Chapter 21: Two Steaks
Blue Lock, Cafeteria
The high of victory still buzzed in Kira's veins as he stepped out of the training room. He'd stayed late, grinding alone to master the abilities from his two remaining Trial Cards. Every muscle ached, but the progress felt worth it—his body was starting to adapt to the new skills. Now, his stomach growled, demanding fuel. He vaguely recalled that scoring goals earned steak rewards, a perfect chance to refuel with some high-quality protein.
But as he entered the cafeteria, he spotted Isagi slouched at a table, muttering to himself with a defeated look, his sighs heavy in the quiet room.
'What's eating him?' Kira wondered. 'Unhappy with his performance today?'
Shaking off his confusion, he waved. "Yo, Isagi, still in the cafeteria?"
Isagi's head snapped up, surprise flashing across his face. "Kira? You haven't eaten yet?" It was well past mealtime, and Kira looked like he'd just rolled in.
"Nah, I hit the training room for some extra work," Kira said casually.
Isagi's jaw dropped. 'No way. This guy's that dedicated?' After the grueling match and a quick shower, all Isagi wanted was to crash. Yet Kira had gone straight back to training. 'Just how much does he love football?'
His mood sank further, his expression darkening.
Kira noticed but didn't press. "Hold up, give me a sec." Ignoring Isagi's gloom, he headed to the counter, exchanging his goal-scoring points for two sizzling steaks. The aroma hit him like a wave as he carried them back and plopped down beside Isagi.
"Want one?" Kira offered, sliding a plate toward him.
Isagi's eyes lit up, practically sparkling. "Steak?! Where'd you get that?" For someone stuck eating natto every day, this was pure temptation.
Kira pointed to a notice on the cafeteria wall. "Says there—goal scorers can trade points for rewards."
Isagi leaned forward, scanning the sign eagerly. "Let's see… '1 point: One steak. 3 points: Return of mobile phone. 5 points: Premium sleep bed. 10 points: One day of vacation…'" His heart raced. I want all of that! The phone and bed especially—he'd almost forgotten what it felt like to live in the internet age.
"Stop drooling, Isagi," Kira teased. "Come on, let's dig in."
Isagi hesitated, guilt creeping in. "I… I can't take this. It's your reward for scoring."
Kira rolled his eyes. 'If you're so shy, why'd you sprint over here?' But he grinned. "Don't be ridiculous. You set up both my goals. These steaks are as much yours as mine."
"What's this about steaks?!" a voice interrupted. "Kira, you're hogging all the good stuff? Not cool for a leader!"
Bachira and Kunigami strolled into the cafeteria, eyes locked on the plates. They plopped down across from Kira and Isagi, Bachira's grin wide and mischievous.
"You two weren't planning to scarf these down alone, were you?" Bachira teased, practically drooling. Isagi shot him a guilty look, regretting not eating faster.
"Haha, no way," Kira said smoothly. "I was just about to call you guys. Good things are for sharing, right?"
And so, the two steaks were split four ways, the group digging in with gusto, the cafeteria filled with the clink of forks and satisfied hums.
Kunigami, chewing thoughtfully, spoke up. "Kira, how'd you know to put me on Barou's defense? I mean, Raichi was already marking him, and we had other defenders, right?"
Bachira and Isagi paused, curious, their eyes on Kira.
"It's simple," Kira explained, leaning back. "Raichi's tenacity is great, but Barou's skill set is too much for him alone. Our other defenders—Igaguri, Chigiri—lack the physicality to handle him. You, Kunigami, have the strength to match Barou's power. You were the best shot at slowing him down."
Kunigami nodded, processing. "Makes sense. But…" He hesitated, then pushed on. "How'd you withstand Barou's charge in that final attack? His strength is insane—I barely held my own against him."
Kira had anticipated this. With a calm smile, he said, "Barou was gassed from sprinting back to defend. His strength wasn't at full power by then."
Kunigami bought it, nodding. It added up—nobody could maintain peak stamina after running that hard. Barou had been relentless; exhaustion was bound to hit.
Just as Kira thought he could finally enjoy his steak, Isagi raised a hand, his brow furrowed. "Kira, in high school, my passes were untouchable. But today, my vision couldn't keep up with your movement. Why?"
Kira sighed inwardly. 'Can't I just eat?' But since Isagi was the protagonist, he indulged him. "Two reasons. First, the intensity here is on another level. In high school, you had time to receive, scan, and pass. In Blue Lock, everyone's a top talent. The second you get the ball, you're swarmed. You need to plan your pass before you receive it—set your stance early."
He took a bite, then continued. "Second, your body's lagging behind your brain. You see the play, but you can't react fast enough. The pitch is dynamic, always shifting. Train your body to match your vision, and you'll keep up."
Isagi's eyes widened, the pieces clicking. The frustration he'd felt on the pitch suddenly made sense.
"Oh, and about your weapon?" Kira added, genuinely curious. Isagi was Team Z's passing core—he needed to evolve fast.
Isagi scratched his head. "Not sure yet, but… during that assist, when you called for the ball, it felt like I knew it'd be a goal. Like a… 'Premonition of a Goal.' I can't explain it fully."
Kira patted his shoulder. "You'll figure it out."
"Caught you!" Raichi's voice boomed. The rest of Team Z stormed into the cafeteria. "Kira, you four are heartless! We all won together, and you're sneaking steaks? I've been choking down dried radishes for days!"
Igaguri piled on, pointing dramatically. "You're hogging the good stuff! Where's our share?"
The four steak-eaters grabbed their plates, laughing as the rest of Team Z chased them in a playful scuffle. The cafeteria erupted into chaos, a mix of shouts and laughter.
Amid the madness, Kira realized something. Blue Lock wasn't just a jungle of survival-of-the-fittest. These guys were also a bunch of rowdy high schoolers, full of life and camaraderie.
...
Team Y Room
Team Y lay sprawled across their room, lifeless. The 8-0 thrashing from Team V had crushed them. They hadn't just lost—they'd been obliterated, unable to fight back.
Despair hung heavy in the air.
Then, a figure stood, his long bangs shadowing his eyes. "I have a way… to win the next match."
Every head turned. In their desperation, Team Y was ready to cling to any hope, no matter how slim.
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