We pick the story back up NOT in Blue Lock, but in the Japanese U-20 training camp.

Houichi: The match is in 2 weeks! You are all the members of the Japanese U-20 team. The ones chosen for the sake of victory. And the long awaited new addition to our team-

He pink haired player walked in.

Houichi: Sae Itoshi!!

SAE "MIDFIELD GENIUS" ITOSHI!!

Sae: ...

Players had different reactions, with some amazed, and others not so much. Shidou simply picked his nose with his pinky not paying much attention to anything being said.

Houichi: Sae, any fighting words for the team?

Sae: ... Be thankful you get to play football with me.

Most players listening to that seemed offended.

Sae: I don't have the slightest interest in most of you. Only one guy's got my attention. And since you'll never get a chance like this again... Do your best not to piss me off.

Player: Haha... Talk about confidence.

???: Get off your high horse, Genius.

A blonde player stood up, looking at Sae. This was a player known as Shuto Sendo.

Sendo: You might be a bit famous around the world, but you're just a second division player in the end aren't you? I'm a regular forward in the best team in Japan. So watch your mouth, because right now I'm above you.

Sae: ... What about it? As for you, you'll compete to be the top scorer in the nation, get in the national team, get an annual salary of 50 Million Yen, marry a Gravure Idol, and then live a happy life. That would be the peak of your soccer life.

Sendo hearing all this seemed to think it wasn't bad at all.

Sae: My singular interest is to be the best in the world. There is a fundamental different depth to our greed. Just now you thought the things that I listed didn't sound so bad right? That's how you know you'll never be the best in the world. Now piss off.

Sendo: OF COURSE I CAN BE THE-

Shidou leapt forward, slamming Sendo's head into the table.

Shidou: DREAM ON LOSER! BETTER LUCK IN YOUR NEXT LIFE!! Getting all hung up in some titles is lame!! You watch your own damn mouth, YOY DUMB ASS STRIKE-

Everyone heard a groan, looking at someone with their head down, using their arms as pillows.

???: Could you do me a favor and quiet the fuck down?

The male had black hair, as he looked up, tired.

???: Some of us didn't get a good nights rest...

He saw everyone getting ready to fight Shidou, looking at Sendo, who looked up with a slightly bloody nose.

???: ... Sendo, you good man?

Sendo: I-I'll manage.

Shidou: What, are you looking to get some too?!

Shidou was about to kick at the male, only for his neck to be grabbed.

Shidou: 'Wait, what the he-'

Shidou was immediately slammed into the table, now struggling to breathe. It was only then he recognized who it was he tried to attack.

???: You know, you're pretty rowdy for a guy that shouldn't really be on the same team as me.

He brushed the hair away from his eyes, revealing a piercing yellow color.

???: You mind keeping a leash on your pet Sae?

Sae: You decided to wake up, Keith Toshiki.

KEITH "JAPAN'S DARK EMPEROR" TOSHIKI

???: Alright Keith, I think you made your point. Can you let go of the kid before you suffocate him?

With fame from a male with two different colored eyes. Keith looked down at Shidou, seeing that he indeed was having trouble breathing.

Keith: Oh- Shit my bad!

He let go of Shidou's neck, allowing him to take a deep breath.

Keith: Thanks for the heads up Oliver.

OLIVER "UNDERRATED" AIKU!!

Aiku: Any time Ace!

Keith: Let's just get something straight. I honestly wouldn't have a problem playing with either of you.

Sae and Shidou both looked at Keith, as his eyes glowed.

Keith: But you're gonna have to prove to me that you're worth acknowledging on the pitch. I'd score a hat trick without you than score a double by playing with guys that are weak on top of arrogant. And I'd know arrogant if I'm being honest.

Sae: ... Trust me, one of us will use the other.

Keith: I'll hold you to it then.

AT BLUE LOCK

Ego: Let's talk about the Miracle Equation. The phenomena called Flow. That which is indispensable to becoming the best striker in the world. I'll teach you how to set your life ablaze. It is what man obtains through optimal experience. The state of total immersion. When a person focuses on something, they can get so absorbed in their work, that they don't even notice the passage of time.

Azure: 'Is he basically talking about getting in the Zone?'

Ego: The moment you broke out of your shells after coming here, you must have experienced it. A moment in which you put your everything in a play.

Ryu: 'Flow... I haven't really noticed many times before, but I understand what he's talking about completely.'

Ryu remembered two times where he had made almost superhuman plays out of nowhere.

Ryu: 'Back when I first used Dragon Strike... And that moment in the World 5 Game when I briefly ascended to their level. Hell I might've experienced it during some of my gaming sessions.'

As Ego began to explain what the skill was and how to enter it in further detail, Ryu slowly started to understand the mechanics more.

Azure: 'It's not exactly something you can will yourself to do. You've gotta find something that challenges you, but doesn't make you super anxious. And in that case...'

Many people had a similar thought.

Ryu: 'Facing off against the U-20 Team definitely can get someone to enter Flow. I can easily get lost in my own game with that in mind.'

Ryu grinned, as his eyes glowed.

Ryu: 'I'm gonna enjoy the hell out of devouring each and every one of their players.'

TIME SKIP!!

Much time had passed, as the day of the Blue Lock vs U-20 game had arrived.

Ryu: 'Man, it feels so weird now. Putting on an actual Team Uniform for a game outside of Blue Lock.'

Ryu pulled gloves onto his hands, before tying his shoes.

Azure: I almost forgot man.

Azure put on a single arm sleeve, looking at Ryu.

Azure: This is gonna be your Striker Debut. Try not to fuck up, or the rest of us will look like chumps.

Ryu: -_-

Azure: Just kidding. Like you've ever cracked under a games pressure.

Ryu only smirked when hearing this.

Ryu: Let's kick ass.

The players all prepared walked out. When they did, they saw the entirety of the U-20 Team. Ryu's eyes specifically landed on Sae.

Ryu: Long time no see, Sae.

Sae: ... Ryu. Are you just gonna do what you usually do in a game?

Ryu: You wish.

Azure walked up to Keith, as the two stared each other down.

Keith: Azure Kaito right? It's too bad those idiots on the JFE didn't send you a request sooner.

Azure: Good thing they didn't. Now I get to really become Japan's best Striker.

Keith smiled hearing Azure's confidence. Soon enough, the players went onto the field, with the crowd overwhelmingly cheering for the U-20 team. Ryu closed his eyes, taking everything in.

Ryu: *Sniff*

Azure: Enjoying this too?

Ryu: Yeah. This is a feeling I could get used to.

Ryu opened his eyes, gazing upon the entire U-20 11.

Ryu: The world's gonna know who I am.

Getting into position, the game to keep Blue Lock going had finally began, with Team Blue Lock starting with the ball. Rin kicked it to Ryu, who immediately went forward.

Ryu: 'For now it's simple. Give me the ball, and let me work a little Magic.'

Sae got in front of Ryu, with the boy unfazed.

Ryu: 'Right now, we look like we're running a 5-4-1. My main ammunition being-'

Ryu passed the ball back to Azure, as Isagi wasn't too far behind, with Nagi and Rin on standby.

Ryu: 'These four.'

Ryu did a two touch to try and get by Sae, however the Midfielder saw this coming, moving to get in front of Ryu. Quickly however, Ryu used his left foot to get a pass through to Azure on the right.

Ryu: 'But in truth, it's like a 3-6-1. I've got six bullets behind me to use however I see fit.'

Bachira and Chigiri ran up to join the offense.

Azure: 'Go on and show them how the chaos starts Ace.'

Showing his immense speed, Ryu dashed ahead.

Haru: Woah, he's quicker than I thought!

Azure passed the ball over to Rin, who seemed mildly annoyed, before kicking the ball into the air, and over to Ryu.

Rin: You better not miss.

As Ryu went forward, he noticed that Aiku was running over as well.

Aiku: 'You won't be able to trap the ball like to want with me this close.'

Ryu: 'He figured out where I'd be? Tch, whatever.'

Ryu leapt into the air, trapping the ball with his chest, and controlling it coming down.

Aiku: 'Woah, the big guy jumps like a rabbit!'

Ryu: 'This guy just showed me his hand. Spatial Awareness, and reflexes maybe even better than Azure's.'

Aiku went forward to mark Ryu, however he didn't fully expect the ball to be kicked past him, as Ryu dashed off, catching up to it.

Ryu: Eat my dust. Do more research next time.

Once Ryu was ready to shoot, two defenders were able to get in his way.

Ryu: 'Seriously?!'

Neru: No no. We heard a lot about you.

Niou: YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET A CLEAR SHOT!!!

Ryu: 'Argh, I hate it when I get crowded. Especially by good defenders.'

Ryu's eyes went slitted, as he quickly looked around.

Ryu: 'CRAP!!!''

He saw that not only Aiku, but Sae were nearby, and ready to help on defense.

Ryu: 'I guess I've only got one option from this angle!'

Ryu kicked the ball, as it went straight towards Isagi.

Ryu: 'Come on, see what I saw! Pass it over to Rin, and then a path for me will be open!'

Isagi: 'I hope Ryu's thinking the same thing as me!'

As the ball was about to get to the teen, a pure white aura flashed in Isagi's eyes.

???: If this is all a genius who started playing football not too long ago has, then I'm HEAVILY disappointed.

Out of nowhere, Keith came in, stealing the pass for himself.

Isagi: 'When did he get there?!! I didn't even hear him sneak back to defense!!'

Keith: You're gonna have to try harder, Blue Lock.

Ryu was shocked at this conclusion.

Ryu: 'Was... Was Keith able to see what I did... Before I even could?'

Keith started moving up with the ball, showing an impressive level of speed.

Azure: 'Woah, he's fast!!'

Azure quickly moved to defend him.

Keith: Alright then Azure, let's see what YOU can do against me.

Azure moved in to steal the ball from Keith, but found that it was much harder to take than from others.

Azure: 'His ball retention skills are top notch!'

???: Don't take so long ya idjit!

Karasu went in as well, seeing Azure was struggling.

Keith: Too late.

Once Karasu came, Keith held him back with one arm, before doing a Rabona Pass to Sae.

Karasu: 'He's lean, but strong!'

Reacting quickly, Chigiri ran after the Genius Midfielder.

Chigiri: I WON'T LET YOU!! You're not gonna get past me with my speed!!'

Instead of trying to force his way through, Sae kicked the ball, passing it directly to the front line.

Chigiri: 'He's already passing there?! What a quick judgement call! And not only is he giving me no time to think, that distance is over 50 meters long! A long distance low pass at medium speed!!'

The ball had gotten to Chou, as players ran up the field. When the ball was passed to Sendo, Sae once again got open, and received the ball. Niko playing his role as a defender got in the way of his path, and allowed Chigiri to arrive, stopping the genius for the moment.

Sae: 'It's time to show me what you can do.'

Sae gently passed the ball to an open area, which confused Ryu.

Ryu: 'What? Who the hell is he-'

His eyes widened once he saw that Keith dashed to the spot, arriving.

Ryu: Keith?!

Isagi: 'He's outside of the penalty box and angled almost adjacent to the goal! If we hurry, we-'

With no hesitation, Keith shot the ball. Gagamaru leaped forward, trying to block the shot, however he was too late, with the first goal being scored.

Score: 1-0 U-20 Japan

Isagi: Huh? A Direct Shot from that angle is...

Azure: Unreal...

Ryu watched, with his mouth agape.

Ryu: 'Both Keith and Sae found an open area when I couldn't...'

Ryu clenched his fist, smiling while looking at the two, fired up.

Ryu: 'This is getting even better!!'

CHAPTER END!!