The room was dark, illuminated only by the soft, bluish glow of the holographic monitors surrounding Ego Jinpachi's desk. He sat with his fingers steepled, staring at the live footage of Kuroka Bachira's team.
Kuroka was relentless as always, leading his teammates in a brutal training regimen. Sora followed his every order without question, like a shadow tethered to his master.
And then there was Kaito.
Ego leaned back in his chair, his calculating gaze narrowing. "Kaito Isagi," he muttered, his voice dripping with disdain. "A protagonist who doesn't even realize the weight of his role. You're nothing but a supporting character until you prove otherwise."
He tapped a button, and Kaito's stats, match highlights, and tactical patterns flickered across the monitors. The potential was there—but it was buried beneath hesitation, fear, and submission to Kuroka's dominance.
Ego smirked. "Weakness doesn't belong in Blue Lock. If you want to stand in the spotlight, you need to devour those around you."
Kaito was drenched in sweat, his mind racing from the events of their recent matches, when he was abruptly called into Ego's office.
The door slid open, and Kaito stepped inside, his eyes darting nervously around the darkened room. Ego sat at his desk, his sharp gaze piercing through the dim light.
"Kaito Isagi," Ego began, his voice cold and emotionless. "Do you know what your problem is?"
Kaito stiffened. "...I don't—"
"You're weak."
The words hit like a sledgehammer. Kaito clenched his fists, anger bubbling beneath the surface, but he stayed silent.
Ego continued, his tone cutting. "You have potential, but that's all it is—potential. You're too complacent, too willing to let others take control. You call yourself a striker, but you let Kuroka dictate every move. You let him be the Tyrant while you're just a pawn on his board."
Kaito's jaw tightened.
"If you want to survive in Blue Lock, let alone be the protagonist of this story, you need to stop playing by his rules. Devour him. Devour your teammates. Prove you're not just another disposable player in Kuroka's shadow."
Kaito finally spoke, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "But... we're a team. How can I—"
Ego slammed his hand on the desk, silencing him.
"Teamwork? You still don't understand what Blue Lock is about. This isn't a charity. This is about creating the world's greatest egoist—the one who will stand above all others. If you can't even devour your own team, you'll never stand a chance against the likes of Julias or Kuroka."
Kaito's breath hitched.
Ego leaned back, his expression unreadable. "You're the only one who can write your story. The question is: will it end in glory, or will it end here?"
Kaito left the office with Ego's words echoing in his mind. His chest felt heavy, but beneath the weight of doubt was a growing fire.
He spent the rest of the night on the field, pushing his body to its limits. Every shot, every sprint, every pass—he replayed Kuroka's voice in his head, mocking him, belittling him.
"I won't let him be the king," Kaito muttered through gritted teeth, his eyes blazing with determination. "This is my story. I'm the protagonist."
On another field, Kuroka and Sora were deep into their training.
Kuroka barked orders, his movements sharp and precise. "Faster, Sora! If you can't keep up, you're deadweight!"
Sora obeyed without hesitation, his loyalty to Kuroka unwavering. He chased every ball, executed every drill, and followed every command as if his life depended on it.
Kuroka smirked. "Good. Stay in line, and we'll crush Julias' team."
Sora nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, Kuroka. I'll follow your lead."
But in the distance, unnoticed by the pair, Kaito trained alone under the pale glow of the stadium lights. His movements were rough, fueled by raw determination and the promise he'd made to himself.
As the sun began to rise, Kaito collapsed onto the grass, his body screaming in protest. His breaths came in ragged gasps, but his eyes burned with a newfound resolve.
"Kuroka," he whispered, his voice filled with conviction. "You're not the king of this story. I'll prove it... even if I have to devour you to do it."
The next phase of Blue Lock was about to begin, and Kaito Isagi was ready to claim his rightful place as the protagonist.