New Team V

Kurona Pov :

Kurona stood across from Shiro, sweat dripping down his face. The sound of boots scuffing against the turf and the occasional clatter of the ball echoed through the training field. It was just the two of them, facing off in a relentless series of duels, with Shiro pushing him to his absolute limits.

Each duel began the same way—Shiro with the ball, Kurona tasked with stopping him. But what happened after that was far from predictable. Shiro's movements were sharp, unpredictable, and fluid. He shifted his body weight with ease, executing stepovers, roulettes, and feints that made Kurona's head spin. Every time Kurona thought he had him figured out, Shiro would pull off another trick, slipping past him as though he were nothing more than a stationary cone.

"Again," Shiro said after yet another successful maneuver, his voice calm but firm.

Kurona gritted his teeth, his legs burning from the constant sprints and lunges. His pride stung more than anything else. "This time, I'll stop you," he muttered, though deep down he wasn't sure how.

They reset. Shiro started again, his movements almost casual, yet there was a lethal precision to every touch of the ball. Kurona tried to stay low, his eyes fixed on the ball, but Shiro's feints drew his focus away. A quick elastico sent Shiro past him again, and the ball was in the makeshift goal before Kurona could react.

By the 15th duel, Kurona's frustration was bubbling over. He slammed his fist into the turf after another failed attempt. Shiro walked over and extended a hand to him. "Don't get emotional. Stay focused. Use your head, not just your body," Shiro advised, his tone almost teacher-like.

Kurona nodded and got back to his feet. He adjusted his stance, tried to anticipate Shiro's next move. And then, in the 21st duel, something clicked. Shiro started with his usual flair, attempting a roulette to get past him, but Kurona didn't bite. He kept his position, using his body to block the path. When Shiro tried to shift the ball to his left foot, Kurona lunged, timing his tackle perfectly. For the first time, he won the ball.

"Finally," Kurona gasped, clutching his knees as he caught his breath.

Shiro smirked. "Not bad. Now do it again, but faster."

The grueling training continued for the next three days. When they weren't locked in duels, they ran passing drills, refining their chemistry. Shiro's commands were precise, demanding Kurona adapt to every situation. Each pass, each move had to be perfect.

Meanwhile, the rest of Team V was spread across the field, trying to discover and refine their weapons. Some practiced shooting, others worked on dribbling or positioning, but it was clear that no one had the same intensity as Shiro and Kurona. The contrast was stark—where the rest of Team V was still searching for their identity, Shiro was forging Kurona into a stronger, more complete player.

By the end of the three days, Kurona's body was sore, but his confidence had grown. He knew he still had a long way to go, but with Shiro's relentless training, he was beginning to see progress. As they walked off the field after another exhausting session, Kurona couldn't help but glance at Shiro, a mix of admiration and determination in his eyes.

"I'll stop you more next time," he said.

Shiro just smirked, his eyes already focused on the horizon. "You'd better."

After an exhausting day of training, Kurona and Shiro trudged back to their shared room in Team V's dormitory. Kurona dropped onto his bed, his muscles aching and his mind replaying the countless duels they had fought that day. Shiro, however, showed no signs of slowing down. He grabbed his phone which he got back by using his 3 goals.

"We're not done yet," Shiro announced, swiping through videos on the screen.

Kurona groaned, turning his head to look at him. "More training? Seriously?"

Shiro glanced up, smirking. "Not training. Studying. If we want to improve, we need to learn from the best. Come here."

Reluctantly, Kurona dragged himself off the bed and joined Shiro. On the screen, Shiro had pulled up a series of clips featuring his own goals from past matches. He played the first clip—a goal where he had outmaneuvered three defenders with a dazzling sequence of dribbles before slotting the ball into the net.

"Watch this," Shiro said, pausing the video at key moments. "See how I used their momentum against them? I didn't just rely on speed or skill. I read their movements, predicted their reactions. That's what you need to do defensively—anticipate, not just react."

Kurona nodded, leaning in closer as the second clip played. This time, it was a counterattack where Shiro had held off a defender with his strength, turned sharply, and curled the ball into the top corner.

"And here," Shiro pointed out, "it's about timing. Notice how I waited until the defender overcommitted before making my move. In defense, you need the same patience. Wait for the attacker to show their hand before you commit."

The third clip was a free kick—Shiro's legendary strike from the Tokyo Youth Cup final. The ball curved beautifully past the wall and into the top corner.

Kurona raised an eyebrow. "I thought we were focusing on defense. What's this got to do with it?"

Shiro smirked. "Everything. You need to think like a striker to defend against one. Study how I create space, how I manipulate the defense. If you can understand that, you'll know how to stop it."

For the next hour, the two of them analyzed video after video. They didn't just focus on Shiro's highlights but also studied some of the best dribblers and defenders in the world. From Neymar's feints to Sergio Ramos's impeccable timing, they dissected every movement, every decision.

Kurona found himself engrossed despite his initial reluctance. As the hours passed, his respect for Shiro grew even more. It wasn't just Shiro's talent that set him apart; it was his relentless drive to improve and his willingness to share that knowledge with his teammates.

When they finally called it a night, Kurona flopped back onto his bed, his mind buzzing with new ideas. Shiro, still holding the phone, muttered, "Tomorrow, we'll put this into practice. Be ready."

Kurona closed his eyes, a small smile on his face. "Yeah. Let's do it."

2 Days Later

With only 10 hours left until Team V's match against Team Y, Shiro decided to break away from their relentless training schedule.

Dragging Kurona along, Shiro brought him to the empty training field.

Kurona looked puzzled as he scanned the familiar grounds. "What are we doing here? Shouldn't we be preparing for the match?"

Shiro smirked, spinning a ball on his finger. "We are. Just not in the way you think. Sometimes, you need to step back and just enjoy the game. No pressure. No survival. Just football."

Kurona blinked, still unsure. "Relax? On the training field? How does that even work?"

Shiro dropped the ball to the ground and nudged it toward Kurona with his foot. "Simple. No drills, no tactics. Just play."

Kurona hesitated, then smiled as he tapped the ball back. "You're serious? No insane challenges or last-minute strategies?"

"Completely serious," Shiro said, juggling the ball casually. "You're too tense, Kurona. If you go into the match like that, you'll crumble. Football isn't just about survival; it's about expression. Let's remind ourselves why we love this game."

What started as light passes quickly turned into a freestyle game of tricks and challenges. Shiro performed ridiculous moves—elaborate flicks, juggling with his knees, and even a rainbow flick over Kurona's head. Kurona, usually so serious and focused, found himself laughing as he tried to keep up, attempting his own tricks.

Shiro smiled as Kurona managed a decent roulette around him. "See? You're loosening up. That's the Kurona I want to see tonight."

As they continued, the tension of Blue Lock seemed to fade, replaced by the simple joy of playing football. The pressure, the stakes, and the rivalry melted away, leaving only two players rediscovering the game they loved.

After an hour, they sat on the grass, catching their breath. Kurona looked at Shiro, a newfound respect in his eyes. "I think I needed that. Thanks, Shiro."

Shiro leaned back, staring at the sky. "Don't mention it. Tomorrow, we'll step onto that pitch, not as desperate players trying to survive, but as strikers ready to prove ourselves. Remember that feeling, Kurona. It's what makes us dangerous."

Kurona nodded, his nerves easing as excitement for the match began to take over. "Let's do this."

As the hours ticked away, anticipation gave way to the match against Team Y. The stadium lights illuminated the pitch, and Team V walked out with a new air of confidence, a stark contrast to their disorganized debut. The tension that marked their first match against Team Z was nowhere to be found.

The whistle blew, and Team V began their assault. To everyone's surprise, the game wasn't the nail-biting spectacle of their first outing. Team Y struggled to keep up as Team V demonstrated a newfound cohesion born from their recent training sessions. The players moved as a unit, their understanding of one another's roles finally clicking into place.

Kurona and Shiro were at the heart of this transformation. Kurona, armed with sharper defensive skills and better chemistry with Shiro, became a pivotal link between defense and attack. Shiro, as always, was the unstoppable force leading the charge.

By the end of the first half, the score was already a crushing 6-0, with Shiro netting four goals and Kurona adding two. Shiro's relentless energy and dazzling footwork tore through Team Y's defense like paper, while Kurona's intelligent runs and precision finishing left the opposition helpless.

The second half was more of the same. Team V's midfielders and wingers, buoyed by their refined skills, fed the ball to their star duo with ease. Shiro continued his dominance, scoring two more breathtaking goals, including a stunning volley from a long pass. Kurona, not to be outdone, added two more goals to his tally, his newfound composure in front of goal shining through.

When the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read 10-0. It was a victory that sent shockwaves through Blue Lock, announcing Team V's arrival as a force to be reckoned with.

As the players walked off the pitch, Shiro and Kurona exchanged a brief glance. No words were needed; their performance spoke volumes. They had become the driving force behind Team V's resurgence.