Blue Lock - Conqueror!

"Are we not going to play?"

Nagi's voice broke the silence, his usually relaxed tone tinged with exhaustion. He was sprawled out on the ground, chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. His white hair clung to his damp forehead, and his limbs lay limp as though gravity itself had doubled its weight on him. Nearby, Kurona leaned against the wall, wiping sweat from his brow, equally fatigued.

The source of their current state was clear: Isagi and Rin, locked in an unspoken battle of relentless training. The pair had been at it for hours, pushing themselves far beyond the usual regimen. Their movements were sharp, precise, and utterly unforgiving, creating an intensity in the air that had inspired even Nagi and Kurona to join in earlier.

It hadn't been easy.

Nagi, for all his natural talent, found it almost impossible to keep up with the pace set by the two. Every drill felt like climbing a mountain, every maneuver a test of endurance. Kurona had fared slightly better, his smaller frame lending him agility, but even he was now slumped against the wall, completely drained.

Nagi tilted his head toward Isagi and Rin, who were still engrossed in their training, their focus unyielding. With a groan, he raised a hand in a half-hearted gesture of protest.

"So, are we not going to play?" 

He asked again, his words drawn out in exasperation.

Isagi finally paused, his breathing steady despite the exertion. He turned toward Nagi with a small, confident smile, the kind that seemed to carry an answer before the words even left his mouth.

"I told you" 

Isagi began, his tone calm yet firm. 

"I'm waiting for a team that feels worth beating. We should get an exciting match, right?"

The decision to wait for Isagi's call on their next opponent was an unspoken agreement, a testament to how much his opinion had started to influence the group. Though they all shared a hunger for the thrill of competition.

After another grueling training session, the group finally decided to take a break. They hit the showers, letting the cool water wash away the exhaustion, before heading to the dining hall for lunch. The air was filled with the hum of chatter and the clatter of utensils, a stark contrast to the intensity of the training room.

As Isagi ate, his gaze drifted around the room, scanning the sea of faces. A familiar figure caught his attention, and his eyes lit up with recognition.

"Hey, Bachira!"

Isagi's voice carried across the room, causing a few heads to turn. The boy he'd called out to looked up from his meal, his bright yellow eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Hmm? Oh, Isagi!" 

Bachira grinned, leaping up from his seat with a childlike enthusiasm.

Within moments, Bachira had crossed the room, taking a seat at Isagi's table. His presence was infectious, his energy instantly lifting the mood. He was clearly thrilled to see Isagi again, his grin widening as he leaned forward, elbows on the table.

"I've been looking for you!" 

Bachira admitted, his tone a mix of eagerness and determination. 

"I wanted to play with you, but you're already ahead."

Isagi chuckled, his own excitement bubbling beneath the surface.

"Who did you team up with?" 

Isagi asked, his curiosity piqued.

Bachira's grin widened as he leaned back in his chair.

"Reo and Barou"

He announced proudly. 

"I asked both of them, and they agreed. Reo didn't really care as long as he had a team, and Barou... well, he said as long as we could keep up with him, he'd play."

Isagi's eyebrows shot up in surprise. The pairing made sense, but it was still unexpected. Reo, still reeling from Nagi leaving him, must have seen Bachira's request as a chance to regain his purpose. Barou, with his domineering personality, likely viewed it as an opportunity to prove himself as the ultimate king.

"And the fourth player?" 

Isagi asked, leaning forward with anticipation.

Before Bachira could answer, a voice cut through the air from behind him.

"My, my, talking about me already?"

A hand landed firmly on Bachira's shoulder, and both Isagi and Bachira turned to see a tall figure with wild, golden hair and an unsettling grin. His piercing eyes seemed to gleam with mischief and danger, and his presence alone radiated chaos.

"It's him" 

Bachira said with a nod, pointing casually at the newcomer. 

"He's the guy we chose."

The man straightened, his grin stretching wider.

"Name's Shidou Ryusei" 

He introduced himself, his tone dripping with confidence.

Isagi's heart skipped a beat. The name was infamous—Shidou Ryusei, the unpredictable genius known for his explosive playstyle and his love for chaos on the field. A player as unpredictable as Bachira but far more dangerous.

This was no ordinary team. This was a storm waiting to unleash its fury.

Isagi's lips curled into a smile, his blood already pumping at the thought of facing them.

"Perfect" 

He murmured to himself. This was exactly the kind of challenge he had been waiting for.

"How did you bag him, Bachira?"

Isagi's question was lighthearted, but his gaze was sharp as it flicked to Shidou, who lounged nearby with an air of barely-contained energy. It was clear that Shidou was unpredictable, the kind of player who thrived on chaos and excitement. Isagi knew keeping him engaged was key; otherwise, he might stir trouble just for the fun of it.

Bachira's face lit up, his expression resembling a child recounting a grand adventure. His voice took on an animated tone, drawing everyone's attention.

"Well, once I teamed up with Barou and Reo, our rank started to spread. Some players who saw us advance quickly were still hanging around the lower levels, and they didn't want to take the risk of playing against us. So, we had to wait a long time before anyone showed up willing to challenge us."

He paused dramatically, leaning forward as if telling a secret.

"Then, Shidou, Igaguri, and Naruhaya showed up as a team."

Bachira's storytelling captivated Isagi. He could imagine the scene vividly—the tense anticipation, the potential clash of skill and chaos.

"You know, Igaguri started pulling antics" 

Bachira continued, chuckling as he mimicked a foul gesture. 

"He was creating fouls left and right with his wild plays. Naruhaya, though? He was so cool throughout the match, like a guy on a mission."

Shidou, who had been silent up until now, grinned and chimed in, plopping down next to Bachira with a casual confidence that bordered on arrogance.

"That Naruhaya was really something" 

Shidou said, his voice carrying an odd mix of respect and glee. 

"The guy knew how to position himself. Always in the right place at the right time. Made it so easy for me to score."

Isagi raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Naruhaya had never struck him as particularly formidable before, but the way Shidou spoke about him hinted at a surprising synergy.

"And what about Igaguri?" 

Isagi asked, smirking slightly.

Shidou laughed, throwing his head back dramatically.

"Oh, he was a riot" 

Shidou said. 

"Kept tripping over his own feet and making the other team furious. But hey, he created chaos, and I thrive in chaos."

Bachira nodded enthusiastically, his grin matching Shidou's.

"Exactly! It was messy, but fun! And Shidou here" 

Bachira said, gesturing to the man beside him, "he was the star of the show. Every time Naruhaya set him up, boom! Another goal."

Isagi couldn't help but smile. The way Bachira described it, the match sounded like pure chaos, with Shidou at its center, turning the pandemonium into an art form.

"Well" 

Isagi said, leaning back, his grin widening. 

"Looks like you've built quite the team, Bachira. I can't wait to see what you guys bring to the field."

Shidou's eyes gleamed with excitement, his grin stretching wider.

"Oh, don't worry, Isagi" 

Shidou said, his voice low and dangerous. 

"We'll give you a match you won't forget."

"So, we're playing against each other. Well, that settles it" 

Isagi said with a confident grin, his voice carrying a sharp edge of determination. 

"I'll bring my best to the stage."

With that, he turned on his heel and strode out of the cafeteria, The quiet intensity in his steps spoke volumes—Isagi was ready.

Back at the table, Bachira and Shidou exchanged knowing grins.

"He's fired up" 

Shidou said, leaning back casually, a flicker of excitement dancing in his eyes.

Bachira chuckled, resting his chin on his hand. 

"That's Isagi for you. Always looking ahead, always ready for the next game."

Shidou's interest was piqued—not just in the game itself, but in the way Bachira spoke about Isagi. The sheer admiration in his tone hinted at something deeper, something that made Shidou's blood pumping with anticipation.

Bachira had spent much of their time together talking about Isagi. He spoke of his unpredictability, his sharp instincts, and how he had dominated the first selection.

"Dominated?" 

Shidou had asked once, tilting his head like a curious predator.

"Yeah" 

Bachira had replied with a grin. 

"He scored the most goals out of all of us. It was like watching a puzzle solve itself. Every time you thought you had him figured out, he'd change the play. He's insane on the field."

The number of goals Bachira had shared had been staggering, even for Shidou. He hadn't scored that many himself in the first selection, and the thought of facing someone with that level of precision and drive sent a shiver of excitement down his spine.

"Interesting" 

Shidou had murmured, a predatory smile spreading across his face.

From that moment, Shidou's interest had shifted. He wasn't just curious about Isagi anymore—he wanted to face him, to challenge him, to see if this so-called genius could excite him on the pitch.

As they prepared to leave the cafeteria, Bachira nudged Shidou. 

"You better not get carried away out there, Shidou."

Shidou let out a laugh, loud and carefree. 

"Oh, don't worry. I'll keep it interesting for everyone. But if Isagi's as good as you say, this'll be fun."

Bachira's grin widened, his golden eyes sparkling. 

"Trust me, it will be. He's not the kind of player you forget."

And so, the stage was set. Shidou couldn't wait to see Isagi in action—to challenge him, to push him, and to find out if this player who had dominated the first selection could live up to the legend Bachira had painted.

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