里谷

they reached the wide, doorless archway that led into the main press hall. inside, the air was thick with the sound of camera shutters and aggressive shouting.

anri teieri was standing at the podium, her knuckles white as she gripped the wood, trying to stay composed under the shouting.

"so that's how we plan to train up a striker who can lead japan to a world cup win ...through this blue lock project."

"even if you do produce a top striker, how can you guarantee japan will win the world cup?"

"are you saying it's okay to ruin the lives of 299 people just for one person's sake?"

"didn't their parents object?"

anri opened her mouth, but her voice died in her throat. "well... we believe-"

thud.

a shoulder slammed into sae's with enough force to knock him off his balance. he stumbled back a step, genuinely startled. he turned to snap a look at whoever had the nerve, but you were already past him. you didn't look back nor did you stop. the sharp clack-clack-clack of your heels cut through the room as you marched down the center aisle. the reporters, who had been shouting over each other seconds ago, were now silent, their heads turning in sync as you climbed the stairs to the stage. you reached the second mic, adjusted it with a sharp flick of your wrist, and sighed into the silence.

"let's skip the pleasantries," you said. your voice wasn't loud, but it had a dry, exhausted edge that commanded the room.

"you want to talk about guarantees? i can guarantee you that if we don't do this, japan will remain a footnote for the next century. i'm not interested in 'trying our best.' i'm interested in 'being the best.' there's a difference. "

you flipped open your folder, the sound of the paper crisp in the quiet. you pulled out a photo of sae, a shot of him in his re al kit, looking cold and unreachable, and held it up.

"you're worried about 'ruined' lives?" you asked, your gaze sweeping the front row. "let's talk about this one. sae itoshi. our best talent in a generation, and yet, he didn't just leave japan, he fled. he didn't go to spain just for the money or the fame. he left because he looked at the 'spirit of cooperation' you all love so much and realized it was a death sentence for his talent. he realized that in a country where everyone is afraid to stand out, a genius has no place to breathe. he's on record saying there isn't a single forward in this country worthy of his passes. and you know what the worst part is? he's right. as it stands, japan is a factory for mediocrity. we are a nation of support players with no one to support."

the room erupted into offended murmurs. a reporter from a tabloid stood up, his face red. "and who are you exactly? we were waiting for the president. does the jfu even have a dress code? you look like an intern."

a few of the older men in the front row chuckled. anri looked like she wanted to evaporate.

this is boring, you thought.

"why? because i'm wearing a skirt and heels?" you asked, your voice flat. "if you'd spent half as much time reading the brief on your chair as you did focusing on my body and what i'm wearing, you'd know exactly who i am."

the reporter sat down fast.

"pardon me then, i'm y/n l/n. i head the strategic development. i'm the one who told the president that if he didn't fund this project, he'd be out of a job by the next qualifiers. i'm also the one who decides which of your outlets gets blacklisted for being a waste of my time."

"now, where were we? right, the 'ruined lives'. let's be real for a second," you continued, taking a slow sip of water and setting it down with a sharp clack. "these players aren't toddlers, they're athletes. they know how a bracket works. one winner, everyone else goes home. if you're that worried about their feelings, maybe you should pick another job. any other questions? no? good. anri-san, we're done here."

you stepped off the stage. anri scurried after you, her heels clicking frantically as she whispered frantically about engagement numbers, but you just kept moving toward the exit. sae was still standing there. he didn't move as you drew level with him.

"you use my name quite a bit for someone who doesn't even know to say sorry," sae said, his voice low which made anri stop in her tracks. "telling the world why i left like you've lived in my head."

you stepped and turned, stepping fully into his place. you had to tilt your head back to meet those cold, teal eyes.

"i used your name because it's the only thing in japanese football that actually generates a headline. and living in your head? please, it wasn't that hard. you're a genius in a room full of idiots. you got bored. you left. it's not a mystery, itoshi-san. it's just the only logical conclusion."

sae froze, staring down at you, his pupils slightly blown.

"and the shoulder?" he asked. "was that a logical conclusion too? or do you just lack basic manners?"

"you were in the way," you said simply. "if you don't want to get hit, maybe don't stand in my way?"

you turned on your heel and walked away. anri offered a panicked, quick bow to him and girolan before catching up with you. girolan felt like he'd aged ten years in five minutes. he looked at sae, expecting the boy to explode or, at the very least, demand an immediate flight back to madrid where people actually respect him.

"sae-chan... listen," girolan started, his hands fluttering nervously. "don't take it to heart! she's... she's young, only eighteen! the jfu basically gave her total control because she's some kind of strategic prodigy, but clearly, she lacks any social grace. she's just stressed about the launch, you know? it's not personal!"

"eighteen?"

"yes! just a kid, really! a very arrogant, very overpaid kid," girolan rambled. "we should just get to the airport, the car is wai-"

"girolan."

"huh?"

"change of plans," sae said. "i'm not going back to spain tonight."

"what? but the flight-"

"cancel it," sae interrupted, his eyes still glued to the spot where you had disappeared around the corner. a slow, genuine and slightly dangerous smirk pulled at his lips. for the first time since he'd landed, he wasn't bored.

a/n: bro this is lowk cringe idfk i feel like y/n thinks she's a sigma boss BYE

louis @football_bro99 i used to hate y/n for the overpaid baller comments but watching her make sae itoshi eat raw garlic because he kept saying mediocre is the best content i've seen in 2026 10:45 PM · Apr 7, 2026 · 203 Views

BLUE LOCK LEAKS @bluelockleaks [video clip] the way his patek was glinting in the light while he was whisking eggs with a fork 9:19 PM · Apr 7, 2026 · 1M Views

s <3 @yn_daily 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 14:02. 11:02 PM · Apr 7, 2026 · 6,7M Views

i <3 sae @ilysaeitoshi HE CHUCKLED. FOLKS!!!!! HE CHUCKLEDDDDDDDDDDDD OMLL Y/N L/N YOU HAVE SAVED THE NATION 🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵 12:00 AM · Apr 8, 2026 · 6,7M Views

YN RISE @ynprotectionsqd y/n blushing in 4k after he told her "to be faster" ... girl. we saw that. you are freaked out. 7:46 PM · Apr 7, 2026 · 104M Views

nia @itoshifx the eye contact during the garlic penalty was way too intense for a cooking show. why was he looking at her like she was the last ball in spain?? i'm done. enough. i've seen ENOUGHHHH our man is GONEEEE he is y/n's now 7:07 PM · Apr 7, 2026 · 83M Views

leslie @megumimybeloved y/n. we saw you looking at his hands. stop ts. who EDITED THE VIDDDD LMFAOOO THEY WANT YOUR DOWNFALL GIRL RUN 7:51 PM · Apr 7, 2026 · 64M Views

user @arnoldheinissosexy y/n: you're such a prick sae: and you're mediocre at chopping ... ??? THEY ARE LITERALLY FLIRTING IN FRONT OF US??? AND OVER GARLIC TOO??? STOP??? 8:32 PM · Apr 7, 2026 · 67M Views

ray @egoistray i js saw someone tweeting smth like "who edited y/n's vid" girl. y/n is the one who edits them LOL 11:48 PM · Apr 7, 2026 · 304 Views

(Liked by @ynski) cat @iloveyn sae itoshi is fucking smirking. he likes verbal abuse. he's literally addicted to her meaningless insults I AM SOBBINGGGG SAE HAS A DEGRADING KINK. EVERYONE SAE HAS A DEGRADING KINK DJIOVKDFJSODKLF 9:59 PM · Apr 7, 2026 · 600K Views

(Liked by @saeitoshi) sae x yn @saefannr1 i've followed sae for 5 years and i've never seen him look more alive than when he was being bullied by a girl with a shovel-pan 8:10 PM · Apr 7, 2026 · 99 Views

[INTERNAL TEXT THREAD: RYU -> Y/N] ryuski: Y/N IM ON THE FLOORRRRR ryuski: cat ears LMAOAAOA UR SO EVIL y/nski: its the only way ryu </3 y/nski: if i see him in person and he looks too good i might actually be nice y/nski: i need to focus on being professional fr ryuski: ew wht the hell ryuski: u want him so bad y/nski: bro i literally said it on stream once accidentally y/nski: "sae is so bad" and they all took it and ran y/nski: i meant the positive "bad" not the negative man y/nski: but its good now they think i hate him ryuski: oh....... ryuski: she wants that enemies to lovers so bad

from: miki tanaka [email protected] to: girolan dabadie [email protected] subject: y/n's terms girolan, i've read y/n's email five times and i'm pretty sure i'm going to die if i show sae her terms. even though i love her for that, our starboy won't love that. can you show this to him???? or think of another plan???? i don't want to text him. pls tell me you have a plan. miki

from: girolan dabadie [email protected] to: miki tanaka [email protected] subject: re: y/n's terms miki, breathe. i agree that the terms are unconventional. however, if we push back now, she'll walk and the rebrand will be a total failure. i am going to forward the terms to him now. if i don't reply to your next email, please assume i have been terminated or worse. girolan

from: girolan dabadie [email protected] to: sae itoshi [email protected] subject: collab requirements of y/n l/n sae, we have received the production requirements from y/n for tuesday's shoot. as we discussed, she has full creative authority to ensure authencity for her audience. her confirmed terms are as follows: - no luxury accessories (watches/jewelry) - a safety headband (cat ears) must be worn if your hair is styled - you will have to eat garlic if you use these words: lukewarm, inefficient, mediocre - prep must be done with a provided plastic knife, no electric appliances are permitted please let me know if you have any objections. girolan

from: sae itoshi [email protected] to: girolan dabadie [email protected] subject: re: collab requirements of y/n l/n ok.

[INTERNAL TEXT THREAD: GIROLAN -> MIKi] girolan dabadie: he said "ok." miki tanaka: WHAT girolan dabadie: i am as confused as you are. miki tanaka: OH MY GODDDDDDDDD I'M GOING TO PASS OUT girolan dabadie: please don't.