She doesn't dislike cup yakisoba. In fact, she likes it. It's usually delicious, but having it 3 times a day as a meal?
Teieri Anri, an employee of the Japan Football Union, raises an eyebrow.
Empty instant cup yakisobas are piled up on the desk, the contents of the shopping bag on the floor are also instant cup yakisobas, and moreover, an instant cup yakisoba is currently being slurped down.
The coach of Blue Lock, Ego Jinpachi.
His mouth is chewing, but the bulging eyes behind his glasses are staring at the monitor.
He is a coach that Anri herself invited. He is the key person hired by Anri to lead Japan to the World Cup championship, and the person who came up with the outrageous project called "Blue Lock".
He's very much a weirdo… No, she knew he was a great man who, until now, could not be measured by common sense. But she didn't know that he loves cup noodles so much. She's a little worried that it might endanger his health. "Now, here's the next video for the selection."
Bringing his attention back to work from eating cup yakisoba, Anri then uses the remote control to change the screen.
Blue Lock Monitoring room.
The entire wall was filled with several displays and even more computers for managing vast amounts of data. On the screen, the highlights of the Saitama Prefecture Finals, the Preliminary round for the National High School Soccer Championships, were playing.
The cameras are following Player #11. The endgame of the match. Player #11 made a brilliant last pass, his teammate decided to shoot for the goal. Just when Player #11 gave the teammate who took the shot a warm hug, Anri stopped the video.
"This kid… is not a good striker. I'll proceed to the next video for selection."
As a striker, he's no good.
Ego and Anri are about to conduct an experiment to create the best strikers in the world. 300 strikers under the age of 18, the unpolished gems, will live together and undergo a special top training program devised by Ego. And that is "Blue Lock".
That one player who survives in Blue Lock and is the last one left after kicking out the 299 others will be the best striker in the world. So, this kid who is quick to give a pass to his good friend and teammate is not quite right. What they are looking for is not this kind of friendly play that thinks of others.
"Wait, Anri-chan. This is interesting material."
Ego, who had just finished his cup yakisoba, leaned forward. He stared at the screen as if he were devouring it.
"Show me all of his videos. What's his name?"
Anri rushes to check the data. Player #11 of Ichinan High School Soccer Team is…
"...he's Isagi Yoichi-kun."
He played footage of some of Isagi Yoichi's matches, and he had a totally systematic way of moving. Passing the ball around, elevating the axis of the attack, and then passing the last pass to a free player.
Hmmm. Certainly, he's outstandingly good but, it's just that.
All revolutionary strikers are rare egoists. Take pleasure in your own goals above all else and live only for that moment. On the field, you are the leading actor. Everyone else besides you are supporting actors. If you don't become the world's top egoist, you can never be the best striker in the world...! That's what Ego thinks.
Ego's own judgment and biases determine which 300 strikers are invited to Blue Lock, but Anri is aware of this.
Isagi Yoichi...this kid is out of the question.
"Yeah, That's good, Isagi Yoichi. Anri-chan, I've decided to summon him."
No way.
"Certainly...!"
Although Anri was puzzled, she hurriedly checked the "Invite" box on Isagi Yoichi's data.