Chapter 24 Football 24 Where to Begin
The afternoon's match was between Team Z and Team Y, so Suoh Hyo-ki didn't do any particularly intense training. Even so, the sheer volume of training meant he didn't get to eat lunch on time.
Suoh Hyo-hee walked against the flow of people across the long corridor toward the dining hall. It was past lunchtime, and most people had already finished eating.
He pushed open the narrow door, and a warm and enticing aroma of food mingled with the lively yet bustling sounds of people, creating an irresistible current that rushed towards him, enveloping him completely.
Although the peak dining hours had passed, the place was not empty; about a dozen players were gathered around a large table made by pushing two tables together.
"I hereby declare the third round of the side dish trading market open!" A loud voice pierced through the crowd, carrying a hint of mockery and excitement.
This was followed by shouts and arguments.
"Me! I want it!"
"Seriously? With all that stuff you have? Of course you'll trade with me!"
The door that had been pushed open was quickly closed by Suoh Hyo-hee.
What's going on?
Is this a farmers' market?
Those guys must be from Team V, right?
Is this the strongest team?
Suoh Hyo-hee recalled that the people in the canteen had prominent V-shaped markings printed on their clothes, and the veins on the back of their hands were slightly bulging.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.
The thought that some of these people might enter U-20 made Suoh Hyo-hee's hand, gripping the doorknob, tremble uncontrollably.
The U-20 crew is already causing enough trouble, and if we add them to the mix...
It's over.
Japanese football is finished.
He clicked his tongue in exasperation, unsure whether he should go in or not.
"King Sumeru, you're here."
Upon hearing the touch on his shoulder, Suoh Hyoki turned around and saw that the person in front of him was Z-Team's Kujo Wataru.
"What's wrong?"
Kudo made a good impression on Suoh Hyoki.
This prevented the germaphobic Suoh Hyoki from immediately shaking off his hand. Instead, she waited until Hisamoto Wataru put his hand down before casually patting the spot he had touched.
"The head of Blue Prison is looking for you."
Suoh Hyoki frowned slightly, his expression a little strange, and repeated to Hisako Wataru, "Looking for me?"
"Yes, it's Coach Eishin Shiba."
In the dimly lit room, the light was deliberately confined to one corner, with only the flickering light and shadow on the screen illuminating the surroundings.
It was a huge display screen made up of 12 screens, which was showing a live video of Team V's intense match in another building.
On the screen, a boy with dark green hair darted across the court like a cheetah, his eyes fixed on the front, as if he could perceive the subtle changes on the court.
The boy's signature lower eyelashes appeared even thicker and deeper under the screen light, making him unforgettable at first glance.
Suoh Hyo-hee knew him.
That guy is Rin Itoshi.
Eishin Shiba sat with his back to Suoh Kōki, like a contemplative sculpture. His hands rested lightly on the edge of the table, his fingers interlaced, supporting his chin, his posture exuding a calm and authoritative air.
"Is there something you need?" Suoh Hyoki's tone carried a hint of barely perceptible wariness and impatience.
Hui Xin Shiba did not respond immediately, but picked up the remote control on the table with an almost provocative slow movement and pressed a few buttons casually.
With a soft click of the remote control, the screen magically switched from the V team's match to a replay of the W team vs. Y team's game.
Suoh Hyo-hee has no interest in the match video.
Because he is very strong.
He can defeat any opponent, no matter who they are.
Only a powerful opponent who knows nothing about him can arouse his interest.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now."
Suoh Hyo-hee's voice carried a hint of determination and indifference. He turned to leave, his steps revealing an undeniable resolve.
In his view, engaging in a conversation with Huixin Shiba was undoubtedly a waste of time.
It all boils down to the same few things.
Suoh Hyo-hee's irritation was evident on his face.
Just as he was about to step out of the room, Eishin Shiba's voice suddenly rang out, deep and hoarse, as if it could penetrate people's hearts.
"Don't you want to see his true strength?"
"?"
“Ten no Mi has completely mastered [Synchro].
Eishin Jūpa's words echoed in the empty room like a cold judgment, yet they failed to make Suō Kōki's steps falter in the slightest.
Suoh Koki knew this. With Amanomichi's talent, mastering any skill was only a matter of time, and [Synchronization] was no exception.
Tianzhi Yuzhong is a genius.
Wang Xiaoxi must be absolutely certain of this.
"Then you're useless now, aren't you?"
The words pierced through like sharp blades, causing Suoh Hyoki to abruptly halt in his steps, his expression freezing instantly, turning into incredulous astonishment.
"What?"
"I can't believe it," Suoh Hyo-ki said in a low voice, his voice trembling slightly, as if even he himself couldn't believe such a guess.
He chose you simply because you possess abilities he cannot obtain.
Eishin Jūpa's words were like a heavy hammer blow, continuing to pound on Suō Hyōki's fragile psychological defenses. He felt a chill rise up his spine, straight to his heart.
"He's already learned it, so you'll probably be replaced soon, right?"
Every word was like a sharp blade, cutting through the delicate trust and dependence between him and Tennominaka.
"Just like his former teammates."
Suoh Hyo-ki suddenly turned around and stared intently at Eishin Jūhachi, who was now sitting leisurely in a chair facing him, trying to find a trace of a lie in his eyes.
"He wouldn't!"
Suoh Hyo-ki roared, his voice filled with unwavering determination, but the trembling at the end betrayed his inner fear and unease.
No one knew better than him what kind of person Amano Minaka was.
"Really?"
Eishin Shiba tilted her head, her clasped hands covering his mouth, but not his words, "You should know better than me whether he would do that."
Hui Xin Shiba gave a cold laugh, a laugh filled with helplessness and disappointment towards these young players.
"I'm not interested in your childish football games, nor do I want to change your mindset. It's just that as a teacher, I can't stand seeing you continue to degenerate."
“If this continues, both you and he will lose.”
Eishin Jūhachi's appearance seemed to foresee a future of failure, with deep worry revealed in the depths of his eyes.
Suoh Hyo-hee's heart sank.
He felt as if an invisible force was choking him, making it impossible for him to breathe or escape.
"You don't want him to lose here, do you?"
Hui Xin Shiba's words seemed to be both a probe and a reminder.
Suoh Hyoki's pupils contracted slightly, and a complex emotion flashed in his green eyes.
"No, he will win in the end."
Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with an unquestionable conviction.
"He can't afford to fail again."
The conversation abruptly ended, and an indescribable tension and oppression filled the air.
Suoh Kōki did not respond further, but instead turned his gaze past Eishin Jūhachi's figure and onto Ten no Michū, who was engaged in a fierce match on the screen.
The scene on the screen has switched to the duel between Team W and Team X. Amano Minaka is performing [Synchro]. With Kira Ryosuke at the core, the entire team seems to be guided by an invisible force, running exceptionally smoothly.
yes……
That core doesn't seem to be something I can achieve.
The anger, like the receding tide, carried a surging power but eventually subsided, and the clenched fists involuntarily relaxed.
That unwavering belief that "he could never do that" appears pale and fragile in this moment of calm, as if a gust of wind could blow it away.
With his strength, he can defeat anyone, regardless of who is in charge.
Suoh Hyo-hee was stunned.
Trembling hands wanted to clench tightly.
But even with all their might, the tightly clenched hands could not feel the weight and pain they should have felt, leaving only emptiness and loss.
Perhaps at this moment, my heart aches even more.
So, who should we start with?
Let's start with who betrayed whom?
Suoh Hyo-hee didn't know how he left that dark room; he only knew that when he came to his senses, he was already sitting on a chair in the dining hall.
Sitting opposite them, Beehive and Jessie looked at Suoh Hyo-hee with concern.
They whispered among themselves.
"Has something serious happened? Why does King Suga look like that?"
"I don't know."
Jie Shiyi patted Suwang Xiaoxi on the shoulder, "Snap out of it."
"The competition is this afternoon, so you absolutely mustn't mess it up."
Seeing this, Beehive mischievously stretched out his hand and waved it rapidly in front of Suoh Hyoki's eyes, trying to get his full attention in this way.
"If you feel you're not in top form, I'm always ready to take over for you."
These words were like a wake-up call, instantly sobering Suoh Hyo-hee up.
He suddenly stood up, causing the plates on the table to shake violently with a crisp sound.
"Absolutely not!"
Suoh Hyo-hee's voice was firm and powerful. He lowered his head, his eyes flashing with unprecedented determination, and the whites of his eyes were bloodshot from the excitement.
Jie Shiyi frantically stirred the natto in the bowl with her chopsticks, then turned to Feng Le and said, "Feng Le, aren't you a winger too?"
Feng Lehui had a smug smile on his face.
"Hehe, look how effective my provocation was! King Su regained his composure in no time."
It was still that room, tightly shrouded in darkness.
The air seemed to freeze, with only faint breathing sounds and occasional faint noises from afar.
In the stillness, a deep and slightly aged voice slowly flowed into the somber space from the other end of the phone.
"Winning or losing is nothing more than fleeting moments in the arena. For them, who are currently in the eye of the storm, maintaining a calm and resilient mindset is far more important than simply relying on strength."
The voice carried the weight of years, as if it had been uttered after careful consideration.
Huixin Shiba sat in the corner of the room, his face hidden in the shadows, only a sinister smile could be vaguely seen on the corner of his mouth.
"Aren't you afraid that guiding them in this way will backfire?"
The person on the other end of the phone didn't seem to care about the doubts; instead, they chuckled softly.
"It's quite surprising to hear such words from you."
His words carried a hint of jest, but then quickly became serious.
"Every flower needs different soil and sunlight to thrive. So, we should treat them differently."
Huixin listened quietly, the gloom on her face seemingly dissipating, her dark eyes fixed on the screen.
On the screen, Amano Minaka was about to pass the ball to Kira Ryosuke. Just as he was about to turn and make a long pass, those dazzling golden eyes met the camera.
At this moment, it felt as if I was looking directly at Eishin Shiba through the screen.
A note from the author:
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Blue Lock's unique midfield and forward split.
*This section contains Nagi's side story, showcasing the true nature of Rei-ou as a merchant.
I've finally gotten to this point. The next chapter is about Z versus Y (Iceweave Sheep). The content isn't too different; it's just that the original one has been lengthened.
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