The 17th Story Arc of the Blue Lock manga series, which centers on Isagi and Nagi dropping down to the Second Selection's 2 vs. 2 2nd stage after Rin's team stole away Bachira. Isagi and Nagi have to decide on what 2-man-team to take on in order to rise back up in the Second Selection, which a worthy candidate appears when it turns out that Baro, who's teamed up with Isagi's Team Z teammate, Naruhaya, also ended up dropping down to the 2nd stage. Knowing that they're the two weak players who won't get chosen, Naruhaya challenges Isagi to see which between them gets to move on with the two monster players, Nagi and Baro.
It makes up chapters 49 and 50 of the series.
Chapter 49: After the Separation
After the Isagi/Nagi/Bachira team loses to the Rin/Aryu/Tokimitsu team, a decision has to be made for a player to be stolen away from Team Isagi. Rin remains disinterested not caring who gets taken, which Aryu and Tokimitsu decide to steal away Bachira under the belief that Bachira's exceptional passing will help make them work better as a team. As a result, Bachira moves on to the Second Selection's 4th stage without Isagi and Nagi. Bachira ordering Isagi to rise back up the Second Selection and steal him away if he wants him back. Isagi is then forced to watch as Bachira departs with Team Rin through the gate to the 4th stage. Meanwhile, the Isagi/Nagi duo have to go through the loser gate that takes them back to the Second Selection's 2nd stage for 2 vs. 2 matches.Isagi and Nagi arrive at the 2 vs. 2 matching room lobby, which they remain alone since they're the first ones to have fallen back to the 2nd stage. Nagi suggests checking the place out only for Isagi to remain where he is having fallen into despair due to how useless he was in the match against Blue Lock's top-3. That he's useless without Bachira, and that he failed to make any chemical reactions like Bachira and Nagi's combo goal. Isagi remains depressed knowing that it's obvious that Nagi will be chosen next only for an irritated Nagi to grab Isagi by the hair getting annoyed by Isagi's whining. Nagi ordering Isagi to get it together since this is not the Isagi that made him want to get better at football. The result is the two of them arguing, such as Isagi pointing out it's the same for Nagi being useless without Reo. Thus, Isagi states that he will be sure to learn how to play by himself, which Nagi agrees that the point of the Second Selection is most likely to teach football players how to play individually. That they lost, because trying to play as a team against the top-3, who were playing individually, resulted in them getting overwhelmed.
Having started to understand the point of the Second Selection, Isagi and Nagi bump fists ready to play again. Nagi pointing out that he's frustrated, which Isagi assures him that winning is the only cure for it. It's at this point that Baro appears in the 2nd stage matching room lobby with a fellow teammate, which surprises Isagi that someone as strong as him ended up dropping. As Baro whines about how his terrible team let him down despite him scoring 4 goals, Isagi assures himself that he will learn how to overcome Baro in a 1-on-1.
Chapter 50: Match Established
The Isagi/Nagi duo stand before Baro (Rank 18) within the 2nd stage's matching room lobby. Baro ignores Isagi, and is about to head off to check out the rest of the 2nd stage area. However, he stops when he gets called out by Nagi being surprised that Baro lost despite claiming that he's the best, which Nagi challenges Baro believing that he can win against the current Baro. Nagi's challenge enrages Baro, who proceeds to call out the former for only being good at trapping. In return, an enraged Nagi fires back that he will make the loser king Baro his servant. Thus, showing that the two of them have it out for one another since the First Selection. Before Isagi could try to calm things down, Barou's teammate appears, who turns out to be Isagi's previous Team Z teammate, Naruhaya (Rank 38). Naruhaya pointing them to the rule posted in the room that players have to wait 24 hours before being allowed to play another match, which makes fighting pointless right now.Isagi finds it surprising that Naruhaya got teamed up with Baro, which Naruhaya admits is the case. Naruhaya explains how he and Baro were teamed up with Nishioka Hajime (Rank 29), who has a high reputation as the next up-and-coming Messi. However, they ended up losing due to Barou's selfish play throwing the team off. Thus, Nishioka got stolen to move on with the winning team since the they didn't like Barou's selfishness despite him scoring 4 goals. Baro complains that he lost because his teammates were useless, and is ready to take Isagi and Nagi on. However, Naruhaya tries to calm the situation down by pointing out that they have time to choose their next opponent. Naruhaya pointing out that Isagi probably agrees since they're at the biggest risk of elimiation, which catches Isagi's attention since Naruhaya's implying that they're the weak ones compared to Baro and Nagi.
The Isagi/Nagi and Baro/Naruhaya duos then head off into the 2nd stage facilities. Isagi and Nagi remain in the bedroom they were given as they look over a map of the 2nd stage. Nagi uses the moment to question why Isagi didn't challenge Baro knowing that the latter would be a strong member of their team, which Isagi states that it's because he's realized that their lacking something due to their defeat to Rin's team. The two of them discuss how they both have weapons, Isagi's direct shot and Nagi's trapping, that rely on someone like Bachira or Reo passing to them. Thus, they conclude that they're screwed if they don't figure out how to use their weapons without having a reliable passer setting them up. At lunch, more player duos start to appear having lost their first match, which Isagi and Nagi discuss how they only have one option, which is to face off against someone strong if they're to rise up the Second Selection. Nagi pointing out that all the other losers must be thinking the same thing.
Later on, Isagi trains alone on the 2nd stage practice field against the Blue Lock Man goalie. Isagi realizing that while he can improve his direct shot's accuracy against the Blue Lock man, he won't be able to learn how to use direct shot 1-on-1 unless he faces off against people again as strong as Rin's Team, which Baro pops up in his mind knowing that him as an opponent is what he's looking for. It's at this point that Naruhaya appears before Isagi knowing that the latter would be practicing, and points out that it's a given when they're the ones the most up for elimination. Isagi states that it's not going to stop him from taking on someone strong, which Naruhaya agrees with that they have to risk it all. That they're the same as the ones who won't get chosen over Nagi or Baro. Isagi tries to reassure Naruhaya that he doesn't think that, but Naruhaya's ego kicks in pointing out that Isagi doesn't have to hide it that he would choose Baro. Naruhaya claiming that he wants Nagi over Isagi. As a result, Naruhaya challenges Isagi for them both to put their dreams on the line at Blue Lock in order to lead Japan to the World Cup. Isagi accepts the challenge as the two shake hands; setting up the 2 vs. 2 match between Isagi/Nagi and Naruhaya/Baro.
