𝐁𝐋𝐔𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐊: 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐊𝐄𝐑

Settling Score

Kiyoshi POV

As you can guess everywhere I went there was cameras everywhere. I was on the way to a signing and interview along with Celio and Liana. They're with me everywhere at the point, considering they're my only friends in Italy it makes sense. I wore a black hoodie that had a golden star on the back along with regular blue jeans. Liana wore a orange cropped race jacket and black tights while Celio wore something similar to my outfit. An Ubers jacket and black joggers. Some more news, we play France next week, here in Italy. My first game in Italy and I get to face that slow speedster. The bracket was currently looking like Italy vs France,  Japan vs Brazil, England vs Portugal, and Argentina vs Netherlands. Japan managed to triumph over Croatia 3-1. But Brazil is a much tougher opponent. France doesn't really have any notable players that I know of besides Julian and Charles, which shouldn't be a problem. I've already beaten those two with way less help. So this next round should be a breeze.
Liana: "Kiyoshi"
Kiyoshi: "..."
Liana: "Kiyoshi!"
Kiyoshi: "Hm?"
Celio: "We're here"
Kiyoshi: "Oh right my bad."
Liana: "Wha were you thinking about anyway?"
Kiyoshi: "Nothing special"
The driver opened the door for us, stepping out and of course being greeted with flashes from cameras. Celio and Liana stepped out and stood beside me.
Liana: "Remember only Italian"
Celio: "Obviously, he's been speaking that for the past weeks."
I just shake my head and walk into the building. We enter the building tons of fans being inside along with reporters. There were all off to  the side leaving me and the others a clear path to the front. Once arrive the three of us took a seat. I look around for a bit seeing the Nike signs  all around the place.
Kiyoshi: A Nike event huh?
Liana: "Something wrong?"
Whispered to me
Kiyoshi: "No I just find it funny I'm at a Nike event and not signed by Nike."
I said aloud catching everyone's attention.
Celio: "Is kind of funny"
Reporter 1: "Are you saying you would like to be signed by Nike?"
I spoke into the microphone in front of me
Kiyoshi: "I mean if I'm coming to events for them I guess, but I'm fine with this event anyway. Just for future references. Anyway sorry I'm late, let's get started."
I point to a female reporter with brown long hair
Reporter3: "There has been a lot of talk about you and Blue Lock, can you express the things you went through there?"
Kiyoshi: "Most definitely the hardest thing I've experienced, from making my decision to even wanting to go there to me making the decision to leave. I may not be with them right now but they've got an amazing coach, the best coach in the world actually, I'm sure a few know him, Jinpachi Ego."
Reporter2: "You said from the decision to go there, what do you mean?"
Kiyoshi: "At the time my family was struggling financially due my mom being sick, I was balancing taking care of my sister and playing soccer to make the league. Blue lock was the quickest way to the league but I had to leave my sister behind."
Reporter2: "So you're reason for playing soccer is because of your mom and you're forced?"
Kiyoshi: "Not at all, in fact my mom died before the game with Japan world-20 vs Blue Lock. At first she was the reason. But now I'm playing simply for myself. It was never forced there were other ways to pay for treatment besides soccer I just chose soccer"
The reporters were finally satisfied with my answer after asking 3 questions. I pointed to a male reporter with a bald head.
Reporter5: "This question is for Celio, one moment you were a random kid in a youth academy to playing in the World Cup, can you explain the change of scenery."
Celio: "I mean, more people watching I guess? I enjoyed the moment for sure and I gotta thank Kiyoshi for even giving me an opportunity. He rushed my development and makes me look great on the field"
Kiyoshi: "You've got the best passes I've played with don't say that"
Celio: "Tha-"
RING RING RING
My phone vibrated and rang in my pocket. I grabbed it from my pocket and looked who was calling. It was a FaceTime from Hiori. I answered it and just received a middle finger from him and Shizuhaka.
Reporter 1: "Who's that?"
I turned my phone to them.
Kiyoshi: "Hiori, and Shizuhaka, two of my favorite passers as well." These two understand Italian?
I quickly turn the phone to me looking surprised.
Kiyoshi: "You understand me?"
Hiori: "Yep, congrats on your win, win again so we can whoop your ass."
Shizuhaka: "We won to of course and are gonna win the entire thing "
Kiyoshi: "I've already beat France, good luck with Brazil"
Hiori: "Whatever man"
Kiyoshi: "You mind coming to Italy and playing with Ubers?"
I spoke in Japanese so the reporters didn't understand.
Hiori: "Sae is coming, so possibly"
Shizuhaka: "Kiyoshi come back to Japan"
Kiyoshi: "No"
I just straight up hung up afterward turning my attention back to the crowd. Liana leaned towards me.
Liana: "What was that about?"
Kiyoshi: "What was what about"
Reporter4: "The Japanese part."
Kiyoshi: "Oh he showed my sister and they don't know Italian, next question."
I pointed to a little girl in the crowd, holding a microphone and notepad. She was raising her hand as high as possible and I found it cute.
Little reporter: "S-so you mentioned you beat France, when was this?0
Kiyoshi: "In Blue Lock, there were 5 world teams, that's how I met marc. I played with Lavinho on Brazil. And we went undefeated. It wasn't the actual National teams, just one superstar and. Few youth players. Any more questions?"
Reporter7: "How would you explain yourself from on and off the field?"
Kiyoshi: "Uhhh, I'm a star everywhere I go, I just shine brighter on the field. That it?"
...
Kiyoshi: "Great we can get on with the signings."

~•TIMESKIP•~

It was finally game day, the week just passing by with nothing happening besides practice. Surprised I haven't gotten any endorsement deals yet honestly, you would think the best player in football would get one surely. Anyway first up we had another fucking interview, they don't get tired of these I can already tell. I walked into the conference room to see Loki sitting at the table. I paused for a minute seeing as they were waiting on me. But why the hell is he here and sitting down at that.
Reporter1: "Are you gonna take a seat?"
Everyone looked at me
Loki: "Yeah take a seat."
He looked over at me a blank stare in his eyes piercing directly through me. Nothing but a ray of heat shooting from him, those round eyes staring right at me. I stared back at him trying to hold my ground with him, honestly his presence felt like it was more than mine. This didn't feel like the same person from Blue Lock, his ego Is back and I've gotta crush it again. I walked over to the chair pulled it from the table and took a seat. I looked at the Gatorade bottle on the table and simply just took it down and placed it on the ground. Loki noticed and was the first to say something about it
Loki: "Pockets still empty?"
Kiyoshi: "Pocket watching?"
Loki: "No just seems like you're begging for endorsements though"
Kiyoshi: "Begging no, I live with Marc I don't need the money. But I'm not gonna advertise people who aren't paying me. They'll probably start after this game."
Loki looked confused
Loki: "What makes you say that?"
Kiyoshi: "Because I'll crush you again."
Reporter2: "Again? Kiyoshi beat you before?"
Loki: "Not me particularly, the team I was coach-"
Kiyoshi: "Search up FC Barcha vs PXG Blue Lock TV, he subbed himself in and I handed him his ass. Keep denying it and I'll make it worse."
Loki quickly got irritated.
Loki: "I made you cry during a game and I'll do it again"
Reporter3: "Sounds like the score is even"
Loki: "Yes and I'm here to settle score in the best place possible."
Kiyoshi: "Ill whoop your ass in champions to this is far from over, I won't stop till make you useless on the field."
Loki: "We'll see. Maybe after you beat me your mother will give you a pay r-"
I immediately got up and was about to swing at Loki only for Marc to quickly grab me and pull me out of the conference room.
Loki: "See ya on the field Fugimora!"
I flicked him off before disappearing from his view.

Blue Lock POV

Zeijre: "Those two will never stop"
Karasu: "Money on Loki"
Sae: "You're dumb"
Bachira: "Money on Kiyoshi"
Nagi: "Kiyoshi's gonna wipe the floor with em"
Chigiri: "It'll be a good matchup"
Ego: "It won't, the way Kiyoshi played in the last game was amazing yes but Loki is still leagues ahead of him. All of the world 5 are but Loki specifically."
Reo: "Huh? The two faced off in Neo Egoist League for 5 whole minutes."
Ego: "Yes I was giving Loki time to analyze Kiyoshi completely, during that matchup Loki underestimated Kiyoshi based on previous performance. Both have a Supreme Ego yes but Loki is physically better than Kiyoshi. Kiyoshi's main weakness is still his physicality."
Sae: "You're wrong, he's competed with the best of the best physical players already. That fuel from the press conference is just gonna make him hurt Loki on the field."
Ego: "That press conference is gonna mess up his game, Loki already won the mind games part. Kiyoshi is gonna play 1v11 until he figures out he's dumb, which is never."
Niko: "1v1, 1v3, 1v11, 1v30 even, Kiyoshi is a 1v11 kind of player that's how he got here and that's why you recruited him. Playing 11v11 with him just limits his abilities, he does what he wants when he has the ball 24/7."
Ego: "You guys seem to be dead set on Fugimora"
Isagi: "Yes, he's a monster."
Ego: "Very well, if Kiyoshi loses this battle we'll drop out of the World Cup"
Reo: "What?"
Shido: "That's not fair"
Aiku: "Bad deal"
Hiori: "We accept"
Everyone looks at Hiori
Ego: "Very well"

Italy Stadium

All 22 players 11 from each team stood on the pitch stretching and waiting for the match to start. Julian Loki, the star striker of France had his foot planted on the ball waiting for the whistle. The crowd roaring, flashes going off everywhere and the lights beamed down onto the field. Kiyoshi stared at Loki who stared back with a grin.

WHISTLE

The game was up and ready, Loki kicking it back to Charles the 18 year old midfielder