After showering, changing, and resting briefly, Ryōsuke and the others headed to the cafeteria. They planned to bring their meals back to the dormitory to celebrate their first-day victory.
He suggested they all sit together and share dishes to sample different foods. While daily practice was crucial, a balanced diet was just as important.
Before eating, Ryōsuke visited the points exchange window. He had scored four goals that day, earning four Points.
After some consideration, he exchanged his points for a phone, which he activated as dinner was wrapping up.
Upon unlocking it, he found dozens of text messages waiting — all from Riko.
| Riko — Best Coach Ever |
| How is it, how is it! |
| How's everything going over there! |
| Do you want me to send you anything? |
| Riko — Best Coach Ever |
| Oh right, I forgot you can't use your phone, have you been keeping up with your fitness plan? |
| Do you have all the gym equipment you need there? |
| Riko — Best Coach Ever |
| When can you get your phone back? |
| By the way, don't you get any holidays there? |
| It must be so boring being cooped up in there all the time! |
Ryōsuke smiled at his phone and composed a reply.
| Ryōsuke Kira — Me |
| I just got my phone back. |
As soon as he sent the message, Yoichi and the others turned their heads curiously.
"Kira, who were you just texting?"
"It's..." Before Ryōsuke could finish, his phone rang.
A video call from Riko.
Though caught off guard, he gestured for the others to be quiet and answered.
"Hey, Riko."
[Kira, how's everything going over there?]
Her delicate face appeared on the screen as her anxious voice came through the speaker.
"Everything's fine here." Ryōsuke replied promptly.
Hearing a young woman's voice, the others exchanged knowing glances and broke into smiles.
[How did you get your phone back? Weren't they supposed to confiscate phones?]
Riko asked curiously.
"Mm." He nodded, "Here we can exchange points for scoring goals — three goals gets you a phone."
[You scored three goals?]
"Well, technically four."
He explained everything that had happened at Blue Lock over the past few days, and Riko's face filled with surprise.
When her father Kagetora had first told her about the situation, she hadn't quite believed it. But hearing it directly from Ryōsuke changed that.
[This is absurd... How could he treat the futures of 300 players like this? What does he think athletes' careers are?]
Riko launched into a tirade against Jinpachi, her sharp words making even Jingo and the others break into a nervous sweat.
"That's why I chose to participate — to prove that person wrong." Ryōsuke replied.
[Well, winning is what matters!]
Riko smiled, genuinely happy for him.
[By the way Ryōsuke, take off your clothes and let me see.]
After all, as his trainer, she wanted to "check" on his fitness condition.
"That's not really appropriate... besides..."
[What's inappropriate about it! We used to do this all the time back home, didn't we?]
Riko didn't understand his hesitation.
"Um... there are people around me..." Ryōsuke tilted his phone to show the others present.
The others fell silent for a moment before forcing awkward smiles.
"H-hello, sister-in-law!"
Everyone greeted her in unison.
[Hello...]
Riko awkwardly returned the greeting, at a loss for words.
'Wait, something's not right! Did I say something strange?' She carefully recalled her words as her fair cheeks turned red.
[Just now, what I said...]
"As expected of sister-in-law... you're quite bold!" Meguru said with an envious expression.
[Hey, what are you saying! That's not what I meant — I just wanted to check Ryōsuke's body, that's all!]
Riko's hasty explanation only seemed to deepen the misunderstanding.
And they had called her "sister-in-law". Did they think she and Ryōsuke were a couple?!
Her face grew even redder, like a ripe apple. Though it was all a misunderstanding, she couldn't help feeling a tiny bit happy about it.
[Um, I'm not...]
Before she could explain further, Rensuke and the others stood up, gathering their bowls and plates.
"Well sister-in-law, we'll leave you two to chat. We're off to training!"
With that, they quickly left the dormitory, leaving only Ryōsuke behind.
"Is that Kira's girlfriend? Brother Kira is handsome, and his girlfriend is pretty too."
"She looks so cute and refined, but her personality is so... lively? That's one way to put it."
"I'm so jealous! They're so bold!"
The others chatted as they walked to the field, taking their time to help digest their meal.
❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
Meanwhile, Ryōsuke and Riko stared at each other through the phone screen.
[Ah... um... I-I didn't mean anything by it! I just wanted to see how your physical condition is. Have you been following my fitness plan properly over there?!]
She cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure.
"Mm-hmm." Ryōsuke nodded and took off his shirt anyway, showing himself to her.
Riko's eyes widened slightly, clearly noticing some unexpected changes.
❖❖❖
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