After powering on his phone, Ryan was immediately greeted by chaos
over ninety-nine unread messages.
The top three senders? His three girlfriends.
Mai Sakurajima:
"Are you doing okay over there?"
"You still can't use your phone?"
"I just picked up a new drama and a variety show. Once I wrap those up, I'll finally get a break."
"When your training's done, should we go to an amusement park? Or maybe the aquarium?"
"I miss you so much… when will you reply?"
"That Blue Lock place sounds dangerous. I watched the press conference it's so extreme. Three hundred players and only one gets chosen?"
"But I believe in you. You'll beat them all. You said it yourself, you're the strongest."
Before Ryan could even finish reading, his phone buzzed with an incoming video call.
Mai Sakurajima.
He answered.
Mai's face filled the entire screen, leaning so close her nose nearly touched the camera.
"You, why'd you call all of a sudden?" Ryan asked, smirking.
"Because I saw you read my messages," she said with that gentle yet teasing voice.
The sweet tone in her voice had a strange magic everyone else in Team Z went silent. Even the chatter stopped. They were all quietly listening in.
Ryan noticed but couldn't be bothered.
"I just got my phone back, saw your messages and yeah, maybe you caught me red-handed. Don't tell me you've been staring at our chat the whole time?"
"Of course. What if you replied and I missed it? Do you have to hand it in again soon?"
"Ha! Please. I scored four goals today, got four points, and traded three for my phone back."
"Wow, four goals? I knew you'd crush it. You're always the best. And hey, since I'm the first person you called, does that mean I'm number one in your heart?"
"Ahem listen, your man's the leader of Team Z now. On the second day, I crushed everyone and made them kneel before my boots."
Mai laughed softly but didn't call out the awkward subject change. Some things were better left unspoken.
"When will you be able to come out? I really miss you."
"Three more matches. Once I score ten goals, I can trade them for a day pass and when that happens, I'll come see you."
"Really? Just me?"
"Uh… maybe not just you. I should probably visit Shiyu and Yukino too…"
"Hmph. I knew it. You're such a playboy."
The rest of Team Z sat in a corner, forced to endure the couple's syrupy back-and-forth.
They didn't want to eavesdrop but also didn't not want to.
That's when Bachira strolled back in from the showers completely naked.
"Yo, Bachira! Clothes. Now."
"Ehh, but it feels so free."
"I'm on a video call, you idiot!"
Bachira reluctantly got dressed, then leaned over curiously.
"Who're you talking to?"
"Private matter," Ryan said flatly, shoving his head away
but not fast enough. Bachira caught a glimpse of the screen.
"Ohhh, it's a girl! One of your three girlfriends, huh?"
That one line detonated the room.
"WHAT?! He really has three?!"
"Wait did he just say Mai Sakurajima?"
"No way. THE actress Mai Sakurajima?"
"Maybe it's just someone with the same name…"
"Then go check!"
"We can't! That's his private life!"
"Pfft, says the guy who's been listening the hardest."
"I'm just making sure our captain doesn't get catfished by a scammer!"
Eventually, they settled it the only fair way: rock-paper-scissors.
Isagi lost.
He casually strolled past Ryan, stretching his neck to peek at the screen
caught a glimpse of Mai's face, then bolted back.
"It's really her. Mai Sakurajima. Just… no makeup."
Everyone fell into despair.
"Damn it, he's eating too good."
"Does a guy that hot really need three girlfriends?"
"Maybe if he liked dudes, we'd have a chance."
Silence.
Then
A hand landed on Imamura's shoulder.
He turned slowly.
Ryan was standing there with a grin that didn't reach his eyes.
"Imamura. Step outside with me. I'll teach you a few tricks about romance."
"C-Can I skip the lesson? Suddenly I feel sleepy!"
"Nope. Today you learn."
"Help! Minaaa, tasukete (save me)!"
The others bowed their heads in mock mourning.
Rest in peace, brother.
After "educating" Imamura (through very hands-on methods), Ryan returned to his phone.
Mai had gone to bed early filming at dawn tomorrow.
He switched chats to Yukino Yukinoshita.
Yukino:
"Are you settling in okay over there?"
"Look how big Yuki's gotten!" (attached: a white cat photo)
"She's been in heat all week, meowing every night. I can't sleep."
"Is that Blue Lock program even legitimate? It sounds so suspicious. You didn't get scammed, right?"
"When are you coming back? Yuki says she misses you."
Almost on cue, another video call popped up.
Ryan sighed and answered.
On-screen, Yukino sat on her bed, holding the little white cat, Yuki, in her arms.
For a while, neither of them spoke. They just… looked at each other.
Finally, Ryan chuckled.
"What're you laughing at?"
"You, Yukino. You're adorable."
Her face flushed pink.
"Th-There's nothing funny about that!"
"It's just… funny that you said Yuki misses me when it's obviously you who does. You're still so bad at being honest."
"I-I am not! Yuki really misses you, right Yuki?"
She lifted the cat toward the camera. The cat meowed at Ryan through the screen, making her smile softly.
"See? Even she misses you. She's been eating less too look how thin she is."
"Sure, sure. But what about my little Yukino? Do you miss me?"
"M-Maybe…"
"Huh? Signal's bad here, speak up."
"I said yes! I miss you so much! Every day! I talk to your pictures, I gossip about you to Yuki happy now?!"
From across the room, Imamura, now bruised but alive, scribbled in a notebook.
Every word Ryan said was being documented like a sacred scripture The Art of Flirting by Ryan Hoshino.
Isagi sighed.
"That's not flirting, that's suicide. Try that in real life and she'll slap you."
Meanwhile, Chigiri, just returning from the surveillance room, overheard the conversation.
Something about Ryan's teasing tone felt… familiar.
"Wait a second," Chigiri muttered. "He used those same lines… on me."
His vein twitched.
"That bastard! I might have long hair, but I'm still a guy! Next time, I'll make him pay for that."
On-screen, Yukino pouted.
"You're such a jerk, Shiro-kun."
"What? You don't like it?"
"No… I like it."
Everyone else in the room silently screamed internally.
They could feel the secondhand embarrassment crushing their souls.
After a few more minutes of tender small talk, Yukino yawned.
"I should sleep. I've got class tomorrow."
Ryan smiled.
"Sweet dreams, Yukino."
The screen went dark.
Around him, the others let out a collective sigh of relief.
"Dear god… what did we just witness."