Proyect: Bland King - Ayanokouji Kiyotaka en Blue Lock

Ayanokouji: So they held onto my old cell phone. I'm not sure it even works outside that school, however. It even has my point total. And as for my list of contacts...

After the team's interaction with Reo, Nagi, and Zantetsu, Ayanokouji ate dinner with Raichi and Isagi and finally used his three points to purchase a cell phone. 

The points were taken and a phone came out from a slot. What took Ayanokouji aback was that it was the same phone he used in school and it was fully charged and it came with a charger as well. 

Now that he was inside the bathroom while everyone else slept, he decided to give Kei a call. 

Ayanokouji: (It's not that late so she could be up.)

The phone rang and rang for a while. 

Ayanokouji: (It was too good to be tr-)

Kei: K-Kiyo?

Ayanokouji: Hey, it's me. It's been a-

*CRYING*

On the other end, Ayanokouji heard Kei crying and completely a mess. 

Ayanokouji: I'm sorry for the lack of contact. I just got my phone. 

Kei: What are you talking about 'just getting your phone?' It takes you 2 months to pick up your phone and answer my calls, bastard?!

Ayanokouji: The school doesn't allow outside contact, no matter what. I needed enough time to reprogram my phone so I can answer and receive calls from ANHS students. It took two months. 

Lying about this was the smartest choice since he couldn't possibly explain that he joined a soccer project called Blue Lock in order to become the best striker and make it believable. 

Kei: I... I thought you just moved on. I'm so happy right now. 

Ayanokouji: Anyway, I'll be calling you every day from now on. I'm pretty busy so we can only talk at night if you're ok with that. 

Kei: What's taken up all your time? Is it your new school? You're in some clubs or anything? Or is it someone else you want to spend time with!

Ayanokouji: You could say I'm in an academy that's very strict. And it's an all boy-school so you don't have to worry about me finding someone else. I'll just wait for you to graduate. Horikita should get you guys to Class A. 

Kei: I doubt it. But that doesn't matter now. I can finally talk to my boyfriend again! Um, did you miss me too...?

Ayanokouji: I didn't. 

Kei: EH?!

Ayanokouji: I'm just kidding. 

Kei: Ah Mou!

They spoke for another half hour until Ayanokouji decided to call it a night. 

...

...

...

Team Z trained with one another for the morning, excluding Kuon who didn't want anything to do with them. Lemon, the team's new leader, orchestrated another team meeting to speak on the team they're going up against as well as their current situation. 

Lemon: Match 9 ended in a draw, with Team Y's Niko scoring the equalizer against team W. As a result, team Z is now in third place. And the only match left in our building is our final game. If we draw, we won't advance due to our worse goal difference. So, in short, we need to win in order to survive. That's all there is to it. 

Raichi: Hey, Kuon's listening in on this. Should I kill him?

Ayanokouji: There's no point. He'll eventually have to work with us if he wants to survive to. He's not even the top goal scorer at this point. He's facing elimination along with the rest of us and he's not good enough to score on his own. 

Kuon's face contorted but he didn't say anything.

Igarashi: But man, it's a miracle Team Y came away with a draw. 

Chigiri: Come to think of it, was Niko the type of person to take on shots himself?

Bachira: He got inspired by a certain person. 

He looked over at Isagi who was smiling. 

Isagi: (So for some, losing makes them stronger.)

Lemon: Anyway, let's move on to the key players of our final opponent, team V. The trio has scored 18 goals in three games, thanks to their stupidly good attacking skills. Tsurugri Zantetsu: five goals. Mikage Reo: 6 goals. And their team's top scorer: Nagi Seishiro: 7 goals. If we don't stop them from scoring, we can't win. 

Isagi: (Nagi Seishiro... he get's on my nerves. I will win.)

...

Later that night, Ayanokouji was texting Kei about her day and what she was doing in school. They all just finished eating dinner and it was time to go to sleep. 

Bachira stuck out his tongue and made a face to Isagi. They were playing charades but with just facial expressions. 

Isagi: That's a 'Can we win our next match' face!

Igarashi: It's 'my tummy hurts' face!

Gagamaru: It's a 'I wonder how granny's doing' face. 

Bachira crossed his arms. 

Bachira: Wrong! The answer: It's a 'What does rain taste like' face!

Isagi: How are we meant to get that?!

Igarashi: The 'Wanima brothers: What is this face' game is so hard. 

Lemon: What the heck are you all doing?! You guys have to focus! Focus!

Bachira: Hm... an 'I'm seriously pissed' face!

Lemon: This face is not a quiz question!

Ayanokouji received a picture from Kei, while she was in her sheets saying goodnight to him and he responded with the same. 

Naruhaya: Oh, what do we have here?! Snatch!

Taking Ayanokouji's phone, Naruhaya ran around the entire room showing everyone the picture Kei had sent him. 

Out of everyone, Kunigami had a slight nosebleed for unknown reasons. 

Chigiri: Oh, she looks better than I thought for someone like you. Lucky you. 

Isagi: Give Ayanokouji's phone back. We shouldn't see this!

Naruhaya: But he's not chasing me!

Ayanokouji: I'm not chasing you because I don't want to risk damaging my phone. Do you mind handing it over?

Staring right at Ayanokouji's eyes, the fun Naruhaya thought he was going to have vanished and he gave back his phone and went over to his sleeping bag. 

Ayanokouji: Thank you. 

Bachira: Ayanokouji, you're pretty scary aren't you? 

Ayanokouji: I wouldn't call myself scary. 

Chigiri: Her name is Kei, right?

Ayanokouji: You can call her by her last name, Karuizawa. We decided that only each other calls us by our first names. 

Kunigami: So... you've gone that far.

Raichi: Look at this total pretend stud. I bet if he asks for a nude, she'll send it, hahaha. 

Igarashi: Why don't we test that o-

Ayanokouji: No. 

Kuon was curled up in the corner of the room next to his sleeping bag. Raichi, after his fun conversation with Ayanokouji, glared right at him.

Raichi: Hold on. I haven't forgiven this guy yet. 

He knelt down and was eye level with Kuon who didn't say a word. 

Raichi, infuriated, put him in a choke hold. 

Raichi: You're going to spill the beans to someone else again, ain't ya?! Huh?! Let's start by taking punches at him!

Igarashi: That works for me! 

Naruhaya: Let's do it!

Isagi: Quit it! You're going to injure him! We can't play as an eleven against team V with him injured! 

Kuon grew angry and escaped from the choke hold. 

Kuon: Are you stupid?! Why would I work with you?!

Ayanokouji: Because you have no choice now. Unless you want to leave with the rest of our team, you'll play tomorrow. I've already ensured you won't pass as the top goal scorer so stop acting like a brat and compromise. We don't have to like each other. We just have to win.

Kuon: Why do you care so much about the team if you're the top goal scorer? You'll just go through by default.

Ayanokouji: Isn't there another reason than wanting to win? This match is going to test out our abilities to their limits. If we win, it shows we're better and if we lose it shows we weren't. It's that simple.

Kuon: You all aren't a team. You're just a group of strikers in it only for themselves. And you can't play soccer alone. I know that better than anyone. 

Kunigami: What do you mean? 

Kuon: I've been working really hard to make my dream winning the World Cup a reality. I can't let it end here. I don't want to lose because of my teammates anymore. I'll get a goal and go through myself. 

Raichi: Can it, scumbag! No traitor will ever win a World Cup. 

Bachira: Oh, now that I think about it, if two top goal scorers people have the same number of goals, then who goes through?

Chigiri: If I remember correctly, the one with fewer yellow cards. 

Bachira: And if they're tied there too?

A screen came on and it was none other than...

Ego: The one who has the higher ranking in Blue Lock will pass through. Hi, it's been a while. Ego Jinpachi here. If the team loses and your goals and fair tally are the same... the top ranked player will survive. 

The new rankings were shown on the screen and the numbers changed as well on the uniforms. 

Kuon looked up to see Ayanokouji still maintaining his number 1 rank. 

Kuon: Why is Ayanokouji still number one?! He scored one flimsy goal and I scored two in the last game!

Raichi: Why is that bastard second to the top even?! He should be out of her for what he did!

Ego: In the first selection, scoring is the only thing assessed. And what he did isn't against the rules. But let me say this, Kuon Wataru... AS A STRIKER YOU ARE THE LOWEST OF THE LOWEST OF THE LOW. Basically you're all crap. 

With this, everyone was shocked and Raichi's anger withered away. 

Ego: You might feel you survived a life or death situation, but it was by pure luck. Your play had no value whatsoever. The world's best strikers must be able to reproduce their goals. You asked why you are not in the top? I'll tell you why right now: It's because some fluky goals like yours can never be reproduced. Ayanokouji ranks at the top of the team because in each of his games he's been able to use something the rest of you have not grasped yet. It is also the reason why many players can score those one-off goals and why Kuon's goals have no value. 

He smiled widely. 

Ego: Those goals were all scored through sheer luck. What you all need is the formula to create scoring opportunities. Analyze, how, when, and under what circumstances your weapon helped you to score a goal. How far away was the goal? How many defenders were there? Where did you receive the pass? What did you feel in that moment? Internalize every detail, then reproduce it. Your positioning, timing, dribbling, shooting, devise a formula that will make you shine the most. World famous strikers have their own formulas for scoring. 

Isagi looked bewildered at Ego's words. 

Ego: You still live in the sea of coincidences. That won't do. Understand that you can only evolve once you've learned reproducibility. In a match, you can only expect irregularities to happen. Someone who can prove their formula on such a battlefield can become the world's best striker, who will crank out goals, one after the other. Don't rely on chance to win. Win the game because you're meant to. Until then...

The screen changed to a timer, with their game coming in 24 hours. 

Isagi: Ayanokouji, what did Ego mean when he said you've done something we haven't been able to get? 

Ayanokouji: He's referring to a formula for goals. I never thought of it like that before, but I guess in the time I've been here, I created a formula for goals. 

Bachira: Is it your ball placement and physical ability?

Ayanokouji: Because of my physical ability, I can hit the ball any way I want in order to score a goal. (It's not exactly wrong, but I can tell than in each of my goals, the formula towards my goal has been getting improved. The first one was a free kick where I had all the time in the world to analyze my opponent and his reach and strike the ball perfectly. In the second goal, my body moved first and my mind analyzed the perfection position and I shot it cleanly. Finally, in the third goal, I instantly analyzed the situation, jumped up, and stole Kuon's goal. My formula for goals is derived from a quick analysis of a person's abilities, and using my physical abilities and precision to execute. That is my formula.)

Isagi: (So we need to figure out our own formulas for goals. I have spatial awareness, but that alone can't create goals. I need something else, something more. If I can't find anything more than I can't win. We can't beat them.)

Raichi: Anyhow, Kuon, don't do anything in the next match. Do something stupid again and I'll really kill you. We don't need a bastard like you ruining our match with your annoying play. 

Isagi, instead of going to sleep, leaves their room and goes to somewhere only the rest could speculate. 

And as for the rest of Team Z, they went into their sleeping bags early to sleep. 

...

24 hours later...

...

In the locker room, moments before their big and final game, Lemon went over their attack plan for today against Team V. 

Lemon: Kuon will stay in the front left side, and won't do anything. It'll be like having a player out. Due to their speed and shooting skills, Chigiri and Ayanokouji will be in the wings with Kunigami in the middle to shoot. Bachira will hold the midfield and Isagi, Raichi, and Igarashi will anchor the defense. Naruhaya and Gagamaru will be the right and left wing backs. The other team's offensive stats are incredible so we'll need to rely on a defensive, counterattack mindset. With only ten of us, this is the most effective strategy. 

Raichi: Hey, Kuon, stand in your corner and be anonymous for 90 minutes. Don't interfere or try to help us, trash. 

Kuon: I'll do what I have to do. 

Raichi: This fucking bastard...

Igarashi: The other team already knows they're through so their guard should be down. If we take advantage of that, we can win! We have a chance!

Naruhaya: Let's do it! It's now or never!

Chigiri: Let's go. 

Isagi: Yeah. 

Now changed and ready for possibly their final match, Team Z began to walk through the tunnel and into the pitch. 

Lemon: Let's win, Team Z!

Everyone: YEAH!

Isagi: (If we don't win, it's all over. My Whole Soccer career depends on this match!)

Bachira put his arm on Isagi's shoulder. 

Bachira: Isagi, if we loose today, are we not gonna be able to play and see each other again?

Isagi: Bachira... 

Bachira: That's way too sad, so I'll give it my all. 

Isagi: Yeah, let's go win this. 

They all lined up in their positions for the game to kick off. 

Ayanokouji: (We need to strike first in order to build some kind of foundation.)

Finally, the game began with Reo passing to Nagi.

Isagi: (We studied their patterns. And the initiator for all their attacks... is Reo.)

Reo dribbled past Isagi and penetrated the midfield. However, as soon as he did, both Isagi and Bachira swarmed him. 

Seeing this, Reo gave a short pass to Zantetsu who was in the right wing. His speed and acceleration makes it impossible to deal with in 1v1 situations so both Raichi and Naruhaya converged to stop his attack. 

Zantetsu, knowing he couldn't shoot from his position, gave a small lob to Nagi. But Isagi and the others predicted this and had Igarashi there to intercept the ball which he did. 

Isagi controlled it from Igarashi's displaced header and now began their counterattack. 

Isagi: (Now we begin our counter! Bachira!)

A short pass was controlled by Bachira as he dribbled past a close defender using his back heel. 

Isagi: (Without disturbing our defensive setup, we commit only a few to the attack. A strong defense and a quick attack... It's a super, long pass, kill-counter!)

Bachira: Go long, Ayanokouji! 

Bachira dealt a beautiful and fast lob all the way to the opposing team's penalty box. Of course, Ayanokouji was waiting for it and saw exactly where the ball would drop. 

Ayanokouji: (It's perfect. I feel like flying...)

Something sparked in Ayanokouji as a dash of blood dripped from his left eye. He sprinted forward and leapt high in the air, in a territory only he could reach.

???: Jeez, he can jump high!

???: We saw your tape. You can only score with your right leg! We have the whole right side blocked!

Ayanokouji: Who said that?

Hearing this, Ayanokouji contorted his body and hit the ball dead in the center with his left foot, smashing the ball right through the net of the goal. The Keeper, completely bewildered at his mid-air adjustment, dived at the other side of the goal. 

Ayanokouji landed and rolled across the ground and got up and looked over at the defender. 

Ayanokouji: I didn't think I was going to need to tell anyone, but I'm ambidextrous. 

Everyone: GOAALLLLLLL!!!!!

***Team V [0] vs. Team Z [1]***

Ego in his room smiled widely. 

Ego: Incredible. So he's already entering that stage of his game. Congrats Team Z, on creating your very first 'Chemical reaction.'

Kunigami: That was incredible. 

Ayanokouji: Bachira, nice pass.

Bachira smiled. 

Bachira: Looks like I was right to arc the pass like that, hehehe. 

Isagi: Ayanokouji, your eye!

Listening to Isagi, he checked his eye and saw a droplet of blood escaped from his left eye. 

Ayanokouji: Oh, strange. I don't feel anything. Let's carry on. 

The entire team celebrated. In a matter of minutes, they were now 1 goal up against the best team in their building. 

Kuon looked in horror as Ayanokouji now had 4 goals. It was over, he was fully defeated and now had to accept the fact that the entire team would either be eliminated or all go through. 

Reo took the ball up to the half-way point. 

Reo: So that's Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. I guess that's why that boring and lame guy was warning us not to let him score. He's pretty good. Not as good as you though, right Nagi?

Nagi: Comparing me and him is such a hassle. I'll just do what I'm told. 

Reo: So let's replicate it! Run down and I'll open the path for you, hehe. 

Nagi: If that's what you want. 

Starting the kickoff in the middle, Reo kept the ball for himself and passed it around in the midfield, giving Nagi time enough to dash through the middle unchecked. 

Isagi: Someone get on Nagi!

Reo: Alright! Let's do it, Nagi! 

In one swift motion, Reo gave a hard, long and crude pass towards Nagi who now was sandwiched in between both Raichi and Naruhaya. 

Isagi: (Are they copying our kill-counter? No that's impossible. The pass is off-target too. He misplaced the pass!)

As if time stopped, Nagi's eyes twitched and he jumped up through sheer reflex, extending his right leg and controlling the ball instantly without losing any speed. 

Ayanokouji: (He controlled it? That's really unfair. A ball hit that crudely and fast with that spin can't possibly be stopped so perfectly like that. He really is a monster)

Isagi: (What exactly is this creature?!)

As the ball descended beautifully down, Nagi volleyed it right through Lemon's grasp with his right foot, scoring a super goal in response to Ayanokouji's. 

***Team W [1] - Team Z [1]***

Nagi: That was easy. Why'd they make such a big deal out of scoring a goal like that? 

Isagi and Bachira felt a chill going down their spine. 

Ayanokouji: (Would you look at that? I couldn't even finish my analysis on him since he made that goal so quickly. I wonder if I even have to reflexes capable of copying such a perfect technique. Well, we'll just have to see.)