Chapter 13: The Second Selection
One after another, strikers entered the room to undertake the second selection. Eventually, everyone from Ayanokouji's team went through.
Chigiri: If that's what you want, Kiyotaka, then good luck. I hope we see each other on the other side.
Ayanokouji: Same here.
Now with the amount of strikers in the room dwindling, Shido walked over to Ayanokouji and towered over him.
Shido: Why didn't you go yet, Kiyo?
Ayanokouji: Don't call me by my first name. We're not friends. Just call me Ayanokouji.
Shido: Ok, Kiyo, hehehe.
Ayanokouji sighed.
Ayanokouji: In any case, to answer your question, I've decided to wait out the horde of strikers that are pushing to go next after Rin. If there was a time constraint, it would have been stated already.
Igarashi: Well, there aren't many strikers left here. I might as well give it a try.
Ayanokouji: Oh, you're still here?
Igarashi: Huh? How can you just forget a teammate like that?!
Ayanokouji: I wasn't paying attention.
Igarashi: Well, I'll see you on the other side, Ayanokouji. See ya!
He ran towards the door which opened and allowed him inside.
Ayanokouji: (I doubt if he'll survive.)
Shido: So you're going next, Kiyo?
Ayanokouji: Probably. Now's as good of a time as any.
Shido: This is pretty fucking annoying. Why can't we all just go in at once and get this over with. I'm itching for my release!
Ayanokouji: (So all the words in his vocabulary has to do with sexual innuendos? But forget that now. Looking at his body up close, he's amazing. A long frame but with little to no fat and all muscle. I'll need to see him in action to know exactly what his weapon is, however.)
Shido: So what made those eyes of yours explode?
Ayanokouji: What are you talking about?
Shido: When I bumped into you before the first selection, your eyes looked lifeless and boring. But now they look like they're about to explode into a big bang, hehehe. I'm curious, that's all.
Ayanokouji: Maybe if we go against each other in the second selection, I'll show you.
He smirked.
Shido: Oh, really? You crack me the fuck up. I really wanna see what it looks like when you're worked up, hehehe. I just love seeing things explode. That's what life is about, after all.
Ayanokouji: Then you'll have to meet me inside. Later.
Shido: Eh? You're going in already? Our conversation was just getting good.
He ignored his last retort and Ayanokouji finally entered through the door to finally undertake the first stage of the second selection.
When he entered inside, the door closed from behind and locked shut. It was an entirely white room with a hologram goalie.
Ayanokouji: So it's the same one I faced in Project: Bland King.
A screen projected Ego's face.
Ego: Took you long enough, Mr. masterpiece. Congrats on making it here. Of course, that was the bare minimum I expected from you. In front of you is a familiar face, the hologram goalie. Normally, I'd just give you 90 minutes to score 100 goals but that's simply too easy for a genius like you so I'm shaving your time by 30 minutes and setting the conditions to Level Max. You remember that level, no?
Ayanokouji: (How could I not? The ball comes out of nowhere with a terrible spin, and the moving 'defenders.')
Ego: Good luck. Bye.
The screen turned off and a timer appeared on the wall along with the amount of goals needed to pass as well. Holograms of 'defender' pins moved quickly around and finally, a ball spun with great precision towards Ayanokouji. It was shot out of a canon of sorts.
Ayanokouji: (Perfect.)
With his improvisation, he utilized Nagi's first touch to control the ball perfectly and his own ability of 'ball placement' to curve it through the virtual goal and past the hologram.
---GOAL---
It was now 59 minutes and 45 seconds with 99 goals left.
Ayanokouji: (This is pretty doable.)
...
...
...
With a minute to spare, Ayanokouji completed the first stage of the second selection and walked through a dark hallway to where a neon sign read: 2nd Stage.
The door opened up to another room. There was only a few people inside and they were talking amongst themselves.
A number flashed on Ayanokouji's arm and it ended at 110.
Igarashi: Ayanokouji! You passed too! I'm relieved!
Ayanokouji: (Interesting. I was sure he would have been eliminated. He must have some sort of talent if he scored 100 goals in 90 minutes.)
Ayanokouji: Likewise.
Igarashi looked over at my arm and smirked.
Igarashi: Guess I'm still higher than you, hehe. Look, 108!
Ayanokouji: That's still pretty low.
Igarashi: Sh-Shut up!
Ayanokouji: (In any case, I guess we have to follow the instructions above that door right there.)
A screen showed one sentence worth of instructions: 'Form a team of 3 and proceed to the next stage.'
Ayanokouji: A team of three? That would explain why the people around here are looking for good partners.
Igarashi: Ayanokouji, we should team up! With your copy abilities and my... whatever! We can do it.
Ayanokouji: I don't know. (Then again, none of the other people in this room are strong in any sense.)
With just a single glance, Ayanokouji could tell just how weak the players in this room were. They were all the lowest ranks, after all.
Ayanokouji: Fine, with you, we're two. Now we just need another perso-
The door opened again, and the spiky-haired pervert entered the room. Just his presence made the other players uneasy.
Shido: That was pretty boring. Oh, we meet again, Kiyo, and... who's this fucking baldly?
Igarashi: I'm his teammate! We're making a team of three!
Shido looked over at the sign, which made him smile.
Shido: This is gonna be fun. So we have our team ready, then. Let's go. I want to explode already.
Igarashi: Huh? We didn't agree you'd be in our te-
Ayanokouji: Come on in. It's better having you in our team than in someone else's.
Ayanokouji held out his hand, as Shido grabbed it and pulled Ayanokouji closer to his face.
Shido: Let's have a blast. There's no point in playing soccer if nothing's getting destroyed. I bet we'll have to face other teams of three. I get a front row seat to see if you can make me cum, hehehe.
Ayanokouji: As long as you're useful, I don't mind indulging your little fantasy.
Igarashi looked completely confused and shocked.
Ayanokouji: What are you waiting for, Igarashi? Let's get going to the next stage.
And so, the unlikely team of Igarashi, Ayanokouji, and Shido formed and they passed through the second stage and onto the third stage.
...
...
...
While they walked there, Ayanokouji asked Shido questions regarding his abilities.
Ayanokouji: From your frame, I can tell you spend most of your time in the penalty box. Are you a poacher?
Shido: So you've been checking me out, Kiyo?
Ayanokouji: Answer my question and I'll answer yours.
In the small time they've known each other, Ayanokouji adjusted to his sexual behavior.
Shido: Yeah, I have a knack for scoring goals in the penalty box. As long as I'm in there, I can always find the ball.
Ayanokouji: (I see, so he's a poacher. This is fantastic for me. This means we can form a symbiotic one-two tandem if he'll listen.)
Shido: Now answer mine, just admit you've been checking me out.
Ayanokouji: I use my eyes to analyze a person's strength and weaknesses. So I did the same for you. Simple as that. So to answer your question, yes.
Shido laughed.
Shido: What are you, a cyborg?
Igarashi, on the other side, looked to be out of the conversation entirely, as if he didn't exist and was only there to fill in the position for their three-person team.
The trio entered stage 3 and it opened up to a large room. Inside there were many teams in groups of three talking amongst one another.
Igarashi: What is all this?
The screens turned on around the room and Ego's face showed itself.
Ego: Hello there, diamonds in the rough. This is the third stage of the second selection. Team battles of three-on-three. The third stage is a situation battle of three-man teams in a mini-game format. Blue Lock Man will be the goalie for both teams, and the first team to score five goals win.
Shido smiled.
Shido: Now we're talking.
Ego: And the winning team... will get to steal a player from the losing team to create a four-man team.
Ayanokouji: (Oh, this is interesting. So choosing the teams we go up against will be helpful in order to create a balanced team.)
Ego: If you're able to make a team of five and get to the fifth stage, that team passes the second selection.
Igarashi: A-And what happens to the losing team?
Ego: They go back down with remaining members. If you lose the two-on-two, and you don't get picked by the qualifying team, you're disqualified.
Igarashi: Eh??!!!
Ego: That's the full picture of the second selection where you steal your rivals: The Rivalry Battle. You're free to choose which team you battle. Both teams must agree to play a match. Good luck. You'll need it.
The screen went black as familiar faces resurfaced.
Raichi: Hey, look who we got here, it's Mr. Copycat and Baldy.
Raichi waived his hand to Ayanokouji along with his two other members who he also knew.
Ayanokouji: Raichi, Gagamaru, and... Wanima.
Igarashi: Wow, you guys are all a group?
Raichi: Naturally. I only teamed up with these two because they came out the same time as me.
Gagamaru: I came out before you did.
Wanima: ...
Shido: So this the team we're facing? They look kinda... pedestrian. They're not gonna be much fun. Let's wait for a fun group. What's the point of scoring super goals on a pathetic team like this?
Raichi: What the fuck did you say to me?!
Gagamaru: Don't take us too lightly.
Raichi: I'll destroy you so badly, you'll scrape off your spikey hair off your head with your own hands just from the stress.
Shido walked over and grabbed Raichi's shirt and smiled.
Shido: Really? How are you going to do that, shark-teeth?
Ayanokouji forcibly pulled Shido's hand off Raichi.
Ayanokouji: I apologize for him, Raichi. He's kind of a maniac.
Raichi: Don't worry, Ayanokouji. I'll teach this fucker a lesson. Come on, let's have a match. Once I'm done with you, I'll take Ayanokouji and leave you in the dust, pompous ass.
Igarashi: What about me...
Shido: Fine by me. Shark-hunting sounds fun too.
Ayanokouji: If you're willing, let's have a match.
Gagamaru: I always wanted to go against Ayanokouji. I'm good with this too.
Wanima: ...
Raichi: Keep that smirk, bastard. I'm gonna rip it off your face by the end of the game.
Shido: Damn, you keep talking. Save it for the game, shark boy.
Both teams agreed to go against each other and confirmed the match by using these touchpads. Their names and teams appeared on the screen and both entered the open door, ready to commence the match.
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...
...
Ayanokouji's team received white jerseys as they were team white in this game and the other team is team red.
Both teams now suited up and got into their positions inside the pitch.
Igarashi: Ayanokouji, get me the ball and I'll get us a quick goal before they even realize it-
Shido: Fuck off, normie. You're not gonna do a thing.
Igarashi: What?
At goal, the same hologram goalie from the first stage of the second selection, was there in team colors.
The bell rung and the game begun.
Ayanokouji's team got the ball first. He sent a pass towards Igarashi. he controlled it weakly and stood in place.
Ayanokouji: Igarashi, let's build the attack up.
Igarashi: Ok-
Suddenly, Raichi and Gagamaru charged forward.
Igarashi: Eh?!
Raichi: Thanks for the ball!
With the two pressing up, Igarashi sent a desperate pass up but it was anticipated by Wanima.
Ayanokouji: (I see. They're attacking Igarashi right from the get go.)
Shido: (Couldn't even keep the damn ball for a couple of seconds. He's gonna make this annoying.)
Raichi: Right here!
Wanima gave an extra pass to Raichi who was now close to the goal.
Ayanokouji, at full speed, instantly appeared in front of Raichi.
Raichi chuckled.
Raichi: I knew you'd be this fast. We trained together! You're a better player than me, Ayanokouji, but you can't do it on your own.
Ayanokouji extended his leg, and cleared the ball away.
Raichi: Damn!
Igarashi: I got it-
Gagamaru, ran right past Igarashi and dove forward to nail a diving header into the goal.
***Team White [0] - Team Red [1]***
Gagamaru: Nice.
Shido: Whoa, not a bad fucking header. You're fun.
Raichi: We're not some pushovers. We're the real deal!
Ayanokouji: (These three can be really annoying. I guess we'll have to adjust.)
Igarashi: Forget that! We'll just score one and tie it!
Ayanokouji: No. You're staying next to the goal. Me and Shido will attack.
Igarashi: Wh-
Shido: HAHAHAHAHA!!! DIDN'T YA HEAR WHAT HE SAID? HE SAID GET LOST. YOU'RE RUINING THIS GAME WITH YOUR FUCKING STENCH.
Ayanokouji passed right to Shido.
Ayanokouji: (Alright, it's time to see what you can do, pervert.)
Shido: Coming right through! It's time to kickstart my cells!
In a straight path, Shido dashed forward with tremendous speed and strength. He bulldozed right past the unexpecting Wanima until both Gagamaru and Raichi met right into him.
Raichi: Get lost, ya fucking lunatic!
The two put pressure on him and met him, shoulder-to-shoulder. He was pinned in place which angered Shido.
Shido: Fucking annoying. You're in the way of my release!
With both hands, he threw the two down with incredible force and paved through both. But before he could shoot the ball, the speaker came on.
Speaker: Yellow card, Ryusei Shido.
Ayanokouji: (Just great. I knew he had a tantrum. But I didn't think he'd do something this stupid.)
Shido: Tch. It's not my fault these two are sissies.
Raichi and Gagamaru didn't waste anytime and used their third person, Wanima for an advantage. Since Igarashi was back at the goal, Wanima was able to get in position for a long cross from Raichi.
Wanima took the ball and dribbled right past Igarashi, smashing in the ball for another goal.
He pumped his fist up and Team Red was now up by two goals.
***Team White [0] - Team Red [2]***
Igarashi: Why would you foul him there, Shido?! Look what you did. I didn't have enough time to defend Wanima's shot!
Shido sighed.
Shido: You're so boring. I bet ya hear that often. You're ruining my whole vibe.
Ayanokouji: Let's calm down guys. (On surface level, they don't seem to be a formidable group, but with Raichi's defense, and Wanima and Gagamaru's shooting ability, they're pretty tough. Coupled with the fact that Igarashi is completely worthless in this situation and Shido's insistence on doing whatever he wants, it looks like I'll have to create a plan on the go.)
This time, however, Shido checked the ball.
Shido: Pass it right back to me, I'll have my revenge!
He sent the ball to Ayanokouji's direction and as soon as he got it, he dashed forward.
Ayanokouji: (Let's at least put a goal up first to get some structure.)
Raichi was his sole defender and he guarded quiet closely. However, Ayanokouji knew his tendencies and preferred foot. He was going to exploit it.
Using his own unique dribbling scheme, he back-heeled the ball through Raichi's legs and dashed past him to the open field.
Raichi: Damn, you're good.
Ayanokouji stared right at Shido.
Ayanokouji: Get in the penalty box.
Shido smiled and licked his lips.
Shido: I'm feeling a big bang coming...
Wanima met Ayanokouji's advance, and he did multiple stepovers, planted his foot forward, and rabona flicked it around Wanima. Using Baro's positioning and Nagi's first touch, Ayanokouji created a full open space.
Shido ran right through into the penalty box, anxiously waiting for Ayanokouji's pass.
Shido: (Let's see what kind move you're gonna use, Kiyo. You're dribbling looks pretty sick already. I'm waiting for your pass.)
Ayanokouji glared right in Shido's direction, prompting Raichi, Wanima and Gagamaru to simultaneous place their attention to a potential cross into the box. He swung his right leg and it... stopped in place before it hit the ball. It was a complete fake.
Ayanokouji: Thank you for the free open space.
Everyone: Eh?!
Ayanokouji: I'll support when I want...
Calculating the correct position of impact, Ayanokouji hit the ball on the outside of his foot, as it curved beautifully around like a frisbee. It swerved right into the bottom left spot of the goal, leaving the hologram goalkeeper locked in place from the shot.
***Team White [1] - Team Red [2]***
Ayanokouji: But I'm a striker first.
Shido looked on at Ayanokouji's goal.
Shido: (Hehehe, that bastard. He was using me as bait the entire time. But I'm not as mad as I thought I'd be. HAHAHAHA... I was so wrong about you, Kiyo. If seeing your goal already got me hard and on the verge of release... getting a pass from you will give me the ultimate release! Let's fucking do it. I'll get in a position where you'll have to look my way! I'll make sure you can't live without sending me a perfect pass, genius!)
Ayanokouji: (Good, get worked up on my goal. If I've learned one thing from you since we met, Shido, it's your pride. Work under me and we'll be unstoppable. It's time we destroyed their hopes of a close game, with our chemical reaction...)