Chapter 24: Early Preparations
Team V – Audiovisual Room
Mikage Reo, Nagi Seishiro, and Zantetsu Tsurugi sat cross-legged in front of a large screen, watching the match between Team Z and Team W.
"Reo, do we have to watch this? I'm so sleepy…" Nagi yawned, rubbing his eyes and leaning lazily against Reo.
"No way. Team Z is our final opponent. Even if we've already advanced, we agreed to finish with a perfect record," Reo said, gently ruffling Nagi's white hair. "And remember, they've got one of the Neon Twins—Yūshin Seiichi."
"Oh yeah, the guy with the pigtails, right?" Nagi recalled the loudmouthed player who talked big when they first entered Blue Lock.
"I think the Neon Twins aren't just talk," Zantetsu Tsurugi added, calmly pushing up his glasses.
Reo raised an eyebrow. "You've played against them before?"
"Not exactly," Zantetsu replied. "In my first year, my high school lost to a team called Sakamori in the prefectural finals. They went on to represent our region in the nationals."
He paused, the memory darkening his tone.
"Sakamori made it past the group stage, but in the knockout round… they faced Rikkai High School—the team of the Neon Twins."
Reo leaned forward, intrigued.
"I watched that match live. Rikkai destroyed Sakamori, 7-2. The Yūshin brothers scored every goal. Yūshin Zeya notched a hat trick, but the scariest one out there wasn't him—it was Yūshin Seiichi."
Zantetsu's eyes narrowed. "He puppeteered the midfield. Sakamori's defense couldn't even breathe. The rhythm of the whole match was under his spell."
Reo fell silent. This was the first time he'd seen Zantetsu so serious.
Still, he felt reassured by the presence of his "treasure" beside him.
"Anyway, let's focus on the game. They beat Team W with the same score we did. That means our strength levels might be closer than we thought."
…
The final ten minutes played out on screen. Seiichi scored twice and took control of the match.
Silence filled the room.
He was strong—unbelievably strong.
From spatial awareness to decision-making, everything was polished to near perfection.
Reo's brows furrowed. He couldn't lie—Seiichi was pressure.
And that was without even trying in the first half.
"Hey, Reo," Nagi said suddenly, voice sharper than before.
"Hm?"
"I want to beat that guy."
Reo turned in surprise.
Nagi's sleepy eyes were gone—wide open now, glowing with curiosity and hunger.
He leaned forward, arms crossed, locked on Seiichi's highlights.
Reo blinked. Nagi… was serious.
This wasn't the lazy genius he always knew.
It was a rival awakening.
"Alright then," Reo grinned. "Let's crush him. Together—we'll become the best in the world."
…
Team Z Dormitory
Yūshin Seiichi borrowed one point from Bachira Meguru and finally exchanged it for a mobile phone.
Sitting cross-legged, he powered it on.
Messages flooded in.
Zeya: "You there?"
2 days later…
Zeya: "You there?"
2 more days…
Zeya: "Did you get your phone?"
Another 3 days…
Zeya: "Did you get it, you dumbass?"
Zeya: "Stupid ***! Trash! Worthless ***! I'll kill you!"
Seiichi blinked.
"Yep. He missed me."
Grinning, he quickly typed back:
UltramanBeatsKaiju: "Got it. I'm such a good guy I spent all my points on steak for the team."
UltramanBeatsKaiju: "We advanced early. How about you?"
No reply yet.
Whatever. Chigiri said there was a pre-match strategy meeting organized by Imamura Yūdai.
Apparently, he had a knack for coaching.
…
Team Z Meeting Room
"For the final match against Team V, we're sticking with a 4-3-3 formation," Imamura began, drawing positions on the whiteboard.
"Everyone except me and Yūshin will rotate on the front line every 30 minutes."
"Are you sure?" Seiichi asked. "We've already qualified. You don't want to play at all?"
"Yeah! You've been in goal every match!" Kuon Wataru added.
Others chimed in, offering to rotate as keeper.
Imamura just shook his head. "I want us to win every match. If someone slips up out of position, it could cost us."
He smiled slightly. "So I'll stay in goal."
Seiichi nodded, understanding.
"The starting lineup is—
Striker: Kunigami Rensuke
Right Wing: Gagamaru Gin
Left Wing: Chigiri Hyōma
Attacking Mid: Yūshin Seiichi
Right Mid: Imamura Yūdai
Left Mid: Naruhaya Asahi
CBs: Isagi Yoichi and Raichi Jingo
LB: Kuon Wataru
RB: Bachira Meguru
Thirty-minute rotations!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Ahem—also, I've studied Team V's matches."
Imamura cleared his throat dramatically.
"They've scored 18 goals. We've scored 13. So they're top of the leaderboard right now."
"Their three key players: Mikage Reo (5 goals), Zantetsu Tsurugi (6), and their striker—Nagi Seishiro (7). He's the goal king of Building 5."
"Our job is to shut those three down."
"Then counter fast, and let the front line cook."
"No objections!"
"Alright. That's it."
…
Everyone left buzzing with energy—except Isagi Yoichi.
He stood silently at the back of the room, lost in thought.
Bachira noticed.
He'd felt it since the end of the last match.
Yoichi's spirit was dim.
He watched him closely.
Something had changed—and Bachira was determined to find out what.