As soon as Rin Itoshi shouted, he lunged in to steal the ball—but Sae Itoshi was already prepared.
He lowered his center of gravity, then used his shoulder skillfully to block Rin’s next move.
With his left foot, he shifted the ball out of Rin’s tackling range and spun sharply.
From afar, Yoichi Isagi watched in awe:
(Sae Itoshi… what incredible shoulder positioning!!)
(Using Rin’s tackle to spin on the spot—block & pivot!!)
(No… Rin predicted this too——)
(He’s forcing himself to keep up!! Push and pull!!)
Just as Isagi thought, Rin Itoshi caught up with Sae again.
But this ti, Sae chose to pull away and widen the distance.
“If you’re still going to act like this—clinging to the role of my little brother—”
As Sae spoke, his footwork sped up. The mont Rin’s movent stalled—
Sae executed a nutg, flicking the ball right through Rin’s legs, leaving him stunned.
“—then you’ll never surpass .”
Sae’s declaration ignited the entire stadium into chaos.
“He got past him!! Sae Itoshi breaks through the midfield!!”
“Round one of the sibling showdown goes to the big brother!!”
Among Blue Lock’s backline, Tabito Karasu clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“Tch! Just beat him already, you idiot.”
“You dumb lash fairy!”
On the other side, Jyubei Aryu ignored Karasu’s complaints. He focused on the opponents charging in.
“They’re coming! They’ll swarm us!”
“Stay alert, Ikki Niko!” Karasu retreated, lining up parallel with Jyubei Aryu and Ikki Niko.
“Yes!”
Ikki Niko watched the U-20 attackers push toward the goal. His mind drifted back to his conversation with Jinpachi Ego.
【Jinpachi Ego: “Ikki Niko, do you know why, despite your ‘average’ height and speed, you were chosen as a starting center back?”】
【Ikki Niko: “Because of my vision?”】
【Jinpachi Ego: “Correct. Your ability to read the field with exceptional clarity will beco Blue Lock’s greatest watchtower—”】
Niko’s field of vision sharpened. Every dangerous opponent stood out clearly.
(I must detect all the players trying to link up with Sae Itoshi!!)
(Not the ball carrier—but the ones nearby, ready to strike)
(Quickly and precisely eliminate the most dangerous intruder——)
(Neutralize them!!)
At the sa ti, Sae Itoshi slipped past Karasu’s block and sent the ball forward.
Niko was about to rush toward Shuto Sendo—when sothing blurred across his peripheral vision.
(Not Shuto Sendo—it’s Ryūma!!)
(Too close! He stayed motionless this whole ti—no way to read his intentions. He only moved once Sae passed.)
(Only soone with speed like his could pull this off…)
(But in that case—you won’t be shooting!)
Niko changed direction instantly, sprinting toward Ryūma—the ball’s landing point.
But as he neared it, sothing felt wrong.
(Wait—hold on!)
(This is a back-spin pass… easier to trap. But it’s slowing down?!)
(A pass soft as velvet!! Even at full speed…)
(I’ll still be half a step short!! This is a trap.)
(A trap set by Sae—to lure out, break our shape, and let the forward bypass with a simple touch——)
(Charging in ans GA OVER!!)
(Then I’ll just—pretend to fall for it!)
(And brake hard right before I reach it!!)
But things didn’t go the way Niko imagined.
Against any other U-20 forward, the plan would have worked.
But right now he was facing Ryūma—activating his Slow-Motion World.
(Hmm? Slowing down? Trying to steal it as soon as I trap the ball?)
(Nice idea, Ikki Niko. Your vision’s almost on par with Kudo Tōya’s at monts like this.)
(But your movents are a bit obvious—and your tackle barely stings.)
“What will you do if I don’t stop the ball?”
Before the sentence finished, Ryūma leapt into the air. As the ball dropped into the perfect spot, his right foot whipped sideways like a lash—
【BOOM!!】
Ikki Niko stared in disbelief at the towering figure in the air.
(What? He… saw through my plan?!)
At the goal, Gin Gagamaru launched himself to the right—but he’d been stationed on the far left.
He’d intended to stop Ryūma from trapping the ball and imdiately turning to unleash a Power Shot.
But Ryūma didn’t trap the ball at all—he fired a violent mid-air sideways Blitz Shot, about to smash through the goal.
Fortunately, Jyubei Aryu’s long-legged fra soared in and blocked the shot.
But the ball’s force sent it rebounding back into play.
“What the—seriously?!” Ryūma yelled, scrambling to locate the ball.
He feared Blue Lock would regain possession—halfti was near, and if they stalled, U-20 would be stuck.
Then he saw who was at the ball’s landing spot—and his heart lit up.
“Sae-kun?”
Sae Itoshi t the ball head-on with a powerful strike.
【BOOM!!】
Just before Sae’s shot could hit the net, Rin Itoshi appeared in front of the goal.
“Too naive!!”
“With shots like that, you think you’ll be the best in the world? Keep dreaming, fossil!!”
【BOOM!】
Rin blasted the ball away. Yoichi Isagi reacted instantly.
“Quick! Counterattack!”
But before the excitent could rise—
Ryūma appeared right in front of the rebounded ball.
(Forget unnecessary form—strip away wasted strength—process everything in an instant!)
“Right now!!”
Ryūma leaned forward and hamred a ferocious right-footed Blitz Shot, smashing the ball into Blue Lock’s goal.
GOAL!! Blue Lock 1 : 4 U-20 National Team
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