"You've offended me! Take that back!"
Hearing Ryōsuke Kira's dramatic outburst, I almost burst out laughing. Bro, who even are you? Offended? You're just here to make me laugh, right?
"In the Japan National Team, there are many players I respect! I grew up watching those 11 players fight together on the field—they're my idols! You're wrong!"
Ryōsuke Kira kept going, pretending to be furious.
(Man, doing a solo act, huh? Out of 300 people, not one says a word, and you just had to jump in. What, are you here to be Jinpachi Ego's straight man? He throws a line, you throw one back? Forget soccer—you'd be better off on a comedy stage.)
I grumbled to myself, rolling my eyes inwardly.
"Japan National Team? Do those guys even have a World Cup?" Jinpachi Ego sneered. "I'm the one who'll make Japan the best team in the world!"
"Rather than assisting teammates for a 1–0 win, I'd rather score a hat trick myself! Even losing 3–4 would feel better."
"These were the words of Noel Noa, the current world's number one striker, who surpassed Messi and Ronaldo to claim the Ballon d'Or."
Eric Cantona, the legendary Frenchman known as the "King of Manchester United," once said: "The team doesn't matter—so long as I shine!"
And Pelé, the King of Football, famously declared: "If you ask me who the world's best striker, midfielder, defender, or goalkeeper is, I'll always say myself!"
"Harsh, right? But these are the strongest players in the world!"
"And they're all rare 'egoists'—the very type Japan's football is missing! If you're not the world's top egoist, you'll never be the world's top striker!"
"I want to create players like that here. To forge a one-of-a-kind hero who stands on top of 299 fallen rivals!"
"Picture this: the stage is the World Cup Final. Eighty thousand fans are watching. The score is 0–0, stoppage time in the second half."
"One last attack. You receive the ball, break free, and face the keeper one-on-one. Six meters to your right, a teammate is wide open—passing to him would guarantee a goal."
"But with the nation's hopes on your shoulders in that moment—"
"You shoot without hesitation!"
"Only a true egoist can make that choice! Forget common sense! On the pitch, you are the protagonist. Scoring must be your ultimate joy—living only for that fleeting moment when the ball hits the net!"
"That's what a 'striker' is, isn't it?"
As Jinpachi Ego finished, the massive doors behind him creaked open.
Without hesitation, Isagi dashed forward like a man possessed, and I couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
(Well, that's it. Brainwashing complete. The pure, innocent Isagi is gone. From now on, he's Isagi the Devourer. Ego's brainwashing skills put the so-called masters from my past life to shame!)
Even though I mocked him in my head, my feet started moving too.
"Tch! A gathering place for monsters and geniuses? I finally get a different life—no way I'm backing down now!" I grinned and ran inside.
...
Before long, I reached the interior of Blue Lock. They handed me a uniform and told me to head to my room, change, and wait for the admission test.
"Hmm… looks like I'm in Room V. Guess I'm not teamed up with Isagi, but whatever. With my current skills, as long as I avoid the real monsters, I can take on anyone."
"This is W. So just ahead must be V's rooms. Alright, let's see who my teammates are."
"Oh wait—technically not all teammates. One of them will be gone after the first test."
"Here we go."
I stopped at the door marked with a big "V." As I approached, it slid open automatically.
"Whoa. High-tech? Looks like they spent the budget on the weirdest things."
I muttered as I stepped inside.
(Hmm? Everyone's already changed. Let's see… yeah, mostly nameless background players.)
(Wait—that quiet one with the baby face… isn't that Yo Hiori?)
(If I remember right, his strengths are excellent passing and sharp field awareness. In short, he's a fantastic playmaker.)
(Perfect. With him on our side, unless we face the real monsters, we can crush anyone else.)
Thinking that, I walked up to him.
"Hey! You looked familiar earlier. You're Yo Hiori, right? I'm Ryūma Banjō. Nice to meet you!"
Yo Hiori looked startled, clearly not expecting anyone to approach him.
"Hello… Do you know me? I don't think we've met before."
I made up an excuse on the spot.
"I saw you play somewhere else before. I figured we'd get along, so I thought I'd say hi."
Of course, I couldn't just say, "I know your abilities, so team up with me." That would've been way too weird.
"Well, meeting is fate. Let's look after each other, Yō!"
"Huh? Don't say that! I should be the one asking you."
Yo Hiori replied stiffly.
Seeing him so awkward, I sighed inwardly.
(He probably hasn't had many friends. His parents treated him like nothing more than a soccer tool, pushing him to train nonstop. They only cared about his talent. If I get the chance, I'll help him one day.)
"And can you stop calling me 'Sheep'? It really just sounds like you're talking to an animal."
(Translator's note: The kanji in Yō's name, 羊, literally means "sheep." That's why the protagonist teases him with this nickname, though in English it doesn't carry the same pun.)
Yo Hiori said with an embarrassed look.
"Huh? Fine then. I'll just call you Hyōri."
I replied, though honestly, "Sheep" rolled off the tongue better.
"Yeah, Hyori sounds better. So should I call you Ryūma or Banjō?"
Yo Hiori asked curiously.
"Ryūma, of course! That name sounds super cool, doesn't it?"
I answered without hesitation. Ryūma is just too cool, okay?
...
While we were talking, the last member of Room V arrived.
The moment he stepped in, the three or four others already there looked stunned.
I, too, was stunned when I saw him.
"No way. With Hyōri, me, and now Rin Itoshi on the same team—how are we supposed to lose?"
That's right—the final member of Room V was none other than Rin Itoshi, the future number one in Blue Lock.
"Holy crap, Rin!"
"Huh? Ryūma, you know him?" Yo Hiori asked curiously.
"Of course! That's Rin Itoshi, younger brother of Sae Itoshi from the New Generation World XI. Man, Blue Lock is getting interesting!"
After Rin changed into his uniform, Jinpachi Ego appeared right on time.
"All dressed? Good. My star players."
As his voice rang out, everyone instinctively turned toward the giant screen.
"Listen up! Your roommates are also your rivals—they'll push you to improve."
"I've ranked your abilities based on my own judgment and biases. The number on your uniform is your standing—so you can see exactly where you rank among the 300."
(Yeah, right, Ego. Like Rin would really be ranked that low. Who's buying that?) I sneered inwardly.
"Rankings will rise or fall based on training and matches. The top five will automatically qualify for the tournament six months from now—selection for the U20 World Cup!"
"And let me be clear: anyone eliminated in Blue Lock will never set foot in the national team again!"
"To win here, what you need is 'selfishness.' Next, we'll measure your ego. Now—let the game of 'Tag' begin!"