Chapter 13

## The Thrill of Futsal

* Volume Version
* Magazine Version

## Chapter Chronology

**“The Thrill of Futsal”** (ワクワクフットサル, *Wakuwaku Futtosaru*) is the thirteenth chapter of the *Kill Blue* manga series, written and illustrated by Tadatoshi Fujimaki.

## Summary

The powerful kick from Juzo surprised everyone, including Ryo, who found it incredible. Baba and Takada were also taken aback by it but were curious because Juzo had a policy of not drawing attention to himself. While the crowd cheered, Shin appeared nervous and was trembling on the sidelines. Juzo then noticed that Shin had lost his pacifier, something that boosted his confidence, and this puzzled some other club members who wondered why Shin always had the pacifier.

Shin had lost the pacifier while blocking Tenma's kick, possibly because Tenma knocked it away. Chisato, from the audience, inquired if Shin had a spare, and Kito immediately shared that Shin had mentioned it was in his bag in the classroom. Noren volunteered to retrieve it, with Yamaoka also offering to help.

Juzo positioned Shin in the middle of the goal, reducing the match to a 2-on-2 situation. However, Tenma was eager to get the game started while they were still attending to Shin. Meanwhile, Noren, along with Yamaoka and Nishimura, hurriedly made their way to Class E's room.

During their run, Noren shared a somewhat unusual dream of Shin's—he wanted to lie down in her lap and find comfort there. Her companions found this dream a bit peculiar. Back at the gym, the game resumed, with both teams vying for a score. Juzo swiftly blocked Tenma's advances, causing Tenma to react to Juzo's movements.

Meanwhile, Noren and the other two reached Class E's room and located Shin's spare pacifier. They rushed out to bring it to him as soon as possible. Noren also recounted something Shin had shared with her earlier about why he always carried pacifiers. He explained that they helped calm him down because he had no real memory of his mother and only a faint recollection of her smiling at him while gently giving him his pacifier. Yamaoka, having learned about Shin's past, suggested allowing him to lie in Noren's lap for comfort. However, Noren made it clear that his past didn't grant him any special privileges as the three of them reached the entrance of the gym.

Upon their arrival, Shin appeared to be in a heavily battered condition. Chisato noted that Shin had performed admirably in blocking all of Tenma's powerful shots with his face and stomach, thus keeping the score at 0-0.

The game was still in progress when Tenma managed to intercept the ball. Yamaoka urgently instructed Noren to give the pacifier to Shin, fearing that another powerful shot from Tenma could be detrimental to him. Yamaoka asked how Noren planned to do it. Given that Noren was considered the most athletic girl in the club, Yamaoka suggested she throw the pacifier to Shin in the most effective manner possible.

Following Yamaoka's advice, Noren hurled the pacifier towards Shin while calling his name to prepare him for the catch. However, some club members watching the scene appeared quite disgusted by it. Just as the pacifier was flying toward Shin, with Tenma poised for another powerful shot, Shin skillfully blocked it at the last moment by using his left leg as a shield. This move surprised both Tenma and his partner.

With confidence, Shin stood firm, holding the ball with his foot. He signaled that he was also confident in his footwork. This quick recovery pleased Kito and Juzo, and Shin, with the pacifier still in his mouth, received cheers from everyone. He then indicated that the real game was beginning.

The game proceeded in its usual manner, with Tenma and Juzo engaged in a face-off. Juzo had possession of the ball and attempted a basic feint on Tenma. Tenma, recognizing Juzo's speed, countered the move effectively and managed to regain control of the ball. However, when Tenma attempted to accelerate, Juzo quickly caught up to him, surprising both Tenma and his partner. Tenma's partner thought that the reason they hadn't scored yet wasn't solely due to Shin blocking Tenma's shots but all because of Juzo, who somehow appeared amateur but was performing at a level equal to Tenma, which left him puzzled.

The ball went out of bounds once again, and the score remained tied at 0-0. While some club members were still reeling from the close call of an almost score, the current players of the Home Economics Club took a moment to rest. Kito praised Juzo, noting his improved performance as the game progressed. Juzo, on the other hand, attempted to make an excuse, suggesting it was his first time playing. However, he inadvertently added "in a long time," leaving Kito confused. Kotatsu, on the other end of the line, also sensed Juzo's excitement.

Juzo was highly motivated by the intense battle, especially considering that his life wasn't on the line. He found it exhilarating to challenge someone as skilled as Tenma repeatedly and search for weaknesses in his opponent's play.

Observing Tenma's exhaustion, his partner couldn't help but recall their recent conversation about Juzo. During that conversation, he had asked Tenma about his inability to explain why Juzo seemed to get under his skin. His theory was that Juzo might be seeking a worthy rival. Tenma, on the other hand, had countered this by emphasizing that he could win every game by a score of 100 to 0 if he could and that he loved winning every time. This response had irked his teammate, who happened to be his childhood friend, to the point where he claimed he wouldn't be friends with Tenma if they hadn't grown up together.

Tenma had revealed that one of the reasons he played three different sports was his immense passion for all three. However, he also had another motive, which his friend described as wanting to be "alone at the top." In every sport, there was a legendary player from the past who set the standard. Tenma aimed to be so dominant in all three sports that no one could ever compare him to those legends. His goal was not about the notion that "everyone can be great in their own way," but rather, he intended to establish himself so firmly at the pinnacle that no one could dispute his supremacy.

All fired up, Tenma launched the ball forcefully, causing it to inflate. He exclaimed that he was now enjoying himself and compared the other team to a rare, durable toy that's hard to come by. This statement created tension among the spectators and prompted reactions from both Shin and Juzo. Shin acknowledged that Tenma's words were not mere bravado, and Juzo expressed surprise, noting that he had never heard anyone speak with such genuine intent before. As the inflated baseball ball descended in front of Tenma, he signaled his determination to give his utmost effort.

## Quick References

### Chapter Notes

* Shin loses his pacifier during the match, boosting Juzo's confidence, but puzzling others about why Shin always has it.
	+ Shin confidently holds the ball with his foot, indicating the real game is starting.
* Tenma and Juzo engage in a face-off, with Juzo showing unexpected skill and speed.
	+ Juzo's performance improves as the game progresses, and he seeks weaknesses in Tenma's play.
* Tenma's partner recalls a conversation with Tenma about Juzo's impact on him and Tenma's goal of dominance in multiple sports.
	+ Tenma becomes increasingly fired up, launching the ball forcefully and expressing his determination to give his utmost effort, surprising both Shin and Juzo.

### Characters in Order of Appearance

**Baba**
**Takada**
**Ryo Shiraishi**
**Chisato Shiraishi**5th Appearance
**Kito**
**Juzo Ogami**
**Shin Kohazame**
**Yamaoka**
**Nishimura**
**Mei Tamada**
**Noren Mitsuoka**
**Tenma Tendo**
**Ryohei**2nd Appearance