Blue Lock: Somehow Igarashi did better than me

(POV Change: 3rd Person)

Team V gathered in their locker room. Haiji stood in front of them, about to inform them about their next opponent. Team W, led by the tallest high-schooler, Yukio Ishikari. Haiji chose to take a more proactive approach, deciding to work together with his team more.

"Our opponent is Team W, who's led by Yukio Ishikari. Their last match ended 4-1 with all their goals coming from him. Three coming from crosses. I don't need to state the obvious here. None of you are going to win aerial battles against him."

Ryu Kendo raised his hand. Haiji pointed at him to ask his question. "Would it really matter? I mean, even if he scores 4, you'll just score 5 or 6, right?"

Haiji considered what he said before answering. "True, but I would prefer it if you didn't let him score 4 on you. Besides, he isn't just dangerous in the air, he's shooting is quite lethal too. He also uses his long limbs to intercept passes and initiate counter attacks."

"Besides that, he also has some skill in dribbling. Think of him like a Japanese Edin Dzeko. That's why I want you all to limit his options. The team surrounding him is pretty mediocre, so I'd say it wouldn't matter if you double-teamed him."

"Alright!! You heard the man. Tall or not, he's still a high schooler. So let's go shut him down!" Tsunzaki said, hyping up the rest of the team.

-----

Team V stepped onto the pitch, led by Haiji, determined to get another win under their belt. Team W, led by Yukio Ishikari, was of the same mindset.

KICK OFF!!

Team V started the match. Tsunzaki passed the ball to Haiji. Immediately, three players from Team W surrounded him. He looked at the players marking him, determined expressions worn on their faces.

Without wasting a moment, Haiji unleashed a flurry of skills and was immediately free from his marking. Just as he passed the defenders, a shadow loomed over him.

"Oya, seeing it on the tapes and watching it myself feels very different," said Ishikari. "Pleased to stop you Shizuka Haiji."

Smirking at the declaration. Haiji performed an elastico that led to Ishikari getting nutmegged. But Ishikari was undeterred. Using his longer reach, Ishikari chased after Haiji with ease. Blocking his route once again. They were back to square one.

"Sorry about that. I dozed off for a moment there. Almost let you get away that time," said Ishikari, his nonchalant attitude irking Haiji.

Feeling the mounting pressure of his defense. Haiji activated One For All. With the blistering speed provided to him, Haiji reached Team W's box. Not wasting to waste the moment, Haiji unleashed a powerful shot that ripped through the opponent's defence.

GOAL!!

Team V - 1

Team W - 0

"Oya, there's that crazy speed and shooting of his," said Ishikari. The goal seemingly not bothering him.

When Team W restarted the match. Haiji immediately started pressing Ishikari. Dribbling wasn't an option for Ishikari. He knew his limits when the ball's at his feet. Instead, he opted to pass to his open teammate.

Team W started passing around the ball more, trying to break through to pass the defence. They reached a breakthrough when the winger from Team W broke through and delivered a cross towards Ishikari in the penalty box.

Although marked by two players in the box, Ishikari still jumped for the ball to head it into the back of the net. However, a shadow loomed over him. Tsunzaki jumped and headed the ball away. "HAHAHA!! Now that's what I'm talking about!" Tsunzaki bellowed.

Surprise appeared on Ishikari's face. He never thought he would lose in an aerial battle. Then something clicked in his mind. The two players that marked him wasn't trying to stop him, they were trying to disrupt his jumping, forcing him to jump in an uncomfortable position so that he wouldn't he wouldn't reach his maximum height while another player came and clear the ball.

The cleared ball reached Ryu Kendo, who started dribbling the ball towards center field. When a player came to press him, he passed it to Haiji on his left.

With the ball at his feet, Haiji made his way towards the opposition goal. When a shadow loomed over him. It was Ishikari. His long legs allowed him to cover vast distances immediately.

Before Ishikari could tackle the ball, Haiji passed it to Tsunzaki. Haiji's position left Tsunzaki unmarked. Ishikari's reappearance rectified the situation.

Tsunzaki attempted to break through Ishikari's defence using brute force, though Ishikari held strong. "I'm not just all height, you know. I'm pretty strong myself." said Ishikari.

Tsunzaki grit his teeth, trying to body his way to the goal. "Tsunzaki! I'm open!" Yelled out Ryu Kendo. Tsunzaki passed the ball towards Kendo who was 20 meters from the goal. Kendo unleashed a shot, but the ball ricocheted off a Team W defender.

Team W was about to let out a sigh of relief when they noticed the ball was descending towards Haiji. Who freed himself from any marking using Smokescreen, Haiji hit a first time volley that sent the ball into the back of the net.

GOAL!!

Team V - 2

Team W - 0

-----

With ten minutes left on the clock, Team V was still on high alert. The defenders promised not to concede 4 goals after all.

With the ball at Ishikari's feet, he led the attack for Team W, hoping to get a breakthrough in this match. Employing precise passing, Team W was once again in a primed position for a cross into the box. However, defenders heavily guarded Ishikari. Team V's defenders, making sure his take off is as uncomfortable as they can.

The tactic was proving effective, as Ishikari had not been able to win aerial duels much. His calm nonchalant features starting to break because of the defence deployed on him. 

The ball was once again cleared away from the box, and Team V was on the counter. Haiji with the ball started a one-two passing with Tsunzaki. Their passing proving effective as they broke through the defence. 

18 meters away from the goal, Haiji shot the ball towards the top corner that went in cleanly.

GOAL!!

Team V - 3

Team W - 0

The whistle was blown to signal the end of the first half. Team V headed to their locker rooms with smiles on their faces, while Team W had frustration on their features.

-----

The locker room was a light with jubilation. The defenders were patting themselves on the back for a job well done. Kendo was getting teased for his blocked shot that led to their second goal.

Haiji cleared his throat to grab the players' attention. "Alrighty everyone, I know you're happy, but let's not forget. We still have 45 minutes to play. Keep up the defence and let's go out there and crush them!"

The players let out whoops and cheers as they set out for the second half.

-----

The second half starts with Team W at the kickoff. Immediately, they deployed a familiar tactic. Threading passes to break through Team V's defence.

Team W's winger prepared to cross when Team V noticed a difference. Team W was crowding the box with more attackers than there were defenders. Ishikari's markers were blocked and Ishikari was left open.

With an optimal take off, Ishikari headed the ball and scored Team W's first goal of the match.

GOAL!!

Team V - 3

Team W - 1

Renewed hope filled Team W.

Tsunzaki walked over to Haiji, "That tactic was surprising."

"Sure, but highly dangerous. They practically left their back line wide open." replied Haiji.

"Well, when you've got a player that can always win the header, it doesn't really matter now, does it?"

Haiji was silent for a moment. "You leave that to me. For now, let's get another goal back."

Team V restarted the match. Haiji's dribbling proving lethal once again as he broke through Team W's defence.

When Ishikari came to block him, Haiji ran towards the edge of the penalty box. From there, he unleashed a low cross that missed Ishikari by a few centimeters into the penalty area, where it met Tsunzaki, who used his superior physique to break past the defence and scored the goal.

GOAL!!

Team V - 4

Team W - 1

Tsunzaki ran towards Haiji before leaping on top of him to celebrate. "HAHAHA!! That was a wonderful cross rival! Just what I expected of you!"

Haiji, having been squished by Tsunzaki, could only let out an exasperated sigh. "Get off of me."

With Team V scoring another goal, the mounting pressure on Team W gradually risen. The prospect of getting kicked out loomed over their heads.

Despite this, they stuck to the original plan of getting crosses into the box for Ishikari to score. 

At the 62nd minute, Team W was on the attack once again. Team V's having not found a solution to their opponents passing. With another cross into the box, Ishikari leapt to head it. However, an unexpected sight appeared before him. Haiji, having utilized Smokescreen to hide himself for five seconds, reappeared.

Haiji seemed to be going higher than he was. Using One For All, Haiji leapt high into the air to head the ball away.

His powerful jump surprised everyone on the pitch. It was as if the man flew.

The only person unsurprised was Tsunzaki, having chalked it up to 'He's my rival. Of course he could do that!'. With the ball now at his feet, Tsunzaki dribbled the ball towards the centre circle.

Having snapped out of their surprise late, Team W tried to stop Tsunzaki, but he simply bulldozed through them with his strength.

"FEEL THE POWER OF MY MUSCLES!!!" Tsunzaki unleashed a shot that went straight to the goalkeeper. It should have been an easy save, but because of the power behind it, the ball simply ricocheted off the goalie's hands and into the back of the net.

GOAL!!

Team V - 5

Team W - 1

Tsunzaki flexed his biceps as a celebration. Ignoring Team W's goalkeeper, who was agonizing over the pain in his hands.

Team V cheered Tsunzaki over his amazing goal.

Ishikari's features were twisted as he agonized over this game. Looking at his teammates, the defenders helping the goalie soothing the pain in his hands and the other players having pained expressions. Having succumbed to defeat.

-----

At the 75th minute mark, Team W's shift in energy was noticeable. The players, having already accepted defeat, seemed to no longer be trying, with only Ishikari being the only one still trying in the match. 

Ishikari pressed, attempted interceptions and tried tackles with full vigour, whereas his team did so lazily. When on the attack, Ishikari tried to deploy the thorough passing that his team did earlier in the match but with varying results, all breaking down in the final third.

All this led to Team V on another counter that allowed Haiji to score his fourth goal of the match. The scoreline now read 6-1 in favour of Team V.

Ishikari was in possession of the ball and three players marked him, his teammates having been considered not a threat. With the tight marking, Ishikari saw no viable passing options and no players trying to get into space.

Not paying attention, Ishikari was cleanly tackled, and the ball was stolen from him by Ryu Kendo. Having been dropped to the ground, Ishikari could only watch as Haiji sent a cross into the box for Tsunzaki to head it in.

GOAL!!

Team V - 7

Team W - 1

This finally broke the camel's back, "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?! CAN'T YOU SEE THAT TIME HASN'T RUN OUT YET?! WHY HAVE YOU GIVEN UP?!"

"They're just too strong man, besides we've still got a couple of matches left." Answered one of Team W players. The other players agreed with him.

This dumbfounded Ishikari. His eyes were wide and mouth open. He looked at them all. These players that claim that they will become the best striker in the world. That they will lead Japan to a World Cup victory, these players who don't even have the decency to fight with all their might until the very last second. Have the FUCKING AUDACITY TO TALK ABOUT DREAMS!!

Ishikari's thoughts were cut off as the final whistle blew for full time. All the players walked off the pitch and headed towards their respective locker rooms.

Ishikari stayed on the pitch, his eyes a blaze of fury. His body trembling. There, he vowed. That he would never adopt and become these players ever in his life.

{Authors Thoughts}

Hello people, I can release this chapter earlier because I decided to just go crazy and typed all the stuff that popped into my head. That's why this is a longer chapter than usual. I also felt that I underutilized Tsunzaki in the last, scratch that, I underutilized a lot of players in the last match. I aimed to rectify that in this match. I also had fun writing his dialogue.

On another note, what did ya'll think of my characterization of Ishikari? Good? Bad? Eh? Leave your thoughts. Ciao~

Edit: FUCK! I realized I didn't smokescreen at all through the match after posting. Had to rectify that. My bad G.