Blue Lock: Beyond Greatness

"You..."

"Just call me Shinichi." Walking along the path, Aiku glanced at the figure ahead of him multiple times, attempting to speak but ultimately holding back.

Shinichi, noticing his conflicted expression, stopped abruptly, turned around, and looked him straight in the eye. "Is there something on your mind? Speak up. I prefer everything laid out clearly. I'll give you the right to ask questions."

Questions about how the Football Association would handle the current U20 national team, what Shinichi intended to do, and other jumbled thoughts swirled through Aiku's mind.

Yet, after repeatedly opening and closing his lips, he finally asked the one question that directly struck at his core: "What do you mean by... 'the new era'?"

"I don't like repeating meaningless things. You're not qualified to know yet. Once you earn the qualifications, you'll naturally understand, so I refuse to answer," Shinichi replied bluntly, showing no intention of giving Aiku special treatment. "As for how to gain those qualifications, I'll explain it to everyone together shortly."

"Also, why are you making me, someone visiting here for the first time, lead the way? Get in front and show me the route."

Aiku's expression darkened, though unreadable.

He felt like he had been brushed off but, lacking any solid information, couldn't make a judgment.

Resigned, he led Shinichi toward the room where the U20 national team was gathered.

'If this guy is just some braggart riding on his family's coattails, then even if it costs me my career and I end up blacklisted, I'll expose them!'

Aiku silently resolved as he walked ahead, stealthily taking out his phone to start recording.

He knew this action was reckless—against an opponent with influence over national institutions, a single recording would be virtually useless.

But this was the only form of resistance he could muster.

Trailing one step behind, Shinichi noticed Aiku's little maneuver but simply yawned and paid it no further attention.

The two of them walked in silence until they reached the door to the lounge. Aiku took a deep breath and pushed the door open. "Hey, guys, heads up. We've got a VIP here."

"Yo, good morning..." Shinichi strolled in with his hands in his pockets, casually scanning the room.

The group, which had fallen silent immediately after Aiku spoke, earned a subtle nod of approval from him.

At least in terms of obedience, they seemed passable. However...

"Listen up, you bunch of utterly uninspired nobodies. I'm here to declare your fate."

"What the hell did you just say?!" Sendou, the most hot-tempered among them, slammed the table as he shot to his feet. Just as he was about to shout, Aiku stepped in and stopped him. "Wait, let's hear him out first."

"Tch." Reluctantly, Sendou sat back down, his face still full of displeasure as he glared at the indifferent Shinichi. "Fine. Let's see what he has to say."

"Words are the weakest form of rebuttal," Shinichi remarked, unfazed and without a trace of embarrassment from the confrontation.

He didn't even bother sparing Sendou another glance. "Did I say anything untrue? A team whose goal was merely to make it to the semifinals, only to fail in the Round of 16—are you not failures?"

"Or is it that my words hit too close to home, and now you're lashing out in anger?"

"Hey, Aiku, if this guy doesn't give us a proper explanation, can I punch him?" Kazuma, with his scruffy, worn-out look, also stood up, veins bulging on his forehead as he clenched his fists.

He glared at Aiku, as if waiting for the signal to launch himself at Shinichi and land a solid punch on his smug face.

"Sigh..." Aikuu let out a long sigh, pressing a hand on Kazuma's shoulder to push him back into his seat. He then turned to Shinichi. "Is this all you came here to do? To insult us?"

"I don't have that kind of free time. Don't overestimate yourselves. A bunch of insignificant football trash isn't worth the effort for me to come here just to mock you."

"Listen closely, remnants of the old era," Shinichi said, taking out his phone and scrolling through it casually.

"What I'm announcing here is the process for cleaning up the filth that you represent. In a month, there will be a match. The former president, Hirotoshi, has organized a U20 representative team under his banner. They will face off against my team, Blue Lock, led by me."

"That match will be your final opportunity to prove your worth. After the game, the old U20 team will be completely purged. It will mark the victory of the new order over the old, and solidify my authority over the Football Association."

"Wait, what do you mean by this? Are you asking us to intentionally lose to you?" At this point, everyone in the room was on edge, unable to stay silent.

Shinichi, however, regarded them with an expression that was both amused and exasperated, like someone watching an elderly person fumble with a smartphone.

"Why is your first reaction to think of match-fixing?"

"Don't play innocent! You outright said that you would win against us. Announcing the result in advance—isn't that just asking us to play along with your charade?" Sendou roared in frustration. "If that's what this is about, then count me out! I refuse to participate in something so absurd!"

"I declared the outcome in advance because you worthless players have less than a one-in-ten-thousand chance of beating me. That's not a prediction—it's simply me stating an undeniable fact," Shinichi replied coldly, his words cutting through their protests like a blade.

"You can go all out, or rather, you must fight with everything you have. My coronation ceremony will not tolerate any blemishes or imperfections. At the same time, this is your chance to prove your value. The ship of the new era will not carry dead weight."

Shinichi, as if suddenly losing interest, turned and began walking toward the door. "The next match will be your only opportunity to earn your place. Those who think they can idle away on past glory should take the hint and leave on their own."

"This is the revolution I bring to this team. Those who cannot keep pace with the new era will simply be cast aside."

"And that applies to you too, Sae Itoshi."

With a swish, Shinichi slid the door open, revealing Sae Itoshi standing just outside. Without missing a beat, Shinichi brushed past him. "I don't care what you've been up to in the past. Here, there is only one rule."

"Serve me, or get out. I have no use for those who can't pick a side."

"Are you intentionally trying to provoke me?" Sae frowned, his expression darkening.

Shinichi ignored him entirely, turning back to address the rest of the team. "If there's anything from our team that you think you need, feel free to ask. To make sure you're fully convinced, we'll agree to most of your demands. And then..."

"For the final declaration: no matter how many goals you score in that match, I personally will score twice that amount. That is not a prediction—it's an absolute fact."

Shinichi's gaze shifted to Aiku. "Well? Are you satisfied with these terms?"

Aiku sat below, gripping his captain's armband tightly in his hand.

He thought he would feel nothing but anger and humiliation, yet unexpectedly, his eyes sparkled with excitement. "If you can really do that..."

Shinichi nodded, turning away with a casual wave. "Enjoy your final moments of glory."