Honestly… I still don't understand why I was chosen.
Isagi tightened his scarf against the cold winter air as he stood before the Japan Football Union building.
Out of everyone… I was selected for this program…
A small smile crept onto his face.
"Oh? You're late too?"
A cheerful voice called out.
"Haha, nice to meet you."
A white-haired boy stood beside him on the sidewalk.
…That guy. Isn't he the one they call the future of Japanese football?
"Are you… Ryosuke Kira?" Isagi asked.
"Yes! And you're the one who almost scored against Kise, right? Your field vision was incredible!"
…He complimented me?
Ryosuke Kira?
Isagi blinked in surprise.
They talked for a bit—Kira was easygoing, friendly. Way more approachable than Isagi had expected.
Soon, they stepped inside.
A massive room filled with young players.
"Whoa… I recognize some of them," Kira said, pointing a few out.
…Wait.
Don't tell me…
Are they all… strikers?
Cough. Cough.
"Congratulations, unpolished gems."
A voice cut through the room.
All eyes turned.
A tall man with glasses—and an unsettling presence—stood before them.
"300 strikers under the age of 18."
"Each one of you has been selected… solely based on my judgment."
"My name is Jinpachi Ego."
"And I am the man who will make Japan win the World Cup."
A ripple of whispers spread across the room.
…The World Cup?
In the corner, Kise leaned against the wall, arms crossed, casually chewing gum.
One eyebrow lifted.
…This guy.
He's interesting.
A thrill ran through him.
"I will create… the world's greatest striker."
Ego's voice sharpened.
"This project is called… Blue Lock."
"You will live here."
"You will train here."
"And as of this moment… your football careers are over."
He spoke like it meant nothing.
Like he was stating a trivial fact.
"But remember this."
Ego's gaze hardened.
"The last player standing…"
"…will become the best striker in the world."
Silence.
"I refuse!"
Kira stepped forward.
"Football is about teamwork! About trusting your teammates! I won't throw away everything I've built—my team, my future—for something like this!"
Voices of agreement began to rise.
Ego scratched his head, unimpressed.
"…I see."
"Then leave."
"If that's your answer, get out."
His voice was flat.
Cold.
"You'd rather cling to your team than become the best in the world?"
"You'd throw this away just to shine in some high school squad?"
"…Pathetic."
"I feel embarrassed just looking at you."
"Japan is second-rate."
"What is football to you?"
"A game?"
"A place to make friends?"
"…Wrong."
"Football is about scoring goals."
"At any cost."
"The one who scores the most… is the best."
"If you can't accept that…"
"Then you don't belong here."
Kise's body trembled.
Not from fear—
From excitement.
His heart pounded.
To play.
To score.
A grin slowly spread across his face.
Sharp. Unhinged.
Kira gritted his teeth, still refusing to accept it.
But Ego didn't even bother acknowledging him.
"Listen carefully."
"To stand at the top of the world…"
"You need an ego strong enough to carry that title."
"Only one hero will emerge."
"Out of 300…"
"…only one."
Ego turned.
A massive door loomed behind him.
"Imagine this."
"World Cup final."
"0–0."
"Last play."
"Do you shoot?"
"…or do you pass?"
His glasses gleamed.
"If you have the ego to shoot without hesitation…"
"Then walk through that door."
The door slowly opened.
"Abandon your common sense."
"On the field… you are the protagonist."
"Live for one thing only—"
"Goals."
"That… is what it means to be a striker."
His smile twisted.
Dark. Disturbing.
Isagi moved.
Kise moved.
Without hesitation—
They ran.
And the rest followed.
…
After the room emptied, Ego sat down, letting out a breath.
"The future of Japan… rests on your shoulders, Ego," Anri said.
Ego adjusted his glasses.
"…Now then."
"The most critical moment in Japanese football…"
"…begins."
—
Contracts signed.
Phones confiscated.
Freedom gone.
They were given uniforms.
"Head to the room assigned to the letter on your uniform," Anri instructed.
Isagi followed the directions.
Room Z.
He opened the door.
"Isagi!"
Kira waved.
"Thank god you're here…"
"Haha, yeah, I'm glad to—"
THWACK!
A shirt smacked into his face.
"Sorry. It slipped."
A tall, muscular guy with orange hair shrugged.
"Watch your step."
Nearby, someone was passed out on the floor, mumbling the names of famous players in his sleep.
Then—
The door opened again.
Silence fell.
Kise.
He stepped inside.
His eyes scanned the room briefly.
Isagi froze.
…He's here too?!
But Kise didn't care.
Didn't even acknowledge anyone.
He walked straight to his locker.
Isagi clenched his fists.
Should I… talk to him?
He gathered his courage—
The screen lit up.
Everyone was already changed.
Ego appeared.
"First things first."
"Everyone here…"
"…is your teammate."
A pause.
"And your rival."
"We have evaluated all of you."
"Your rank—and your group—are displayed on your armbands."
A beat.
"And to be clear…"
"You are the lowest of the low."
"The worst group in Blue Lock."
The tension spiked.
Ego continued, explaining the ranking system—
How they would climb.
How they would fall.
How their egos would be forged.
Then—
A faint smile.
"Now then…"
"Let's begin."
"…with a game of Tag."
To be continued…
Pennymaster: (i think that this chapter was needed, because it was what got me hooked inblue lock, sorry if there wasn't development outside of canon on this chapter.)
if you liked, follow on patr eon.com/Pennymaster