Rin said coldly, his gaze piercing. 

"The only reason the three of us can team up is because we finished the First Stage the fastest. To me, you're just a stepping stone—just like everyone else in Blue Lock." 

His voice grew sharper, tinged with unwavering determination. 

"I'll win and secure my place to represent Japan in the U-20 League. All of this—everything I do—is to represent Japan and, ultimately, to surpass my older brother, The process of Soccer to me is to cru-"

"Urgh, who asked for your life story?" 

Isagi snapped, his tone dripping with irritation. 

"Go bother someone else and let me enjoy some peace. Ever heard of giving people a little privacy?"

Isagi didn't have to say a word, but his inner thoughts wouldn't let him stop. For some reason, the urge to tease Rin had taken hold of him, and he wasn't planning to let up anytime soon. 

Rin, clearly agitated, was about to launch into another tirade when the sound of the entrance door creaking open interrupted him. This time, it was Tokimitsu Aoshi. 

Tokimitsu hesitantly stepped inside, forcing a nervous smile as he tried to greet everyone. Rin's sharp gaze locked onto him almost instantly, wasting no time in persuading Tokimitsu to team up. Cornered, Tokimitsu reluctantly agreed, but his wide, pleading eyes darted toward Isagi, silently begging for intervention. 

Isagi, however, merely looked away, his expression unreadable. At that moment, he betrayed Tokimitsu without a second thought, leaving him to fend for himself against Rin's overbearing presence.

"Well, don't get the wrong idea" 

Rin scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. 

"I wasn't asking you to team up because I needed you. If anything, you would've gotten a free ride to success by sticking by my side."

Rin as he registered his name with others turned to Isagi to leave a remark.

"Can you replicate the move I did in the central area?....Thought so"

Without so much as glancing at Rin, Isagi coolly replied, his voice steady and unfazed, With that, the conversation came to a swift end. 

Isagi settled back into his position, sitting alone in the stillness, waiting for the doors to open. The silence stretched on, but it wasn't long before the door creaked open again.

The individual who stepped in was Kurona Ranze, one of the earlier arrivals. His eyes scanned the room briefly before landing on the instructions displayed on the screen. Then, his gaze shifted to Isagi.

"Are you the first one to get here?" 

Kurona asked, his tone casual but curious, as he looked up at the screen ahead, awaiting further instructions.

"Yes"

"Hmm, the second spot isn't bad either, I guess"

"You are not second"

Kurona felt a brief sense of pride at being second to arrive in Blue Lock, but that satisfaction quickly vanished as he glanced at Isagi, who seemed completely unfazed. In an instant, Isagi's calm demeanor wiped away any sense of achievement Kurona had left.

"What do you mean..?"

"There were 3 more after me who teamed up and went ahead"

"So I'm 5th"

"Right"

Kurona let out a deep sigh, settling next to Isagi as he stared at the door he had just walked through. The weight of the First Stage of the Second Selection still hung in the air, but Kurona felt a surge of confidence. After scoring 100 goals against a replica of a world-class goalie, he was brimming with excitement, eager to step onto the field and test his skills in real competition, to see if he could replicate those perfect shots in the heat of the game.

As he lost himself in thought, the quiet was broken by the sound of footsteps. The door creaked open once more, and the sixth person to finish the First Stage stepped in—Shingen Tanaka.

"Hey, Should we team up?"

Kurona asked Isagi, in a low tone while sizing up the big guy who didn't look under 20 at all.

"No, He is decent at shooting and defense, But both of those are average, Not satisfying enough"

Isagi turned to Kurona, his voice calm. 

Before Kurona could respond, two more players entered in quick succession. The seventh person was of little interest to Isagi, but the next arrival was the one he'd been waiting for. 

Nagi Seishiro stepped through the door. While every player in Blue Lock had the chance to shine, Nagi stood out like a secondary protagonist in a manga, his growth and development carrying weight and significance. Isagi had always admired Nagi's ball control and imagination, and now, he saw the potential of teaming up with him. With Isagi's precise passing and Nagi's mastery over the ball, they could form an unstoppable duo. 

As Nagi quietly skimmed the instructions, he stopped mid-read when he heard the door creak open behind him. It was just another random player, but soon after, the next figure entered. It was Reo, stepping into the room with the same sharp, confident air he always carried.

'Where is the 10th guy?'

Isagi blinked, momentarily confused. Originally, Reo had been the 10th to finish the First Stage, but with Isagi taking the top spot, it had pushed everyone down a position. Yet, Reo had retained his place at 10th. Isagi wondered if losing to him in the last match had somehow caused this shift, or if there was something more at play.

Reo and Nagi exchanged a brief greeting before they both turned to the instructions, reading intently. Kurona, sitting beside Isagi, glanced at the duo with quiet interest, but his gaze lingered on Isagi, curious about what had drawn him to these two in particular. Isagi seemed more interested in watching the drama unfold than anything else. 

"So, who do we team up with? Should we wait for Zantetsu?"

After understanding the rules of the Second Stage, Reo glanced at Nagi, expecting some kind of reaction. But Nagi, without a word, began walking away from him. His gaze was locked on Isagi as he made his way toward him, his eyes unwavering.

"Want to team up with us, Isagi?" Nagi's voice was smooth and direct as he offered his hand, an invitation that carried weight.

Isagi slowly opened his eyes, a small, almost playful smile creeping across his face as he met Nagi's gaze. His hand hovered over Nagi's, the offer hanging in the air.

Reo, still a step behind, watched the scene unfold with mixed feelings. The determination he had held in the First Stage to defeat Isagi flickered, but now, the prospect of having such a talented player on his team seemed more appealing. 

He remembered the passes Isagi had made during their match—the way they were filled with purpose and precision, far more meaningful than any pass Reo himself could ever create. It was clear now: Isagi's skill wasn't just about raw talent—it was about vision, the ability to see plays others couldn't. Reo realized that if he could learn to make those kinds of passes, he could become the perfect partner for Nagi, completing the trio in a way that would be unstoppable.

"Nah, I'm teaming up with this guy right here" 

Isagi said with a polite smile, casually pointing at the redhead sitting next to him. 

Kurona opened his mouth to speak but paused, unsure how to react. Isagi hadn't explicitly mentioned their plan to team up until now, and Kurona hadn't expected it. Still, teaming up with someone who had cleared the First Stage the fastest wasn't a bad deal at all. 

Kurona glanced at Isagi, a mix of surprise and curiosity in his eyes, but he said nothing, content to let the decision stand.

"Ah, is that so?" 

Nagi said, his expression unreadable, before a sudden burst of determination went through him. 

Isagi's small smile widened as he anticipated what was coming next. 

"Then... I'll join you instead" 

Nagi said, his finger pointing toward the duo ahead of him. The moment the words left his mouth, Reo's protest began—loud, dramatic, and filled with frustration. He argued about how wrong it was to be left behind, but Nagi remained calm, unfazed by his teammate's outburst. His decision was final.

"Sure, you can join" 

Isagi said, his tone cool and decisive. 

"Let's go, Kurona."

With that, Isagi stood from his spot, the shift in the air palpable. He began walking towards the door to register for the Second Stage, now with his three-man team solidified. The drama and tension hung in the room, but Isagi was already focused on the next step, eager to move forward with the team he had chosen.

As they entered the room, It had three other players which Isagi recognized, It was Rin, Aryu, and Tokimitsu.

Soon, Ego appeared on the screen and started explaining the rules of this stage, After it all ended he updated everyone's ranking.

Isagi Yoichi- Ranked 1st

Itoshi Rin- Ranked 2nd

Aryu Jyubei- Ranked 3rd

Tokimitsu Aoshi- Ranked 4th

Ranze Kurona- Ranked 5th

Nagi Seishiro- Ranked 8th

Rin's patience wore thin as he watched Aryu and Tokimitsu bicker amongst themselves, their antics distracting everyone in the room. He couldn't hold it back any longer. Standing up with a sharp glare, he began his speech, his voice laced with irritation.

"...Though this time, it matters who I face" 

Rin said, his words deliberate, the tension rising in the room. 

"And right now, I'm most interested in seeing what you can do on the pitch."

Without hesitation, Rin turned and walked toward Isagi's group, his eyes locked on Isagi's, the challenge clear in his gaze. He didn't even need to say it out loud—he was daring Isagi to choose him as an opponent, to see if he could live up to the growing expectations. It was no longer just about the game; it was personal now.

Isagi met Rin's challenge with a calm, unwavering gaze before casually looking away, unfazed by the intensity in Rin's eyes. He turned to his teammates, his voice casual but carrying an undercurrent of determination.

"Are you guys up for this?" 

Isagi asked, his focus shifting to Kurona. Isagi was ready to face Rin head-on, but he knew it was important to hear Kurona's opinion before making the final call. After all, this was a team decision now. 

Kurona gave a simple, yet firm nod, his eyes locked on Rin with the same quiet determination. Nagi, standing beside him, followed suit with an equally calm nod, his expression unreadable but resolute. 

The decision was made. They were going to face Rin's team. There was no hesitation now—Isagi accepted the challenge, and the upcoming clash would determine who was truly at the top.

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[A/N]: Hey guys, Let me know how you find this Story up till now, Guess what, I'm on vacation for 3 days and would have enough time to update the story daily