Chapter 31: Celebrations and Shadows
"Mmm… food always tastes better after a win."
"Naruhaya, are you seriously sneaking food before the party starts?"
Igarashi leaned forward with an exaggerated scowl, yanking Naruhaya's sleeve.
Naruhaya just shrugged, chewing with zero remorse. "Gotta refuel early."
Thunk.
A pillow tapped Chigiri lightly on the back of the head.
He turned slowly, expression unreadable.
"You guys are loud," Chigiri muttered coolly, tying back his crimson hair. "And we still haven't cleaned."
"I'm just staying loose," Naruhaya replied, casually stuffing another bite into his mouth. "Relax."
"You're still cheating," Igarashi mumbled, crossing his arms.
Chigiri didn't bother replying.
"Oi! Isagi. Bachira!" Raichi barked, scowling from the top bunk like an angry warlord.
"Stop standing around and make yourselves useful. Go get drinks from the cafeteria."
"Got it," Isagi replied, calmly zipping up his hoodie.
"Adventure mission accepted!" Bachira cheered, already skipping ahead like he was chasing butterflies.
Raichi groaned. "And if you find that freak Seiichi, drag him back. We're trying to celebrate, not let him train in the shadows again."
Isagi tilted his head. "You think he's still training?"
"Nah," Bachira grinned, twisting his fingers like claws. "He's probably whispering to demons or summoning monsters again."
Isagi raised a brow. "Actually… he ran out earlier with his phone. He looked… weirdly nervous."
Their footsteps echoed in the dim corridor.
Blue Lock's dorm halls were quiet at night—eerily so.
Still no sign of Yūshin Seiichi.
Eventually, they gave up and headed to the cafeteria.
The place was half-lit. Vending machines hummed in the background. Not a soul in sight.
As they loaded drinks into a crate, a strange noise echoed from the far corner.
Creak… shuffle…
Bachira froze.
"…Isagi. Ghost."
"Don't start," Isagi muttered, gripping the crate a little tighter.
"I'm serious. A Blue Lock ghost. Probably someone who got eliminated and never left…"
"Cut it out."
They crept forward, cautiously.
Then—through the glow of a dim phone screen—they saw a crouched figure.
Mumbling.
"…Mai-senpai… your smile is unreal…"
"Oh—bonus spread? Save… save that for Zeya later…"
"Hehehe…"
"SEIICHI?!!"
Clatter!
The phone hit the floor as Yūshin Seiichi jumped like he got caught in the middle of a crime scene.
"I-ISAGI?! BACHIRA?!"
He stood frozen. Eyes wide. Face red.
"You… ran off to fangirl over an idol photo book?" Isagi asked, blinking.
Seiichi cleared his throat, trying to sound calm. "This isn't fangirling. It's… appreciation. Tactical admiration."
Bachira snorted. "You just got caught red-handed by your own monster, man."
"I-I was updating my family! Just checking in—totally normal stuff!"
Bachira crept forward with a twisted grin. "You sure~?"
"Don't—!" Seiichi stepped back in a panic.
"Too late!"
Bachira lunged and swiped the phone.
"NOOOOO! GIVE THAT BACK!! There are… secrets!!"
Isagi sighed. "You're unbelievable."
On the way back, the energy shifted.
The laughter faded.
They turned a corner—and froze.
Down the hallway, a group of eliminated players were packing their bags.
No celebration.
No voices.
Just quiet.
Some wiped tears away quickly. Others stared at their cleats as if they weighed a thousand pounds.
Seiichi's pace slowed.
His voice dropped into ice.
"Don't look away."
Isagi glanced at him.
"This… is Blue Lock," Seiichi said coldly. "For us to win, others must vanish."
"No glory without sacrifice."
His words cut like a blade.
"Only those who devour survive."
Bachira's usual grin was gone. "They didn't listen to their monsters."
Seiichi remained silent.
They pushed open the dorm door.
"Yo, we're back—"
BOOM.
Chaos.
Pillows flying.
Snacks scattered.
Shouts everywhere.
It was total anarchy.
"Finally! There you are!" Igarashi yelled—and hurled a pillow with perfect aim.
WHUMP.
Direct hit. Right to Seiichi's face.
The room went quiet.
Seiichi's bangs shifted.
His eyes lit up.
Deep blue.
"…You."
His voice was low. Calm. Dangerous.
"Are you challenging me?"
Even Bachira hesitated.
"W-Wait! It was just a pillow, bro!"
BOOM.
"AAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!"
Igarashi's scream echoed through the dorm like a banshee.
"Yes! It's chaos time!" Bachira howled, launching himself into the fray.
BONK.
"You're next, Isagi!"
"I'm dodging! I'm innocent!"
Pillows flew. War erupted.
Ego-filled battle cries collided with laughter.
This was victory.
This was Blue Lock.
But deep down…
Everyone knew peace would never last.