Chapter 4 – Team Z

Over the next two days, Team Z was relentlessly put through a series of physical tests in Blue Lock. The schedule was precise, programmed down to the minute, leaving no room for rest or error. Strength, kicking power, speed, flexibility, agility, sprints, stamina, and jumping—every test was designed to push their bodies to the limit and draw out their full potential.

"Isagi! Imamura! You two are too weak! You think you can become the world's best striker like that?!" barked Raichi Jingo, a tall young man with a muscular build. His pale blonde hair was flat, and his amber eyes flashed with irritation as he shouted at his teammates. His booming voice echoed in the training room as he singled out the weaker performers.

Among Team Z, there were already players standing out in certain aspects of their physicality. Raichi Jingo dominated in stamina, Kunigami Rensuke in kicking power, and Wataru Kuon in jumping ability. Their talents were undeniable, and their performances impressed even the most skeptical of the group.

Surrounded by all this raw potential, Kira couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. His mind raced with ideas, imagining all the strategies, tactics, and teamwork that could be developed. There were endless possibilities for how this group could be shaped and refined.

But a concern lingered in Kira's mind as he watched the physical tests continue. 'These tests won't reveal everything,' he thought, his brow furrowed in contemplation. 'A new team always comes with new problems.'

Kira knew that for Team Z to function properly, they needed to establish order. The physical skills of the players were important, but they weren't everything. 'We need to figure out a pecking order,' Kira mused, his confidence unwavering. 'Well, a pecking order after me, that is.'

His eyes scanned the room as his teammates pushed their limits, each one striving to prove themselves. The real challenge, Kira knew, would be in harnessing their individual strengths and making them work together—whether they liked it or not.

Finishing his core strength training, Kira wiped the sweat from his forehead as he left the training room. His muscles ached, but he moved with purpose. Before heading to the showers, he stopped at a terminal embedded in the wall. He pressed a button on the touch screen, causing it to light up.

"Ego-san, I have a request," Kira said, his tone calm but serious.

.

The next day

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"What kind of training do you have today?" Isagi asked, glancing at his teammate Imamura as they sat in the locker room. Another day full of training is ahead of them as they changed clothes to their uniform.

"Leg training, ugh, I hate leg day," Imamura groaned. "What about you, Isagi?"

"Stamina and endurance again," Isagi muttered, looking a little embarrassed. "I keep being the first one to stop." His performance in the physical tests had been disappointing, with his scores ranking among the lowest in Team Z. And ever since Igarashi was eliminated, Isagi had fallen to last place in Blue Lock's rankings. The weight of being the lowest ranked player left him feeling depressed.

'Everyone is so much better than me. At this rate, I'll definitely drop out... and I'm eating nothing but natto,' Isagi lamented internally, the thought only adding to his frustration. Ever since the entrance test, he had been jittery and anxious. Kira's words kept echoing in his mind—harsh, direct, but filled with a sense of truth that rattled him.

'What did Kira mean when he said Igarashi's football had nothing at stake? Doesn't everyone have dreams and aspirations?' Isagi pondered, replaying the scene over and over in his head. 'Or is there something more to it?'

Isagi clenched his fists, determination rising within him. 'In any case, I can't just sit still! I'll give it my all in today's training too!'

Suddenly, the intercom in Room Z crackled to life, and Ego's voice echoed through the space.

"Team Z, come to your Football Field. There is special training for you, in addition to your usual schedule," Ego announced, his tone as cold and commanding as ever.

Just as abruptly, the intercom fell silent.

"That's it?! Hey, what kind of training is it?" Raichi barked, his frustration evident.

"What do you think it is?" Wataru Kuon, tall with slanted red eyes and dark brown chin-length hair, asked Iemon, his curiosity piqued.

Okuhito Iemon, who had medium-length gray hair shaved on the sides and a short stubble that made him appear older than he was, shrugged. "I don't know. This training isn't on the schedule," he replied, sounding a bit confused.

"Whatever it is, we won't figure it out by staying here," Kunigami said, already heading for the door, his mind made up to see what this "special training" was.

"Wait for us, man," Asahi Naruhaya called out, the short blonde player with fluffy hair rushing to follow Kunigami, his small build making him quick but not fast enough to keep up with Kunigami's strides.

One by one, the rest of Team Z followed Kunigami's lead, leaving the room and heading toward the pitch.

Isagi, lagging behind the group, couldn't shake a nagging feeling. Something felt off. He looked around, scanning the room, before realization struck him. 'Where's Kira?' he thought, his brow furrowing in confusion.

.

.

Soon, the team arrived, but Isagi's concern about Kira gnawed at him. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Glancing around, he saw no sign of Kira and decided to speak up.

"Come on, guys. Kira's not with us. Shouldn't we try to find him?" Isagi urged, hoping someone would join him in the search.

Kuon shrugged, seeming indifferent. "Well, we should, but he's probably in the toilet or something," he replied, clearly reluctant to make any effort.

"Who cares about him? We've got this special training for ourselves!" Raichi added with a dismissive wave. He shot a glance at Isagi. "You go find him since you're too weak for extra training anyway."

Ignoring Raichi's insult, Isagi looked across the field, his eyes scanning for any sign of Kira. Then, out of nowhere, he spotted him standing in the middle of the field. Kira was clad in his Blue Lock uniform, casually holding a ball under his feet. He had a pair of gloves—one tucked under his arm, the other he was trying to put on.

"Over here, guys," Kira called out, beckoning the team over.

"Yahoo! Kira!" Bachira shouted with a grin as he ran ahead, attempting to jump onto Kira's back. Kira dodged swiftly, moving with ease as he finished putting on both gloves.

"You're already here. Does that mean you already know what our special training is?" Kunigami asked, stepping forward as the rest of the team gathered around.

Kira looked puzzled. "Special training?" he echoed, clearly confused.

"Yeah, Ego-san said we're having special training here," Kuon chimed in, filling in the details.

Kira scratched the back of his head, a slight smirk forming. "I don't know anything about special training. But I did ask Ego-san to gather you all here."

The team's faces lit up with surprise. "What?!" they exclaimed in unison, shock evident in their voices.

Kira, with his foot still resting on the ball, leaned forward, his elbows propped on his knees as he looked directly at the crowd. His gaze was intense, a spark of competitiveness in his eyes. The team sensed something was about to happen, something bigger than what they had expected.

"Let's play a game," Kira announced, his voice steady and commanding. "The winner becomes the core of the team and can decide how the team will play around them."