For Hirotoshi, this match was guaranteed to be profitable, with ticket sales alone bringing in a hefty sum.
Yet the real profit would come from the commercial opportunities that followed. With Sae Itoshi on the U20 team, he could participate in future domestic competitions — making it easy for Hirotoshi to monetize his influence.
This was his usual method: invest resources to create a soccer star, then capitalize on their commercial value.
Moreover, Hirotoshi was certain the Blue Lock players couldn't match the U20 team. Their inevitable defeat would give him grounds to end this foolish project. In his view, Jinpachi was simply throwing money away.
"I can hardly wait."
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In the stands.
Though the match hadn't started, the seats were nearly full with spectators discussing the upcoming game.
"What's the skill level of these Blue Lock players anyway? Haven't heard much about them."
"I heard that Ryōsuke Kira was recruited to be part of the U20 team."
"Ryōsuke Kira? That player from local tournaments? He's decent enough, but players like that are a dime a dozen in Japan. He can't possibly compare to Sae Itoshi."
For the spectators, neither Blue Lock nor Ryōsuke mattered — they only cared about Sae. Some even thought everyone else was just there to make him look good.
"Riko, you're not the one playing, why do you look so nervous?" Junpei asked, turning to her.
Today, the whole Seirin group had come to watch Ryōsuke's match.
"I-I'm not!" But Riko was clearly excited, her breathing quick as she held her phone, sending encouraging messages to Ryōsuke.
Deep down, she couldn't wait to see her boyfriend play. After all, she had never seen him in a match before.
"We're lucky Uncle Aida got us tickets. As high school students, we could never have afforded them otherwise." Teppei said with a smile, looking around.
Kagetora's seat was still empty.
"Where did Uncle Aida go?"
"He said he saw an old friend and went to chat with them." Riko answered.
"Oh? Uncle Aida's friend?"
"Yeah, I think they're a coach at some soccer club and used to be a professional player. I don't know much, but I think their surname is Fukuda."
{T/N: I really don't know who this guy is. I tried looking in several places but couldn't find who it was, not even with the sinogram (chinese character).}
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Meanwhile, the U20 team members had arrived in the locker room for their final match preparations.
Sae had finally joined his teammates, though he kept his distance — in his view, they weren't worth interacting with.
"Kira, facing your former teammates — nervous?" Oliver asked with a smile as he changed nearby.
"Not nervous — more excited, really." Ryōsuke replied while changing into his match jersey.
"What about them?"
"They're probably just as excited as I am." Ryōsuke answered with a smile.
He knew the Blue Lock players well — they weren't the type to back down from a challenge.
As Jinpachi had said, they might even create more miracles when facing off against him.
While chatting with his teammates, Ryōsuke checked his phone. Seeing Riko's encouraging messages brought a smile to his face.
He then opened his system interface.
— — — — — — — — — —
〚 Host: Ryōsuke Kira 〛
〚 Current Competition Points: 10 〛
〚 Demon Slayer Tree Skills: 〛
〚 Skill: Transparent World | Level: 2 | EXP: 11.3% 〛
〚 Thunder Breathing Tree Skills: 〛
〚 Skill: Thunder Breathing - Total Concentration | Level: 5 | Status: MAX 〛
〚 Skill: Thunder Breathing - First Form: Thunderclap and Flash | Level: 4 | EXP: 29.4% 〛
〚 Skill: Thunder Breathing - Second Form: Rice Spirit | Status: Upgradable | Level: 4 | EXP: 100% 〛
〚 Upgrade Cost: 200 Competition Points 〛
〚 Skill: Thunder Breathing - Third Form: Thunder Swarm | Status: Upgradable | Level: 3 | EXP: 100% 〛
〚 Upgrade Cost: 150 Competition Points 〛
〚 Skill: Thunder Breathing - Fourth Form: Distant Thunder | Level: 3 | EXP: 21.1% 〛
— — — — — — — — — —
Over these three weeks, Ryōsuke had trained relentlessly, steadily improving his abilities.
He had significantly increased his skill proficiencies and achieved the highest level — Level 5 — in Total Concentration Breathing, allowing him to maintain a state of Total Concentration: Constant.
Despite three weeks of training and earning daily Competition Points from exercise, his total points remained limited due to newly unlocked skills and Competition Space costs.
Following the principle of using the finest steel for the blade's edge, he chose to invest his points in upgrading Transparent World.
Though Transparent World's proficiency increased more slowly than other skills and required substantial points to upgrade, Ryōsuke knew the investment would pay off.
"Would the players please proceed to the corridor for standby."
At the announcement, he and his teammates left the locker room and headed to the standby corridor.
As Ryōsuke stepped out, he spotted another group approaching.
Deep blue jerseys. Blue Lock.
"Kira, long time no see!"
Yoichi and the others rushed forward to greet him.
"Yeah, it's been a while. Who would have thought we'd end up as opponents this time?" Ryōsuke smiled and high-fived them.
Though they were on different teams now, their friendship remained intact.
"Going up against Kira again, huh? But this time, we're definitely going to win!" Meguru said with a smile, hands behind his head.
"We will definitely win." Seishirō's gaze was intense, his usual lazy demeanor gone.
"Kira, let's have a fair and square match!" Rensuke smiled and fist-bumped with him.
"Sounds good, but I'll be giving it my all to win this match." Ryōsuke replied with a smile, looking at his former teammates.
Their eyes blazed with fighting spirit, showing no trace of fear. He noticed that Yoichi, once rather thin, had grown more muscular.
He could tell how hard they had trained during their time apart.
"So that's Ryōsuke Kira? Looks pretty ordinary."
Across the corridor, Tabito Karasu observed Ryōsuke from a distance. Having never faced him in a match before, they watched him with curiosity.
"This is going to be intense." Kenyū Yukimiya said with a confident smile, adjusting his glasses.
"We can't underestimate them." Eita Otoya said calmly.
"Man, they should've put me in from the start! I'm itching to get out there!" Ryūsei Shidō declared carelessly, dismissing their opponents.
Meanwhile, Rin stared intently at his brother, but Sae ignored him completely, walking straight to Ryōsuke's side.
"Time to get ready."
"Yeah." Ryōsuke nodded and rejoined his team to prepare for the entrance ceremony.
"Damn it..." Rin muttered, his anger flaring.
The two people he most wanted to defeat were now on the opposing team. This was his chance for revenge — a perfect opportunity to prove himself before tens of thousands of people!
He clenched his fists, focusing solely on defeating these two.
[Will both teams please enter the field.]
Still in the corridor, Ryōsuke could hear the stadium's roar as he followed his team through the gates. The moment they stepped onto the field, the crowd erupted. It was like entering another world — the deafening cheers crashed like thunder, while the stands sparkled with a rainbow of team colors.
"Sae! Sae!"
Even from this distance, the crowd's chants for Sae rang clear. To them, everyone else was merely a supporting actor.
Ryōsuke would change that.
Beyond the thunderous crowd, cameras clicked and flashed continuously. The match's viewership soared as online discussions exploded.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this highly anticipated nationwide match is before us. The stadium is packed — what are your thoughts, Mr. Natsuki?"
"This will be the match of a lifetime! How can I even describe this scene? Sae Itoshi is about to take the field! The whole world is watching!"
In the commentary booth, two announcers enthusiastically introduced the teams.
"The U20 team features many familiar faces — Oliver Aiku 'The Diamond', Jarei Mirea, Teppei Neru, Kazuma Niō… and newcomer Ryōsuke Kira. But most importantly, they have the world-renowned rising star Sae Itoshi!"
{T/N: The '…' its because he's citing all the other players.}
"Blue Lock's starting lineup includes Rin Itoshi, Gin Gagamaru, Ikki Niko, Jūbē Aryū, Meguru Bachira, Hyōma Chigiri, Tabito Karasu, Eita Otoya, Kenyū Yukimiya, Seishirō Nagi, and Yoichi Isagi. While these names may be unfamiliar to our audience, note that Rin Itoshi is Sae Itoshi's younger brother. With these brothers on opposite sides, we wonder: can Rin's abilities match his brother's?"
"The match is about to begin, with Blue Lock taking the kickoff. Spectators, get ready! This is going to be spectacular!"
The commentators' words electrified the stadium, unleashing another wave of thunderous cheers. Those who couldn't attend watched intently through TVs, computers, and phones, waiting for the match to begin.
Yoichi stood at the center of the field, drawing a deep breath. Never had he imagined standing on such a grand stage.
His heart raced — a whirlwind of nerves, excitement, and thrill coursing through him.
"How boring." Rin stepped behind him, delivering a firm pat to the back of his head, "What are you afraid of, idiot?"
"I'm just excited." Yoichi replied with a smile.
"This match… we'll win no matter what." Rin's expression hardened as he stared across the field.
Ryōsuke and Sae stood on the opposite side. He had to defeat them both.
At any cost.
"That's right, we must win." Yoichi answered, his determination matching Rin's.
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"So Kira's our opponent now." Rensuke mused from Blue Lock's bench.
"Better this way — we get our chance to defeat him. Plus, there's no shortage of people wanting payback." Reo said quietly, his eyes locked on Ryōsuke.
He yearned both to fight alongside Seishirō and to overcome Ryōsuke.
Behind them sat another player, fist clenched white-knuckled, veins prominent on his forehead. His fury at being benched was evident — no one's desire for revenge against Ryōsuke burned hotter.
Shōei Barō.
Meanwhile, Coach Jinpachi watched the field impassively.
"It's about to begin."
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The referee's whistle pierced the air, and the crowd's roar reached a fever pitch!
"Let's go!"
Blue Lock's kickoff was swift and decisive as they surged toward U20's half.
No holding back — they would give it everything they had!
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