Chapter 29:The Aftermath of Victory

The echoes of the final whistle still rang in the air as Kira and Team Z celebrated their resounding victory. The scoreboard read 7-1, a testament to their dominance in the match. As teammates embraced, the atmosphere was electric, filled with laughter and triumph.

However, amidst the celebration, Kira's thoughts were already shifting. He scanned the field, his eyes landing on Nagi, who stood apart from the rest of his teammates. The frustration and disappointment etched on Nagi's face were palpable, and Kira felt a twinge of sympathy. Despite the scoreline, he respected Nagi's talent and tenacity.

"Hey, Nagi!" Kira called out, approaching him with a friendly smile. "That was a great match. You really pushed me to my limits."

Nagi looked up, surprise flickering in his eyes. "You really think so?" He hesitated, his usual cool demeanor cracking slightly. "It didn't feel like it. We lost. I thought I could break through your defenses this time."

Kira shrugged, his expression earnest. "That just means there's room for growth. You'll come back stronger next time. I can't wait to see what you do."

Nagi's eyes narrowed slightly, a mix of determination and intrigue. "Next time, I'll make sure I do. Just you wait."

With that, Kira stepped back, sensing the competitive fire igniting within Nagi once more. He turned his attention back to his teammates, who were still reveling in their win. "Alright, let's get ready for the next round! We've got momentum on our side, and I want to keep it going!"

As Team Z regrouped, Isagi approached Kira, his face lit up with excitement. "Kira, that assist you made to me was insane! I didn't think you'd see me from that angle. Your vision is incredible!"

"Thanks, Isagi. I'm glad I could set you up," Kira replied, a grin forming on his lips. "But you were the one who executed it perfectly. You've got great instincts."

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the opposing Team V camp was somber. Reo paced back and forth, frustration evident in his every movement. "How did we let that happen? We trained hard for this, and it feels like we didn't even show up!"

Zantetsu rubbed his temples, clearly worn out. "We fought hard, but we just weren't prepared for Kira's level. He's on another wavelength. It's like he can predict our every move."

Nagi remained silent, contemplating the match. He replayed every moment in his mind, analyzing what went wrong and where he could improve. It was in defeat that he often found his greatest lessons.

Reo turned to Nagi, urgency in his voice. "What's the plan? We can't let this loss define us. We need to come back stronger!"

Nagi finally spoke up, his voice steady. "We analyze this match. We need to understand Kira's abilities and how to counter them. We'll find a way."

"Count me in," Zantetsu added, his determination rekindling. "Next time, we'll be ready."

As they began discussing strategies, Kira's focus shifted to his own team. He gathered them together, excitement radiating from him. "Listen up, everyone! We've got a real chance to make it far in this tournament, but we can't rest on our laurels. We need to keep pushing ourselves. Let's analyze our gameplay and find ways to improve!"

The team nodded, fueled by Kira's enthusiasm. Each player began to brainstorm ideas and reflect on their performances, eager to build on their success.

As the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Kira found a quiet spot away from the celebrations. He took a moment to reflect on his performance, the abilities he had showcased, and how far he had come. But in the back of his mind, he knew this victory was just a stepping stone. The real challenge lay ahead.

The tournament would only grow tougher, and he was determined to rise to the occasion. As he looked up at the sky, a sense of purpose filled him. "I won't let this be the peak. I'll keep pushing my limits until there's nothing left to surpass."

His resolve was stronger than ever. Kira understood that every victory brought him closer to his ultimate goal, but he also recognized that growth came from facing formidable opponents. With a fierce determination, he returned to his team, ready to prepare for the next match, where new challenges awaited them.

As the night fell, Team Z celebrated their victory but remained acutely aware that the tournament was far from over. With renewed spirits, they looked forward to their next challenge, knowing that with each game, they would grow stronger together.

For the first time in his life, Nagi felt a sense of unwillingness deep within his heart. The weight of failure rested heavily on him. It was an unfamiliar sensation, and naturally, it didn't feel good. The match against Kira had exposed his weaknesses, and the loss stung more than he had anticipated.

Yet, amidst the frustration, something new began to stir. Nagi's curiosity towards football was growing—slowly but surely. What Kira had said earlier kept replaying in his mind: "There's room for growth. You'll come back stronger next time."

Kira's confidence, his calculated movements, his ability to orchestrate the entire game… it fascinated Nagi. A spark lit within him—a desire to understand how Kira played the game so effortlessly. For the first time, he felt a hunger to push himself beyond his comfort zone, to explore what football could truly offer.

On the other side of the stadium, Team Z celebrated their victory with wild enthusiasm. The atmosphere in their dormitory was electric. Players ran through the halls, their voices mingling together in excited cheers.

"We're the first in the group!" "A perfect record—haven't lost a single game!"

Everyone's faces were filled with joy as they reveled in their accomplishments.

Isagi, however, couldn't help but reflect on the match. He had always admired Kira's talent, but now he was beginning to understand the depth of his tactical genius. Kira hadn't just played the game—he controlled it, as if he had orchestrated the entire flow from the very first whistle. Every player on Team Z had moved exactly as Kira had planned, cutting off Team V's chances while maximizing their own opportunities.

'Wait...' A realization hit Isagi, almost knocking the wind out of him. 'If Kira can use his vision to control the game like that, then I should be able to do the same!'

His eyes sharpened with new resolve. Isagi began analyzing his own movements, studying the way Kira commanded the team. He noticed how Kira's voice directed the others—how his instructions brought Bachira, Naruhaya, and the rest into precise positions, creating pathways for them to exploit.

'Instructions... I need to use my voice, too!'

Isagi positioned himself on the right side of the field, finding a small pocket of space. Before he could even shout for the ball, it was already coming toward him—delivered by none other than Bachira, who grinned mischievously, having spotted Isagi's movement.

'Of course... these guys already trust my positioning.'

As Isagi controlled the pass and moved forward, the stadium's intercom crackled to life, drawing everyone's attention. The results of the first selection were about to be announced.

"All matches for Wing 5 are now completed! The results of the first selection will now be announced."

A hush fell over the players, adrenaline still pumping from the match, now mixed with anticipation.

"The final results for the five-team round-robin tournament: Team Z and Team V have both advanced with all eleven players intact, with Team Z emerging as the reigning champions. Additionally, the top three scoring players from the disqualified teams are as follows: Raito Fuwa from Team W, Ikki Niko from Team Y, and Shoei Barou from Team X."

The scoreboard flashed, displaying the final standings. The faces of Fuwa, Niko, and Barou appeared on the screen, their determined expressions signaling survival, even as their teams had been eliminated.

"The aforementioned 25 players from Blue Lock Wing 5 have cleared the first round of selection!"

The announcement brought a sense of finality, a confirmation of what they had already known. But hearing it spoken aloud brought everything into sharp focus. Cheers erupted across the field, overwhelming with relief and triumph.

For Team Z, the victory was especially sweet. They had survived, they had conquered, and now stood as champions of their wing. Their journey was far from over, but this moment was one to savor.

Later that evening, Team Z gathered in the celebration room, where the table was loaded with food—an eclectic feast they had brought together. The smell of golden omelets, crispy gyoza, sizzling yakiniku, fresh salads, and thick steaks filled the air, making their mouths water. Laughter and cheers echoed as they allowed themselves to bask in their hard-earned triumph.

Imamura and Bachira engaged in a chaotic pillow fight, feathers flying everywhere as they wrestled for dominance. "Stop fooling around and help set up the feast!" Lemon barked, trying to bring some order to the madness.

"Yum!" Naruhaya grinned, already sneaking a piece of gyoza.

"Quit eating the food!" Gagamaru scolded, while Chigiri secretly sliced off a piece of sirloin steak.

As the team laughed and indulged, Ego Jinpachi observed from the control room, his analytical gaze fixed on Kira. "What a terrifying player... Kira's dominance is frightening," he mused. "He single-handedly tore apart Team V and led Team Z to victory."

Teieri Anri, standing beside Ego, couldn't help but feel a shiver run down her spine. "Yes... he's something else. His strength is overwhelming." Despite her professional demeanor, Anri couldn't ignore the strange attraction she felt toward Kira's brilliance. The power he wielded on the field—it was as thrilling as it was terrifying.

Ego pushed up his glasses. "He might just be capable of tearing apart the entire Blue Lock project if we're not careful."

As Kira sat at the celebration table, watching his teammates enjoy the fruits of their labor, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. But there was no time for complacency. The first selection was over, but the second was looming on the horizon.

And Kira knew—this was only the beginning.