Blue Lock: I, Kira Ryosuke, Obtained Thunder Breathing at the Start

Although the dishes Aida Reiko made could only be described as "avant-garde art," she had put effort into making them, so Kira Ryosuke naturally forced himself to finish every last bite.

At least the ingredients were safe.

Fortunately, the rest of the meal had been made by Aida Kagetora, and it tasted quite good—enough to suppress the discomfort brought on by eating an entire chunk of secret-recipe beef.

By the time they finished eating, it was already getting late. After helping clean up, Kira Ryosuke prepared to head home.

"Then I'll be going! Thanks for the hospitality, Uncle and Reiko!"

"Mm."

Aida Reiko, standing nearby, nodded. Her lips parted slightly as though she had something to say, but after hesitating for a long time, she pursed them and finally spoke to Kira Ryosuke.

"Um, I was just thinking of going out for a walk? We can go together!"

"Sure."

Kira Ryosuke replied with a smile, then headed out with Aida Reiko.

The two walked along the streets at night. Neither of them said anything at first, but they both unconsciously slowed their pace.

"Um..."

Aida Reiko said thoughtfully.

"What is it?"

"Ryosuke, you're leaving tomorrow morning, right?"

"Yeah. I could only come out for twenty-four hours, so I have to be back by noon tomorrow."

"Is that so? That's so rushed..."

As Aida Reiko spoke, she pursed her lips.

Half a month was actually a very short time, but for some reason, it had felt rather long to Aida Reiko.

When she thought about how it would be a long time before Kira Ryosuke returned again, she wanted to talk with him a little more.

"So... you can only come back after you score another ten goals, right?"

Aida Reiko raised her head, her gaze settling on Kira Ryosuke.

"Theoretically, yes. But we've already secured qualification, and after another round of matches, our schedule will probably change too. By then, the timing won't be certain."

Kira Ryosuke answered.

In the original story, once the first round of matches officially ended, there were basically only scattered assessments.

The rules for the second round were completely different. It was no longer an eleven-player team match, but a selection match with fewer players.

"Oh..."

Aida Reiko replied softly.

"But I'll definitely score ten goals and come back as soon as possible, so don't worry. I'll be back at the earliest opportunity—aren't you about to have a match soon too? Remember to get me a ticket then!"

Kira Ryosuke said with a smile.

"Really?! You'll come?"

Upon hearing Kira Ryosuke's words, Aida Reiko's eyes widened, and her gaze carried a hint of eager anticipation.

"Reiko, you look really happy."

Kira Ryosuke teased.

"Ah!"

Aida Reiko realized she seemed to have acted a little too excitedly. Her face instantly flushed red, and she raised a hand to lightly thump Kira Ryosuke's chest.

"What? Wouldn't you be happy if I came?"

"We'll talk about it when you actually come!"

Aida Reiko smiled, puffing out her cheeks as she revealed an unusually cute expression.

As she lowered her hand, it lightly brushed against the back of Kira Ryosuke's hand, intentionally or otherwise.

"Oh, right, Ryosuke, um... Ryosuke."

Aida Reiko hesitated, seeming to have something else she wanted to say.

"Um... would I cause you any trouble?"

"Trouble? What kind of trouble?"

Kira Ryosuke asked.

"I mean... I mean... other people misunderstanding the two of us... misunderstanding that we're a couple..."

Aida Reiko's face reddened even more, and she shyly lowered her head.

"No, why would that be troublesome? I'm not seeing anyone anyway."

"That's good!"

Hearing Kira Ryosuke's words, Aida Reiko felt a little happy inside.

At the same time, a thought brewed in her chest. The words had reached her lips, yet she could not bring herself to say them.

"What's wrong, Reiko?"

"Oh, it's nothing, nothing!"

"This is my house. Thanks for walking me all the way home."

"No need, no need. I just happened to feel like taking a walk."

Aida Reiko hurriedly replied. Looking at the Kira residence beside them, she knew that if she did not say it now, it might be too late—and she might never be able to say it again.

Honestly, Reiko, Reiko! Why are you being such a coward when I've never seen you like this before?!

Aida Reiko grumbled at herself inwardly. At the same time, she tightly clenched her right hand into a fist behind her back, gathered her courage, and asked, "Um... Ryosuke, what kind of girl would you want to date?"

"Me..."

"Would a girl like me be okay?"

Before Kira Ryosuke could finish, Aida Reiko blurted out everything she had originally planned to say afterward.

She was too nervous. Her normally meticulous mind seemed to have crashed at this very moment.

But as soon as Aida Reiko said the words, she immediately realized that she had said something incredible, and she became even more embarrassed.

She lowered her head deeply, terrified of making eye contact with Kira Ryosuke. Her body trembled with nerves as well.

Aida Reiko was beginning to regret it. In a moment of impulsiveness, she had directly confessed her feelings.

After spending this time together, Aida Reiko had indeed developed feelings for Kira Ryosuke. That was why her emotions had been so easily affected by him during the day.

Thinking about it carefully, Aida Reiko believed that Kira Ryosuke would definitely not agree. After all, he was already a somewhat famous basketball star. Even on his first visit to Seirin, he had gained a huge number of fans. He could be called a perfect guy.

But Aida Reiko was very ordinary, and she was completely different from other cute or mature, elegant girls. Her focus was entirely on sports, and compared to Kira Ryosuke, she was far too ordinary.

There's a ninety-percent chance I'll be rejected.

Thinking that, Aida Reiko had already begun worrying about how she would face Kira Ryosuke afterward.

"Sure."

"I'm very sorry for causing you trouble, Ryosuke. I..."

Aida Reiko was about to apologize when she suddenly realized that Kira Ryosuke's answer had not been what she expected.

"Huh? Ryosuke, what did you just say?"

"I said—sure—I'd—love—to."

Looking at the girl before him, Kira Ryosuke smiled. This cute, slightly airheaded version of Aida Reiko was not something he usually got to see.

A Promise with Reiko: They Would Win in the End

"Really?"

Aida Reiko's face filled with utter surprise.

"Really, really, really. If you make me repeat it a third time, I might change my mind."

Kira Ryosuke teased.

"I..."

Aida Reiko felt dizzy, as though what was happening now was too unreal, like a dream.

She had not known Kira Ryosuke for very long. Thinking about it carefully, today's confession had been rather impulsive, with hardly any thought put into it. After what happened during the day, she had simply felt that if she did not take the initiative, Kira Ryosuke might be taken away by someone else—and she had wanted to give it a try.

Aida Reiko tentatively reached out and took Kira Ryosuke's hand.

Only when she felt the warmth of his palm did Aida Reiko realize that she was not dreaming.

"Then... shall we walk a little more?"

Kira Ryosuke asked.

"Mm!"

Aida Reiko did not hesitate and immediately nodded. A smile appeared on her face once more. No matter what they did, being with Kira Ryosuke really did make her happy.

The two of them strolled hand in hand while chatting. Aida Reiko went on and on about various sports anecdotes, completely unlike her usual serious and earnest self.

Before they knew it, they had reached a park and found a bench to sit on.

"Um, um, didn't I just ramble on about a bunch of boring things?"

Aida Reiko seemed to have lost her ability to think. She was basically speaking without thinking now, and only after several minutes did she suddenly realize what she had been saying.

"No, it was pretty interesting."

Kira Ryosuke said to Aida Reiko with a smile.

Aida Reiko looked at Kira Ryosuke's face and seemed to go blank. She soon realized that she had been staring at him for too long, and her face instantly flushed red. She hurriedly shifted her gaze elsewhere—but on second thought, she and Kira Ryosuke were now genuinely a couple.

If I don't look at him, who will?

Thinking that, Aida Reiko focused her gaze on Kira Ryosuke's face once again.

"Ryosuke, will the Blue Lock project... really ruin the other players' professional careers?"

She asked curiously.

Aida Reiko had no idea just how much pressure Kira Ryosuke was under.

It was a project that gambled with one's entire career.

If she could, she wanted to help Kira Ryosuke shoulder some of that pressure.

"I'm not sure. Ego Jinpachi doesn't seem like the kind of person who jokes around. If he's really the one calling the shots, then it's probably true. He's someone who'll do whatever it takes to get things done."

Kira Ryosuke shook his head as he spoke.

"But I don't think things will necessarily go that way. Ego Jinpachi isn't the one with the final say, and the other higher-ups in the Football Association might not fully agree to it. Even so, everyone in Blue Lock will definitely give it everything they have to fight for that final spot. And I want to prove that Ego Jinpachi's philosophy is wrong, so I have to keep winning."

"Then okay! Let's make a pinky promise. Do you remember our last promise? You have to win all the way to the end in Blue Lock!"

Aida Reiko held out her hand, her fair little finger curling slightly.

"I'll add a bet of my own—I'll definitely lead Seirin's basketball club into the round-robin tournament. When that happens, you have to come watch!"

"Yeah, it's a promise!"

Kira Ryosuke hooked his little finger around hers and nodded with a smile.

"You boys really are amazing."

Aida Reiko raised her head slightly and looked up at the dazzling stars. Then, after shifting a little and testing the waters, she rested her head on Kira Ryosuke's shoulder. His broad shoulder made her feel especially safe.

Just then, Kira Ryosuke's phone vibrated lightly, and he quickly received a text message.

Uncle Aida: If my precious Reiko isn't home within an hour, I'll slaughter you tomorrow. #SkullSkull

Even through the screen, Kira Ryosuke could feel Aida Kagetora's terrifying killing intent.

But soon, another text from Aida Kagetora came through.