Yoichi Isagi was clearly startled by the look on Rin Itoshi's face.
But when he saw Rin grit through the final rep of his leg training, panting hard, he casually held out the spare bottle of water in his hand.
"Here."
Rin wiped the sweat from his forehead, shot Isagi a sideways glance, and muttered, "Why would I want that? It's your backwash."
But Isagi had his own way of making Rin take it.
"No hidden meaning. But if you collapse now, Blue Lock is done for."
"And that's no good for me—so don't make things harder."
"Just drink it."
"Hmph." Rin hesitated for a moment before finally reaching out to take the bottle.
"Childish."
"Yeah, yeah."
Once the water was handed over, Isagi walked away without looking back. But his heart was burning with determination.
(That expression on Rin's face… it's the first time I've ever seen it.)
(I want to win a match with him—!)
[Ryūma: Huh? I step out for a bit and someone steals my whole house?]
Before long, the mechanical voice chimed punctually.
Ding-dong, ding-dong————
Afternoon training begins.
Everyone, please gather in the conference room!
The members of Blue Lock soon welcomed their "cheat code." They sat in neat rows, waiting for Jinpachi Ego's long lecture.
"Hey, Blue Lock!"
"Today is the first day of the Ultimate Training Camp for the U-20 match. How's everyone feeling?"
"Your bodies should be warmed up by now, right?"
"Now let's work the mind. Let's talk about the 'Formula for Miracles'——"
"This phenomenon is called FLOW!"
As Ego spoke, everyone straightened up and listened more intently.
Pointing at his temple, Ego continued:
"I'm going to teach you the essential, life-burning method required of the world's number one striker."
"It's a mental immersion state born from one's 'optimal experience.'"
"In that moment, you forget yourself and feel nothing but joy—"
Ego pushed up his glasses, paused briefly, then continued:
"Sometimes people get so absorbed that they forget even time itself."
"They enjoy what they're doing, and their brain stays in a constant state of excitement."
"Simply put—that's FLOW."
"For example, shogi players sometimes enter this state mid-match."
"Cashiers working part-time might experience it too."
"Programmers, mountain climbers, musicians, artists—it shows up everywhere."
"FLOW has nothing to do with how big or small the task is. It can happen to anyone."
"And in the sports world—"
"Especially in soccer—this phenomenon is no exception!"
"Think back to when you emerged from your shell here in Blue Lock—"
Ego spread his hand and paused for several seconds, as if giving them time to recall.
"You've all had a moment where you poured everything into a single play, right?"
Listening to Ego's explanation, Yoichi Isagi found himself recalling past matches.
(Flow… I've never heard the term before.)
(But… it really does feel familiar.)
(If back then…)
(If that shot, that feeling of total immersion—that was all because of FLOW——)
(Then I'm sure the clue to my next evolution is right here!)
Standing before the screen, Ego didn't give them much time to keep reminiscing.
"So, how does someone enter a state of FLOW?"
"There are several requirements, but—"
"What I want to emphasize most is challenging focus."
"In other words: choosing a goal that is moderately difficult for you."
"Look at this."
As Ego spoke, the large screen behind him displayed a diagram analyzing the FLOW state.
"This shows the balance between 'challenge' and 'ability' required to enter FLOW."
"When your ability is high but the challenge is too low, there's no joy—only boredom."
"Conversely, when the challenge is far above your ability, you start doubting success."
"You lose focus and fall into anxiety."
"In states of either boredom or anxiety, humans cannot feel joy."
"That's why challenging focus is essential."
"Recognize your abilities clearly, control them, and aim for a goal that matches them."
"That's how you immerse yourself in FLOW."
"And at that moment, you display a new version of yourself and rise to a higher level."
"In other words—what looks like a 'miracle' to others is actually the result of FLOW."
Most of the players wore half-confused expressions, but Ego didn't mind. He pushed his glasses up again and continued.
"But… entering FLOW is not easy."
"Because in today's world, people rarely truly 'immerse' themselves."
"Your daily lives, filled with entertainment and information, are an endless hell used to mask your boredom and anxiety."
"A single smartphone can give you passive immersion—that's the perfect example."
"It makes you forget time and self, yes."
"But that's not genuine immersion. It's not your own engagement."
"I don't call that kind of passively induced state a self."
"The thrill of scoring a goal, the joy of mastering a new Weapon—those belong solely to you."
"If you've felt it, you get it. That is self."
"Only those who break free from meaningless immersion and throw themselves into soccer will remain."
"That is what Blue Lock is."
"Now think, all of you diamonds in the rough—"
"What meaning does everything you've experienced in Blue Lock hold? And how have you evolved up to now?"
Prompted by Ego's words, Yoichi Isagi understood his own repeated evolutions.
(Yeah… that's exactly it——)
(By immersing myself in my own potential again and again and leveling up each time… that's how I made it here!!)
...
(35 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser