Chapter Overview
Alright, so today I’m back with yet another chapter review, and today we will go over Chapter 236, which is insane. Be sure to stick around till the end because you don’t want to miss it anyway.
We begin Chapter 236 with the ball being high up in the air from Hiori’s shot. As Hiori watches the ball flying in the air, he thinks that he wasn’t a person who was born to play football after all, saying it with a crushed and destroyed expression on his face. The ball falls down to Aik, who traps it perfectly. But Hiori couldn’t care any less as he says that he suffered so much and experienced so much frustration from all of this. He tried so hard to believe that playing football was what he was made for and what was his purpose.
Hiori’s Struggle
However, that shot told him that he wasn’t worthy, but honestly, he felt okay with it. After he goes home, he will sit down with his parents and tell them he’s done with football. Hiori is casually standing on the field while everyone else is running around in chaos. Hiori has a bittersweet expression on his face as he says that he gave it his all and that he can now move on without a single regret. He thanks Blue Lock for its blessing and even lets out a smile of relief.
Isagi’s Intervention
However, while Hiori is in this euphoric state, Isagi, out of nowhere, comes running to him, screaming his name with all that he possibly can. Hiori looks over with a surprised face to see Isagi with burning eyes, telling him to do one more. Hiori can’t understand what is going on while he’s trying to figure out what Isagi is saying. The whole Uber squad is beginning their counterattack and is rushing over. Hiori is frozen as he thinks that Isagi still believes in him, but just why? Hiori decided to shoot and betray him instead of passing. So why would Isagi still have faith and believe in him?
The Counterattack
Isagi is running like never before on the field as he screams at Hiori to not even think, telling him to go crazy and surpass their wildest imaginations, and to do it reflexively. Hiori remembers that it was that exact advice that he once gave to Asahi in the third selection. But why would Isagi say that now, and what could he mean?
Conflict with Parents
Yuri is totally dumbfounded as he says that he doesn’t get it, but still wonders what it is that makes him desperately want to meet Isagi’s expectations of him. He thinks back to his parents’ expectations of him and how horrible they were, saying that every single one of his parents’ expectations was always focused on his physical specs, meaning his human side of things. But with Isagi, it’s different. Isagi’s expectations aren’t focused on the human side of Hiori, but instead on the things that he can change through actions.
The Game’s Climax
Lorenzo managed to get the ball away from Isagi and up to their ace striker Barou, who’s in a one-on-one with Yukimiya, who’s desperately trying to stop Barou from shooting. To help Yukimiya, Raichi comes in, saying that the two of them can trap him. But Barou starts getting more aggressive until he pushes both of them aside to get off a shot at the goal. But all of his efforts go to waste as Kunigami blocks the shot from Barou.
Hiori’s Decision
Hiori is disappointed because, just when he thought he could move on and finally quit football for good, it all went into ruin. Gagamaru catches the ball in the air and throws it up on the field, telling them to finish the game. But Hiori says that he already knew that Blue Lock was a twisted madhouse. He decides that just one last time he will make an exception and rejoin the game.
Final Thoughts
This chapter was insane, and I don’t even know where to begin. It was scary seeing Hiori say he was done with football, but luckily, Isagi was there to force him to continue. The contrast between Hiori’s parents’ expectations and Isagi’s goal-oriented expectations was profound. It was also amazing to see Barou’s persistence and Kunigami’s impactful block. I’m super curious about who will score the final goal.