Proyect: Bland King - Ayanokouji Kiyotaka en Blue Lock

Kiyotaka checked the ball and passed it left to Raichi who immediately sent it back to Kiyotaka.

Shido's bright smile emulated their natures, and he charged forward in anticipation of his genius' ultimate play.

Pablo, still annoyed at Kiyotaka, met him in the midfield.

Kiyotaka: Oh, it's the kid.

Pablo: Say that aga-

His eyes glared and scanned his surroundings. A single opening was all Kiyotaka could take advantage of and it would only be possible if he could... match Pablo's tempo.

With an explosion of speed to his right, Kiyotaka performed 5 stepovers and a short cut to the left side, reeling in Pablo closer still.

And now, forgoing the copy of Pablo's dribbling tempo, he performed a elastico followed by and roulette, completely bypassing the Freckled kid.

Kiyotaka: I said you were just a kid.

Raichi and Aryu followed suit as they both pressed forward on opposite routes. Loki took on the slender man and Adam Blake guarded shark teeth.

There was still one unaccounted for, the Scion himself.

Leonardo Luna: You're down a player essentially, so don't get mad over this 2v1, Ayanokouji-kun.

Meanwhile, once again, Dada Silva proceeded to rush and battle Shido for ground in the penalty box.

...

In sheer, brute force, a specimen like Silva had no equal and Shido finally grew to understand that crucial point.

So, instead of needlessly rambling into the penalty area without a plan, he had been watching every single move Kiyotaka had been making for the entire game. He was amazed at his composure and vast reservoir of soccer prowess.

And in each of his confrontations with Dada Silva, Shido saw something new that Kiyotaka implemented. In the first time, his shot was blocked so on the second attempt, Kiyotaka put more effect on the soccer ball to fool the troll.

In Kiyotaka's first goal, he was able to bypass Silva, not by matching the brute's strength, but by using their different frames to his advantage and thoroughly slither right past him like a snake.

This singular moment opened Shido's eyes to a solution and it was only when Kiyotaka used the same trick again but on defense, he finally found the troll's weakness: His speed.

Shido can win through allusivity rather than strength, something he never knew was possible. Another element to his game set itself in stone, like the final piece to a puzzle.

This.. was his plan.

...

While not even looking to Kiyotaka's onslaught through the midfield, Shido had charged Dada Silva for a 4th time in the game.

Dada Silva: Looks like you didn't learn your lesson already, string bean.

Shido: Just fuck off and witness my explosion, ogre.

He cut right but immediately felt like he just ran into a brick wall. But his tenacity knew no bounds. Instead of pushing forward, he lowered his body like a wrestler, and shoulder blocked his weak side.

Dada Silva merely pressed on with more strength, but it was too late. Shido peeled off the ogre and cut in the opposite direction, finally blitzing through the Brazilian.

All that existed for Shido, was the net.

Kiyotaka instantly took into account Shido's position and prepared to make the imaginary a reality.

Leonardo Luna: The only person who's a threat aside from you is Mr. Tan man. Can you really fit the ball right past me?

Kiyotaka didn't answer him, and instead, shoulder blocked Luna in place, waiting in anticipation for the perfect angle.

Finally, Shido reached his best position.

In a flash, Kiyotaka slithered around Luna and separated by a little less than a foot.

Luna extended his leg out to block the pass, but unbeknownst to him, the pass had already reached Shido's location. It was a pass so perfect, it almost appeared as a blip.

It had a perfect spiral, a perfect touch, and a trajectory no normal human being could even fathom would be possible.

And the only person to react to such a play... was Shido. The ball reappeared in his peripheral view and because of his world-class spatial awareness, the monster swiftly and soundly plucked the ball right from the air.

He extended his right leg and hit it with such velocity, the Blue Lock man stood motionless in the middle of the goal as the ball soared into the top right corner of the net.

Shido and Ayanokouji said no words during this exchange, nor did they have much in terms of thoughts. The only thing pondering in their minds at that moment... was the undeniable connection they shared that was able to stand toe-to-toe against the strongest of the sport.

Blue Lock [3] - World Five [4]

Kiyotaka had done it. He created a weapon that only he could use: a pass that could only be seen by its intended target.

A complete and utter... masterpiece.

...

...

...

Shido: Hm? Still with that cold face?

Kiyotaka: What are you talking about?

Shido looked on at Kiyotaka as he witnessed something incredible: a smile.

Kiyotaka: How could I not be excited with our connection? It's matured to an entirely different level.

Shido: Who knew all I had to do was ask you to send in a better pass and you'd just be able to do it on the fly? Should I bark orders to you like a dog so we can get shit done now?

Kiyotaka: Don't let it all go to your head. We're still not at their level. We've been merely taking them off guard with our improvement through the course of the game.

Patting Shido's head, Kiyotaka continued smiling and sighed slightly.

Kiyotaka: But in any case, thank you. If we continue like this, we'll be unstoppable.

Shido: Aw, Kiyo, you're getting all cute on me. Have I finally reached your cold heart?

Kiyotaka: I should have known gifting a dog with a bone will make it bark for a feast.

He stretched out his limbs walked away from Shido.

Shido: Huh?!

Igarashi attempted to come up the field along with Aryu and Raichi to relish in their goal, but he was effectively ignored by Kiyotaka.

Now infuriated, Igarashi grabbed Kiyotaka's shirt and yanked him.

As if possessed by a demon, Shido glided through the air with a flashy right javelin kick headshot on Igarashi.

From sheer instinct, Kiyotaka moved left so quickly, that it dragged Igarashi away from a fatal demise.

Speaker: Yellow card, Blue Lock player: Shido Ryussei

Shido: Tsk, why did you move, Kiyo? Ya saved the little runt who still got his hands on you.

With his eyes, Kiyotaka told Shido to calm down, as Igarashi, unable to process what happened, continued his spiel.

Igarashi: Are you really going to just ignore me for the rest of the game because I thought we couldn't win?

Kiyotaka: No.

Staring down at Igarashi, Kiyotaka seemed to tower over the monk.

Kiyotaka: I'm ignoring you because you're no longer a part of the team. Why should I pay attention to a spectator? If you want to prove some worth, you could cheer.

Igarashi: I'll show you what a spectator can do!

Speaker: Yellow card, Blue Lock player: Igarashi Gurimu

With that warning, Igarashi let go of his jersey and stood in place. Kiyotaka didn't so much as lift a hand, and instead, went over to speak with Raichi and Aryu.

Kiyotaka: You two are going to stay in the back. We can't afford to let another goal through. Shido and I will defend from the midfield and drop down to the wings if we need to.

Raichi: Ya think I'm gonna let that tool past me again? I'm not gonna be the reason we lose this damn match! Count on it, monster.

Aryu: I've already embarrassed myself for far too long. It's time I earn my keep.

As if summoned by Kiyotaka, Shido teleported behind him and rested his head on the masterpiece's shoulder.

Shido: Hey, don't leave me out of this little pep talk, hehehe.

Kiyotaka: There's nothing left to discuss. Just defend and counterattack. With a third goal now, whatever arrogance they still had, has been completely eradicated. We'll now witness the true power of the World Five.

The glares from all five players reflected the same sentiment. It wasn't an easy money grab. This match was a war from the start.

Adam Blake started with the ball in midfield, and pushed forward. Shido took the initiative on the Englishman.

Adam Blake: We let you kids have fun. Now it's time for the adults to get theirs.

His physical body had just too much power wrapped in a medium-sized frame, that Shido was shrugged off easily.

In an instant, he sent a long pass all the way to the right corner of Blue Lock's side of the goal. The pass was perfectly controlled by... Loki.

Kiyotaka had anticipated this and had already arrived at Loki's destination before he began his cut.

Loki: You have no openings to pick apart, well aside from this one.

He sent a pass to an open pocket of space filled up by Leonardo Luna.

Loki accelerated to his top speed, his transcendent God-given speed, and passed Kiyotaka from his left side. Despite the growth Ayanokouji showed, there was something Loki had been able to exploit in their final exchange, something the masterpiece still had to overcome.

Loki: Your play has a single weakness I can think of, but telling you that won't make you a better player, right Kiyotaka?

The god-sprinter opened 3 feet of space between Kiyotaka and himself. Raichi and Aryu attempted to cover the center against Loki but in a mere second, he was already past the two.

Leonardo Luna, without controlling the ball, sent a beautiful pass inside the penalty area.

Kiyotaka wasn't a slouch. He continued to follow Loki and ran in order to intercept the lob pass.

But it was too late.

Loki positioned himself and hit the ball with his head, chipping the Blue lock man, the ball going cleanly through the net.

Blue Lock [3] - World Five [5]

Speaker: The match is over. Final score: Blue Lock [3] - World Five [5].

Kiyotaka: So this is the World Level. It's incredible.

Shido sluggishly walked over, annoyed.

Shido: Ah, I really wanted that match to go on for another hour at least... That pass of yours lit my whole world up.

Kiyotaka: Well, it doesn't matter. We lost.

Shido: Eh, but you're not as angry as I thought you were gonna be. Ah! Ya got a bit excited that you finally lost in something you gave your all in, right?

Kiyotaka: I'm not going to give you the satisfaction of answering that question.

Shido ruffled Kiyotaka's hair.

Shido: I don't need you to. I know I'm right, hehehe.

Aryu, Raichi, and Igarashi came over to Shido and Kiyotaka. Raichi and Aryu were annoyed to say the least. They wanted to win the match just as bad as Shido and Kiyotaka but finally relented and gave it up to the pros.

The World Five came over towards Kiyotaka's team.

Dada Silva: Not bad for a bunch of japs, hahaha. Be seeing ya, you slithery fucks.

Adam Blake: You know you weren't meant to win the match right? That much was made clear. But even so, I didn't think it'd get that intense. Thanks for the workout.

Pablo Cavasos went over to Kiyotaka and stuck out his tongue but gives him a thumbs up.

Pablo Cavasos: I may have been too harsh. Maybe Japan has something more to it than Harujuka.

Leonardo Luna: You two have really good, raw talent. I'll be watching closely to see what you two become.

He shook our hands and left along with the other members aside from Loki.

Loki: Work on your weakness and improve as a player. I have high hopes for the two of you. Thank you for a great match.

He held out his hand and Kiyotaka shook it. Shido didn't accept it until Loki forcibly shook it to Shido's surprise.

Loki: We've got some good things to report to Ego. Go get some rest you guys.

Loki soon left and the only people that remained were the five members of Kiyotaka's team.

Ego popped up on the giant screen and gave them a standing ovation: a single clap.

Ego: You all didn't do as bad as I thought you would. I knew you'd fail but that was the point. If you thought you were on the same level as the best soccer players in the world, would you hold the desperation needed to improve?

Kiyotaka: N-

Ego: No! Exactly. Today, you all got an ego check. Now you know what kind of monsters are out there. Now the question is? Are you going to accept your uselessness?

His finger seemed to throw a dagger right through Igarashi's chest.

Ego: Or will you strive to devour the ones responsible for this agonizing defeat? That is what I'm looking for in a striker: Your evolution. Which is why, you're going to improve in your mental capacities for the next week. Enjoy your little reprieve. Blue Lock has yet to reach its most crucial stage.

The screen turned off and the group of five left the room and went onto their dorm after eating in the cafeteria. Igarashi became an outcast of the group, leaving him to sit in a separate table and moving a bed across the room.

...

...

...

Inside Ego's observatory room, he began feasting on his ramen while Anri-chan kept prodding him with questions.

Anri-chan: What the hell kind of combination does Shido and Kiyotaka even have? How did they score 3 goals against the world five? And what's this weakness that Loki was talking about.

Ego: Shut up, Anri-chan. How can you expect an answer when you're not going to give me time to answer? That's a real bad habit you have.

This irritated her.

Ego smiled.

Ego: To answer your first question, I'm not so sure.

Anri-chan: Eh?

Ego: I would've never thought the two would share such a great bond with one another that their chemical reaction is already at the World Stage level. Kiyotaka's unlimited potential and perfection in everything he does entranced Shido, and his unique ability and build entranced Kiyotaka into taking a liking to him. The two's bond is akin to players who've played together for years. It's incredible.

Anri-chan: That final pass Kiyotaka sent through, were you even able to see it?

Ego: I was able to grasp a bit of it but it was hit with so much power and technique, all that can be registered by normal human eyes, is a blur. And then when it reaches its target, the ball seems to lose speed, allowing Shido to smash it right through the net. It's almost unfair how far their chemical reaction has reached.

Ego slurped another few noodles into his mouth.

Ego: And my answer to your first question answers your second one. There's no need to ask redundant questions.

Anri-chan: Then what about Kiyotaka's weakness?

At this, Ego finished his ramen and stood up.

Ego: That is a very simple question to answer. He has two in my opinion but the second one can be fixed in due time. The first one however needs to change, and that is his dependence of Shido.

Anri-chan: Hm?

Ego: Kiyotaka's growth has been nothing short of superhuman. For a man who didn't even know how to dribble, properly shoot, defend, or even the general schemes of soccer, he's now become his very own one man army, boasting an arsenal of weapons all completely mastered.

Anri-chan: So how does that play into-

Ego: His view to Shido is not that of a tool any longer. Instead, it's more akin to an actual relationship. The two know each other's thoughts and exactly what the other wants. Now this is all and good, except in the realm of strikers. Kiyotaka decided to take a back seat to Shido in order to use his abilities. His reliance on Shido can't be underestimated and the same can be said with Shido's reliance of Kiyotaka. Let me ask you a question: If I were to break the two apart in the remainder of the 3rd selection, do you think their motivations would take a hit?

Anri-chan: I'm... not sure...

Ego: What the two were able to accomplish together is something considerable to the effects of a powerful drug.

He twiddled his fingers around.

Ego: It entrances you and sets that as your standard. Once you no longer can satiate that 'itch', desperation comes to play, and not the desperation I am looking for. The beauty of their chemical reaction has been a blessing and a curse. They set the standard so high, they won't be satisfied with mere normal passes. And with Kiyotaka's motivations for soccer being closely linked with Shido's, it would make sense to see a lack of effort from him in the near future. What Kiyotaka needs, is to find motivation from soccer on his own, discounting Shido. Then and only then, can his true flow be unleashed.