FYI
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
Setting
[Flashback/Recording]
(Translations)
(Notes)
Results/Goals
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ANHS
Suzune was shocked to hear this as she asked "But Re Al is the best Club in the world!"
"Exactly, I'm not going to go to the best club in the world with only 6 months of Football Knowledge, that's arrogance," he replied.
"But they called you there. They must think..." she started.
"They likely want to use me as a means to develop their other players thinking of me like fresh meat. I won't fall for their ploy. I'll join their team when my feet are planted more solidly in Football," he said cutting her off.
She seemed to understand but then asked "What is Blue Lock?
"A facility devoted to creating the best striker in the world. Unlike Re Al it's based in Japan and has a limited time for a person to accept being part of the program."
"Wait then... are you dropping out?" she questioned a little worried.
"I am. I need to pursue this," says Ayanokoji.
Suzune nods understanding as she says "I'm sad to see you go but you've done enough for the class. We should pick up our own slack from here on out."
Koji embraced her and said, "I'm sorry for doing this to you right after we confessed."
Suzune pouted and said "In the end, it feels like you're always out of my reach. I've gotten used to it."
"I'm sorry but I need to do this," he says.
"Ayanokoji-Kun. What did I say about hugging a girl like you're picking up a cat?" she asks sternly.
Koji says "Sorry" and lets her arms under his and continues hugging her.
Suzune looked up and said, "You're so annoying."
Koji smiled a little and said, "I promise to cherish you."
Suzune blushed hiding her face in his chest as she asked "When are you going to tell Hirata?"
Koji sighed and said "Right now. He's probably training outside. Unless you're against it."
Suzune shook her head as Koji exited his dorm.
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Football Field
Koji found Hirata training as he called out to him "Hey Hirata."
Hirata turned around and said "Hey Ayanokoji-Kun. You can call me Yosuke you know."
Koji responded simply "Then call me Kiyotaka."
Yosuke smiled and said "Hi Kiyotaka." he chuckled after saying his first name.
Koji sat down next to him and said "I'm going to Blue Lock."
Yosuke looked shocked and said "But the class. The team."
Koji looked him dead in the face and said "You got an invitation too right? Join me."
Yosuke shook his head getting up as Koji got up as well. Hirata then said "We're so close to the Nationals! Why now!?"
Koji extended his hand and said, " Why aim for the nationals when I can aim for the best in the world."
Yosuke looked amazed at first at his ambition but then put on a stern face and said "That's too selfish!"
Koji sighed and said "To you maybe but I need it. To be the best in the world." His eyes flashed with aura as he said this.
Yosuke looked distressed as he said "But you're our star player! Without you, we can't win the nationals!"
Koji looked at him and said "Then give up. Join Blue Lock instead. My goal isn't to become the best in this country. It's to become the best in the world."
Yosuke looked apprehensive and said, "You have to put the team first!!! Football is a team sport!"
Koji sighed and said "But in the end the winner is the one who scores the most goals right? You introduced me to Football Yosuke so I thank you but you don't get to chose my path going forward."
Yosuke grabbed his sleeve desperately and said "We're so close! Don't leave us. Without you..."
Koji looked down at Yosuke and said "Can you stop already? Isn't your dependence on me why you only score a single goal every now and then? Isn't that why you're no longer the star player? because you want to boost my abilities as a striker. If you want to be a midfielder I have nothing against that but if you still want to be a Striker, Yosuke you've killed your dream with your own hand."
Yosuke knew it was the truth coming to terms with it was not possible for him as he said "I won't leave the class. I have to help them."
Koji grabbed Yosuke's arm pulling it off of his sleeve and walked away saying "Then I have nothing left to say. There's nothing left that I can say. Your career dies here. I hope our classmates thank you for your noble sacrifice and I hope you don't regret it. Goodbye Hirata Yosuke. Good luck in the nationals. Perhaps you can become the best in Japan but while you do I'll become the best in the world."
Koji walked away leaving Yosuke there who fell to his knees as he shouted "There has to be a way! A way to convince you to stay!"
Koji sighed and turned to face him and said "What would even be the point of that?"
Yosuke shouted again "Anything! I'll do anything!"
Koji looked down at Yosuke and stepped on a ball and said "Then beat me in a one on one match. If you can prove to me that you can beat me with your mindset I'll stay but if you lose then I leave for Blue Lock."
Yosuke got up thinking 'It's my final chance. Please god let me beat him.'
Koji leaned forward a bit and said "A One Shot Match."
Yosuke was shocked as he thought 'One shot!?'
Koji dribbled forward with a bored expression as Yosuke struggled to keep up with him trying to stop him, gritting his teeth from exertion as Koji said "That face you're making says I want to score. Not I want to stop Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. That's good but it's gone now."
The Aura in Yosuke's eye disappeared as Koji shot the ball curving it into the goal from 30 meters away. Yosuke sunk to his knees looking up to Koji in a begging tone he said "Please stay."
Koji looked down to him and said "Stop thinking of me as a tool to use to win the nationals Yosuke. I'll accept it if I meet someone truly better than me but it's pathetic when you're nowhere near my level." Koji started to walk away as he said "There's still a chance for you at Blue Lock. Regardless of your choice my respect for you won't change. You're a good man. Sometimes too much so."
Koji left Yosuke there.
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ANHS Gates
Suzune waited for him at the gates even though Class was running. He pulled his suitcase behind him and a bag slung over his shoulder. He walked up to her and said, "When I get back, I'll be a household name." He said this and then pulled her into a kiss. She leaned into it, feeling a bit sad as their lips parted. He started walking out of the school.
She looked at him with determination and said "I'll definitely make it to Class A so you better work hard too."
He turned around with a small smile and said, "I will and about Class A... after all the effort I put in, you better graduate from Class A."
She smiled watching his back as he left.
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Suzune Class Homeroom
Suzune sat down in Class as Sudo exclaimed "Where were you Suzune? Yo missed the first period. That's not like you at all."
Many agreed with him when Yosuke spoke up "Now now everyone I'm sure Horikita-San has a reason." He said this already knowing the reason.
Suzune went to the front of the Class and said "It's because today was special."
Many gave her questioning looks. That's when Yukimura asked, "Where is Kiyotaka?" causing Yosuke and Suzune to wince a little at this.
Suzune took a breath and spoke, "Ayanokoji-Kun has dropped out to join a Football Program he was invited to."
They all looked shocked at this many saying he had practically betrayed him but Sudo spoke up "Hey come on. He's following his dreams. Leave him alone."
Suzune continued explaining that Blue Lock was a state-of-the-art facility made to create the best striker in the world as they nodded their heads in understanding. Kushida however was fuming as she thought 'Huh? Wait no... fucking bastard refuses to leave when I want him gone but when I want him to stay he ups and leaves!'
Suzune then spoke up and said, "Ayanokoji-Kun without a doubt will do his best so we should as well."
Yosuke stood up agreeing and said "We'll make it to Class A. All of us!"
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Outside Blue Lock Introduction Building
Koji met two boys outside the building. One had white hair and a compassionate face. The other was Isagi Yoichi.
Koji and Kira spotted him at the same time and both said "Oh Isagi. It's you."
Kira chuckled and said, "Seems you're pretty famous Isagi-Kun."
Isagi smiled at Kira but made an annoyed face at seeing Koji who asked "Hey what's with that face?"
Isagi shrugged and said, "It's nothing."
Kira turned to face Koji and looked shocked saying "Wait you're him! Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. You scored a Hat-Trick in your first match!"
Koji looked Kira in the eyes and said "Yeah that's me."
Kira looked expectantly and said "Oh. Woah. You must be pretty talented."
Koji shook his head and said, "I wouldn't say so."
Kira accepted his words without a second thought and looked to the building asking the other two "Well. Do you guys know anything about this place?"
Koji sighed and said, "I suppose we'll just have to figure it out when we go in."
The group of three walked into the building as a skinny man dressed in black stood at the front of the crowd addressing them. Koji looked at him and thought 'Some kind of muscle disease? He's still well-built. He must have been a monster on the field when he was younger. But still I have a feeling his mind was his most important tool on the field.'
Ego began addressing them "Hello you diamonds in the rough. I am Ego Jinpachi and I have selected all of you based on my own biased opinion. This is Blue Lock. Here I will forge the greatest Striker in the world. In this facility, you will not be able to leave or contact the outside world but you will certainly become much better players."
Kira injected to his words shouting "You expect us to abandon our teams like that!? We have nationals coming up soon!"
Koji just thought 'You'd give up the chance to become the world's best for a mere high school national title? Why are you even here?'
He shook his head as Ego continued "If you'd prefer a highschool national title in this backwater country over the best in the world then so be it. Lock off. Leave."
Kira shouted out at this insult to the National team "How dare you insult our country's athletes! They're my heroes!"
Ego responded to this with a simple fact "Can you lead me to their World Cup Trophy Case then?"
Kira gritted his teeth as Koji thought about it 'It's true. Japan hasn't won a single World Cup yet.'
Ego then began his rant "You little dandelions have been taught that Football is about Teamwork or friendship. Get real. Football is about who scores the most goals. But don't just take my word for it. Take the words from Noel Noa (Instead of Assisting 1-0 it feels better to lose but get a hat trick). This is the man who beat out Christiano Ronaldo and Messi for the Ballon d'Or. Or from Eric Cantona (I don't care about my team. I just want to stand out). Then there's Pele (The world's best forward, defender and goalkeeper. Whichever you ask about the answer is still me). So how about it? Isn't it horrible? But they are the best the world has ever seen and each and every one of them is an egoist. That's what Japan needs to win the World Cup."
Koji thought about it for a second and thought 'Equating Ego to confidence huh? That's a funny wat to look at it but it would inspire those who understood the deeper meaning. Myself included.'
Ego continued "In this place, you will fight it out until only 1 of you remains. The sole survivor of this place."
Many shivered at the thought but Ayankoji thought 'Last survivor... nothing new to me.'
Ego then created a scenario saying "Imagine it. The World Cup Finals and it's 0-0. You have the ball and your teammate is to the side. If you pass you'll win but you shot it in any way. Only an insane egoist could take that shot without hesitation."
Isagi rushed out onto the stage and into the facility as others followed until Koji, Nagi and Reo were the only ones left. Nagi explained how he felt he could see becoming the best with ease as he and Reo entered. Ego looked at Koji and asked, "Are you coming?"
Koji looked at him directly and said "You're the man who was watching my match against Isagi Yoichi's team."
Ego smiled and said, "Yes I did and what a show of Egoism you showed."
Koji sighed walking forward through the door with his satchel slung over his shoulder. He stopped his eye-locking onto Ego as he said with some aura in his eyes "No one can beat me. Not even when I'm holding back. If you think you can challenge me then go ahead and try."
Ego smiles creepily and says "That Ego is perfect."
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To Be Continued
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Rating Out Of 10 For This Part:
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Author's Notes
Keep Reading. There should be another chapter released a minute after this one.