The screen finally shut off.
A mechanical click echoed through the room, signaling the end of the first stage.
Only then did the tension break.
The survivors breathed again. Most remained silent—processing the brutal reality of what just happened.
Imamura's elimination flickered in their minds like a ghost, an afterimage scorched behind their eyes.
But amidst the heavy weight of dread...
Two figures sat at a table in the corner.
Calm. Smiling.
Debating what to eat.
Ryu and Bachira.
Isagi clenched his fists. Then, gathering every ounce of courage he had left, he stepped forward.
His throat was dry, but his voice was steady.
"My name is Isagi Yoichi."
Ryu blinked. Then smiled.
He extended a hand—not as a monster. Not as the Oni. Just a fellow player.
"Ryu, Sanada."
Isagi smiled slightly.
"Your volley shot… It was incredible."
Then he hesitated.
"But… why him? Why Imamura?"
It wasn't a challenge.
It was a genuine question.
Ryu rubbed his chin thoughtfully, eyes flicking toward the now-empty corner where Imamura had stood moments ago.
"Why?"
His smile sharpened.
"Does 'testing my limit' count as a reason?"
"That kick... high difficulty, full-spin, mid-air timing, with zero margin for error..."
He leaned forward, crimson eyes gleaming.
"I wanted to see if I could hit it."
Isagi froze.
Wait… what?
He took a shot like that… just to see if it would work?!
His skin prickled.
This wasn't recklessness.
It was the cold confidence of a beast that's never missed a kill.
And that thought alone sent chills down Isagi's spine.
Before Yoichi could reply, Ryu was already walking toward the cafeteria.
Cafeteria—The Price of Rank
In Blue Lock, rank was everything.
Food included.
High-rankers feasted on wagyu steak, sukiyaki, salmon sashimi.
Low-rankers?
Natto.
Pickled vegetables.
A cold rice ball, if they were lucky.
Bachira poked at his wilted salad, face screwed up in despair.
His gaze drifted slowly toward Ryu's tray.
Sizzling steak. Garlic butter melting over perfectly cooked rice. Steam rising like a promise.
"Ryu… why do you get steak?!"
Ryu, already chewing, grinned.
"That's called being ranked higher than you."
Bachira slumped like a deflated balloon.
"Whyyyy didn't I pay attention during the announcement?! I'd have tried harder!"
Ryu sighed.
Then broke off a half piece of steak and plopped it into Bachira's bowl.
The boy practically cried.
"As expected! Ryu is the best roommate ever!!"
Elsewhere, players sulked over their misfortunes. Natto glared back like punishment.
Low-rankers whispered.
"Did you see his kick…?"
"He's a weapon in human form…"
"If he's 289, what kind of monsters are in the top ten?"
Suddenly, someone slid into the seat across from Ryu.
A silent plate of dumplings landed with a soft thud.
Kunigami Rensuke.
His gaze—steady. Serious.
Ryu narrowed his eyes slightly.
The knight, huh.
Loyalty. Order. Justice. Not a bad guy, but I don't need bonds like his.
Just as Ryu moved to leave, Kunigami spoke.
"Wait. I have a question."
Ryu paused, then sat back down.
Kunigami's tone was respectful—but not meek.
This guy's for real, Ryu thought.
"That volley shot—how?"
"Most players can't hit that. You didn't just react. You prepared."
"That was trained. Repeated. Mastered."
Ryu smiled lazily.
"Maybe it was just luck."
Kunigami shook his head.
"No."
"It wasn't."
The tight posture. The zero-lag swing.
That was a weapon. A practiced one.
Kunigami pushed half his dumplings forward.
"Teach me."
"In exchange, I'll give you half my food. Every day."
For a second, Ryu stared blankly.
Then burst out laughing.
"What, you think I'm starving?"
"Do I look like I need bribing?"
Kunigami didn't flinch.
He just waited.
Ryu's grin widened.
["JusticeKnight_Luv" triggered admiration: +540 Emotional Value]
["RyuIsMyGOAT" says: "He has disciples now?! STOP!" +900]
⚽ Days Later—Field Training Begins
Blue Lock Prison's second stage was still days away.
In the meantime, the survivors trained.
Hard.
Kunigami drilled volley mechanics daily.
Not perfect—yet improvement showed.
Bachira experimented with spins and unpredictable feints—madness chasing destiny.
And Ryu?
He didn't move.
Sat near the goal, back against the wall, arms folded.
Watching.
Thinking.
Isagi jogged in and caught sight of him.
"You're here too!"
Ryu gave a lazy nod.
Their talks had grown casual now. The fear was gone.
Isagi smiled, pointing at Kunigami.
"He's really trying."
"If we don't keep up, we'll be eliminated."
Then he looked at Ryu.
"Aren't you training?"
Ryu raised an eyebrow.
"Don't worry about me."
"You focus on surviving."
Yoichi huffed, annoyed, and joined Kunigami on the field.
But as he walked away, Ryu's crimson eyes narrowed.
It's not that I don't need training…
It's that my body's still evolving.
This… "S-Rank Physique."
Speed, power, stamina
I'm still learning what it can do.
Until I know that… no rush to the field.
He pulled up his system display—visible only to him.
[Current Emotional Value: 141,200]
[Store Unlocks: Still inaccessible. Cheapest item: 1,000,000]
He sighed.
Even Pro-Level Shooting Technique was light-years away.
I'll forge it myself.
Every monster here… a whetstone for me.
Ryu stood.
Stepped forward.
Stared out at the field where players dreamed of glory—and feared elimination.
"Let's see who dares stand above me…"
"…before I rip the sky down myself."
To Be Continued.