In the real world, a corner kick opportunity for the Blue Lock team. While preparing, Rin Itoshi can't help but ask Isagi Yoichi, "Did you see it, Isagi?" He's asking if Isagi noticed his brother and Tendou's arrival.
"No," Isagi Yoichi says, shaking his head, his face filled with frustration.
I knew it, Rin Itoshi thinks to himself, but he wanted to confirm.
"They're both stronger than me," Rin Itoshi mutters, clenching his jaw. It was like this a few months ago, and it's still like this a few months later. It makes him feel like he hasn't improved at all and has been standing still.
Tabito Karasu walks to the corner flag to get ready. Inside the penalty box, the players from both teams are crowded together. Just as Tabito Karasu is hesitating on how to kick, his eyes meet Tendou's. In an instant, a flash of insight passes through his mind.
The referee whistles. Tabito Karasu takes a step and powerfully kicks the ball.
Whoosh!
The ball leaves the ground and flies into the crowd in the center of the penalty box.
"Who is he looking for?" Aiku and the other "steel walls" are all over their opponents, looking everywhere and listening for any sign, not letting a single Blue Lock player get away. Isagi Yoichi, Rin Itoshi, Tokimitsu Aoshi, Eita Otoya, and others. They are all being tightly marked by the national youth team. The moment the ball is kicked, everyone swarms to it.
However, as the ball flies into the center of the crowd, it suddenly takes an arc and flies towards the goal.
"A direct shot?"
"From the corner flag?"
Aiku and the others are shocked. This isn't a shot that can be completed easily. The ball flies towards the right side of the goal. The goalkeeper makes a judgment. He sees that while the ball has a strange curve, it doesn't look like it's going into the goal. The ball will most likely go out of bounds.
But just as he's thinking that, Tendou's figure charges out of the crowd without any warning. His eyes only show the whites, and his feet have a flash of lightning as he charges towards the right side of the goal.
"It's not a direct shot!"
"It's the far post!"
At this moment, the national youth team finally understands. This isn't a direct shot. The goal is to find Tendou at the far post. But it's too late to say anything.
Wait, it's not over yet...
Thump!
Sae Itoshi takes a step and also charges out of the crowd, sprinting towards the ball. He is following up, taking a few steps, and then leaping high to clear the ball. Tendou isn't completely open; there's still a chance to save the goal. If they wait for the ball to drop, there's a good chance Sae Itoshi will clear it. He has already positioned himself perfectly.
But...
Just as Sae Itoshi is about to reach the highest point of his jump, he feels a shadow cover him from behind. Blue Lock does have some players who are good at heading, but most of them are ranked low. So, Jinpachi Ego hasn't planned any set-piece tactics for Blue Lock. Even Tendou, who seems to have the strongest heading ability, doesn't use his head to attack. But Tabito Karasu never forgot Tendou's god-like dunk.
However, he isn't one of the starting eleven. Among the Blue Lock Eleven, besides Tendou, almost no one is good at heading. They're all used to scoring with their feet. The odds are too low, and it's a complete waste of time to practice set-piece tactics. But Tabito Karasu never forgot Tendou's god-like dunk.
"The referee has whistled. Let's see the Blue Lock team's corner kick."
"Tabito Karasu takes a few steps... and lobs it into the penalty box!"
"Looking for a high point... wait, the ball has changed course. Is it a direct shot?"
"Wait, no, it's the far post..."
"Player Sae Itoshi has seen through the Blue Lock team's intention. The ball is going to be cleared..."
"No! Player Tendou is charging up!"
"He's jumping!"
"Oh, my God!"
The two commentators jump off their seats, their eyes wide and their mouths agape, looking at the screen in disbelief. In the frame, Tendou's feet flash with lightning as he charges out of the crowd, leaps high, and from behind, covers Sae Itoshi with his shadow. Sae Itoshi feels like someone is "riding" his neck. Keep in mind that his height is 1.8 meters, and he jumped first. Tendou's running jump is definitely over 2.5 meters high.
In the penalty box, Aiku, Rin Itoshi, Sendou Shuto, Yo Hiori, Isagi Yoichi, and others all stare in shock. Even without seeing it, Sae Itoshi knows what's happening behind him. He forces himself to turn his head and sees a scene he will never forget. The opponent's jump is so high that he's already above the crossbar.
And then...
Thump!
Like an exploding bomb, Tendou's body is off-balance due to the contact with Sae Itoshi. But his incredible body balance still allows him to complete this powerful header, and he heads the ball before Sae Itoshi can even touch it. The fans behind the goal cover their heads with their hands. Their mouths hang open as they stare at Tendou's body angled in the air, his forehead making a heavy contact with the ball. The ball then lands on the goal line and bounces into the net!
Ten minutes after the national youth team scored their second goal and brought the score to 3-2, the Blue Lock team scores from a corner kick to the far post. Tendou makes a stealthy run, and with a powerful header, he scores past Sae Itoshi. The Blue Lock stadium falls into a temporary silence.
The next second...
"GOOOOOOOOOAL!"
The first commentator to react screams at the top of his lungs.
"Goal!"
"A header from player Tendou!"
"His third goal! A hat trick!"
"The score is 4-2! In a moment of crisis for his team, he steps up again and scores a golden goal!"
"A world-class header! This is absolutely a world-class header!"
At this time, Cristiano Ronaldo has just transferred from Real Madrid to Juventus and has yet to play for them. That's why the Blue Lock world's residents are so shocked.
But the audience in the real world is already in a frenzy.
"Damn, Ronaldo!"
"Holy crap, he jumped higher than the goal!"
"It reminds me of Ronaldo's header for Juventus."
"You're right, it looks so similar. Even the way he's angled his body while overpowering Sae Itoshi is the same."
"The same far-post run, the same powerful, crushing header, and that celebration. This Tendou guy is a character made to look like Ronaldo!"
"Case closed. The writer is a Ronaldo fan!"
"What do you mean, a Ronaldo fan? Don't make me laugh, you Ronaldo fanboy. Does that Portuguese diver have footwork like Tendou? The way he kicks, that illusion of time difference, the way he passes like he has a God's-eye view... he's clearly based on Messi!"
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