"After a day of practice, I believe your bodies have 'woken up.' Next, I will help you awaken your brains."
In the meeting room, Ego Jinpachi pointed a finger at his own head. He was about to teach the team members the essential, life-burning method to become the world's number one striker.
"FLOW!"
Four English letters appeared on the big screen behind him.
"A state of mental immersion gained based on a person's most suitable experience,"
Blah, blah, blah...
Basically, what Ego said was not much different from what Tendou had said before. The only difference was that when Tendou explained it, he wasn't very attentive. Ego's description was much more detailed.
"Think back. Recall the moments when you broke through your own limits in this Blue Lock."
"The moment you dedicated everything to that one ball."
He was using rhetoric to make the players remember, to make them grasp that feeling.
The meeting ended quickly. Most of the team members left with heavy hearts. They were thinking about Ego's words and recalling the moment of their own "evolution," trying to find the method to enter Flow. In Ego's view, this was the key to them defeating the U-20 representative team.
"Don't look so down. You'll find that 'key'," Tendou said, patting the preoccupied Rin on the shoulder.
If he remembered correctly, the moment Rin stopped seeing Sae as his reason for playing football would be the trigger for him to enter Flow. It was just that the thought of the younger eyelash brother's strange "tongue-sticking-out" habit, looking like a zombie, sent a chill down Tendou's spine. But then again, the forwards in Blue Lock more or less all had a habit of sticking out their tongues. Bachira, Reo, Rin... he couldn't understand it. Maybe it was just the author's strange hobby.
...
Rin nodded. After a moment of hesitation, he opened his mouth, "Tendou."
"What's wrong?"
"Can you practice with me?"
Although he had agreed on the surface, in his heart, he was still very concerned about the realm of Flow. He didn't want to fall behind anyone.
"Of course, I can practice with you. But trying to find the trigger to enter Flow from me is not going to work."
"Why? Is it because I'm not strong enough?"
"That's only one of the factors."
If he didn't play a match against Sae in person, Rin wouldn't understand. Hadn't he seen how angry and unwilling he was when Sae chose Shidou and Yukimiya instead of him? Rin hadn't graduated from his brother-complex yet.
...
Meanwhile.
On the other side, the national youth team was also conducting a training camp. On the way back to the hotel after practice, Itoshi Sae ran into Aiku.
"Good work, Sae."
"Have time for a chat?"
Sae stopped and said bluntly, "Make it quick. I'm busy." He wasn't busy; he just didn't want to talk too much with people he didn't care about.
"Our ace, Shidou, got into another argument with that violent bonus item you brought. It looks like they really don't get along."
"Who cares? If he's not convinced, then kick that trash out."
Not an easy person to talk to. This was Aiku's impression of Sae.
Sendou Shuto was, after all, their starting forward. To have landed in a first-division league at a young age was enough to prove his ability. How could you just kick him out because you said so? Ask the fans if they'd agree.
Hmm... alright. With Sae's current prestige as the leader of Japan's younger generation, even if he did kick Shidou out, it really wouldn't cause too much of an impact. The fans want to win. Whoever can help the team win, the fans will support. Even if that person is the referee. Haven't you seen how the Koreans cheated their way into a World Cup and are still proud of it to this day?
"No. He may be trash in your eyes, but to us, he's a trump card," Aiku said, rubbing his head and refusing flatly.
"Almost all of our teammates have said that if Shidou is kicked out, they won't play."
"Are you threatening me?"
"Of course not. No one wants the match to be called off. I'm thinking of you and the mascot you brought."
The meaning Aiku was conveying was very clear. They could accept one Sae coming in. The midfielder whose starting position was taken had no objections. After all, Sae was a genius, scouted by European scouts 4 years ago, and now playing for Real Madrid, with a limitless future. With his fame and strength, being selected for the national team was no problem, let alone the youth team.
But Shidou and Yukimiya... no. They were just nobodies, at most with a little fame in the high school national tournaments. More importantly, those two were from Blue Lock, and Blue Lock was their stepping stone. If they used their forwards, wouldn't that be saying that their own forwards were, as Sae had said, all trash?
...
"So? What's your purpose in looking for me?"
"To help us win with all your strength, without letting Shidou and Yukimiya play," Aiku stated his purpose. "Since you're a genius, a small matter like this should be doable, right?"
A clumsy attempt at reverse psychology.
Sae sighed silently. He wasn't stupid and could see through the trick, but he couldn't agree to Aiku.
"You don't understand, and you can't understand."
"Huh?"
"Even if I agree, I can't save your pathetic pride." Sae looked at him coldly.
"You still don't realize what level of opponent you are about to face."
He thought of his first contact with Tendou. To this day, he still didn't understand that state Tendou was in. He only knew that the other had brought him immense pressure. That player named Tendou was a player on the same level as him. Considering his age and his past experience of playing basketball, his talent was even above his own.
A true world-class genius!
But if he didn't agree, this match seemed impossible to proceed. He could only take a step back.
"30 minutes."
"Hmm?"
"I'll only give you 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, if you are still stubborn, I will withdraw from the match with my men."
30 minutes?
What can be done in such a short time? Aiku couldn't go back and report with such an answer.
Just as he was about to say something, Sae stopped wasting words.
"30 minutes is already me thinking on the bright side. Even if it's a friendly match, I don't want to lose."
After saying that, he walked past him and left, leaving a confused Aiku behind. The captain of the national youth team frowned. The whole country was still very unfamiliar with Blue Lock. They only knew that someone had carefully selected 300 forwards and had conducted several months of closed training.
But what could be changed in a few months? Aiku couldn't figure it out. But he could see that Sae was extremely cautious. Could it be that in Blue Lock, there's really someone who can threaten Sae? Because from beginning to end, Sae had never considered winning against Blue Lock with Sendou Shuto.
Can't figure it out...
"How am I supposed to convince them when I get back?" The players were one thing, but the coach and the JFU higher-ups would be difficult.
"Being a captain is really tough."
...
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