4. Team Z’s Victory Celebration
In an atmosphere filled with joy, Team Z celebrated their victory by enjoying two portions of steak, earned thanks to Gagamaru and Isagi’s goals. They gathered, shared their meals, and dined together like a family, celebrating the achievements they had worked so hard to attain.
Kunigami and Gagamaru expressed their amazement at how Isagi suddenly appeared near the goal and was able to predict where the ball would land. However, Isagi clarified that he didn’t truly predict it. He had simply sprinted with all his might, driven by a strong instinct that the ball would end up there. Bachira added that he and Isagi had felt that connection from the beginning. Isagi thanked Bachira for passing him the ball.
Kunigami then told Team Z that Isagi’s “weapon” was his ability to “smell” the scent of a goal, and their victory against Team Y was made possible by Isagi’s incredible talent.
5. Chigiri Hyoma’s Assessment of Isagi Yoichi
One night, Isagi walked into Team Z’s CCTV room and found Chigiri there. Isagi shared that he had trouble sleeping, which led him to rewatch the match between Team Z and Team Y. It turned out that Chigiri was also having difficulty sleeping, tied to the unforgettable moment when Isagi scored the epic goal that secured Team Z’s dramatic victory against Team Y.
During the battle between Team Z and Team Y, Chigiri believed that Isagi was experiencing the peak of triumph as a striker. Isagi humbly admitted that the goal would forever remain in his memory, but he felt it was impossible to replicate such a goal in future matches since what he did initially was simply running aimlessly.
With admiration, Chigiri revealed Isagi’s extraordinary strength—his special talent known as Spatial Awareness. Chigiri explained that most players rely on their personal viewpoint and judgment when kicking the ball, especially when sprinting and dribbling, which limits their field of vision.
However, Isagi, with his Spatial Awareness, seemed capable of controlling the entire field and identifying surprising moments. Like a god viewing the field from the heavens, Isagi possessed a broad vision that encompassed the entire pitch. With this ability, Isagi could sense the scent of a goal and overcome all obstacles, allowing him to create goals that no one else could predict.
Unfortunately, based on Chigiri’s observation, Isagi’s Spatial Awareness could only be activated through instinct alone. If Isagi could consciously control this ability, his vision and mind would become a powerful weapon on the field.
6. Chigiri Tells His Story to Isagi
Isagi thanked Chigiri, saying that his evaluation had helped him find clues on how to use his weapon. Filled with curiosity, Isagi asked what Chigiri’s weapon really was. However, Chigiri was still reluctant to reveal it, despite Isagi enthusiastically offering to help if needed.
Chigiri then revealed that a year ago, he had suffered a severe injury—a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. The doctor warned him that if he got injured in the same spot again, his soccer career would be over.
Chigiri shared that he, too, once had a remarkable “weapon” like Isagi’s, had sleepless nights from excitement after scoring goals, and dreamed of becoming the number one striker in the world. However, even though his injury had healed, the fear remained. He was afraid of losing his dreams and the joy he felt while playing soccer.
As Chigiri walked away from Isagi, he confessed that his reason for joining Blue Lock was to find a justification to give up on his dreams. But after witnessing Isagi’s goal, he realized that he didn’t want to give up. Isagi refused to be the reason for Chigiri to either keep fighting or quit, as he believed that deep down, Chigiri had a strong desire to keep going.
Isagi then said, “If someone isn’t ready to give it their all, their dream will never come true.” However, Chigiri angrily snapped at Isagi, “What do you know about me?” before walking away, leaving Isagi standing in silence.
