"I have a meeting with the Football Association higher-ups later!" Anri said with a smile, her beautiful face lighting up like the first ray of sunlight on a spring morning, "Let's go — Mr. Ego is already in the car!"
She stepped forward to help open the car door for Ryōsuke.
"Yes, thank you very much." He nodded and entered the car, where an extremely thin man was already seated.
"It's been a while since we've met in person, hasn't it?" Jinpachi pushed up his glasses and turned to him.
Since coming to Blue Lock, he had only communicated with the players through cameras and screens, never meeting face to face. His voice was deep, and he had a gloomy presence — the type that strangers would instinctively avoid.
Although Ryōsuke didn't agree with Jinpachi's somewhat absurd football philosophy, he had to admit that this man was both capable and genuinely passionate about football.
"It really has been a while." Ryōsuke replied with a smile.
Jinpachi studied him carefully for a few seconds, as if contemplating something, but ultimately said nothing more, turning only to Anri.
"Little Anri, let's head out."
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About an hour later, Anri drove them to the Football Association headquarters.
"I'll go ahead — I need to pick someone up. Little Anri, please take Kira to his destination. Kira, I'll contact you in three days." Jinpachi spoke casually before getting out of the car and walking into the building.
After asking Ryōsuke about his destination, Anri started the car again and drove in that direction.
"Mr. Ego always seems very cold." Ryōsuke said, watching Jinpachi's figure disappear from view.
"That's right, Mr. Ego does have a peculiar personality, but he truly values football deeply, unlike those parasites in the Football Association... ah, haha, never mind, don't worry about it." Anri caught herself and quickly changed the subject.
Although she knew the Football Association's leadership was incompetent and profit-focused, it wasn't her place as an employee to express such opinions freely.
"Is the destination the gym? Kira, aren't you going home first?" Anri asked, "Aida Gym... that name sounds familiar."
"I'm going to see my girlfriend first. Since I live alone, there's no rush to go home." Ryōsuke answered honestly.
It was the weekend, and Riko didn't have school. She was still at her family's gym and would go to the stadium in the afternoon to lead the team's final pre-match training preparations.
"Oh, girlfriend... EH! GIRLFRIEND! Kira, you have a girlfriend!?" Anri exclaimed.
"Yeah—Miss Teieri, watch the road! WATCH THE ROAD! You're driving!"
Fear appeared in Ryōsuke's eyes for the second time, the first being when he had witnessed Riko's cooking.
"Oh, oh, I'm so sorry!" Anri quickly turned her attention back to the road.
"Why are you so surprised?"
"I just didn't expect someone as young as you to have a girlfriend already — you must be a high school student!"
"Isn't it normal at this age? I didn't expect you to be so conservative, Miss Teieri. Could it be that you've never dated?"
"I..." At this thought, Anri's face turned bright red with embarrassment.
Indeed — twenty-two years old and single since birth.
Despite her outstanding looks, she had no shortage of suitors. However, once they discovered her clumsy personality and intense passion for football, most chose to keep their distance.
"Miss Teieri, don't cover your face! Hold the steering wheel, HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL!"
"Oh, oh, sorry!"
Ryōsuke could feel that riding in Anri's car was the worst decision of his life; sweat beaded on his forehead.
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At last, Anri reached their destination. Ryōsuke had called Riko earlier about his early return, and she was already waiting at the gym's entrance.
"Here we are." Anri parked the car and looked out the window at the young girl, "So this is Kira's girlfriend? She's quite pretty. They make a perfect couple!"
She smiled, her gaze drifting until she noticed a man standing beside Riko.
"Wait..." Anri's eyes widened in recognition, "Kagetora Aida!"
She leaped out of the car and rushed over, her eyes sparkling.
"Are you... Senior Kagetora Aida?" Anri knew exactly who he was.
Though she now worked for the Football Association, she had followed all kinds of sports in her youth.
Kagetora had been a key member of the national basketball team!
Though long retired, he still wielded considerable influence in the sports world. Many famous athletes sought his personalized training schedules, and he maintained strong connections with high-ranking sports officials.
"Ah, that's right." Kagetora was startled by the woman's sudden enthusiasm.
Anri finally understood why the gym's name had seemed familiar — it belonged to him.
The young woman beside him must be his daughter... which meant Kagetora would be Ryōsuke's future father-in-law!
No wonder the opportunistic Football Association chairman had specifically instructed her and Jinpachi to take good care of this young man.
So that explained everything!
Anri had never imagined Ryōsuke had such connections.
"Thank you for your trouble, Miss Teieri." Ryōsuke stepped out of the car, bowed politely, and went to his girlfriend's side.
Riko's gaze fixed on Anri, and she couldn't help but glance down at her own chest.
The difference was like heaven and earth — a straight line compared to a dramatic curve.
Riko unconsciously took a step back.
"Well then, I'll be on my way! I'll be in touch!" Anri waved before driving off.
"Who was that?" Riko immediately turned to Ryōsuke, her lips slightly pursed with jealousy.
"She's one of the Blue Lock administrators. They were heading this way anyway, so they gave me a ride." Ryōsuke explained.
"Oh, I see." Riko nodded.
Being straightforward by nature, she quickly moved past it, her face brightening with excitement.
"Ryōsuke! You haven't eaten lunch yet, have you? You must be starving!"
"Well..."
"When you told me last night you'd be coming back early, I prepared something special! I made everything myself."
"Everything... you made it all?" Ryōsuke's pupils trembled as he slowly turned to look at Kagetora.
The latter's expression seemed to say, "If you don't go to hell, who will?"
"This is lunch my precious daughter made with her own hands, so you better eat every~last~bite~"
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At the Football Association headquarters, conference room.
"One hundred million per appearance for each world-class player?! Plus one million bonus per goal?!"
"How much more money are you going to waste on this ridiculous plan!"
"There's no way they can win — what's the point of all this?! Explain yourself!"
The Football Association executives confronted Jinpachi furiously, outraged by the enormous expenses he had racked up.
Meanwhile, he lounged casually in his chair, regarding them with indifference.
"An uncut jade can't become a vessel. I want these players to experience world-class standards at this crucial age. I wouldn't expect people like you, who've already learned to give up, to understand such dreams. Just shut up." Jinpachi showed no respect to the executives, his mockery unflinching.
"You disrespectful brat!"
Several people rose from their seats in fury.
"Now, now."
At this moment, a corpulent man with a receding hairline cleared his throat twice, and the room fell silent.
Football Association Chairman, Hirotoshi Buratsuta.
"Listen, Ego, let's end the Blue Lock project here. We've received numerous complaints from the participating students' parents. The project lacks transparency, shows no results, and is becoming a stain on our reputation — not to mention the considerable money we've invested."
Though Hirotoshi listed many reasons, his true meaning was clear: the Blue Lock project hadn't brought him any personal benefits yet.
"First, regarding the money — two of the five star players have chosen to waive their fees." Jinpachi pushed up his glasses, a smile playing on his face.
"Two of them gave up their compensation?"
Confusion spread across everyone's faces.
"That's right. I signed contracts stating they wouldn't get paid if they lost. Though technically they didn't lose, two still forfeit their compensation."
Jinpachi stood up and activated the large screen, playing a video clip.
"What you're about to see is strictly confidential footage that cannot be leaked, as it could affect these players' market value. I'll destroy it after showing you."
Everyone's attention focused on the screen as the image appeared.
The footage showed a one-on-one confrontation between Julian and Ryōsuke. Julian burst forward with incredible speed but couldn't get past Ryōsuke.
This single clip was enough to cause an uproar.
"Loki, a player of that caliber, stopped by a high school student?"
"Is this for real?"
"Loki must have held back — this footage must be sped up!"
The executives erupted in discussion like a bomb had gone off.
"There are other players visible in the background — compare their movements if you want to verify the speed, idiots." After playing the clip, Jinpachi turned off the video.
This wasn't the only footage — there were other recordings of Ryōsuke and others outperforming world-class players, but these absolutely couldn't be released. If they were, these top stars would face significant public backlash.
Hirotoshi's expression turned serious; he hadn't expected this.
"That's just part of it. Let me show you the real results." Jinpachi held up one finger, "Let's have a match — Blue Lock's representative team against the U20 national team!"
Hearing this, Hirotoshi's brows furrowed sharply, "Nonsense! How could those high school players from your Blue Lock project compete against the U20 elite?!"
Even after seeing the remarkable footage, he dismissed the plan. After all, it offered him no personal benefit.
"Because I've contacted someone who also wants to participate in this match."
As Jinpachi finished speaking, a man strode into the room.
Sae Itoshi ignored all the executives present as if they were meaningless existences and walked straight to Jinpachi, who wore a cunning smile.
"Sae Itoshi will represent the U20 team in this match." Jinpachi added, "If we lose the match, I'll agree to terminate the Blue Lock project."
Below the stage, Hirotoshi's mind raced as he caught the scent of profit in these words.
Earlier, Sae had requested footage of Blue Lock's matches, but Hirotoshi hadn't expected him to actually participate.
Now this man, who had already made his mark in international competitions, would finally play in domestic matches — it would be a media sensation!
With just a few strategic moves, Sae's appearance would bring endless money flowing into Hirotoshi's pockets!
Moreover, the U20 team consisted of the nation's elite young players — handling a Blue Lock team made up entirely of forwards would be simple!
If they won the match, they could legitimately shut down the Blue Lock project and turn Jinpachi and his plan into a laughingstock in sports history!
What wasn't to like?
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