50. U-20, BEGIN!

note: chapter 50! this feels like it took no time whatsoever (50 chaps in 3 months. approx. 2k words per chap. that's 100k words ummm i actually need to touch grass dudee)

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THE

ball is started in Rin's hands, and quickly passed over to Isagi. The striker runs forward, but is immediately met with Itoshi Sae, so he has no choice but to pass over to the main striker of this match—back to Rin. Rin then utilises the triangle formation that has been planned out by Nagi and Isagi, passing back and forth between each other.

Both Bachira and Chigiri—who were placed at the back—run down the field to make themselves available to be passed to—a strategy that had been explained by Ego during your time away. 

For Karasu to fall back as a defensive midfielder when we're on the offensive side, and for Chigiri and Bachira to run up to make themselves available to score... A play only capable because of the fact they're all strikers.

Isagi looks around, after being met with Sendou, for the best possible option to pass. His eyes meet that of bright, golden yellow—and he passes the ball over to Bachira. Catching it with simple ease, he's quickly met with the tired face of Hayate Haru.

However, Bachira being the sneaky dribbler he is—already thought of a plan to get past Hayate with rush turns and twists behind him—leaving him in his dust. Bachira looks around when he's stopped in his tracks by Neru—observing the field around him for the best option. It could only ever be one person.

Isagi...

The ball flies up into the air and Isagi runs for it—it really looks like he's going to receive it perfectly—when it's caught with an incredibly high header, falling out of bounds—by Oliver Aiku. Your jaw positively drops when you see how high he was able to leap, and how he lands on the ground like it was no big deal.

His defence is no joke. You knew this already, just from watching their training camp, but seeing it in a real game like this made it all the more incredible. He saw everything perfectly and swooped in at the most crucial moment—wasting not a second of his time.

The crowd chants his name as he stands up—with a smirk too cocky—staring directly at Isagi. It sends shivers flitting down your nerves. 

Chigiri picks up the throw-in, and Isagi catches it with ease. Running down the side-line, without their star speedster in play at this moment—there can only be one other person who can disappear and blend into the crowd. 

Otoya rushes down—but his path is somehow seen, predicted, and blocked by Darai Miroku. Otoya tries to slink past like he always does, but Darai sees all his movements and locks down all the movements Otoya tries to make. It's almost pitiful, watching it, but Isagi quickly moves on to the next option he has.

Yukimiya receives the ball and smiles, even though he's quickly met with the cute face of Neru Teppei. The one-on-one emperor himself isn't even able to get past the blocky, yet speedy defender, running right beside him like it were no issue whatsoever. Yukimiya tries to dribble past him, but to no avail—Neru kicks the ball away.

Even Yukki, who's invincible in a one-on-one situation... is unable to get past the defender.

The anxiety bubbles back up within your chest.

You can hardly hear—but you think Isagi calls out for the loose ball. Nagi receives it and cradles it within the dip between his foot and ankle—looking over his shoulder to turn, when he's met with the angry face of Niou Kazuma, pressed right up against him with no way of turning.

From underneath Nagi's foot, like it was planned, Aiku swoops down and collects the ball, rushing forward without so much of a second thought and kicking it away, down the field. It bounces down the field and flies right past all the Blue Lockers put on the offensive side—down to the clutches of the one you wished it would travel to the least.

"And the ball goes to..." The announcer's voice rings out into your ears, louder than any cheer of the crowd. "ITOSHI SAE!"

Itoshi Sae runs down the midfield, met with Chigiri. He stops, suddenly and abruptly, and without giving Chigiri a moment to think, sends the ball flying past the redhead and towards Chou Kento, one of the forwards.

Over 50 metres long, long distance pass at low-medium speed... Sae really is incredible, you think, in awe.

Chou doesn't seem to want to even try to get past Aryu, so he sends it over to Kitsunezato Teru, another forward, instead. Met with another animal—Karasu, Kitsunezato passes the ball back to Sae, who's positioned perfectly in front of the goal. You're not surprised Niko realises this so quickly, with his incredible vision, and blocks the pathway that would lead to such an easy shot.

It's clear he's not trying to completely stop him—only stall him for time, for Chigiri to come back and surround Sae completely. This plan is flawless—absolutely perfect—or, it would've been if Sae had even been intending to score in the first place.

With the tip of his shoe, he sends the ball peddling between the gap of Niko and Chigiri, towards the ace—Sendou. Sendou catches it, in a perfectly open place near the goal—he slams his foot into the ball and kicks it. Gagamaru is quick—reflexes are incredible—and he acts on pure instinct. 

He uses his hand to rebound the ball off the goalpost before it makes its way inside, the ball flying to the left of the field—just so happening to be where Sae stands. He rushes towards the ball, ending up in an odd angle near the goal, and you think to yourself that there's no way he'll even try to send it in.

But of course, once again, you're proven wrong. Even in such an uncomfortable position, Sae still shoots the ball into the net, over Gagamaru's fingers and scores a jaw-dropping goal that causes the crowd to erupt in molten screams that burn your ears.

There's no doubt about it—the lead actor in this game was destined to be Itoshi Sae. Nobody is even looking at all of us.

His temporary teammates all rush up to hug him, but he doesn't let a single one even give him a high-five, much less a friendly pat on the shoulder—willingly separating himself from the rest of the team, in such an obvious fashion it makes you cringe.

Anri looks all nervous and fidgety from where she sits, tablet held tightly within her grasp, "The plays they practised in the training camp aren't working at all... Are they going to be okay, Ego-san?"

Ego lolls his head back into the chair and shrugs carelessly, "Eh, didn't expect any better." Anri lets out a gasp of surprise at his nonchalant tone. "Well, practice is just practice, Anri-chan."

You huff under your breath, Could've sounded a little less like you didn't give a fuck. But you know when to hold your tongue, so you don't speak.

"When you're practising, all you're really doing is demonstrating your technical skills in a no-stress environment. You see, it happens in all fields of performance. There are people who perform well in practice... but fall short when it comes to the real thing."

With Ego's explanation, Anri seems to understand what he's trying to say, "Oh, I think I've experienced that for myself. Like messing up at a piano recital."

"Yep," he nods, elbow resting on his knee, and hand holding his chin up high, "The decisive difference between practice and the real deal... is the presence of stress. The setting. Your opponent. Your body condition. Changes in your mental state. Your muscles tensing up. Your thoughts coming to a stop. When it comes to the real deal, there are plenty of factors that can lead you to a downward spiral. Nothing goes like in practice. And the only way to overcome that stress... is by improvising."

Anri looks at Ego like he'd just killed someone—eyes wide in shock and lips parted akin to that of a fish, "Huh?! So you're not going to give them any directions?! If we don't do anything at this rate, they'll..."

Ego sends her a sharp glare, bright lights reflecting off his glasses and whitening his lens' so you can't see his eyes. You've never seen him make a face like this before. "Just shut up and trust in them. When it comes to the real deal... our egoists always deliver."

You can't say you disagree with him. Despite how much contempt you hold for the man sitting next to you—he's right. They've never once failed you, or your expectations, so there's no reason for you to not believe in them, and their power to change this game for the better.

The whistle chirps, drawing your attention back to the game—Isagi and Rin do not waste a single moment running down the midfield and trading passes with each other. Done with the triangle, since they already figured it out, you think, as they maneuver around the U-20's defensive mid-fielders.

Drawing them away so they can easily pass to Bachira—and so both of them have a wide-open spot in front of the goal, it's a perfect plan. Isagi is immediately pressed by Aiku—but Rin is left wide open, easily slipping past Niou and seems to have the perfect angle for a goal.

However—he quickly moves himself away, to the side—a move that confuses you and makes you squint at his actions. He's making his angle worse... and he's winding up with the wrong leg... You gasp audibly, which makes Anri look at you in surprise.

"He's copying Sae's goal," you blink in disbelief, lips parted and eye twitching. You're kidding me. With all these detriments to his shooting, it's no surprise the U-20's goalkeeper blocks the shot. It bounces off the post and thankfully falls into the clutches of Yukimiya.

You smile, That's good. 

Yukki dribbles forward but is blocked by Neru. A formation that's been readily established in practice—where Isagi gets into Yukimiya's visible range for the possibility of receiving a pass—it's played out here, confusing Neru and allowing Yukki to get past, and slam his foot into the ball for a goal.

It would've been a goal—had it not been for Aiku pulling off a wild move, jumping up and raising his leg to block it with his foot. It blasts towards Darai, and by extension, Otoya, who runs up from behind him the moment Darai's eyes leave the ninja. He takes advantage of people's eyes and body movements... I'd hate to be the one who has to mark him.

Otoya makes another attempt to score—but this time, it's blocked by Niou's head, and it rebounds over Nagi's way. He makes it look like he's going to take the shot immediately after trapping the ball—but of course, he fakes multiple defenders out—the fodder falls to the floor and he jumps up, taking the ball with him.

In a beautifully precise shot, high in the air—Nagi scores Blue Lock's first goal, and he tumbles to the ground. When the whistle chirps, the crowd erupts into mountainous cheers. Nagi sits, cross-legged on the ground and raises his fist up—the only thing you can see when you look at him is truly an incredible player.

Nagi... You're so amazing.

You look at Ego's blank expression—despite the super goal—and you feel your cheeks burn, but you silently clap for him, too.

The way Isagi and Chigiri tackle him—you're sure if you were there, you would've done so as well.

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note: the next two (?) chapters are pretty boring just like the u-20 game so I'll release them as fast as possible so i can get onto the REAL juicy stuff. the next few chaps took a lot out of me (in a good way like i teared up writing them in a good way)

chap 54 goes CRAZY hard you guys u gotta watch out for it hehehe

also im getting better now!! a lot less sick!! my nose isn't running anymore my voice is just kind of stuffy n all thank you guys for caring abt me tho it means sm :( <3