The instant Kira Ryosuke's foot connected with the soccer ball, it produced a tremendous boom, as if thunder had erupted.
The ball immediately shot forward at an exaggerated speed. It followed a straight line without any arc, vanishing in a flash. This time, using Thunderclap and Flash together with Thunder Breathing, it was even faster than before.
It was also far more powerful! Like a famished beast, it charged straight toward its prey. The sound of it scraping against the air was the beast's roar.
However, contrary to Kira Ryosuke's expectations, the ball did not fly directly into the goal. Instead, it slammed straight into the goalpost with a loud bang, then bounced high into the air, several dozen meters up.
[Match. Thunder Breathing First Form. Thunderclap and Flash LV1 Proficiency 0.11%] [Match. Thunder Breathing. Total Concentration LV1 Proficiency 0.02%]
"The proficiency of Total Concentration Breathing and First Form both increased, but the proficiency gained from Thunderclap and Flash this time was much higher than before."
"Is it because the breathing technique enhanced me, causing the skill's proficiency to increase more?"
"The power of Total Concentration Breathing is ridiculously strong, but my accuracy is much worse. Looks like I still haven't adapted to this level of power and technique."
Kira Ryosuke muttered to himself. He had inherited the original body's impressive soccer skills. Twenty-five meters was not a short distance, but it was still within his range. He should not have missed.
Yet he had.
"Looks like I'm not proficient enough with this ability. Total Concentration Breathing gave me explosive power I never had before, but my body hasn't adapted to it yet. I'll need to improve my accuracy further..."
Kira Ryosuke analyzed the situation.
Just then, an unfamiliar voice rang out behind him. It was a clear voice filled with vigor.
"Excuse me, are you... Senior Kira?"
Kira Ryosuke followed the voice and looked over. It belonged to a pretty girl with an attractive face and exceptionally clear amber eyes. She gave off a youthful, vibrant energy and seemed to be about the same age as Kira Ryosuke. Her skin was fair, and she had short brown hair that reached her shoulders, with two black hair clips holding back her bangs. She wore plain athletic clothes and looked like she had also come out for an early-morning workout.
"Mm. Hello."
Kira Ryosuke politely responded. He was somewhat famous in the area, so it was common for passersby to recognize him. To avoid attracting too much attention and causing unnecessary trouble, he had chosen to train before the sun had fully risen.
This was the first time he had met this girl, yet Kira Ryosuke felt that she seemed somehow familiar.
However, the girl did not immediately respond to his greeting. Instead, her gaze traveled up and down his body, as mechanical as a scanning device.
"Hello... May I ask... what are you doing?"
Kira Ryosuke asked awkwardly.
"Sorry, sorry!"
Only then did the girl realize that she had been rude. She quickly clapped her hands and apologized.
"I'm a little too used to observing athletes' bodies. I'm really sorry!"
"Used to observing athletes' bodies?"
Kira Ryosuke's eyebrows twitched slightly. Hearing such words from a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl sounded rather strange.
"Oh, that's not what I meant!"
The girl's fair face flushed slightly with embarrassment. She hurriedly waved her hands and continued explaining.
"My father used to be an athletic trainer. He recorded athletes' physical data and used it to create training schedules. I followed my father around from a young age, so I developed this habit without realizing it..."
After hearing her explanation, the familiar feeling in Kira Ryosuke's heart became even stronger.
"May I ask your name?"
"I forgot to introduce myself. I'm very sorry! My name is Aida Reiko! I'm a first-year student at the newly built Seirin High School nearby! It's a pleasure to meet you!"
The girl who called herself Aida Reiko immediately bowed.
Kira Ryosuke could now confirm what he had suspected. Aida Reiko was indeed someone he had 'met' before.
She was the heroine of Kuroko's Basketball, the coach and manager of the protagonist's team. She also possessed an exceptionally special ability. By observation alone, she could determine a person's physical capabilities and create a targeted training plan accordingly.
In the original story, it was precisely because of Aida Reiko that the Seirin basketball team gradually made a name for itself despite starting out as an unknown team.
But for Aida Reiko, who had only just entered high school, that was still a story for the future.
So the two worlds really did merge... Still, basketball probably has nothing to do with me for the time being.
Kira Ryosuke was somewhat surprised.
"Senior Kira, may I ask if that sound just now came from you?"
Just then, Aida Reiko asked curiously. She had been drawn over by the thunder-like sound while out for her morning run, never expecting to find the locally famous soccer star Kira Ryosuke here.
"Sorry, I was practicing my shots just now. I was too focused and didn't notice the sound."
Kira Ryosuke reached up to rub the back of his head while discreetly looking around. There was no one else nearby.
"Really? Could I have heard wrong?"
Aida Reiko pursed her lips and shifted her gaze toward the goal beside them.
She clearly saw a large, distinct dent in the goalpost, as if it had been struck by some heavy object.
Although this was an aging sports facility, its equipment was still quite sturdy.
Could a seventeen-year-old high school student's shot really do this?
Absolutely impossible.
Although Kira Ryosuke is a fairly outstanding player, with his physical abilities, there's no way he could produce a shot of this level. Someone must have deliberately damaged the goal as a prank yesterday.
Aida Reiko thought to herself.
"By the way, Aida, do you see any areas where my physique needs improvement?"
At that moment, Kira Ryosuke spoke up, pulling Aida Reiko's consciousness back to reality.
Chapter Four: Making a Plan, Specialized Training Begins!
Kira Ryosuke knew about Aida Reiko's extraordinary eyes. Before he went to Blue Lock, perhaps he could learn something from her and keep his body in better condition.
Aida Reiko thought for a while, then nodded.
"Then I'll be honest, Senior Kira. Your physical condition is excellent, and you keep yourself in very good shape. It's obvious that you're more disciplined than most athletes. But it's still not enough. First, your core strength is lacking somewhat, which affects your explosive power and balance. Also, Senior Kira, your stamina probably isn't particularly good either—of course! Your physical condition is still far better than that of anyone else I've seen! I'm just making a casual observation, so don't take it to heart!"
"It's fine. What you said was very helpful!"
After hearing her words, Kira Ryosuke thought seriously for a moment. He could not help admiring the girl in front of him. According to the original body's memories, he did indeed have some shortcomings in those areas.
Just then, Kira Ryosuke felt a pronounced ache in his right leg, as if he had just completed a long-distance sprint. He had no choice but to tilt his body slightly and shift his weight onto his left leg to relieve some pressure on the right.
"Um, Senior Kira, is your right leg uncomfortable?"
Although it had only been a tiny movement, Aida Reiko still noticed it.
"It's nothing serious. It's just a little sore."
"Athletes can't risk their bodies. Soreness is not a good sign! Senior, sit down for a moment."
Aida Reiko instructed Kira Ryosuke to sit down and stretch out his right leg.
"It should be muscle soreness caused by overtraining. Do some stretches and rest for a bit, and you'll be fine. I have a sports drink here. It'll help replenish some electrolytes."
Aida Reiko handed Kira Ryosuke a bottle of drink.
"Thank you, Aida."
"Just call me Reiko."
Aida Reiko smiled, then became very serious.
"Judging by how you look, you must have been training for a long time, right? Training is necessary, but you absolutely can't overdo it, or you'll damage your body. An athlete's body is their capital!"
Having worked alongside her father in athletic training since childhood, Aida Reiko placed great importance on athletes' physical health. Even Kira Ryosuke, whom she had only just met, was no exception.
"Mm. I'll be more careful next time."
Kira Ryosuke nodded and focused his gaze on his right leg.
He had not trained for long at all. He had only done some warm-ups and taken two shots. There was no reason for this to happen. Before coming to practice, he had also been full of energy.
Kira Ryosuke recalled the details of his practice. He had felt nothing when he first used Thunderclap and Flash alone. The soreness had only appeared after he used Thunderclap and Flash while in the state of Total Concentration Breathing—and he had taken the shot with his right foot.
Because he had been talking with Aida Reiko earlier and had been distracted, he had not noticed it immediately. Only after several seconds did the sensation spread through his right leg.
So the soreness is this intense? And I feel a little fatigued, too. Ordinary Thunderclap and Flash doesn't affect my body, but if I combine the breathing technique with an explosive shot, I don't have enough stamina or physical strength to support it. Even though I'm called a prodigy, my physical abilities are still far from sufficient.
Kira Ryosuke thought to himself while following Aida Reiko's instructions and stretching to ease the soreness.
Using the breathing technique allowed him to unleash the move's true power, but his current body could not support using the skill without limits. After a single use, his leg had already become noticeably sore. Although the soreness would fade after resting, repeated use within a short period might damage his leg muscles.
Looks like I need to improve my stamina further. My physical strength isn't enough either. This soreness is probably because my body still can't bear the skill. My accuracy needs improvement as well. The increase in power has caused my shooting accuracy to drop quite a bit.
Thunderclap and Flash used while in the state of Total Concentration Breathing should guarantee a goal in an ordinary match—but I definitely can't use it repeatedly within a short period. Otherwise, I might injure myself. Under my current circumstances, I can only guarantee one goal per match at most... That won't be nearly enough in Blue Lock.
If I want to create more goals in a single match, I need to improve my physical strength so I can use Thunderclap and Flash more times. At the same time, I need to further train my left-foot shooting. If I can use my left foot freely as well, it can share the burden with my right foot, doubling the number of times I can use Thunderclap and Flash.
After stretching and resting for several minutes, Kira Ryosuke still felt some soreness in his right leg, but it was much better than before.
"Senior Kira, you really are a training fanatic. But you must remember to rest. Maintaining your physical condition is extremely important to an athlete's career!"
Aida Reiko spoke to Kira Ryosuke with utmost seriousness. At the same time, she raised her fair, slender fingers and gently rubbed her chin, seemingly deep in thought. A glint also flashed through her eyes as she looked at Kira Ryosuke.
"I'll remember that. Also, you don't need to be so formal. Just call me Ryosuke."
Kira Ryosuke smiled. She was a very warmhearted girl, and she had helped him tremendously this time.
At the same time, an idea formed in his mind.
If I remember correctly, Reiko's father is still running a gym. Perhaps I can ask them to help me create a specialized physical training plan.
As he thought this, Kira Ryosuke was about to explain his idea when the girl in front of him opened her mouth at almost the same time.
"Could I trouble you to help me make a training plan?"
"Perhaps I can help you create a specialized training plan."
The two of them spoke at exactly the same moment. A few seconds of slightly awkward silence followed.
"Well, I'd be delighted!"
After freezing for a moment, Aida Reiko immediately smiled.
"Welcome to our family's gym for training!"
Chapter Five: Clarifying the Goal, The Final Week's Sprint!
"Then, about the cost?"
Because of the original body's outstanding performance in previous matches, Kira Ryosuke had earned quite a bit of prize money. However, he did not know how much hiring a specialized trainer would cost. After all, even though he was somewhat famous, he was still only a high school player, not a professional athlete.
"Com-plete-ly free!"
Aida Reiko raised her index finger and shook it slightly.
"That doesn't seem right. I've heard that specialized trainers aren't cheap..."
"Don't worry. You're practically a major celebrity in our area! If you come train at our gym, it'll count as publicity for us. The training fee can be offset by your advertising fee! What do you think?"
Looking at the enthusiastic Aida Reiko before him, Kira Ryosuke thought for a while. For now, this was the best arrangement.
He would be going to Blue Lock in a week, yet his physical strength still could not support using his system's skills.
There were countless monsters there who were practically cheating. Compared to them, the original body's talent offered little advantage. Kira Ryosuke needed to make up for this shortcoming as quickly as possible.
He had to strengthen his body as soon as possible. Even though he only had a week, he absolutely could not waste it.
"Mm. Thank you so much, Reiko!"
Kira Ryosuke nodded.
"Then let's go now! Follow me!"
Aida Reiko walked off at a brisk pace, leading Kira Ryosuke to the gym run by her father.
Soon, Kira Ryosuke followed Aida Reiko to Aida Gym. It was still early morning, and not many people had arrived yet.
"Reiko, didn't you go out for a morning run? How did you get back so—"
A burly middle-aged man walked out. He had the same brown hair as Aida Reiko but a fierce-looking face. He stared at Kira Ryosuke with a gaze that seemed to carry killing intent.
Aida Kagetora, Aida Reiko's father.
He had been an outstanding athlete in his youth. After retiring, he became a professional trainer and eventually opened a gym.
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