Chapter 28: Entering Another Bridge
Blue Lock Surveillance Room…
Ego Jinpachi sat upright in his chair, chin resting on his hands, eyes locked on the screen with fierce focus.
Standing behind him, Anri Teieri held her notebook, eyes wide with awe as she watched the ongoing match between Team Z and Team V.
"This is incredible, Ego-san! I really thought both teams would go easy, since they've already qualified," she exclaimed.
"After all, whether they win or lose now doesn't change the result, right? But this match—it's been amazing!"
"And everyone's getting stronger…"
Her voice trembled with excitement, as if she were seeing the future of Japanese football unfold before her eyes.
"Yeah," Ego nodded calmly, "it's intense."
"Neither team has lost so far, and both qualified with perfect records. That's exactly why they're going all out. This is pride on the line."
"It's like two Champions League finalists meeting. No one wants to be the one to fall. The winner becomes the king. The loser—forgotten."
Ego steepled his fingers, his eyes sharp behind his dark frames.
"In these top-level clashes, someone is always forced to evolve."
"The real match starts now."
Back on the field—Team V kickoff.
"Come on, everyone! It's just one goal!" Reo Mikage barked, rallying his team. "Nagi and I can tie it up in no time!"
This was the passion of players who truly loved the game.
That… was football.
But Nagi Seishiro was still dazed.
"Oi, Nagi!"
Reo sent the ball his way. Nagi snapped out of it just in time, tapped it to Zantetsu on the wing, and broke into a sprint toward Team Z's goal.
Let's tie this up. Or better—take the lead.
"We're flipping the score!" Zantetsu shouted, charging forward.
But Chigiri Hyōma was already in position.
"I'm stopping you here," Chigiri declared coldly, taking up a sharp defensive stance, not giving an inch.
"Tch. Too bad, Miss Red," Zantetsu replied with a smirk. "We're awakened geniuses now."
He faked a dribble to the right. Chigiri flinched.
Zantetsu instantly cut left and launched a long pass.
Boom!
Even though Chigiri reacted fast, the ball had already sailed past him.
"Nice one, Zantetsu . You saw it too."
"I'm betting it lands… here."
Nagi raced at full speed, eyes scanning the ball's arc.
Huh?
Again?
He sensed a familiar pressure trailing behind him—Isagi Yoichi.
He's here again? Was he predicting me?
Even his running line… is he reading where I'll control the ball?
Left? Right?
What do I do?
…I'll just respond instinctively.
The starry-blue fire in Nagi's eyes blazed as he slid beneath the ball. It dropped onto his back—a perfect trap.
Then, with a subtle shrug, he redirected the ball mid-run.
A back trap!
A skill move rarely used on this stage—Nagi made it look effortless.
"Shoot! He's in!" Isagi panicked.
But just as Nagi moved to control the next touch—
Bang!
A blur of light-blue hair cut in and tackled the ball away before Nagi could strike.
"What—!?"
Nagi stared in shock as Yūshin Seiichi intercepted him cleanly, then popped back up and passed to Bachira Meguru on the wing.
"Nice one, Seiichi!" Kunigami Rensuke cheered from midfield.
He read all that…?
Isagi's breath caught in his throat.
This guy… he saw what I saw.
No—he saw beyond it.
He even predicted my blind spot. He filled the final gap in the play.
He's… incredible.
But Isagi's eyes weren't filled with despair.
They blazed with pure fire.
Then let's go. Let's chase him again.
He sprinted forward toward Team V's half, no hesitation.
In the past, he couldn't even see Seiichi's back. Now—he could think just like him.
Maybe the gap was still there… but he could see the unreachable back.
"Don't let them pass!" Reo commanded.
Bachira was advancing fast. Two defenders rushed him.
"You two hogged all the spotlight. My turn now," Bachira grinned, his eyes wild.
His feet danced.
A blur of stepovers.
Then—Marseille Turn!
He twisted between defenders like wind slipping through cracks.
Then another dribble. A heel flick. The bull-tail flick.
He blew by another one.
His grin widened.
You watching, Isagi? Seiichi?
I'm not just a side character either.
Reo cursed under his breath and stepped up.
This dribbler… I can't trust anyone else. I'll stop him myself.
But Bachira noticed the space behind Reo had tightened.
Even if I get past him, the defense is too stacked. Time to pass.
He flicked his heel, back-passing to Seiichi behind him.
"Zantetsu !" Reo shouted.
"Yeah! Been waiting to face this guy!" Zantetsu intercepted.
But Seiichi didn't flinch.
He leaned left. Dropped his shoulder.
Zantetsu 's weight shifted.
But—
Seiichi instantly cut to the right.
"Don't underestimate me!" Zantetsu exploded forward, sticking a hand out to block him.
Seiichi's brows twitched slightly in approval.
Not bad.
But still too slow.
Without stopping, he launched a lob over the top.
"Where's it going!?" Zantetsu gasped.
Then he saw it—No. 11 from Team Z… Isagi.
Again.
He's there again!?
Of course. We read the same point, Seiichi.
Isagi's speed was relentless. Eyes locked on the ball. Head tilting to recalibrate.
So focused it felt like he and the ball were alone in the world.
"I won't let you score!"
A voice snapped through the air.
Nagi.
He was closing in like a shadow, sprinting at full speed.
If he jumps… he can steal it.
But—
Isagi leapt for a chest trap.
Nagi's foot was already up.
But—
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, genius…"
Isagi twisted midair and let the ball pass him.
"Huh!?"
From the left, a blur of red stormed in.
Chigiri.
"Nice pass, Isagi~ I'll ruffle your hair later."
Chigiri caught the ball mid-air with his right foot and, without pause, struck cleanly—
Boom!
The keeper had no chance.
Whistle!
Team Z 3 – Team V 1!
End of the first half.
"Nice one, Chigiri!"
Smack!
Isagi and Chigiri high-fived, exhilarated.
Their coordination felt unstoppable.
It was like they were… syncing with Seiichi.
This chemistry—it felt real.
Seiichi didn't celebrate.
He turned silently toward the tunnel.
But as he walked away—
A faint smile tugged at the edge of his lips.
He didn't need to say it.
He was enjoying this.