"Go to hell, Lokkk, your Widow is blinder than my grandma after spending the whole day under the sun!"
"Kaze, you talk too much. Don't think I didn't see your Tracer smash into the wall three times already."
I laugh at his comment.
"Man, seriously, you're dragging me down. I should just call someone else to play." — I say with an arrogant smile.
"Hahaha, Kaze, you're 9/15. You got no right to talk that much crap."
My friend, Lokkk… amazing how someone I've never even met can make me feel this good.
But happiness never lasts forever. Because I'm not in a room with neon lights, nor on a thousand-dollar computer.
No.
I'm in a hospital bed, with a machine beeping my heartbeat.
My laptop sits on a table, easy enough to reach.
…When was the last time I even had a visitor?
Well… not like there's anyone who would come visit me anyway.
A harsh cough tears out of my lungs, like it's burning me alive from the inside.
"Hey man, you okay? Why don't you take a break? That bean-shooting Tracer of yours needs some rest."
…You bastard.
"1v1 me now, you filthy trash!"
"Hahaha, sure." His voice is way softer than usual. "Why don't you rest a little? Don't push yourself too hard. Don't forget—we're gonna be the best in the world." He says it with absolute certainty.
I glance at our rank.
Gold 1. Our highest after two years of grinding together.
Anyone else might laugh at such a claim… but not me.
"Yeah, obviously." — I reply firmly.
"We will be number one." — he says with the same conviction as me.
I've always loved video games… but deep down, I always wanted to play a sport.
My favorite has always been volleyball. I loved the feel of the ball in the air, every move deciding the point, the teamwork, the jumps, the slam of the ball hitting the floor.
But what I played the most was soccer—with friends or cousins—even if I was the worst one.
I still remember scoring once against my cousin who, to me back then, was the best of us. I beat him with speed.
That was the first time I ever scored a 1v1 goal against him. A vivid memory. A moment that still puts a smile on my face.
But now… even breathing hurts.
So, while I still can, I'll dedicate myself to a new goal… I'm not dead yet.
And Lokkk has the same goal as me.
"We'll be the best DPS in this world." — I say.
"The strongest duo… hahaha, that sounds so pathetic."
"Yeah." — I grin, but anyone looking into my eyes would see I mean it.
"The top is lonely." — he says.
"Then I'll carry you, washed-up Widow."
"You died 15 times, Kaze. Don't fuck with me."
A wave of drowsiness crashes over me.
Yeah, the top is lonely.
Even if I can't fulfill my dream of being the best in sports… then I'll be the best in games.
My smile grows… as the weight of sleep drags me down.
"I think…" I can't even finish the sentence.
Beep… beep… beep… beeeeeeeep.
[Duo Link System Activated]
What the hell? Why is a blue screen floating in front of me? Am I going insane?
Sick and insane… what a shitty combo.
"Hey." — I feel someone bump into me.
"Ohh, sorry, man." — a blonde kid with a childish smile says apologetically before walking off.
What? Who let that guy into my room?
No… what?
I look around and see streets, buildings, people walking all in the same direction.
Most don't look older than twenty.
Where am I? What just happened? One moment I was falling asleep in a hospital room, and now… I'm here? Where even is here?
Wait… the system.
[Duo Link System Loaded]
"System, where the hell am I?!" — I almost yell, before remembering there are people around me.
[Duo Link System, created to form the strongest duo in e-sports.]
"That's not what I asked. Are you some Chinese ChatGPT or what?"
"I'm asking where the hell I am!" — I shout, losing patience.
God… I'm in some random place, talking to a transparent screen… like a lunatic.
I stop… and breathe. I breathe again.
"What… is this…?"
My body feels light. For the first time in forever, I can breathe without feeling like I'm dying.
Without fear of what comes next.
Breathing doesn't hurt anymore.
I hold on to every second, waiting to wake up in that hospital room again.
Back to endless pain, where even laughing could make me wish for death.
But nothing.
I'm still here.
I breathe deep one last time, then glance at the building ahead of me.
On the sign it reads:
"Japan Football Association."
In Japanese. A language I shouldn't even understand—yet I do.
The people around me are speaking Japanese too.
I turn back to the system.
"Where am I?" — I ask again.
[Currently: Japan. Project: Blue Lock.]
"I…" The words stick in my throat. "I died?"
[Correct.]
I get it. Not a shock. I was terminal anyway.
But… I wish I'd gotten to flame Lokkk's shitty Widow one last time.
Blue Lock… I know that name. But from where?
Ah, right. It's that soccer anime. I never watched much, just some summaries and manga spoilers on YouTube. So I know the basics.
"I died and ended up in an anime… what a shitty joke." — I mutter, hoping it's all some prank. But my lungs don't hurt, I'm not in a hospital, people around me are speaking Japanese… and a system is floating in my face.
"System, why was I sent here? Why me?"
[Desire to reach the top, but not alone.]
[Host has talent and takes pleasure in improving through teamwork.]
[Among many candidates, the host's desire to reach the top is the strongest.]
[The Duo System was created for the host and his partner to climb to the top.]
I wanted to laugh, to scoff, to doubt… but instead, I wanted to believe.
I wanted… a second chance. I wanted to do it for real.
"This is real, isn't it? I'm not going back there, am I?" — I ask, almost desperate.
I'd rather stay here. To have a chance at chasing my dreams.
[The System cannot return you to your original world.]
[Does the host wish to go back?]
[Yes] / [No]
…No.
Hell no.
"What can you do, system? You gonna give me powers?" — I ask, trying to calm down.
[To create the strongest duo, the System grants abilities to the host and his partner, unlocked as their bond deepens.]
"What kind of abilities?"
[Currently unavailable.]
[System Duo release required.]
"I know that command… what's it called again… ah, right."
Status.
[Duo Link System]
[Host: Kaze Maru]
[Age: 16]
[Skills: locked]
[Titles: The ##### player of Blue Lock]
[Titles can grant buffs to the host and their partner.]
Got it.
There are gaps, but I've got bigger things to deal with.
…
Lokkk, I hope you make it to number one. This time, my Tracer won't be holding you back. I know you'll reach the top.
I take a step forward… then stop.
This feeling… of moving my body freely.
Who would've thought…
A person crying just from being able to walk.
Now I understand that saying: "You only value something when you lose it."
"Shitty saying." — my grin grows wider.
Before I realize it, I'm already running.
I must look like a popsicle fresh out of the freezer, but my legs won't stop.
I run toward Blue Lock.
I'll reach the top.
Lokkk, you with your duo there…
And me here.
Let's see which duo reaches the top first.
"Blue Lock… here I come."