Proyect: Bland King - Ayanokouji Kiyotaka en Blue Lock

***Flashback to Blue Lock Training Camp***

Kiyotaka finished another training session completely alone. He smashed the ball as it glided through the air and into the top-right hand corner.

After finishing up, his name was called through the loudspeaker. He was needed in Ego's office.

Changing into a new shirt and walking the cold and dark hallway leading up to Ego's office, Kiyotaka opened the door and entered to see a myriad of screens, microphones, statistic charts, and tablets.

Instead of Ego, it was Anri who stood before him.

Anri: I'm sorry for calling you so late in here, Kiyotaka-kun.

Kiyotaka: It doesn't matter. I was still training all the same. Where is Ego?

Anri: He's currently in the bathroom.

Kiyotaka: I see.

The air was tense, and the atmosphere was incredibly awkward to say the least. Eventually, this silence shattered with Anri bowing and apologizing to Kiyotaka.

Anri: I'm sorry. I wanted to give you a head's up and resolve that peacefully, but I didn't know it'd get so much out of hand. I know he was your friend and the two of you grew close.

Kiyotaka: You don't need to apologize. You were just doing your job. This may be for the best.

Anri: Hm?

Kiyotaka: I can't keep relying on Shido, that much is certain. Even when we're not teammates, I was still fixated on him and that's how I lost to Isagi. If the whole point of Blue Lock is to be the best striker, then I can't keep assisting a rival. Sure, I was in my feelings at first, but this is for the best.

Ego: Yes it is. One of your weaknesses will finally be addressed.

Behind the pair stood Ego who stretched his back and scratched his messy hair.

Ego: Your dependency on Ryussei Shido made you complacent and put your ego into something that won't help you in becoming the best striker. It could make you the best midfielder if you wanted too. You wanna be the next Itoshi Sae or something?

Kiyotaka: No.

Ego: Exactly. Loki told you the exact same thing, didn't he, in your match? If your number one priority is your chemical reaction with Ryusei Shido, then where does your ego come into play? This is precisely why I separated the two of you by placing you third in the rankings. Simple as that. Now, we have to discuss a premiere lineup. You'll be assisting me. Oh and Anri-chan?

Anri: Yes?

Ego: Give us the room and make us some coffee or something, errand-girl. Make yourself useful.

Anri pouted and exited the room, on her way to make coffee for her annoying boss.

Ego: Now, what do you think is Blue Lock Eleven's most ideal formation?

...

*** End of Blue Lock Training Camp***

...

*WHISTLE*

The referee blew his whistle, giving Shido a yellow card for taking off his shirt in his celebration. He didn't much retaliate to it because his entranced state broke apart once he saw Kiyotaka's eyes.

Just as Kiyotaka finally knew what he was going to do in order to turn this game around, he saw Isagi rushing over to Blue Lock's bench while Anri and Ego were in a heated discussion.

On Blue Lock's bench, Anri saw this goal in shock.

Anri: Ego-san... what should we do now? Shido's now got a hattrick for the game and we're down by one. Our subs did good at the start but now we're going to lo-

Ego sighed.

Ego: For now, there's no future plans.

Anri: What?! Wha... What are you talking about?! We're going to lose at this rate! And if we lose, It'll mean the end of Blue Lock! Then everything you've done up until now will all be-

Isagi jolted forward.

Isagi: EGO-SAN!!!

Anri: Hm?

Ego: ...

Behind the pair, Isagi bolted towards them, completely determined.

Isagi: I don't want things to end like this... what should we do now? We're fighting with all we've got like you told us to do but despite that... we can't reach victory on our own! Please tell me... how can we win this?

Ego sighed.

Ego: Are you guys stupid? Blue Lock has already won.

Isagi and Anri: Huh?

Ego: The landslide first half, Ryusei Shido's debut... everything so far has gone exactly as I planned. True, if we lose this game, it'll mean the end of Blue Lock. And I expect I'll be exiled from the world of Japanese Soccer forever, but... none of you will disappear.

Isagi: ...

Ego: Ryusei Shido, who's now gotten a hattrick with the help of Itoshi Sae, will join the ranks of Japanese soccer stardom. And as the next ace after him... I'm sure Rin Itoshi will join the Japanese U-20 team. The rest of the Blue Lock members will attract interest from famous colleges and domestic leagues, so doors will open for you.

Ego: That's how well you've all performed. So, in the future that lies ahead... the fact that you were in Blue Lock will become a powerful advantage. I'll disappear... and all of you will change Japanese soccer. Stand proud, Blue Lock has already won.

Isagi: B-

Kiyotaka: Are you a retard?

Everyone looked back shocked to see Kiyotaka standing before them.

Kiyotaka: 'I'll disappear... and all of you will change Japanese soccer.' Who do you think you are? And after I just found their weakness.

He walked past Anri and Isagi and yanked Ego off his chair, holding him up from the ground with one arm. Ego's eyes widened.

Isagi: Hey, Kiyo-

Kiyotaka: If Blue Lock loses, you're not the only one who disappears. I do as well. Where do you get off suddenly being selfless like that?

He brought Ego's face close to his.

Kiyotaka: You're the one that took me from my past school. You're the one that put me in Project: Bland King. You're the one that put obstacle after obstacle in my way to challenge and grow me. Because of you, I found my ego in a sport I didn't even care to look at, even less mention. You did that.

Throwing him aside, he crashed into his chair.

Kiyotaka: Because of you, my past self-died and I was remade. I made a friend and finally got goals and aspirations. Now that I finally know what to do, it's going to be squandered because you're going to be selfless?

His eyes looked crazed as he told Ego this:

Kiyotaka: If you want to disappear then go right ahead. But don't lump me into your selfless acts, it's absolutely disgusting. I've decided to follow my ego. I'm going to move forward with or without you. The ideals you preached, that I was too ignorant to understand at first, are now my bible. The only way we can reach the levels of greatness before us is through your ideals. So stop pretending to be a saint and continue being the dictator you've always been. Give us your orders.

Ego fixed his glasses and glared right at Kiyotaka. Anri was shuddering from the avalanche of words spewing from Kiyotaka.

Isagi: (Ah... shit... what's going to happen now? He just assaulted Ego-san!)

Anri: (Why'd he do that?!!)

Ego sighed.

Ego: I see... Ayanokouji Kiyotaka... fine... if that's what you want then so be it. I was right to pluck you away from that prison. Your ego is apparent to me.

He stood up and stretched, announcing his orders.

Ego: From now on, we're looking forward into the abyss. This game is too unpredictable in that way. So, we'll go with something just as chaotic. And my orders are absolute. It's time we used our trump card...you're up.

From across the bench, a player got up from the bench and tore off the coat he was wearing, revealing his jersey.

Ego: Shoei Baro...

Baro emerged from the bench as Ego signaled the referee for a substitution.

Baro: I'm fucking sick of waiting... you losers.

Kiyotaka: You couldn't have picked a better player to sub in, Ego.

...

...

...

Tereasa: WE'RE TWENTY MINUTES INTO THE SECOND HALF!!! AND NOW, AFTER HAVING THE TABLES TURNED ON THEM, THE BLUE LOCK ELEVEN ARE SWAPPING OUT PLAYERS!!!!!

Natsuki: FOR THEIR LAST SUBSTITUTION, YUKIMIYA IS GOING OUT AND NUMBER THIRTEEN... SHOEI BARO IS SWAPPING IN!!!!!!!

Yukimiya: Ah... this sucks.

Walking past Baro, Yukimiya left him with some parting words.

Yukimiya: You look like you're gonna murder someone. Relax.

Baro: Shut it. This is just spirit.

Kiyotaka: Baro, you'll be up top with Rin. We're going to kick up this offense to the max, so the formation is changing.

Isagi: Wait, when did thi-

Baro: So I was watching from the bench and I thought, to be honest, that both of you are so fucking boring.

Isagi sighed.

Isagi: Ah, shut up.

Kiyotaka: If it's so boring then make it exciting. Prove your worth and stop bitching. And Isagi.

Isagi: Hm?

Kiyotaka: You're moving up to the right wing. We're changing the formation up completely.

Isagi: What kind of formation are we going for now?

Kiyotaka: The formation is going to be this: Defense is the same, you move up to the right wing, Nagi goes to the left, Baro and Rin go up as the strikers and I remain in the middle as the orchestrator.

Isagi: Eh? A full attack formation even more aggressive than before? But it doesn't matter if we can't stop their chemical reaction.

Kiyotaka: That's where I come in.

Isagi: Hm?

Kiyotaka: I will shut them down. I now know how.

Goosebumps appeared on Isagi's skin as he saw Kiyotaka's eyes and drew parallels to them in the first selection. He was excited.

Isagi: Oh, and when you were talking with Ego, what did you mean by Project: Bland King?

Kiyotaka: I'll tell you all about it when we win. Now isn't the time.

Rin: So now you're a midfielder again? I thought you were a striker?

Kiyotaka: I thought you were better than your brother. Up till now, he's been outplaying you. Just listen to me. I'm the captain of this team right now.

With the new lineup, Kiyotaka has taken on the mantle of the instigator. Through him, he'll be able to connect with the rest of the offense.

In the commentary box, Tereasa and Natsuki received information regarding their new declared formation.

Tereasa: OH, WE JUST GOT THE BLUE LOCK ELEVEN'S NEW STARTING FORMATION. ITOSHI RIN IS JOINED BY BARO AT THE FRONT AS DUEL STRIKERS. NAGI AND ISAGI WILL BE THE RESPECTIVE LEFT AND RIGHT WINGS. THE DEFENSE REMAINS THE SAME EXCEPT THE LEFT AND RIGHT BACKS BACHIRA AND CHIGIRI ARE NOW IN THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFENSIVE FORMATIONS. KARASU TIES THE DEFENSIVE LINE WITH THE OTHER CENTERBACKS. AND THE ONLY MIDFIELDER IS... AYANOKOUJI KIYOTAKA! HE'S THE SOLE ATTACKING MIDFIELDER, LINKING WITH THE FORWARDS. WHAT A STRANGE, EXPERIMENTAL FORMATION.

Natsuki: THERE'S A LOT OF DRAWBACKS FOR THIS FORMATION, ESPECIALLY THAT THEY'RES GOING TO BE NO PRESENCE IN THE MIDDLE ASIDE FROM A SINGLE PLAYER. BUT WE'LL SEE HOW THIS NEW CHANGE TURNS OUT FOR THEM.

Tereasa: THE GAME IS RESUMING! WITH THE U-20 TEAM OUT INFRONT, CAN BLUE LOCK STAGE A COMEBACK OF THEIR OWN!

...

...

...

Kiyotaka and Baro checked the ball.

Kiyotaka: Don't fuck up like last time. You have a chance at redemption, king.

Baro: Then send me decent fucking passes. I'm the only one you need to look for.

*PASS*

The game resumed with Kiyotaka's pass to Baro.

He immediately passed back to Kiyotaka as he dashed forward, like a man possessed.

Sae, after their previous exchange, immediately defended Kiyotaka.

The influx of forwards meant a numerous number of possibilities. Without even looking away from Sae, he hit the ball from the outermost side, spiraling it to the left. The lob perfectly landed in Isagi's feet, all the way on the other side of the field.

Sae: Hm?

Isagi, understanding Kiyotaka's intentions, pushed forward with the ball under his feet. Yagami, thinking he was simple prey, locked shoulders in a conflict but Isagi knew, in this play, he wasn't alone. He sends a wild and rough pass back to Kiyotaka who was still being locked on by Itoshi Sae and now the fast and apprehensive Shido.

With a new target in sight, he didn't look to dribble it like other previous encounters with the enemy duo.

*SMASH*

Directly drilling the pass forward from halfway in the field, it swerved throughout the sky and landed down to the galloping Rin who was now in the midst of the Iron Quartet.

However, the swerve on the pass was too great for him to perfectly control.

Baro: It's mine.

Dashing through the Unsuspecting Rin, Baro intercepted the pass and plucked it right out of the sky.

Rin: Hm?

It was never meant for him.

Kiyotaka: (His killer intent is exactly what we need in this game right now. There's too much soft-ball movement. Since he was sitting comfortably on the bench, his ego took a hit from seeing everyone else showing the world their strengths. So now, it won't matter if it's friend or foe, he's going to treat everyone like hot trash. And I can exploit this for my own benefit.)

Baro collided with Niou as the defender noticed how physically gifted Baro was.

Niou: (I'm not putting any pressure on him!)

*SMASH*

Without a second thought, he smashed the ball with all his might in the direction of the goal. It glided towards the top left corner and...

*CLANK*

... it was denied but not by Aiku, or any of the Iron Quartet. It of course wasn't from the goalkeeper since he's been utter crap since the very beginning. No, it was by the Gravure-loving idiot, Sendo.

He put his whole body on the line and saw the direction of the shot. Given he's a striker, he knows what pockets of space are ideal for a goal. And he reacted with his face as the ball clanked off the crossbar.

Baro: Fuck!

Kiyotaka: (Not bad, King. Unfortunate. We can run it back.)

It softly descended down, in the direction of Teppei.

Teppei: Counterattack-

Nagi: Looks like you need your eyes checked. I'm right here.

*TAP*

Nagi plucked away the ball with his exceptional ball control, now understanding his role.

Nagi: (Just like Reo said, I need to score a goal. We're still down. I can do this.)

From the left side of the penalty box, Nagi nutmegged Teppei with a lateral turn and glided across the edge of that same area. Looking up, all he saw was his chance, his goal.

Aiku and Niou rushed to double team him, but they were too slow to act given they had just dropped back to defend Baro's failed chemical reaction with Kiyotaka.

*SMASH*

From outside the box, Nagi hit the ball dead in the center, gliding across the air and in a curve, completely fooling the goalkeeper with its sheer speed and placement.

Aiku's eyes widened. He was out of position and this shot was not going to be stopped by Fukaku. It was up to him and yet... his body wasn't fast enough to cover that much ground in time.

However, a strange phenomenon occurred for the second time in the game. The play of the game slowed down to a standstill, and the cheers from the fans, festering away to see this bloodbath ceased...

...The only words he could hear, were his own, inner monologue telling him to move...

Aiku: (We have a chance to win against these wild beasts... Shido and Sae can do this... I have to play my role...as the captain of the U-20 team.)

Nagi's eyes widened at the sight in front of him as did the rest of the stadium.

On an almost superhuman level, Aiku turned around and cleared multiple feet of space with a jump and dive, barely cleaving through and hitting the ball away with his head.

Aiku had achieved flow for the first time in his life. It was in response to his dream of becoming the world's most premiere defender, against the best offense he'd seen in his whole career up until this point.

Aiku: I AM THE FINAL WALL!!!!!

Kiyotaka: Not bad, captain.

Aiku, in his heightened state, saw Kiyotaka appear in front of him and spin around, hitting the displaced ball with a bicycle kick midair.

It drilled through, in the direction of the goal. However, Kiyotaka himself knew it wouldn't go in.

Kiyotaka: (The key is to unleash sheer desperation, to push everyone and everything to the brink and steal a winning play. I don't care if I fail 100 times, as long as one shot slips through the cracks. With the game being this unpredictable, the only way to win is to induce this senseless and utter chaos. Aiku might be in flow, but he's just a single player. He can't be everywhere.)

The shot was blocked by Niou's head yet again and hit the top of the crossbar. His nose leaked blood afterwards, but he didn't complain. Instead, he bit a piece of his jersey off and plucked the nostril up.

The displaced ball would be chased down by Itoshi Rin. However, he was a second too late.

Sae spun around and snatched it first, initiating their counterattack.

Sae: Rest easy, and get ready for the credits to roll, captain.

...

...

...

Sae dribbled the ball forward and close to the halfway point of the midfield, completely bypassing both Isagi and Rin who tried to guard him.

Sae: How lukewarm.

Shido, immediately in response, charged forward.

Shido: Come on, Kiyo~, you're gonna have to do better than that. Hm, where'd he go?

Instead of Kiyotaka being his usual assignment, Chigiri jolted forward to guard him using his speed.

Kiyotaka was almost nowhere to be seen.

Shido: Where'd he go?

Sae attacked the heart of the midfield and was met by Bachira and Karasu going out of position to serve as obstacles.

However, he still eyed a beautiful gap in between the pair.

Sae: Move, monster. Time for your fourth goal.

*PASS*

The lob cut through the two like butter as it glided towards Shido.

*DASH*

A figure almost masked in a shadow emerged from the depts of darkness at full speed.

Sae: What... how'd you end up there...

Before the pass could make contact with Shido, Kiyotaka emerged and plucked the ball away, controlling it midair.

This, effectively, closed off Shido's spurt of flow as he looked pleasantly shocked at the whole ordeal.

Shido: Not bad, Kiyo~, ya found something out, huh.

Kiyotaka: Your vision is incredible but you're not all-seeing. Humans have blind spots no matter how much we train our eyes. If I can time my acceleration and intuition with your blind spots, your chemical reaction breaks down. I have the pair of you on lock-down.

Sae: Slimy fuck, just die.

Descending down to the ground from a perfect shooting of the gap, Kiyotaka pushed the ball forward in retaliation.

Sae immediately covered Kiyotaka as the two entered their very own duel.

With all the information at his disposal, Kiyotaka decided to wager it all on this encounter.

With the pair being the only human beings with transcendent peripheral vision, there was no room for errors. Each movement must be deliberate and intentional as well as perfect.

Starting with a Cruyff turn, Kiyotaka spun around Sae who kept up by shoulder blocking his right side and following the movement of his eyes.

A tap to the left and multiple stepovers, had Sae's eyes working on overtime, keeping up with the multitude of moves before him.

Trying a rainbow turned in vain, as Sae prohibited the ball from leapfrogging him and instead, he slightly tapped it away.

Kiyotaka regained the ball and tried a scissor chop followed by a roloutte, but Sae continued to linger on, stuck to his side.

However, this was all according to Kiyotaka's plan.

Kiyotaka: As much as I despise you, you're fun in a vacuum. I don't have all day. So, heed my order....

In that moment, Kiyotaka pulled back much to Sae's surprise.

Kiyotaka: Get out of my way, you piece of shit.

Using his own move against him, Kiyotaka performed a cross-elastico, nutmegging the surprised Sae, leaving him in the dust for the first time of the game.

The audience were in awe at a perfect dribbling sequence that ended... with a resounding victory for Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.

Tereasa: THE DUEL BETWEEN SAE AND KIYOTAKA IS OVER WITH THE WINNER BEING THE NEW STAR OF THE BLUE LOCK ELEVEN. REPLICATING THE SIGNITURE MOVE OF HIS OPPONENT, HE PUSHES FORWARD!!!!

Rin, Nagi, Baro, and Isagi all rushed forward as Bachira and Chigiri joined him from the midfield.

He stared at Chigiri, basically yelling at him to push up forward.

Hayate and Sendo tried to guard the now-free Kiyotaka in vain. Trading passes with Bachira, the two broke through the middle.

Shido rushed forward to attack Kiyotaka from behind, only for him to step aside and cut through from an angle.

*CROSS*

From a couple meters forward of the midfield, he smashed the ball again with a fierce kick at full power. Rin, who had been studying Kiyotaka's movements, looked on in surprise at the ball suddenly disappearing from his rival's feet.

Rin: (First he destroys oni-san, and now I can't see his pass. That fucking asshole.)

The eyes of all players on the field peered around, not knowing exactly where it would reappear.

Isagi: (Where is it going?)

Suddenly, the ball seamlessly reappeared at the feet of Rin who was now in the penalty box. It was another perfect pass.

Rin: (How hard did he hit that? It's superhuman.)

*SMASH*

Taking his opportunity, he fired the shot right at the right corner of the goal.

*TAP*

Still in his transcendent trance, Aiku dived and saved another goal-worthy shot, displacing the ball forward.

Isagi: (It's no use. This guy's also in flow! His defensive specs have all taken a giant leap forward!)

Baro: Right here, fucker!

Lunging forward and attaining possession, Baro wasted no time and shot the ball, performing a volley from outside the box again.

Aiku's eyes already set its sight on the area he needed to guard, diving once again and heading the ball right into the crossbar.

Baro: Fuck!

Sae, Shido, Rin, Nagi, Darai, Kiyotaka, and Niou all charged forward, completely lost in the fray and trying to attain possession for their side.

It truly had divulged into a chaotic scene almost unrecognizable from the soccer Japan was known for. And they loved every single second of the barbaric display.

Lashing out amongst each other like a street fight, the ball violently bounced from each of the players' feet.

Eventually, Sae escaped from the fray with Kiyotaka chasing right after him from his left side and Rin from his right side.

Sae: If I'm not giving my all in this game, I'll get killed like an animal. It's time we increase the level of play. Only the idiots who can follow me.. get to see the scenery that comes next.

Almost like a gear shifted in Sae's mechanical works, he was now using 100 percent of his capabilities. Because of Kiyotaka's recent dominance, he wouldn't let the gas off the pedal. The game's dynamic had been turned on its head ever since Blue Lock changed their formation, so he wouldn't hold anything back.

He sped forward and his legs moved even more meticulously than before, the stepovers and hypersonic scissor cuts confusing and unsettling. Shido, seeing this change in Sae, pushed forward in anticipation for another chemical reaction.

With Rin and Kiyotaka guarding him, Sae dribbled from the outside and cut through with a cross elastico, nutmegging Rin but still having Kiyotaka latch on him like glue.

Using all of his power, Sae dove forward and barely cleared the ball up to Sendo, pushing the attack forward.

Sweat now trickled down Sae's face, incomparable to his composed self from the first half. He was feeling the intensity that Kiyotaka's improving offense and defense brought.

Sae recovered and pushed forward. Yagami, completely forgotten in the play of the game, was now breaking down from the exorbitant chaos he was seeing.

Yagami: (This... can anyone even call this soccer? What the fuck is this? What the fuck did I get myself into...)

Sendo: Yagami! Here!

*PASS*

He received the pass and pushed forward. Kiyotaka loomed behind him, leaving Sae for Rin and the others.

Almost like a monster out of fiction, Kiyotaka seemed animal in nature, only searching for the ball in front of him. Yagami was faltering. This newfound pressure, and seeing Kiyotaka in this nature, froze him up.

However, he had a lucky break. Sae cut through and stole the ball from him.

Sae: If you're freezing up now, you don't deserve to be on the same field as me, lukewarm fuck.

He dribbled and dashed forward, Shido looming into the penalty box.

Unlike in previous iterations, Kiyotaka paid Sae no mind. However, he didn't disappear from his sight either. Instead, he was heading straight towards Shido.

Sae: (What are you planning now, freak? Shido is too far ahead for you to catch up in time. Thanks for the easy goal.)

*SMASH*

The Blue Lock Eleven looked in amazement as Sae clobbered the ball, sending a deep cross over to Shido.

Shido, seeing the ball descend to his location, jumped up to welcome its arrival. It landed down to his feet comfortably. However, he had forgotten about Blue Lock's best defender.

*CRASH*

Reo's muscular build and improved lower balance, brought Shido to a stop. He had improved from his previous copy of Niou's ability and sent Shido into no-man's land.

Kiyotaka devised two ways to cancel out their chemical reaction: nip it at the source using Sae's blind spots... and double-team Shido with the Blue Lock Eleven's two copycats.

Shido: Seriously?

Reo: You better keep an eye on the ball, or else you might get robbed.

Shido: H-

*SNATCH*

Kiyotaka appeared, using Reo has an obstacle to account for amount of space. He trusted that he could hold him in place while using his own speed to catch him completely by surprise. Shido fell for this deadly pincer attack.

Kiyotaka: Thanks, Reo, you played your role perfectly.

Reo: Just score then, captain.

Kiyotaka: You don't have to tell me.

Shido looked to his side as Kiyotaka passed right through him and for the counterattack.

Karasu: Counterattack! Push up!

Kiyotaka, Chigiri, Bachira, and Isagi pushed forward together in an arrow formation with Kiyotaka as the lone orchestrator.

Isagi: This is our chance! Let's go, 'One-Man-Army'!

Kiyotaka: Find your own way through, I'll make sure we capitalize. We're going for a full-field press.

Bachira, Chigiri, and Isagi: YEAH!!!!

Four of Team Z's original teammates reunite as they push forward for their own goals and ideals. It was time to imprint their souls into the game.

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Time: 70 min

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