Chapter 44 – Three Man’s team

Kira completed his challenge with just a minute left on the clock. Training his left foot had consumed most of his time, but the results were worth it. His final tally stood at 70 goals out of 134 attempts with his left foot, and 30 out of 49 with his right. Satisfied with his progress, Kira advanced to the next phase of his training.

As he stepped into the second phase room, he was greeted by a handful of players who had already arrived. The room itself was vast, with stark white walls and a monitor above the door that led to the next stage. On the screen, a message flashed: Form Three-Man Team to Advance.

Scanning the room, Kira's eyes quickly darted over the faces lounging around. Most of them were unfamiliar, save for a few familiar ones—like Nagi and Reo. His mind calculated swiftly: I need two other players to form a team. But who?

"Oi! Kira, you haven't moved on yet?" Raichi's loud voice pierced through the quiet murmur of the room. "Perfect timing! We're teaming up! Now we just need one more." Without waiting for Kira's consent, Raichi grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and began dragging him across the room.

"Let go of me," Kira protested, trying to shake free from Raichi's grip, but Raichi's hold was like iron.

"You'd have disappeared on me if I hadn't grabbed ya!" Raichi barked back, not letting go as they pushed through the crowd.

Before the situation could escalate further, Nagi approached them, his usual calm and low-energy demeanor unchanged. "Hey, Ryosuke Kira," Nagi said, voice lazy but direct. "Wanna team up with us?"

Kira blinked in surprise, and Reo, standing beside Nagi, looked even more shocked. "Nagi! You can't be serious!" Reo cut in, glaring at Kira. "After what he did to us? I refuse to team up with him!"

Nagi's eyes didn't leave Kira. "Kira was amazing in that match. I wanna try playing football with him," Nagi stated simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. His words seemed unaffected by Reo's outburst, and his offer was sincere.

"Sorry, little egg," Kira replied, dismissing the proposal. "I don't need someone without motivation on my team."

Reo's face lit up with a hint of satisfaction at Kira's rejection. "See? You don't need him!" Reo exclaimed, his relief palpable. The thought of dealing with Kira during the second selection was a nightmare he didn't want to entertain.

But before Reo could relish the moment, Nagi surprised everyone by saying, "Then I'll join your team."

Both Kira and Raichi froze, stunned by the declaration. Nagi and Reo had always seemed inseparable, practically glued to one another. Even Reo's jaw dropped in disbelief. "What!? Nagi, what are you saying? We're supposed to team up!" Reo's voice was strained, as if Nagi's words had struck him deep. "What about me!?"

Nagi hesitated for a moment, his expression softening. "Reo... you taught me about football. You and I—we're going to be the best in the world. That's still a fact," Nagi said, his gratitude clear in his voice. But then his tone grew firm, more determined than Reo had ever heard before. "But we lost. We weren't the strongest..."

A newfound resolve burned in Nagi's eyes. "I want to understand this thing called 'frustration'—the feeling I had for the first time when we lost. And to do that, I want to play football with Kira."

Reo stood in stunned silence. This was the first time he had seen Nagi so passionate about something. It was no longer just about games or passing time; Nagi had found a purpose. "I want to make an effort," Nagi finished.

Reo swallowed hard, the sting of Nagi's decision hitting him, but no words came. In the end, all he could manage was, "What the hell… Do what you want."

Raichi, who had been observing quietly, finally broke the silence. "What do you think, Kira?" Raichi asked. "His skills are top-notch. You can't ignore that."

Kira mulled it over, his mind weighing the pros and cons. Nagi was undoubtedly talented, and despite his laid-back attitude, he could be a powerful asset. After a brief pause, Kira made his decision. "Very well, little egg," Kira said, nodding. "Come with us."

With that, the three of them—Kira, Raichi, and Nagi—made their way toward the door, ready to face the next challenge of the second selection.

"Later, Reo," Nagi said as they walked away, throwing a casual goodbye over his shoulder. "I'll be waiting for you."

.

.

"You sure about leaving that pampered brat behind?" Raichi asked, glancing over at Nagi as they made their way through the dimly lit corridor toward the next room. His tone was skeptical, almost teasing. "Think you can function without him?"

Nagi shrugged, his expression relaxed but thoughtful. "Well, I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel bad about it," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of remorse. "But this way is more exciting. Following my ego—it just feels right. Blue Lock's that kind of place."

Kira walked in silence, listening to their conversation, his thoughts racing. 'What Nagi said is true,' he mused, filing away this observation. 'Even in the professional world, ego drives the greats.' He made a mental note: 'Nagi responds to the right stimuli. I just need to figure out how to use him and Raichi together.'

As they entered the next room, the tension hit them immediately. The space was large, crowded with several other teams, each sizing up their competition. Groups of players stood around, eyeing one another, mentally calculating which teams they could beat. Excitement buzzed through the air, mingling with the tension of rivalries just beginning to form.

In the center of the room, a loud commotion drew attention. A tall, spiky-haired player with blond hair streaked with pink tips was causing a scene. His aggressive demeanor was hard to ignore, especially as he seemed more interested in beating people up than actually playing. Two long strands of hair framed his face as he launched a brutal kick toward another player, his teammates desperately trying to hold him back. But it was no use—anyone who refused to play with him became a target.

Raichi, frowning, approached one of the battered players lying on the ground. "Hey! What's going on here?"

The player groaned and gestured toward the wild blond. "Some crazy guy is losing it, trying to force people to play with him."

"He's already beaten up two people!" another player added, shaking his head in disbelief.

"What the hell?" Raichi muttered, flabbergasted by the chaos.

Another player chimed in, pointing at the blond aggressor. "That guy—he was in the same wing as me during the last phase. Scored the most goals, too. His name's Ryusei Shidou."

Kira, Raichi, and Nagi watched as Shidou broke free from his teammates' hold, prowling the room like a predator. He approached another team, demanding they play against him, and when they refused, he lashed out, sending another player crumpling to the ground with a swift kick.

Raichi scowled, disgusted. "That guy's nothing but trouble. We're better off not getting involved."

But Kira thought otherwise. Of all the players in the room, Shidou immediately stood out to him. It wasn't just the striking appearance or the violent outbursts—it was the fluidity of his movements, the way his body twisted with precision and power. Despite his reckless demeanor, Shidou's athleticism was undeniable. His acrobatic kicks, his lightning-fast reactions—there was a grace to it all, even in his violence.

While Raichi tried to steer clear, Kira's eyes were locked on Shidou. This was someone worth paying attention to.

"It looks like we need to play a match against one of these teams to advance," Nagi said, reading the rules displayed on a monitor overhead. "When we win, we get to steal a player from the opposing team. First, we play 3v3, then 4v4, and finally 5v5."

"Simple enough," Raichi said with a shrug. "Hey, Kira, which team should we go up against?"

But Kira wasn't listening. He had already started walking toward Shidou. Raichi groaned, clutching his head in exasperation. "That idiot!"

Shidou noticed Kira approaching, a wild grin spreading across his face. "Hey, you there! Wanna play football?" he asked, his posture aggressive, as if he were ready to kick Kira.

Kira smirked, his eyes sharp with anticipation. "Sure, I'm down. I've been getting bored with the lack of action around here."

Shidou's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Finally, someone with guts!" he exclaimed. "I can't wait to explode on the field!" His teammates, though visibly worn out by his antics, couldn't help but feel the rush of adrenaline, eager to get the match started.

Raichi sighed, slapping a hand over his face in frustration. "Dammit. Looks like we don't have a choice now."

"Mm," Nagi murmured in agreement, his expression as neutral as ever, but his nod signaling he was ready.

Both teams began to prepare, the air thick with anticipation. The match was about to begin, and it promised to be anything but ordinary.