Chapter 1: Rebirth and Awakening
He opened his eyes to sunlight streaming through the window. The room smelled faintly of tatami mats and old wood — familiar, yet subtly different. Blinking, he stared at his small hands, the slender arms, the childlike body.
Instantly, memories flooded in. His past life as a football fan — the countless matches he had watched, the strategies he had memorized, the dreams he had built in front of a screen. And then the memories of this body itself — childhood memories, small victories with friends, casual games he had played as this child.
And one thought cut through everything like a lightning strike: Noa is the world's best striker.
A spark of recognition ignited in him. He wasn't just in any world; he was in the same universe as the stories he had watched and adored. I'm here. I can play like them. I can test myself against the best, even if I start small.
The realization came with a rush of excitement — tempered by maturity. He was a 27-year-old mind now in a 9-year-old body. He could feel the limitations, but also the possibilities. For the first time, he noticed his surroundings more clearly: the small, tidy room, the worn tatami mats, and finally, his mother standing in the doorway, smiling gently.
I have a life now. A mother. A home. He let the thought settle. But underneath, that spark of longing — to play, to excel, to truly understand the game he loved — flared bright.
First Touch: Ball Feel
He noticed a small ball tucked in the corner of the yard. Walking over, he picked it up and let it roll along his foot. Immediately, a strange clarity struck him. The ball felt alive — its weight, its rotation, the slightest imperfections, every bounce responding exactly as he intended.
Ball Feel… he realized, almost to himself. he could sense the ball intuitively, a hint of the ability waiting to be fully awakened through real gameplay.
Sitting down, he took a deep breath. Excitement surged, yes, but tempered with thought. He was nine, limited physically, and surrounded by ordinary childhood. But his mind was not ordinary. He had potential, and now it was time for careful, deliberate preparation.
He began planning:
Grow the Body: Use school and neighborhood play to gradually improve strength, stamina, and coordination. Avoid overtraining a nine-year-old body.
Prepare the Mind: Use past-life fan knowledge to understand strategies, positioning, and gameplay nuances.
Experience and Exposure: Join school and district clubs, play small matches, and gain experience.
Blue Lock didn't exist yet. But that didn't matter. Preparation now meant dominance later.
A Promise to Himself
He stood in the yard, spinning the ball on his foot and smiling. This is just the beginning.
Seven years of growth lay ahead. Seven years to hone body, mind, and skill. By the time the world's top players were in their prime, he would be ready. Not just to play, not just to compete — but to change the game itself.
The wind brushed past him, carrying the faint echoes of neighborhood games, the laughter of children, and the promise of future battles on the pitch. He kicked the ball lightly, watched it roll perfectly across the grass, and whispered to himself:
"I'm reborn. I have my chance. And I won't waste it."