𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻

Even thinking about the match with the world-select players stung a little.

To be frank, your team was absolutely crushed. In the beginning, both you and Rin managed to score a goal, just barely. But once the other team got serious, it was over. Five goals into your net within the blink of an eye.

It was the definition of a beating.

So, now, Ego had the bright idea that language studies should be in place. Which was amazing. In short, you sucked at English. The entire language made no sense. Homonyms, oxford commas, contractions, blah, blah- the bullshit continues.

Hence why Rin was currently screaming at all of you. He was the only one that knew English, subjecting him to the unfortunate harassment of the rest of Team Red for his help.

"Rin." You tapped the side of his face. "What's the difference between the there's?"

He glared at you from the corner of his eye, holding his head in his hands. "Leave me the fuck alone. Figure it out yourself."

"Aw c'mon. That's no fun."

"I don't ca-"

"Rin!" Bachira called out. "How do you spell when-es-dae?"

Rin banged his head on the table before standing up and grabbing a pillow off the bed, hurling it toward the group of you. "Shut the hell up, all of you! Give me a goddamn break!"

Before anyone could respond, the speakers in the room sounded, "The second selection has ended. All remaining members please change into your uniforms and meet in the central joint room."

Damn. Jail free card.

You tugged at the collar of your uniform as you all walked through the door to the empty room. The fucking thing seemed more uncomfortable than usual. The only conclusion you could draw was that Ego must have done the laundry instead of Anri. He's probably never touched a washing machine before in his life.

As soon as your team stopped behind the entrance, Nagi, Barou, Chigiri, and their two other team members stepped through the one on the other side. You couldn't help but smile to yourself, it was nice to know they hadn't been eliminated yet.

They walked over to you guys, and Nagi and Barou started berating Isagi for something stupid, expectedly. You stopped in front of Chigiri and held you hand in the air, waving it impatiently when he just stared at it.

"What are you doing?"

"Just give me the fucking high-five, asshat."

With a huff of faux annoyance and faint smile on his lips, he did. You had to say, making friends in Blue Lock made the relationships complicated as hell, but it was fun, in a way.

The next three teams walked in soon after, everyone had fresh faces, except Niko in the fifth group. The sixth were making their way in, the commotion of their hallway bleeding into the peace of the joint room.

One of the twins you'd faced in the game where Kuon ratted your team out came barreling in with Raichi and Gagamaru, two new guys following behind them.

There was only one team left to enter, Reo and Kunigami still hadn't arrived. Their door opened, two guys you'd never seen before and...Igarashi walked through. How the hell did he make it this far? Why is he here? There was no fucking way.

You didn't have much time to dwell on it, because right after him walked in Reo. You couldn't help but sigh in relief a little, you really didn't want him to be kicked out. That would maybe, kinda suck. Seemed like the guys around you shared the same sentiment as well, all of their postures relaxing slightly at the sight of him.

Although Chigiri, most of all, was still stiff as a board, waiting anxiously for Kunigami to come through.

A silhouette dramatically walking through the entrance, delaying their awaited reveal. When they stepped into the light, it most definitely wasn't Kunigami. A tall guy with blonde and pink hair with the number '111' on his jersey was there instead.

Meaning, Kunigami got the boot.

"Hey...where's Kunigami?" Isagi asked to himself in disbelief.

The blonde guy bent down to his height, pushing his face into Isagi's. "I've sent him on his merry way to hell."

They started to go back and forth, the blonde eventually getting fed up and attempting to kick his foot into Isagi's head.

The fight couldn't really go anywhere before Ego popped up on one of the TV screens from the walls. "Alright, that's enough," his less-than-pleasant voice sounded through the speakers, "None of you have the time to be worrying about dropouts, because your football careers are on the very edge of being trashed alongside Blue Lock."

The guys around you started to panic, shouting for Ego to explain what he meant. "I'd originally planned on whittling down the group until five of you remained...But there's been a little change of plans." That could only mean you'd be able to touch real grass for the first time in weeks, or you'd be stuck living another day on the brink of insanity.

He went on to explain that, probably due to some stupid decision of his, the Japanese Football 'Overlords' had decided to try and eliminate Blue Lock as quickly as possible. Honestly, you could understand their point. Some obscure building holding a bunch of teenage boys for 'football training' for an extended period of time? A little bit questionable.

The next selection would be in three weeks, a game against...Japan's men's national team. Oh, for fuck's sake.

"Our opponents expect to beat you all with ease, but they're using every card in their hand to ensure their victory. They'll be adding one player to their roster, Itoshi Sae."

You froze.

No, no. It's fine. There's no way you'd be playing in this game, anyway. The media would know it's you. So, it's not like you'd have to see him. No, nah. It's fine.

You glanced quickly to your right, confirming Rin wore the same expression you did. Wide-eyed and stiff-bodied. At least someone else felt the same as you at the moment.

Ego started talking again, sadly, "Now, victory will grant you a position on the national U-20 team, and defeat means the utter dissolution of Blue Lock."

He called out the names of those who the 'Blue Lock Eleven' would center around, the Top Six. Itoshi Rin, obviously. Shidou Ryusei, which you were now able to determine as the name of the insane blonde guy from before. Karasu Tabito, his jersey number was 69, so that was something. Otoya Eita, cool hair. Yukimiya Kenyu, pretty boy with glasses. And finally Nagi, who was Nagi.

For third selection, the Top Six will be put into pairs and assigned A, B, and C ranks in order to make three of their own teams. The remaining players will then have to decide which team they want to be apart of. Three will be randomly added to a team with the pair they chose to join in order to make a team of five. Then, each of these teams will get a chance to play one time.

So, basically, tryouts to play in the U-20 game. Like a normal high school football team on steroids.

The Top Six were sent into a separate room, and Ego wrapped things up for everyone else with a sweet little speech on encouragement, or the closest he could come to it. You were about to walk out with everyone else, before the speaker sounded again, "Oh, and, Kazuma, come to my office."

Wow, the guy really knows how to be fucking discreet. You awkwardly split from the group, feeling all their stares on your back as you stalked away. It wasn't suspicious at all, being randomly singled out to go talk to the goddamn head of this place.

You grumbled under your breath as you reached the door to his office, not bothering to knock before opening it.

"What did you want?" you asked sharply while you leaned against the closed door.

He spun around in his stupid chair to face you, an unpleased look on his face, "When they're doing the try-outs, you have to do as little as possible."

"Huh? Why would I do that?"

"Because," he rolled his eyes, "by now, I had planned to have you off the field. Probably, but not preferably, have you working up here with me, analyzing. You'd just be in the way at this point. But, with tensions so high, they'd start asking questions if I took you out right now. And also, if you over-preform and don't get placed on the team, they'll question that, too. Because it's not like you can play in the game."

"Yeah, I figured. It's just so sad to see all my talent go to waste here..." you frowned.

"Shut the hell up and get the fuck out."

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I CANT BELIEVE TODAYS BIG ANNOUNCEMENT WAS JUST BLLK MERCH i fully thought we were getting english copies i was ready to go broke