016 Blue Lock: System Ten Years Early

"The only one worth paying attention to on the other side is Aomori's Messi, Nishioka Hajime, right? He scored four goals last match too."

Hiori handed the shin guards to Shinichi, but Shinichi waved his hand indifferently.

"It doesn't matter who it is. If you always limit your target to this level, you'll only limit your possibilities."

"Let's go. I'll try out my new move in this match."

"Huh? You already have an idea?"

Hiori Yo, who had absolutely no clue and had only been increasing his training volume instinctively, couldn't help putting on a painful expression.

"Seriously? We've been training together, and it's only been two days!"

"After all, I'm a 'Genius.'"

After loosening his shoulders, Shinichi walked out of the locker room first.

"Let's go. Take this match."

Beep——!

"Yo, bowl-cut. I heard you're called Messi?"

Shinichi smiled as he stepped in front of Nishioka Hajime, who had just received the kickoff.

"Oh? You're the guy who scored 11 goals?"

Nishioka Hajime actually greeted Shinichi with interest, then lowered his center of gravity slightly.

"Let me see what you're really worth."

'Change of direction? First choice is the right foot… If he feints left first, as long as I block the left lane, he can only go right.'

Shinichi instinctively read the play, sealed off the left side, and forced Nishioka Hajime's route, preparing to steal—

"If I take you down instantly, don't call me bowl-cut again."

What?!

So fast! No—rather, his touch frequency is beyond normal! Every touch can be a change of direction. It's like a city wall riddled with countless leaking holes—block one, and he immediately bursts out from another!

I clearly saw the future, and I can react to it completely, but… the speed at which my body plugs the gaps isn't faster than his!

By relying on high-frequency touches, he increases the amount of information a defender has to process, then stabs straight into the heart the moment a gap appears! What a gorgeous fighting style… however—

"Stop with these unimaginative breakthroughs."

Hiori Yo burst out from Shinichi's blind spot from behind and firmly pressed against Nishioka Hajime. Caught off guard by such physical contact, Nishioka had no room to exert force to change direction again, and with almost no resistance, the football was hooked away by Shinichi.

"What a pity—you still couldn't escape my claws."

Shinichi left a cool line to the shocked and dazed Nishioka, then instantly accelerated forward.

'My lateral movement speed still isn't enough. I never trained that specifically during track practice. When I get back, I need to add about ten sets of lateral jumps.'

Thinking this inwardly, Shinichi passed the ball to Hiori Yo, then made an off-ball run into the opponent's half.

"So the new weapon isn't dribbling it yourself, but improving off-ball play? Then before that, let me show off first."

Thinking this, Hiori Yo charged forward alone with the ball, his exquisite dribbling quickly tearing open a gap in the opponent's defensive line.

"You're going a bit too deep, Shinichi's lackey."

Nishioka suddenly appeared behind Hiori Yo.

"How is it? He can't help you now."

"Ugh! That was close."

Hiori Yo hurriedly flicked the ball up with his heel. Nishioka, whose sneak attack failed, clicked his tongue and used a faster step frequency to block Hiori Yo's path.

"When I heard you took 11 points, I was really a bit scared. That's why these past two days I painfully ate only one piece of that insanely delicious steak, and traded the rest for a phone."

"But thanks to this rule, I've pretty much grasped all your information."

Nishioka lowered his center of gravity again and spread his arms.

"Kōken Shinichi—without a doubt a Genius player. According to the data, you've only been in contact with football for just over half a year, not even a full year, right?"

"To bring everything to this level in such a short time is truly impressive."

Nishioka once again tried to steal the ball with his faster action frequency, but Hiori Yo shielded it steadily and gave him no chance.

"We've eaten so much steak we're sick of it. By the way, you—attacking during a chat—what a dirty heart that doesn't match that baby face."

Hiori Yo pulled the football left and right to evade the sneak attack, constantly scanning for Nishioka's openings.

"Can't take it anymore? I haven't even said the important things yet."

Nishioka approached Hiori Yo with a nasty grin.

"For example, although Shinichi is amazing, his dribbling can only be considered second-rate. Not just the start and changes of direction—every touch slows him down."

"And your strength—once it turns into open play, it's hard for you to keep up with Shinichi, right? That can't be helped. A monster of that level—if not for lack of experience, probably no one could catch up even when he's carrying the ball."

"Like just now, if my attack hadn't interrupted you, you should have already sent him a long pass for a goal. What a pity—because you were one step behind, Shinichi's speed was completely wasted, and now he's already been caught by my teammates."

"Good thing you 'restricted' this monster."

"So much nonsense. Is that the kind of character you are?"

Hiori Yo stared at Nishioka like he was looking at a dead man.

"Or is it that after watching the footage, you got scared? That's why you want to use this method to increase your win rate."

"But none of that matters anymore, because I won't be confused again!"

After a feint created a sliver of space, Hiori Yo unexpectedly kicked directly. Nishioka hurriedly turned his head to look and shouted in shock,

"Are you crazy?!"

"Kōken Shinichi, he's offside now!"

————

"Too slow. I was wondering how long you'd make me wait."

For some reason, there wasn't a single defender around him. Shinichi precisely received this long lofted pass, planted his right foot to support his body, raised his left leg high, his entire posture like a fully drawn longbow—arrow nocked and released!

Bang!

The football still in midair deformed exaggeratedly like a water-filled balloon upon colliding with the boot. The powerful shot caused a huge sound, and the football instantly soared, drawing a beautiful arc as it unstoppablely slammed into the net.

Gooooooooooal!

1:0

"Hey! Wasn't that offside?!"

Many people on Team W shouted dissatisfiedly at the monitor above the pitch, but a pleasant female voice replied coldly and without mercy:

"Team X, Kōken Shinichi committed no foul. Match continues. Team W, return to your half for kickoff."

Nishioka wanted to argue, but the female voice said that continuing to waste time and interfere with the match would result in a yellow card, so he could only shut up.

"Looks like your information is a bit outdated, Messi."

Hiori Yo didn't look at Nishioka standing opposite him, but his voice was transmitted precisely. His hollow, spiral eyes took in the entire pitch.

"Someone whose view is limited to this level dares to make wild guesses about us. Let me gift you a Game Over."