Chapter 2: Part 1- A Game Of Tag
FYI
: Speech
- Thoughts
[Flashback/Recording]
"Quoting"
Results/Goals
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Blue Lock Introduction Building
The trio entered the building as a skinny man dressed in black stood at the front.
Ego: Hello you diamonds in the rough. I am Ego Jinpachi and I have selected all of you based on my own biased opinion. This is Blue Lock. Here I will forge the greatest Striker in the world.
Koji- Striker? But I'm a midfielder.
Ego: in this facility, you will not be able to leave or contact the outside world but you will certainly become much better players.
Kira: You expect us to abandon our teams like that!? We have nationals coming up soon!
Ego: If you're satisfied by the thought of simply winning a mere national tournament in this backwater country then so be it. Lock off.
Kira: How dare you. The players on our national team are amazing people. They're my heroes!
Ego: Then tell me when was the last time your heroes won a World Cup? Oh right, they never did.
Koji- Hmm. From my research he's correct. Japan has never won a single World Cup. We came close to it last year but still fell short.
Ego: You little dandelions have been taught that Football is about Teamwork or friendship. Get real. Football is about who scores the most goals. But don't just take my word for it. Take the words from Noel Noa "Instead of Assisting 1-0 it feels better to lose but get a hat trick". This is the man who beat out Christiano Ronaldo and Messi for the Ballon d'Or. Or from Eric Cantona "I don't care about my team. I just want to stand out". Then there's Pele "The world's best forward, defender and goalkeeper. Whichever you ask about the answer is still me". So how about it? Isn't it horrible? But they are the best the world has ever seen and each and every one of them is a egoist. That's what Japan needs to win the World Cup.
Koji- So that kind of mindset is required to be the best. Makes sense. Without confidence, you can never achieve anything.
Ego: Japan's national has a shining array of teamwork and ethics however in every other regard they are worse than mediocre. The most vital missing part they are lacking is the striker. What a striker needs is ego. The complete confidence that he can score no matter what! However, this country's Strikers are nothing but lapdogs for JFU. I will create a Striker that can lead this country to a World Cup victory.
Everyone is tense.
Ego: in this place you will fight it out until only 1 of you remains. The sole survivor of this place.
Koji- Sole survivor huh? Nothing new for me.
Ego: Imagine it. The World Cup Finals and it's 0-0. You have the ball and your teammate is to the side. If you pass you'll win but you shot it in any way. Only an insane egoist could take that shot without hesitation.
Isagi rushed out onto the stage and into the facility as others followed.
Koji: Isagi Yoichi. He has potential.
Koji followed their lead. He then got on a bus that led him to Blue Lock. He walked through the halls entering a room. There he met the people who would form Team Z except Isagi who hadn't arrived yet and Igaguri who wasn't invited to Blue Lock.
Kira: Oh Ayanokoji-Kun. It's good to see a familiar face.
Koji walked into the room putting on his uniform as Isagi walked in.
Kira: Oh Isagi-Kun as well?
Isagi: Oh Kira, Ayanokoji.
Ego appears on a screen.
Ego: If you look at your uniforms is your rank out of the 300 here in this facility
Ego displays the rankings;
289- Ryosuke Kira
290- Kunigami Renusuke
291- Bachira Meguru
292- Chigiri Hyoma
293- Gagamaru Gin
294- Ayankoji Kiyotaka
295- Raichi Jingo
296- Kuon Wataru
297- Naruyhaya Asahi
298- Lemon Okuhito
299- Immamura Yudai
300- Isagi Yoichi
Isagi- 3...00? I'm in last place!?
Koji- 294th huh? How interesting.
Ego: Alright. Your first test will be a game of tag. Remember that the person who fails will be eliminated from the program and no longer allowed to play for Japan's national team. If you to leave now's your last chance. No one leaves. The aim of the test is to not be the one with the ball at the end.
A ball falls onto the ground at Isagi's feet.
Ego: The ball starts with the lowest-ranked player. Also one last thing. No using your hands.
Isagi- I have to do it. I have to fight.
Isagi kicks the ball at Immamura who gets hit.
Imamura: Damn it!
Imamura rushed around trying to hit someone and give them the ball when he saw Bachira.
Imamura: Sorry man. I got no choice.
He attempted to tag Bachira but Bachira kicked him in the face.
Imamura: That's a foul.
Bachira: The only rule is no handballs right?
Kunigami: Hey. I want everyone to play fair.
Imamura kicks the ball into Kunigami's face.
Kunigumi: Why you little.
Kunigami kicks it with immense force as Imamura dives to the ground dodging it as Isagi is hit.
Isagi- Me again?
Isagi gets up and looks at Imamura.
Isagi: He's only a little better than me. I can beat him at least right.
Imamura was ready to doge but suddenly he fell to one knee.
Imamura: Damn it. I'm feeling all dizzy.
Kira: Hurry up Isagi-Kun! Do it!
Isagi: No wait. If I do this I won't have changed at all.
Isagi looked at Kira and charged at him only for Bachira to steal the ball.
Bachira: I like you. After all what's the point if you're not going against the strongest?
Bachira rushes at Kira trying to tag him as Kira desperately dodges when Bachira passes to Isagi but Koji intercepts it before it gets even close.
Bachira: Huh?
Koji- Isagi could be useful but if I want to win this I'll need tools. I can already tell people will gravitate to him when he starts gaining strength.
Koji slams his foot into the ball as it hits Isagi.
Isagi: Ah!
Isagi is in so much pain as the counter is ticking down with only 5 seconds remaining he kicks the ball at Koji who dodges with minimum effort saying his head to the side.
Ego: Isagi Yoichi. Lock Off.
Isagi: What? No! I...
Kira: Isagi-Kun...
Isagi glared at Koji before resigning himself and leaving.
Kira: Why did you do that?
Koji: This is a team of 11 now which means we'll be playing together as a team. I simply eliminated our weakest player. That's all.
Kira: Because he was ranked 300. I see.
Ego: Well done. The rest of you pass.
Ego explains the purpose of the exercise and then they all retire for the day.
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To Be Continued
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