Chapter 25: Pure Determination
There was less than a day left until Team Z's decisive match against Team V.
On the Team Z training ground…
"Yo, Isagi. I figured you'd be out here."
After searching all over, Bachira finally found Isagi Yoichi alone on the field, drenched in sweat and locked into solitary training.
"Huh? Bachira? What's up?"
Isagi paused his shooting drills, breathing hard, wiping his brow.
"What, I can't visit unless I've got a reason?"
Bachira grinned and stuck out his tongue, his trademark mischief intact.
"Heh, fair enough."
Isagi smiled.
"Let's do it. One-on-one. First to three goals."
Bachira didn't wait for a response—he stole the ball from Isagi's feet and backed toward midfield.
Isagi's expression sharpened.
"Alright then. Bring it."
Bachira's smile faded. His eyes narrowed with seriousness.
This isn't just a match. It's a challenge. A reminder.
He came charging in.
Isagi stayed locked on him, his eyes analyzing every movement.
Bachira's strength is his dribbling. I can't fall for his feints. Keep distance. Watch the center of gravity.
He didn't flinch. Didn't react. He was calm. Focused.
He'd learned from battles with Barō, with Yūshin Seiichi.
This wasn't about flair—it was about discipline.
Bachira's feints came like a whirlwind—stepovers, flicks, sudden shifts—but Isagi held his ground.
He wasn't fooled.
Bachira's grin widened.
You're really keeping up now, huh? Then how about this?
He leaned forward, sold a right-side break.
Isagi bit—but only a little.
Then—Marseille turn!
"I've seen this before!"
Isagi turned with him and matched him stride for stride.
He locked Bachira's path with his shoulder—stronger, more grounded.
Got him.
"Hehe, not quite."
Bachira popped the ball through Isagi's legs with a sneaky heel flick.
Nutmeg.
He spun, recovered, and—Boom!
Low shot. Clean finish.
"Damn…" Isagi muttered, hands on his knees. "You're better than ever."
Bachira smiled, hands behind his head. "I'm done for now. Let's call it."
"What!? We just started!"
Bachira turned serious.
"Yoichi. Do you think Seiichi's strong?"
Isagi blinked, then nodded.
"Yeah. He's the strongest. The most gifted I've ever seen."
"And what about you?"
"…Me?"
Isagi hesitated.
"…Probably the least talented on the team."
"Nope."
Bachira shut him down immediately.
"To me, you're the only one who can rival Yūshin Seiichi."
"You both have monsters inside you. Real ones."
"If Seiichi was born a dragon… then you're the dragon slayer."
"You're an adaptive genius, Isagi Yoichi."
…
Walking alone through the corridor back to the dorms, Isagi kept replaying Bachira's words.
Adaptive genius… me?
Then—quiet sobs.
He rounded a corner.
Several players from Team Y sat crumpled in the shadows, silently crying.
That's right…
One loss, and you're done. This is Blue Lock.
And we're still only in Building 5… the first selection.
And I… I was doubting myself? Just because of someone else's talent?
That's not me.
I want to win.
I won't go back to being the weak me.
I don't care if I was born gifted or not—
I'll carve my way forward.
His eyes sharpened.
With pure determination.
Later that night…
In Team Z's dorm, under the covers, Yūshin Seiichi finally opened his phone.
Unread messages flooded in.
My beloved son:
You there?
Two days later…
You there??
Three days later…
Did you get a phone yet?
Another day passes…
Get your phone, you damn idiot!
*You *****! Garbage!! I'm gonna kill you!
Seiichi blinked at the screen.
"…He really missed me, huh."
He smirked, then replied:
UltramanBeatsMonsters:
Got my phone. Used all my points to buy steak for the team. I'm a hero.
We advanced early. How about you?
No response.
Tch… probably asleep.
He turned off the screen, laid back under the covers, and stared at the ceiling.
Tomorrow would decide everything.