Chapter 38: True Strength
"They really are incredible… The Yūshin Twins, huh?"
Jyūbei Aryū wiped the sweat from his forehead, eyes filled with a rare seriousness.
"So being this cool isn't easy after all…"
But then—his eyes shifted.
His gaze fell on the White Team's weakest link: Hiori Yo.
That's it. That's where we break them.
Beep! The game resumed.
Itoshi Rin's expression remained unwavering—green flames still danced in his eyes. He didn't care about the last goal.
With a sharp breath, he passed the ball to Aoshi Tokimitsu.
"Ahhh! Why'd you give it to me?!"
Tokimitsu panicked, flailing, then hastily passed the ball to Aryū.
Aryū didn't hesitate—he launched forward like a fashionably dressed bullet, cutting through midfield.
But Yūshin Seiichi was fast.
In a blur, he blocked Aryū's path—solid, calm, and already reading the next play.
Aryū didn't force it. He passed to Tokimitsu, who made a sudden diagonal run forward.
Almost instantly, Zeya appeared beside him—shoulder to shoulder.
This guy… he's strong! Zeya was surprised.
I can't even shove him off?
"I'm gonna lose the ball!" Tokimitsu shrieked, panicking again—and passed to Rin.
Now Rin had it.
Seiichi adjusted his position while Aryū drifted into the final third. Hiori was in charge of marking Aryū near the goal.
Rin kept calm.
He lightly bounced the ball off his foot, then raised his right leg—
Bang!
A long, arcing loft into the penalty area.
"A direct lob?" Seiichi blinked.
So… he's going to use Hiori as a stepping stone?
The ball dropped into the box.
Aryū made his move, shielding Hiori with sharp footwork.
"I'm here~" Aryū purred, planting hard and leaping up with grace and power.
So high!
Hiori's eyes widened as Aryū jumped above him, chesting the ball into space before Hiori could stretch a leg.
Bang!
A clean volley.
Even with the reflexes of a world-class BLUE LOCK MAN in goal—it was too close, too fast.
Whoosh!
The ball smacked the net.
Ding! Goal! Red Team 3 – White Team 3
"Yesss~ I'm really the most fashionable," Aryū grinned, hands draped behind his neck as if striking a magazine pose.
Blue Lock Observation Room
"Wooow! That was amazing!" Anri Teieri sparkled with excitement.
"Seiichi, Zeya, Aryū, Rin—everyone's improving! It's like they're evenly matched!"
Ego Jinpachi didn't move. He rested his chin on one hand, eyes fixed on the screen.
"Evenly matched?" he muttered. "Don't be stupid."
"Huh?"
"They're not even close to even. Think about it—haven't Seiichi and Zeya been playing solo this entire time?"
Anri blinked.
"That's… true. No combos, no overlapping plays…"
"Those two have played football together since they were kids," Ego said darkly. "You think they don't know how to link up?"
Realization dawned on Anri's face.
"Then… they're holding back?"
"They're testing each other's growth," Ego said with a chilling smile. "Selfish brats. The real match is just getting started."
Aryū stood proud. "Let's keep this going. We can overtake them."
His eyes, however, returned to Hiori.
He's the key. If we pressure him, we win.
Suddenly—
"Hey! Jyūbei Aryū," Seiichi called out. "Your eyes say you think you can win."
"Huh?! Don't call me that name—it's not fashionable at all!" Aryū snapped, flailing his hair. "I'll defeat you with maximum style!"
"Anty! Don't waste energy yelling!" Tokimitsu squeaked.
"Hehe…"
Seiichi turned to Zeya. "It's time."
A fire sparked in his eyes—he could feel it.
Zeya's instincts were rising.
"…Alright."
There was a flicker of hesitation in Zeya's gaze.
He wanted to see Seiichi unleash that other side—that wildly selfish monster beneath the cool smirk.
But…
Maybe soon.
Rin's calm gaze sharpened.
He felt it too.
The Yūshin Twins were about to go all out.
Beep! The match resumed.
Seiichi passed the ball to Zeya, then sprinted forward—cutting past defenders in unpredictable motion.
Rin blinked.
He's not even glancing at the ball. Just running.
His instincts screamed: focus on Zeya.
Zeya made a beeline for Rin, then planted hard—cocking his leg as if to shoot.
The kick wasn't real.
Instead, the ball rocketed sideways—right under Rin's arm.
It blazed across the field… toward Seiichi.
Zeya followed behind, bursting past Rin.
"This lane is closed," Aryū called, cutting in front of Seiichi.
"Really?"
Seiichi turned his body, let the ball arrive—and flicked it left with a heel pass.
No one was there.
Until—
Zeya. Full speed. A blur.
Tokimitsu was sprinting hard—desperately trying to close the gap.
"Ahh! I made it—!"
He reached Ze just as the striker touched the ball.
But Tokimitsu didn't dare tackle—he knew Zeya's timing was faster.
"Phew…" Aryū sighed.
Even if Zeya slows down after the touch, Rin is close. We've got him now.
Wait.
Seiichi!
Aryū's eyes widened.
Seiichi had slipped in behind Tokimitsu unnoticed.
"Not good—!"
Boom!
Zeya tapped the ball perfectly between Tokimitsu's legs.
Right into Seiichi's path.
Bang!
With a soft touch, Seiichi knocked the ball between the BLUE LOCK MAN's legs and into the net.
Ding! White Team 4 – Red Team 3