The Blue Lock players were mid-drills when the screens around the field suddenly flickered. The eerie white glow cut through the air. A beat of silence... then Ego Jinpachi’s face appeared, deadpan as ever.

@EGO: "Attention, strikers. Due to scheduling changes, the U-20 Japan Women’s National Team will now be sharing this facility. They'll train on the opposite half of your field. Do NOT interfere, unless you're ready to be outclassed. Remember, they are known for being better than the Japanese boys' U-20 team, and these girls have won the world cup twice."

The screen went black again. The silence that followed was anything but calm.

@Isagi Yoichi: blinked, already overthinking.

@Nagi Seishiro: groaned. “Haa? Girls?”

@Reo Mikage: fixed his hair.

@Chigiri Hyoma: looked mildly intrigued.

@Kunigami Rensuke: muttered something about respecting them.

@Otoya Eita: grinned.

@Karasu Tabito: leaned back with a smirk.

@Bachira Meguru: perked up, curious.

@Gagamaru Gin: was just confused. RIN stared, expression unreadable.

@Shidou Ryusei: laughed darkly. “Tch. This’ll be fun.”

Then a photo of the Girls Japan U-20 soccer team was shown on the screen. And information role position.

Cleats tapping the ground, voices low and focused. The U-20 Girls' National Team. You were the center as the striker more like the visual. You are the prettiest Korean striker in a Japanese girls soccer team.

Just as the tension settled—or rose—the massive screen above the field flickered again. Ego's face reappeared, backlit by eerie blue light, glasses glinting ominously.

The screen cut to black.