It had already been 3 days since we arrived at blue lock. I thought this place was going to be all competition. Completely disregarding the fact that to play like a pro you'll need to train like one too.
These past few days also helped me realize my weaknesses when compared to everyone else. My shooting SUCKED. It seemed playing midfielder for so long made my shooting rusty, not that it was ever good. My Strength could also be improved.
But I also realized my strengths, I had the second-best stamina only second to Raichi, and it seemed I was the fastest on the team too.
We had to work constantly like this for the past three days, but within this time I got to know everyone on my team, at least those I considered worth knowing.
There was Bachira Megura, the craziest on the team, however, his dribbling skills are what impress me the most about him.
The second was Kunigamgi Rensuke, in the simplest words: a tank. The guy could outpower everyone on the team and could shoot from crazy ranges.
The third was Gin Gagamaru, we had talked a little but he seemed like a capable player, there wasn't anything he did I could say was "bad".
The fourth was Jingo Raichi, I hated the bastard. His ego was the loudest, and ever since I almost beat him in stamina training he seems to think of me as someone to be wary of.
And of course Yoichi Isagi, I was quite surprised to find that he had one of the lowest stats In everything. He had always been the top scorer for Ichinan high but when compared to me statistically he was no different from the other trash.
It had been on my mind for a while now about what Isagi had that I didn't, I could do most of what he did and some better but he always was the one scoring.
The rest of the team were Hyoma Chigiri, Gyuma Igarashi, Wataru Kuon, Asahi Naruhaya and Okuhita Iemon, aka the air of the team. They had no recognizable talents, just 5 of the 299 I had to crush.
Closing my journal and putting my pencil inside it I looked around the room. Everyone else was asleep but I couldn't see Bachira or Isagi.
'Tryna get past me huh?' they must've been training. Quickly getting up I put my cleats on and went towards the training field.
On the field, Bachira and Isagi seemed to be having a 1V1.
'Isagi... he's making that face again.' I don't know why but whenever he acts like that it kinda pissed me off.
Just as I was about to go to the field and talk to them an announcement came from the loudspeakers.
[Ding Dong Ding Dong]
"Err... We've finished compiling the data from the past three days of stamina training tests. Please return to your rooms. We will reveal the new rankings."
Team Z Room
"Ahahaha look Isagi I went all the way from #300 to #275!" Shouted Igaguri after seeing Isagi and Bachira enter the room.
"Oh good for you Igaguri, it seems I went all the way to #269!" I quickly went to the pile of new uniforms picking up the one with a note of my name on it.
'#270? Are you serious? I'm still behind him? After beating him at everything?' With a clenched jaw I put on my new uniform. 'What does Ego see in him that he doesn't see in me?'
"Just you wait until I'm on the field Ego, I'll show you my worth..." I said grimly.
"Nice work everyone. Are you lumps of talent enjoying your life in Blue Lock?"
"As if we would enjoy this shitty Soccer prison" raged Raichi, "The reason it's so shitty here is because you're all so shitty at soccer, Retard."
"Allow me to say a little bit about Blue Lock. this facility is composed of five wings Team B through Team Z, 25 in all are split into groups of five and are living together in each wing."
"By the way, since 25 of you were kicked out in the entrance test, there are now 275 of you."
'I was Rank #297 before and now I'm #269, so at least I improved.'
"Now then, let's begin... Blue Locks's First Selection! Team X vs Team Z"
"Haha, about damn time!" I said while smashing my fist against my palm.
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"This is stupid," I said aloud, the fact that we're basing our formation on rock paper scissors completely broke my understanding of how dumb humans can be.
'And Isagi just had to win...' "Hey, we all agreed on it, no point getting pissy about it now," said Kuon In that annoyingly kind tone of his.
Ego had just finished explaining how the first selection will happen. We'll have to go up against 4 other teams and the bottom three are out while the top two stay in.
Pretty simple right? But there was a twist that the top scorer of each team would also pass to the second selection.
'Smart decision, this way victory won't matter along as we score goals!' I couldn't lie, the more Ego spoke the more his ideals and values spread onto me.
"Alright here are the positions according to rock paper scissors"
Center Forward: Isagi
Right Wing: Bachira
Left Wing: Gagamaru
Center Attacking midfielder: Kunigami
Left Midfielder: Sitashi
Right Midfielder: Raichi
Left-back: Kuon
Center back: Naruhaya
Center back: Igaguri
Right back: Chigiri
Goalie: Lemon
'So I ended up in midfield again? Well, it doesn't matter, I'll score regardless' feeling convicted by my ideals we began to walk toward the field.
Once we were all on the field we started getting into our positions. Then across the field, the door for team x opened with them looking quite menacing.
'So they're all better than us huh? THEN I'LL JUST CRUSH THEM ALL AND SHOW MY WORTH' I vowed with a smile along my face, a familiar feeling of hot and cold rushing up my spine.
"For the first selection, all fouls will be determined by VAR. Now then, for the first match in Wing 5, each half will be 45 minutes."
[Team X VS Team Z] KICKOFF!
The game then began with Bachira passing the ball to Isagi, he then ran past the midfield line before 3 players charged at him.
"PASS ISAGI" I shouted, he looked in my direction before the ball was stolen from him by... Raichi?
'Is he stupid, yes. But why'd he steal the ball?'
They seemed to be arguing about some bullshit before Kunigami took the ball from Raichi. 'What the fuck? Am I supposed to score with my own team against me?'
The ball was then stolen by the other team but then again was stolen by the opposing team's teammate.
"Huh?" Next thing I knew half the field was fighting to get the ball. "This... this isn't soccer."
'Should I get in there too? No, my physique would simply get swallowed in a mosh like that, ill go to the centre field and wait for a rebound.'
And soon enough it came, although not in the form of a free ball but a giant player running through the mess and taking the ball for himself.
'Damn, he's huge! But I'll hold him!' I stood in front of him waiting for his move, which came quickly in the form of an elastico.
"I've seen that trick a million times did you really think id fall fo-" but before I could continue speaking he reversed the elastico and went the opposite way.
"Shrimp like you should stay off the path of a king!"
'He's good, Fuck.' I quickly sped up to catch back up with him but by the time I had reached him he had already broken through our last two defenders.
I could see it, he was going to shoot. But I wouldn't let him! I was right beside him now; just as I was about to kick the ball away from his foot, he put his arm in front of me, effectively cancelling any chance I had of getting the ball.
With me being blocked by his 1 arm he shot right outside the penalty box into the top right corner.
"What did I say shrimp? Stay off my path."
"Listen up you fucking plebs, to me, the ball isn't my friend or anything like that it's just a round servant that makes me look good. On the field... I'm the king." he said while spreading his arms out.
"Hahaha nice shot Barou"
"Good one, Barou!"
'Barou... Team X's top player. Now, this is getting interesting.'
"If I beat him, that means I'm the best on the field right? Mhmhaha… Then i'll crush him right here!" I mumbled not realizing the huge smile that adorned my face.
Finishing my narcissistic thoughts I looked towards my team, and as per usual they were arguing again. I walked towards Isagi, "forget them, just pass to me."
He looked as if he was hesitating before agreeing to my request. "Alright but just don't do anything stupid, we can't lose possession."
"mhm, just run towards the net".
[Team Z please resume play]
The kickoff began with isagi instantly passing the ball back to me. 'I'm still on the defending side but they were already rushing me?'
'Dammit I don't want to pass but it looks like I don't have a choice' I quickly passed the ball to Kunigami on my right.
"Yosh it's my turn." He took the ball further up the midfield simply outmuscling his check, and a second came to double press leaving Bachira open on the Right Wing. Which he took advantage of.
Having a lot of space to work around the wing a defender was forced to come and guard him but simply doing a few stepovers then a nutmeg Bachira broke through.
'This is it, I can score if I receive his pass' accelerating towards the goal I noticed 3 others running towards the box with me, Gagamaru, Kunigami and Isagi.
"BACHIRA PASS TO US" I shouted drawing his attention, but not for long as he kept running towards the goal. 'Damn does he want to score by himself'?
'Then ill just take the goal for myself!' Running towards Bachira with the intention of stealing the ball he began to smile. Completely ignoring me.
"Nyaha the monster said that's a great spot!" He said with a blush on his face. He gave a low straight pass to Isagi who was unguarded on the left side of the penalty area and shot it toward the bottom right corner. Effectively tieing the game.
'Isagi... AGAIN' This was getting me pissed off. Why'd they always pass to Isagi and more importantly why was he always unguarded?
'I need to think, why'd he decided to go to the complete opposite side of the box, why was he unguarded?'
No matter how much I thought I couldn't find an answer but If I observe how he plays I'm sure I'll find one.
"There won't be a second-time Isagi!"