Chapter 13: The Silence Before the Storm
Blue Lock – Building 5, Match 4
"The fourth match in Building 5 is about to begin. Both teams, prepare to enter."
Team Y Locker Room
"Everyone, just do your jobs!" Niko Ikki said firmly.
"Is it even possible? We're up against Yūshin Seiichi…" a teammate muttered weakly.
The crushing defeat from the last game had drained the fight out of Team Y. Despair clung to them like a second uniform.
"Trust Niko!" said Okawa Hibiki, clenching his fists. "If we lose again, it's over. Goodbye to the national team—goodbye to our careers."
"I don't want to quit football…"
"I don't want to lose…"
"I love this game…"
That sorrow slowly turned into fire.
"Everyone, we've studied Team Z's footage. If we can shut down Yūshin Seiichi, the rest are beatable. We can win!"
Niko Ikki stood tall, his voice unwavering.
"Let's crush Team Z! Let's go!"
"Crush Team Z!"
"Let's go!"
Team Z Locker Room
"Let's go, everyone! Let's secure our second win!"
"Woohoo~!"
Yūshin Seiichi watched his teammates celebrate with mild amusement. A smile crept to the edge of his lips.
Still evolving too slowly…
Looks like it's time to stir things up.
Stadium Tunnel
"They're here," Raichi Jingo muttered as Team Y stepped out in red kits.
"These guys look soft," Kunigami Rensuke said, hands behind his head. "No wonder they got clobbered 8–0 by Team V."
"Don't underestimate them," Gagamaru Gin warned. "Their top scorer, Okawa Hibiki, is deadly in front of goal."
Isagi Yoichi narrowed his eyes at Team Y.
They're desperate. Last in the rankings. That means they have nothing to lose—and everything to fight for.
That's when they're most dangerous.
"Let's go! We have to win this one!" Okawa shouted.
"Yeah!"
From across the field, Niko Ikki locked eyes on Yūshin Seiichi, stretching at the sideline.
This game, I'll make sure you do nothing—just with my eyes.
He raised an OK sign over his right eye and zeroed in on Seiichi.
Team Z Formation
"Alright, same plan. We start with the ball at Seiichi's feet, then we rotate forwards every ten minutes!"
"Yeah!"
The whistle blew.
"Go, Isagi!" Bachira Meguru grinned, tapping the ball to him.
"Right!"
Isagi surged into Team Y's half.
Let's win this one too!
Stick to the plan. Get the ball to Seiichi—he'll distribute. Simple.
But as soon as he crossed midfield—
"Huh?!"
Two Team Y defenders were already marking Seiichi tightly.
Seiichi couldn't even move, let alone receive the ball.
They've done their homework…
"Yo! Someone's pressing!" Kunigami warned.
"Oh—right!"
Isagi passed to Bachira.
"The genius is shut down, so this game's on us," Bachira said with a smirk, sticking out his tongue.
He burst forward with the ball, slipping past one defender.
So clean! So smooth!
Is that your weapon, Bachira? Isagi thought with admiration.
"Double-mark him! Stop the breakthrough!"
Two Team Y players closed in.
"Only two? That won't stop me," Bachira grinned.
Boom!
The third defender tackled him cleanly.
"There are three of us. We studied your dribbling patterns," Niko said coolly.
"Tch. Not bad, long-bangs."
Bachira jogged off to throw the ball in.
Even Bachira's dribbling got countered. And Seiichi… is sealed.
Isagi analyzed the field quietly.
Why did I assume we'd coast through?
They've studied all our tactics. All our weapons. And they're desperate enough to use it.
Ten Minutes In
"It's rotation time," Gagamaru said. "Let's shift."
"Push up the wing!"
Kunigami stopped the ball and shouted orders.
Team Z stretched out, pulling Team Y wide, creating space for Kunigami in the center.
His weapon—long-range left-footed shots.
They just needed to clear him a lane.
Isagi darted toward the touchline, drawing his defender away.
That's it. Let's go!
After several clean passes, the ball landed at Kunigami's feet—just outside the box.
Boom!
But two defenders leapt in to block.
The ball slammed into their bodies and bounced out.
What a block. Why aren't they attacking though?
Shouldn't a desperate team be pressing harder?
Isagi scanned the field.
Seiichi was still locked down by two defenders.
Okawa? Just standing alone up top…
Wait—
Boom!
Kunigami's shot was blocked again—and this time, the ball fell straight to Niko Ikki.
"No!" Isagi yelled. "They're setting up a counterattack! Everyone, mark Okawa!"
Too late.
Niko spotted the angle—
Bang!
A pinpoint long pass.
Okawa was already in motion.
He sprinted into the box.
One-on-one!
"Chigiri! Stop him!"
Isagi screamed.
Okawa trapped the ball and fired.
The shot brushed Iemon's fingers and ripped into the net.
Goal.
Team Y leads 1–0.
Team Y erupted in celebration.
"That's it! Beautiful!"
"What the hell was that?!" Raichi grabbed Chigiri's collar.
"Enough!" Isagi pulled him back. "We're not fighting teammates right now!"
"Tch—useless," Raichi muttered, shoving Chigiri aside.
Chigiri stared at the ground, fists clenched.
Isagi stepped forward.
"Listen up—Team Y's playing deep defense and countering through Okawa. But we still have hope!"
"How?! They've shut down Seiichi! We can't even pass to him!" Bachira said.
"It's simple," Kunigami said confidently. "Seiichi's locked down. So give the ball to me. I'll score."
"What? No, give it to me!" Raichi snapped.
"Me too!" Imamura shouted.
"Enough!!" Isagi raised his voice.
"We stick to the original plan. Rotate every ten minutes. Use our weapons. Trust the system."
"Fine…"
"Yeah, we can do this!"
"Come on, we're only one goal behind!"
Back on the Pitch
The second half began.
Bachira passed to Seiichi—but two defenders swarmed immediately.
He passed back to Isagi, who sent it to Kunigami.
Still no space. Team Y's defense was airtight.
"Damn it…"
Kunigami hesitated.
A second defender stole the ball cleanly.
"Fall back! Defend!" Isagi shouted.
But Team Y didn't push forward. They just passed around the backline.
They're stalling… wasting time!
Team Z pressed high—but it was no use.
The ball kept circulating. Possession stayed red.
Halftime – Team Z Locker Room
"What was that?! Get the damn ball!" Raichi roared.
"Why is it that during my 10 minutes, I barely touched the ball?!" Kunigami added, frustrated.
"Same here," Imamura pouted. "Barely had a chance."
"What do we do if we press and get countered again?" Chigiri murmured, still shaken.
Isagi stood, breathing hard.
There has to be a way…
We're only one goal down. We can still qualify. But losing like this—
He looked down at his clenched fist.
It's unbearable.
He turned toward Yūshin Seiichi, ready to ask for help.
But Seiichi sat still, a towel draped over his head—his posture slack, expression unreadable.
And for the first time—
Isagi froze.
Seiichi… is frustrated?
No… no way. He's the strongest among us.
You're not giving up… are you?
No. No chance.
But seeing that towel-covered face—
He couldn't speak.
The silence was deafening.
Seiichi remained still as his teammates argued behind him.
And then—
A small smirk crept beneath the towel.
A smile laced with something twisted.
Everything was going perfectly.
Let them struggle. Let them despair.
Because success isn't fun…
If all you ever are—is a spectator.