Proyect: Bland King - Ayanokouji Kiyotaka en Blue Lock

{{}}

As the game began to resume, everyone had returned to their seats. Hirata, Sato, and Kei, who met the new Kiyotaka, entered into a discourse about it. 

Hirata: I told you it was a bad idea. But don't worry, he's just focused on the game right now. 

Sato: That's no excuse! He couldn't say 'hey' or 'what's up?' He was out of line for that. 

Hirata: Ayanokouji doesn't seem to be the same person as before. Whatever he went through in 'Blue Lock' changed his personality or something. We can meet him after the game. He'll be back to normal then. 

Sato: But still-

Kei: It's fine. It's my fault. I could see it in his eyes. He cares about this game a lot. I don't know why but I've never seen him care about anything like this before. Let's just keep watching the game and I'll talk to him afterwords. 

Horikita: That's the best choice. If this game is as important as he's making it out to be, there might be more repercussions than just the outcome alone. 

Sudo: Hm? What do you mean by that?

Horikita: I mean, as soon as he left ANHS, he got swept away to this project. He wouldn't have joined a soccer project out of the blue. He never liked sports. So he's there for a reason and the outcome of this match might make or break it. 

Sudo: Oh...

Koenji: Not bad, Horikita-girl. You got it almost on the money. 

Sudo and Horikita looked over their shoulders to see Koenji still resting his feet on another student's head. 

Koenji: But to say he's not a fan of sports now is criminal. He wouldn't be trying this hard if he didn't like what he was doing. It's wholesome in a way. 

A couple of rows away, Kanzaki rested Ichinose's head on his lap. Ever since she fainted, she's been effectively knocked out and the rest of her classmates have tried in vain to open her eyes. 

But they aren't that interesting to write about so let's go to cooler classmates. 

Ryuen was somewhat weary. That final goal of the half did, in fact, change the momentum in favor of the U-20. But he still had his faith in Ayanokouji. 

Ryuen: I'm putting my faith in you, monster. Don't ruin my pockets. 

Ibuki: Ayanokouji himself is playing pretty well but if he's the only one that's reading the other team's plays, they can't win. 

Ishizaki: Soccer is a team sport. Someone has to step up. 

Albert: Agreed. 

A row of seats above them had Arisu and Kamuro, talking amongst themselves. 

 Arisu: Kiyo might be a bit fucked in the beginning. 

Kamuro: Huh? 

Arisu: Like I said, defending is harder than attacking in this instance. On one hand, he has 9 other players to help him on the offense but just himself for the defense. Being the only one that can comprehend their attack is going to be a problem. 

Kamuro: Who do you got winning then?

Arisu: At this point, even I don't know what kind of plan Kiyo is cooking up but we'll just have to see. Alot can happen in forty-five minutes. 

{{}}

Sae passed the ball over to Shido to commence the second half. 

Linking up in a triangular formation, Shido, Sae, and Yagami charged forward. They would cut through the middle using their new formation. 

Rin, Isagi, and Kiyotaka met the trio and tried to stifle their attack before it even began. 

Kiyotaka took on Shido, Rin's assignment was Sae, and Isagi was on Yagami. 

Kiyotaka eyes moved a great speed, trying to factor in every aspect of their playstyle and formation. 

Shido, seeing this change in Kiyotaka's movements, treaded very carefully. 

Shido: What are those eyes seeing?

Kiyotaka: Enough. 

Shido was covered pretty close, so he sent a short pass over to Yagami as he dissected the player in front of him. 

Isagi: (I won't fail this time. He's not all that special. His moves are bland... I can cover him!)

*KICK*

With the tip of his foot, the ball under Yagami's foot was displaced. However, Sae quickly regained possession and danced around the unruly Rin. 

Sae: Where's our backup?

Knowing Shido's need to attain space is vital for their plan, both Sendo and Chou 'sacrificed themselves' and surrounded Kiyotaka, allowing Shido to slip right through the grasp of his former teammate.

{{}}

Hirata: Damn, they did it again! 

Sato: They know Ayanokouji-kun's the only one that can do something so they're blocking him off!

{{}} 

Kiyotaka's eyes widened. Internally, it was like his mind fixed on the first part of a thousand-piece puzzle. 

Finally, with Shido now thrashing through the middle of the Blue Lock Eleven and passing past Karasu, Sae smashed the ball. 

Rin: *TCH* From there?!

On the run, from the heart of the midfield, and with pinpoint accuracy: This pass could only be completed by a select few. And Itoshi Sae was one of them. 

The ball continued to descend closer and closer to its target, as Shido's eyes widened in anticipation. 

Shido: (A nice open space... he's just like Kiyo with his passes. Lucky me~)

However, before Shido could reach the pass he so desperately craved for, it was time he knew it wouldn't be as easy as the first time. 

Reo, who took Niko's place as the left center back, effortlessly replicated Aiku's iconic clearance from earlier in the game and headed the ball away. This time, it didn't go out of bounds. 

Shido: Huh? Ya serious?

Reo: Just a skill issue. Get good. 

Shido almost popped a vein in anger. 

Shido: Pretentious fuck.

Before the ball could go out of bounds, Chigiri jolted to life and intercepted it, pushing it further ahead. 

Chigiri: Counterattack! 

{{}}

Chigiri's sister and mother cheered as Kiyotaka's classmates got a good first look on the addition. 

Horikita: He looks kind of lanky except for his legs. Those look pretty built. A lot more muscle than yours, Sudo. 

Sudo: Why'd you have to bring me into it?!

{{}}

Yagami: Let's see if you're as good as the last gu-

Making his presence known rapidly, Chigiri tapped the ball forward and speed blitzed through Yagami, leaving him in his dust. 

Yagami: Wha-

Chigiri: Kiyotaka!

*PASS*

Not wanting to let the momentum die down, Chigiri connected with Kiyotaka. 

His eyes never wavering, and his mind never hesitating, Kiyotaka scouted out his opportunities. 

Bachira: Come on, one-man-army~, let's crush them. 

Bachira had arrived to help. Despite still maintaining their lead, Ego decided to continue on the offensive, so as not to let the 'foot off the gas.' So Chigiri and Bachira pushed forward, just like their previous lineup with Otoya. 

Shido: You can't make a chemical reaction with anyone but me, Kiyo~

Sae: It stops right here. 

Isagi: (Bachira and Kiyotaka vs. Sae and Shido. Who's gonna win this?)

The game has broken down to a duo clash. The two best dribblers in Blue Lock against the new Chemical reaction on the block.

[[]]

Hirata: Haven't seen those two together in this match. This is intense!

Kei: But will it work?

[[]] 

With multiple stepovers and a fake-out to the right, Kiyotaka turned around Shido on the dime, looking for his opening. All the while, he assessed everything, even his breathing pattern. 

Kiyotaka devised a quick, on-the-fly, dribbling pattern. A roulette, followed by a Cruyff turn, nutmegged Shido, causing his feet to hit each other. 

Shido: Shit, I felt that!

However, despite passing through Shido, Sae awaited him and stuck his foot out. His eyes, just like Kiyotaka, were assessing everything and everyone around them.

Sae: You might have the same vision as me, but I've been doing this longer than you, newborn. 

*FLICK*

Before he could clinch and snatch the ball under Kiyotaka's feet, it was back-heeled a millisecond prior. 

Sae: Hm?

Bachira controlled the ball and dissected his matchup with Shido. He spun and lifted the ball in the air, baiting the beast to charge in without any care for caution.

However, being with the ever-cautious Kiyotaka for what felt like an eternity, Shido knew very well these kinds of bait and switches. 

He pulled back and focused his entire being to stay in front of the elusive and flashy Bachira. Eventually, he locked shoulders with Bachira, something he had an advantage in due to his better physique. 

Kiyotaka tried to assist Bachira but Sae kept a steady and firm shoulder-lock of his own. The two dueled over one another until Nagi of all people rushed in and ended the duo's only invitational. 

Nagi: I'll help.

Bachira passed it over to him only for Sae to spin through and past Kiyotaka, stealing it for himself. 

Sae: Not good enough. 

Shido, immediately knowing Sae won his matchup, slimed his way through Bachira and into open field, now for their second crack at the goal.

[[]]

Ryuen: Ah, shit! Defense! Show up! 

Ibuki: It wasn't good. They can't break through. 

[[]] 

Chigiri dashed to meet Shido as Karasu joined him, lingering in the back. Rin and Kiyotaka recovered, surrounding Sae and battling him for possession of the ball. 

Sae: You're still stalking me, how annoying. The level I'm at, is unattainable for the likes of you. 

Using his same cross-elastico, he nutmegged Rin for the second time. However, Kiyotaka wasn't going to let this go. He grappled on Sae's right side. 

The two met each other's glare. Both of their eyes seemed psychotic, but divine in their own right. Out of everyone in this entire pitch, only these two shared a transcendent peripheral vision of sorts.

Isagi, who rushed to try and assist, was left in his tracks alongside Rin, as both Kiyotaka and Sae dashed forward. 

Kiyotaka: (This type of dribbling he has, it's unique, systematic, and without flaws. I could make the case that ball retention is his greatest skill. Sure, Bachira might be flashier than him, but his dribbling pales in comparison to someone like this, a true prodigy. I can't let him shake me off so easily. The more he shows, the more I grow.)

Sae and Kiyotaka chased around and blocked each other's paths, each other basically trying to kill the other. 

Finaly both Yagami and Sendo pushed forward and got in Kiyotaka's way, acting as decoys. 

This stopped him before he could make an effort on the ball. 

Kiyotaka: (Annoying)

Sae, now free from Kiyotaka's pursuit, saw that Shido was inching forward to the penalty box yet again.

*PASS*

Firing a spiraling long pass, Sae knew it would reach its target this time. all Reo and Arryu could do was watch as Shido, not even looking at the ball, sped through an opening and was alone against Gagamaru.

Shido, smiling, waited for the ball to drop towards the same level as his foot for his acclaimed direct shot. 

*KICK*

Shido: Fucking annoying! You again?!

Reo, with all his being, flung his body forward from certain defeat, and used the top of his shoe to flick the ball away from Shido's range. 

All Shido kicked was air as it was effectively cleared. 

Arryu: Second ball! Clear it!!!!

[[]]

Kamuro: Wooah...

Arisu: Mikage Reo. He's a much more suitable matchup against a physical player like Shido. However, their attacks just keep coming. 

[[]]

Tereasa: WHAT A CLEARENCE FROM THE SUBSTITUTE, REO!!! BUT THE BALL IS STILL IN PLAY SO EVERYONE PLEASE STAY IN YOUR SEATS!!!

Chigiri, and Karasu dashed for the displaced ball only for Sae to appear once again and reclaim possession. 

Karasu: (Fuck...)

Chigiri: (Are you kidding me?)

Sae: I'll kick up a gear, monster. Be ready for my pass. 

Shido didn't need Sae's words to encourage him. He immediately picked up his pace again. 

Kiyotaka, seeing the play fold before his eyes, sprinted forward and performed a tackle to kick the ball away from Sae's feet. 

However, it turned out to be a fake. He stopped himself from sending the pass at the last moment, as his aura changed drastically. He really meant it when he said it was time to switch gears. All the while, Kiyotaka's eyes never left Sae's feet. For a brief encounter, he saw Sae's full potential, his own standard. 

Now with Kiyotaka dispatched, Sae smashed the ball at a perfect angle, spiraling the ball through with a contorting whip. 

Shido leapt into the air to head it in. 

Gagamaru: GAGAMARU HEADBUTT!!!!!

*HEADBUTT*

Surprising everyone, Gagamaru left his penalty box and headed the ball out of harms way, saving the day. 

[[]]

Hirata: Let's go! That's some good intuition!

Sato: Nice job, Goalkeeper-san!

Horikita: There wasn't anything else he could have done. Any later and he would have conceded. 

[[]]

Reo: Nice save, Gagamaru!

Arryu: It's cleared!

The commentary box went wild. 

Natsuki: DID YOU SEE THAT GOALKEEPER?! ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT IN HIS INTUITION, GETTING TO THE BALL BEFORE THE PHENOM RYUSSEI SHIDO!!!

Kiyotaka, now back on his feet, tried to dash over to Shido. Despite it appearing to be a failed play, only he knew what was going to transpire. His eyes never failed him. Right from the moment the ball left Sae's feet, their chaotic attack would be finished, with an even more chaotic goal. 

Shido's body felt light. An ominous aura fell on him. It was like a wave of light, shining a path towards his goal. 

Shido: (This play is dead... so why do I still feel like I can score my goal... ah... I get it... just like before with Kiyo...it's cuz I can... my cells are telling me to score my very own super goal...)

His aura exploded, as Shido made his way to the displaced ball and leapt in the air. Contorting his body, he spun around and shot a bicycle kick from outside the box. 

Shido: BIG BANG DRIVE!!!!!

Kiyotaka couldn't reach there in time. It was too late.

Shido effectively chipped Gagamaru from outside the box, as the ball landed chaotically through the net.

Shido: (It's time to announce to the world of people that don't know my name... and to reaffirm to the ones that do... that my goals...my genes...) 

Blue Lock Eleven [2] - U-20 Japan [2]

Shido: They're gonna knock you the fuck up!!!

Shido jumped up screamed out in a roar, attaining his second explosion and wave of euphoria. 

Ego, from Blue Lock's bench, sighed. 

Ego: It looks like the first person to reach flow in this match... is you, Ryusei Shido. 

...

...

...

The Commentary box were ecstatic. 

Natsuki: DAMN, HAHAHAHA!!!!

Tereasa: SU...SUPERB!!! WITH A LONG-RANGE REVERSE HEAD SHOT... U-20 JAPAN ARE NOW LEVEL!!!!!

Sendo and Yagami ran over to the celebrating Shido, overjoyed as the game was now tied.

He immediately shoved them both away. 

Shido: Why are you two celebrating? It's my explosion, my pleasure. Get your own goal if ya wanna celebrate it so badly. 

Yagami: (I'm only tolerating you cuz we're crushing Ayanokouji.)

Aiku, along with the rest of the defense, cheered alongside the others, despite Shido's annoyance. Sae walked over to Shido amidst the chaos. 

Sae: That right there is why I picked you. Continue releasing your inner beast and we can finish this game quickly. You have two goals. Let's get you a hattrick. 

Shido: Ah~, now that's a good idea. Putting them in a hole will put some pressure on Kiyo. Maybe he'll get to show his flow too. 

Sae: Doesn't look like it. He's just an annoying stalker. I don't know why you'd make such a bet if your supposed savior can't stop our attack. 

Shido: The game's got a lot of time left~. Better not underestimate him. That's how me and Kiyo crushed Blue Lock~

{{}}

Arisu: And that right there is why he's Blue Lock's best striker. It looks like he's even better than the tapes. Of course, Kiyotaka's duo companion was going to be a monster in his own right. 

Kamuro: How did he even score that? I thought it was cleared. 

Arisu: Well, Gagamaru used his head to clear it which was smart. If he didn't do it, he would have scored then and there. However, Shido is too athletic and mentally gifted to let a loose ball pass him by. 

Kamuro: What do you mean by mentally gifted?

Arisu: His weapon, from what I read in his file, is 'extreme spatial awareness' a pretty cringy name but an elite weapon, nonetheless. Basically, anything that comes into his range, he can score given it falls in the box area. 

Kamuro: But the ball was cleared well after the penalty box-

Arisu: Which is exactly why Kiyotaka valued him so much as a partner. He can go past his limits like he can. 

Hirata and the others looked disheartened as the score was now tied. Ryuen looked fumed, his money burning right in front of his eyes. 

{{}}

Isagi: (That was insane... what the fuck was that goal? Is Shido... in flow? Are you fucking kidding me? That's what I wanted to do... fuck... he went and did the one thing I was supposed to do...)

Rin exuded visible anger, almost like smoke accumulated from his ears. 

Kiyotaka: (That final play was useless to me. I already know Shido's power. That goal didn't show me anything new. Sae's passes created pressure, but it was Shido who capitalized on a perfect opportunity. I need to see their chemical reaction again, their true chemical reaction. Give me another chance. I need the data...)

With the world now chanting Sae's and Shido's names, everyone got back into their positions to kick off the game once again. 

Kiyotaka: (Shido reached flow first. That much is certain. He's going to be even more of a handful now.)

...

[GAME RESTART]

...

Isagi and Rin checked the ball from the middle of the field. 

Rin: Just die for me, Isagi. I'm not going to let my brother upstage me. 

Isagi passed it to Rin who dribbled forward. Kiyotaka dashed from the wing, just like Yukimiya, Chigiri, and Bachira. In order to stop their momentum, they couldn't do it with defense right now.

It would be through complete offense. 

Before Rin could push forward with the ball, Shido, still in an entranced state, collided with him. 

Without an option, Rin passed the ball back to Bachira who sent an immediately quick lob forward to an open space. 

Darai rushed forward to snatch the ball, only for Kiyotaka to appear and flick it forward. Chigiri, seeing this, turned on a point forward and towards the goal. 

Rin, Isagi, and Nagi attacked at the same time as Aiku, Niou and Sendo guarded them all heavily. 

Before Kiyotaka could pass the ball, Yagami appeared with his sheer speed. 

Yagami: How's it feel to have the game turned around so quickly?

Not answering him, Kiyotaka faked a pass and then used a Cruyff turn across Yagami's weaker left side, giving him a foot of space. 

*SMASH*

Hitting the ball with a quick spiral, it went through Sendo's feet and towards Chigiri. 

Chigiri: I got it-

*SNATCH*

With his unwavering and complete control of everything in his range, Shido easily snuffed out the pass and dashed forward, away from the displaced Chigiri, for the counterattack. 

Isagi: Get back!!!

Kiyotaka: (His spatial awareness, that's already insane, has now reached a superhuman level in flow. I need to see this through to the end.)

Shido bolted forward and right past both Rin and Isagi, leaving the pair in the dust. 

Isagi: Huh?

Rin: ...

Karasu, now desperate, attempts to hold the midfield, only for Shido to surprise him once again. 

*PASS*

The ball landed to Sae's feet, as the two connected again. 

Kiyotaka: (Show it to me again. Do it.)

Sae looked behind him to see Kiyotaka bolting over at full speed, almost in arm's length. 

*PASS*

Instead of passing forward to Shido, he passed back, nutmegging Kiyotaka and to the feet of Yagami. 

Isagi: I won't let you!

Isagi stuck out his leg to Yagami, stopping him from running forward. 

Instead, Yagami scoffed and smirked, completing a rabona flick past Isagi's feet. 

*KICK*

Yagami: What?

Kiyotaka turned around and tackled, hitting the ball away from Yagami's feet. 

Nagi, seeing this displaced ball, rushed over but was too slow. Sendo, expressing his sheer hustle and determination to win, dove and headed the ball forward to Chou.

Nagi: Hm?

Sendo: Like hell, I'm gonna let this attack end! We're winning this game!

[[]]

Hirata: Damn, they're relentless. As soon as Shido entered the game, they all believe in wining through him. 

Kei: (He's insane. Is this what Kiyo saw in him. Were they a duo or something in 'Blue Lock?' This doesn't look good.)

[[]]

Cho dribbled forward, looking for a potential path to Sae. However, Shido latched off Karasu and got open for the pass. 

*PASS*

Gaining possession of the ball, Shido continued to rush forward until he was stopped by Reo, who pushed his body from behind, applying incredible pressure. Shido was stuck in no-man's land, unable to turn or push himself forward because of Reo's decent build. 

Shido smiled. 

Shido: Not bad~

Sae, however, wasn't going to stand idle, not anymore. He pushed forward with Kiyotaka looming from behind him. The two dueled one another with their own forms of off-ball movement, in an attempt to gain ground on the other. 

Shido, seeing Sae rushing towards him, slightly tapped the ball away from him to Reo's shock. 

Reo: What are you doing-

Both Sae and Kiyotaka collided with one another, almost like two titans fighting for Shido's flick of a pass. 

Sae: What are you hoping to achieve by simply looking? Do you want to lose this game? I'll grant your wish, inferior fuck. 

Continuing to shoulder-lock Kiyotaka, Sae was able to muster a slight tap of the ball to an open space outside the box. 

Kiyotaka looked on as the ball rested in... Yagami's feet. 

Yagami sent a quick dart pass to Shido who took the opportunity to spin around Reo's rigid formation. 

The Lob reached closer and closer to Shido's chest-

Arryu: I'm... shining!!!

*HEADBUTT*

[[]]

Ryuen: Let's go, long-ass hair defender!

Ibuki: CLEAR IT!

[[]]

Using his height advantage and incredible agility, the magnificent Arryu glided across the air and cleared the ball. However, it was going in the direction of Sae and Kiyotaka. 

Sae's eyes widened, almost like he saw something before it even began. 

Kiyotaka: (He saw something...)

The ball creaked forward, through the air, and almost out of bounds from the wing. 

Kiyotaka: (Oh... now I see it... it all makes sense... I get it now...)

Sae: Bear witness, puny King. 

*JUMP*

Before the ball could go out of bounds, Sae's face exploded in determination. He performed a bicycle kick of his own, but instead of aiming at the net, it was a beautiful and perfect lob pass. 

It soured through the air and towards Shido. He was already out of position from the previous attack, so he improvised. Ducking down, and leading with his right leg, the chemical reaction was complete. 

*SMASH*

A scorpion kick from Shido finished off Sae's transcendent pass, as the ball hit the top crossbar and deflected through the net. 

Blue Lock Eleven [2] - U-20 Japan [3]

Shido roared out and took off his shirt, twirling it around as the Hatrick was completed. 

The crowd erupted into chants and praise again, now for the demon Shido who completed his hattrick for the entire world to see.

The fans that slowly supported the Blue Lock Eleven looked on in shock, almost speechless. 

Back on the pitch, more drama followed. Sae, now getting up, scoffed at Kiyotaka. 

Sae: Do you see now? It's over. I've gained ownership of the beast that is Shido. My vision destroyed your own and we gained the lead. You have nothing left in your arsen-

What came next was so surprising that Sae stood there with his eyes and mouth open. 

Sae: Wha..

Kiyotaka looked back at him, a small droplet of blood going down his cheek from his eye. He pulled his hair back and gave him a wide smile. 

Sae: (Those eyes... I saw it on a couple of his tapes... he had similar looks against my loser of a brother and then against those World Five pros. That demon also told me something about this...)

...

***Flashback to Training Camp***

Sae sent a clean pass over to Shido as he shot it through the net. Covered in sweat, the duo sat down on a bench as Sae reached over. 

Sae: So, what is the deal with this?

Shido: Hm?

Sae pulled up a tablet which was playing a single clip-on repeat. It was Kiyotaka against his little brother Itoshi Rin during their duel. His dribbling, speed, physicality, and then an miraculous chemical reaction with Shido to win the match. 

Shido: Ah... that was a good game. Our connection was getting better and better until the end. Then ur incest-lover of a brother exploded and it caused a chain reaction that awoke Kiyo. I've experienced plenty of explosions in my life but that one was the sweetest one. 

Sae: Wait, take me back a little. What did you mean by Kiyotaka awaking. He awoke what?

Shido laughed and smiled. 

Shido: It was the moment he awoke that damn ego of his, hehehe. 

***End of Flashback***

...

Kiyotaka: Last time I checked, we still have thirty minutes left in the game, kidnapper. Hope you enjoyed your fun with him, because that was the last time you'll connect with Ryusei Shido. My analysis is complete. 

________

Time: 60 min

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