BLUE LOCK: UNDYING FLAME

[PREVIOUSLY]

The referee then did the coin flip. After, it was then decided that SIERAN HIGH would start the kickoff.

Walking back, Ryoji stood over the ball. He then gazed at Neron, seeing the resoluteness in his eyes, he nodded, Neron nodding back, his mind focused on the game.

Pheeeeeeew, the referee blew. The match has officially started. Who will win, well read to find out.

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As the referee blew the whistle, the friendly game between SEIRAN vs. OSAKA had officially begun.

Ryoji passed the ball to Neron. Neron received the ball and quickly sprinted forward with it, his mind recalling the game plan that they'd been practicing for the week.

FLASHBACK

In the locker room, we see Sophia standing beside a whiteboard. The players sat down, listening attentively to her.

"This game isn't going to be easy guys." She spoke before gesturing to a first-team player to switch on the projector. A slide was shown.

"OSAKA are known best for their possession game. They pass the ball around, making their opponents run and outwork themselves, before killing them off effectively and efficiently. And the spearhead of their attack," the next slide show, showed a picture of Leonardo. "Leonardo Moretti, known for his pace and dribbling. He excels in running in behind and is dangerous in front of goal. He was one of the highest goal scorers last season, only losing to another freak of nature." She explained, her voice carrying the weight of his ability

"But he's not the only one we'll have to watch out for." She gestured for the next slide and pointed at the next picture. A faint of a man, almost as tall as Ryoji. Broad shoulders, and arms. Short black hair, and eyes. The players unconsciously gulped, "This is the heart of OSAKA, the captain of the team, Daiki Tanaka. He's as important, if not more so than Leonardo." She finished.

Neron's brows furrowed at the information, "Then coach, how are we supposed to beat them then." He asked.

Sophia then smiled, "Well, I was getting to that." She said, Neron scratching his head in embarrassment; Sophia chuckled at that. "Well, to beat them won't be easy; we'll have to go all out. Try to score a goal early, so in simple terms, an all-out attack at the beginning. " She said.

Daichi tilted his head in confusion, "But coach, why would we do that? You said they're one of the most patient teams." He asked

Sophia smiled at him, "They'll underestimate us, that's why, so their guards will be down. So with that, we capitalize on that." She explained, earning nods of understanding from the team.

Sophia's gaze then turned serious, "We have to be near perfect for that. So we'll use both Neron and Hayato as you two are our fastest players." She said, the two boys looked at each other before bumping their fists.

"Let's go out there and show them not to underestimate us!!!" She said, the team shouted in response.

FLASHBACK END

Neron quickly dashed on the left-hand side. Two defenders in front of him. He feinted to the right, before passing it to his left foot. The next defender rushed in to assist, but Neron passed the ball to his right foot before dashing forward.

Looking up, he was met the captain, Daiki Takana. "Hmm, trying to overwhelm us with speed. Not the first time a team has tried that before." He spoke.

Neron grinned "Well, not a team like ours then." He said, he's eyes finding Shinji's. He quickly passed it to him before he dashed forward.

Shinji flicked his hair. He winded his left leg, before curving a beautiful ball over the defense to a running Hayato. Hayato grinned in excitement as he increased his speed, the defender trying his absolute best to catch him, but he was already gone.

Hayato looked up, Ryoji in the box. He sent a curling cross to him. Ryoji held out his hands behind him, to secure his place. The defenders gritted their teeth, as they found it quite difficult to move the mountain of a man.

The ball sailed through the air, Ryoji seeing the box was crowded, flicked his head backwards, the ball going to the back post to a trailing Neron.

Neron lifted his left leg, before volleying it into the open net.

Neron jumped in celebration, a grin on his face."WOOOOOOOAAAAAAHHHH." He screamed in celebration, his teammates joining in. The crowd grew silent as they hadn't expected such a quick goal.

Neron looked towards Ryoji in appreciation, a grin on his face. "Thanks for the pass cap." He said.

Ryoji smiled, ruffling his head. "Let's not get too carried away; it's still 1-0. But nice finish." He replied, Neron, nodding in understanding.

The game restarted with OSAKA, and Leonardo stood over the ball. His eyebrows raised, and an unimpressed expression was on his face."Was that it?" He spoke, a smirk spreading on his face as a small chuckle escaped his lips. He stared at Neron, mockery in his eyes. "If that was all you have to offer, then I'm disappointed. But it's my fault for expecting more from trash." He finished, Neron, furrowing his brows at that.

The game resumed. Leonardo passed the ball before he lazily jugged forward.

Seiran found themselves chasing circles as they tried to press the ball, but Osaka showed their quality as they simply passed the ball around them. At the heart of it was their captain, Daiki Tanaka.

Daiki found himself being marked by Takeshi. The boy smiled, "Hmm, hey Dai-chan, good to see you again." He said

Daiki's gaze remained the same. 'Takeshi Fujimoto. An all-rounder, and an engine for a long. Hmm, so that's their plan to stop me.' He analyzed, before grunting, 'If it were that simple.'

"You're plan is commendable, using a work machine to mark me throughout the game." He spoke before his eyes narrowed."This plan didn't work before, so why would it work now." He said, and he had marit to that. Last year, they had used the same game plan, but it was of no use.

Takeshi merely smiled, "Well this time is very different. We have new players in, and trust me they're quite special. So, as their senpai, I'll have to not embarrass myself, no?" He grinned.

Daiki gazed at Takeshi, "Is that so." He spoke under his breath. "Seems I'll have to be more serious then." He said. He passed the ball to a winger, before sprinting past Ryoji. And for someone that tall and big, he was quite fast.

The winger passed the ball back to the running Daiki, who then passed it forward to a midfielder, before receiving the ball back.

He raised his head to scan the field but was surprised as a familiar face came into his view; Takeshi smiled as he stared at him. "How rude, not even saying goodbye before you left." He spoke in a fake hurt.

Daiki simply grunted, not surprised he had caught up. He took a touch, before he glided with the ball, using his body to shield the ball.

But then Shinji came to view, doing his usual hair flick. "Need some fabulous help senpai." He spoke.

Daiki was not being marked by two players. Daiki's gaze remained undisturbed, "Hmm, your plan is commendable. I will say that." He then winded his leg back, "I'm not the only person on the pitch you'll have to worry about." He pinged the ball towards Leonardo.

Leonardo grinned, "Finally, I didn't want to stand near trash for much longer." He spoke up, before sprinting forward past Neron. Neron's eyes furrowed, as he quickly turned around to follow him.

Leonardo then took a sharp turn to the right, catching Neron off guard. The ball sailed right to his feet. Trapping the ball, he took a touch before he blasted it with his right foot into the top right corner. The keeper not standing a chance.

The crowd cheered loudly, as the ace of the school scored a wonderful goal from outside the box.

Leonardo gazed condescendingly at Neron. "Sorry where you marking me trash, I didn't even notice." He spoke, his tone dripped with mockery before walkies past him.

Neron's face scrunched a bit. He felt a hand on his head. He gazed up and was met with Ryoji. "Relax, don't let him get under your skin. Just stick to the game plan." He said. Neron took a breath and then nodded.

The game was now 1-1, and the play restarted with SIERAN. Ryoji passed the ball to Neron. Taking a touch, Neron was about to drive with the ball, but he found himself being marked by Leonardo.

Neron found himself surprised. Feinting to the left, Neron tried to get past him. But Leonardo didn't fall for it, as he quickly pocked the ball from under him. Neron tried to get back, but Leonardo used his superior strength and simply bodied him. "Surprise surprise, Trash dribbling from trash." He mocked, before sprinting past him.

Neron looked quite shaken before he sprinted back to try to defend.

Leonardo found a defender in front of him. He simply grinned as he did two stepovers, the defender's eyes trying to follow it. He then took a step to the right. The defender stretched his leg to take the ball away, but Leonardo simply tapped the ball between his legs, laughing as he sprinted away.

Leonardo continued forward. Daichi now in his way, Neron finally making up ground, panting heavily. "Huh, trash in my way..." He then looked at Daichi, "...And a baby, they let anyone play these days then." He mocked, earning the annoyance of Daichi who lunged at the ball quickly, but Leonardo rainbow flicked the ball over the boy before dashing forward.

Neron, too, dashed forward in hopes of taking the ball. But like before, Leonardo proved to be too strong, as the boy simply bumped him away. He then volleyed the ball before it touched the ground. The keeper was at full stretch, but that proved to be futile as it found its way into the top left corner.

Sophia looked at this; her brows knitted together. "Let me in coach," Baro spoke up.

Sophia looked towards Baro, she massaged her knuckles." It's not yet time Baro. Please bear with me; you will come on, but not yet." She explained, Baro grunted in annoyance but nodded.

Sophia's gaze turned back towards the pitch.

Neron received the ball before he passed it back to Shinji. Leonardo looked at this in amusement, "Running away, not really surprised trash." He commented, not bothering to go back to defend.

Shinji passed it towards Hayato. The boy ran past two defenders as he drifted towards the middle of the pitch.

Hajime looked at the current play, his ever-stern face present, before he scoffed. "Foolish. Trying to play through the middle, might as well give us the ball. That domain is Great White territory." He commented.

Daiki appeared between them, intercepting the pass. The two's eyes widened at this. Daiki passed them, sprinting forward, passing by defenders like they weren't even there.

Nearing the penalty box, he winded his foot back. Neron was back with him, he lunged to block the ball. Daiki gazed at him."Noble attempt, but you're too late." He said before he stroked the ball with tremendous force, the ball shot through the air like a rocket, and the keeper didn't stand a chance as it entered the goal.

The crowd cheered as the captain scored. The score is currently 2-1.

This trend continued, SEIRAN high trying to play around Osaka's high press, but couldn't. They were forced into multiple mistakes, and one was made again.

The ball was stolen from Shinji and then sent to Leonardo, who was being marked by Daichi, whose gaze was resolute to stop him.

As the ball reached Leonardo, whose back was facing Daichi, flicked the ball to the right. Daichi shuffled to the right to stop him, but Leonardo then took a touch to the right. Daichi lunged his foot forward, his leg almost touching the ball, but Leonardo was one step ahead as he took a touch forward; drawing a foul.

"Pheeeeeeew." The ref blew the whistle for the foul. Leonardo looked at Daichi, then brought up his hands to his eyes before rubbing them, "Aww is baby going to cry to his mommy." He mocked

Daichi gritted his teeth in frustration. Beron slung his arm over him. "Hey, forget about him, you tried your best. Let's just keep playing okay." He encouraged the boy with a smile on his face, Daichi nodded as they headed back to form the wall.

Leonardo lined up for the freekick."Hmm, a wall of trash, like that's going to stop me. I've already scored." He said arrogantly.

He took four steps back, straight with the ball, before running up to the ball and striking it with the top of his right foot. The ball sailed over the top of the wall, shifting from right to left in the air before hitting the crossbar and entering in.

The crowd erupted in cheer at the goal. Leonardo simply raised his hands to his side, a cocky smirk on his face as he stared at the team.

The ref blew the whistle, signifying the end of the first half. Seiran High went to their locker room a bit demoralized.

Going into the break, the score was currently 3-1

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A/N: Well that's this chapter done. Seiran had a plan, and it worked initially, but unfortunately, it didn't last long. Tell me your thoughts on the chapter, guys, and comment down below who your favorite and least favorite character so far.

Also don't forget to throw me some stones if you like the story so far. God bless 🙏