Proyect: Bland King - Ayanokouji Kiyotaka en Blue Lock

Reo: Ayanokouji has the ball! Surround him!

Ayanokouji: (Using one skill at a time is just going to be a mere imitation. No, it's time I became a bit more creative.)

Something clicked inside Ayanokouji and it goes back to how he learned his 'ball placement' skill in the first place.

***Flashback to Project: Bland King***

Ayanokouji sent another shot which got easily swatted away by the hologram goalkeeper.

Ayanokouji: I haven't made a single goal. I can't seem to hit the ball in the direction I want.

Ego appeared on the screen.

Ego: Having a bit of trouble?

Ayanokouji: I know where I want to place the shot but I can't hit it properly.

Ego: Is that so? So what are you going to do about it?

Ayanokouji: I'll just find my mistakes and improve on th-

Ego: Wrong answer. In the case of prodigies, learning like a commoner is useless! You won't get anywhere learning it the basic way. It's not like you have much time as it is.

Ayanokouji: So what do you suggest.

He smiled.

Ego: Didn't I tell you? Your intelligence and physical attributes are S-class. However, the one advantage you have against anyone else... is those eyes of yours.

Ayanokouji: My eyes?

Ego: Precisely, those computers for eyes. You process information like a machine and your eyes respond to it. The way you plan to do it won't take advantage of your greatest strength so naturally in order for you to improve, we have to test the limits of your eyes.

Another screen pulled up and it showed acclaimed striker, Christiano Ronaldo.

Ego: This here is Christiano Ronaldo. Some consider him to be the best striker in the history of this world or for the most part, an equal hovering on the same level as Lionel Messi in their primes. The training I'm about to give you is simple. I need you to replicate each of his shooting patterns, their process, and their results: 20 consecutive completions. One mistake and you're doing them again. There are around 100 different patterns and shooting motions you can learn just by using those God-given eyes of yours. Of course if you don't complete this training by the end of the day, you'll be forced to exit so you have the next 24 hours.

Ayanokouji: And what next?

Ego widened his smile.

Ego: Then we'll just keep going down the list of the greatest strikers ever so you can engrave their motions into your brain. Don't just replicate them, embody them. That's what will set you apart, your data processing abilities. But no more talking, get moving. We don't have all day, Mr. Masterpiece.

***Flashback ended***

It took him countless attempts in a matter of a month to perfect ball placement because the clips he saw weren't in person. They weren't in his peripheral view. Throughout this match, he's continued to evolve his arsenal, copying and executing the skills he's observed.

Ayanokouji: (The next step in my development... is to combine the things I've learned into something different entirely.)

Two defenders met Ayanokouji's run.

???: You won't pass u-

Using his strength, Baro's positioning, his acceleration, and Bachira's high step-overs to create his own, unique, dribbling sequence that only he could perform.

He stepped over the ball, heel flicked it through his legs, and shoulder blocked in between both defenders. Finally he accelerated right past the two and now penetrated the midfield.

Ayanokouji: (It worked. It feels... different. It's different from when I learned something in the White Room. Oh... I guess this is what it means to be... excited...)

Reo: Bastard, I'll handle you mysel-

Ayanokouji: No, you're just in the way...

Accelerated quickly, and then stopping, shouldering the ball to his right, and finally flicking it above his head completing a rainbow, Ayanokouji shoved right through Reo, causing him to trip on the ground.

Ayanokouji: Out of everyone on team V, you're the one with the dullest weapon.

Reo: Bastard...

After he left Reo right into the dust, the rest of the team decided he was the most dangerous monster on the pitch.

As if they all synchronized from Ayanokouji's incredible run, Chigiri ran through the left flank with Zantetsu blocking him, Kunigami maintaining his position in the mid-range, Bachira patiently looking on to Ayanokouji and the one other person who perfectly predicted the events to come: Isagi Yoichi.

Using his spatial awareness, he found the perfect territory where he could score.

Isagi: (Ayanokouji's incredible run shattered their defensive structure. Look at me, Ayanokouji. Feel what I'm feeling! Send the pass here. I'm wide-open!)

Ayanokouji: Look at you, Isagi. You're finally in position. Took you long enough.

Not even looking in the direction of Isagi, He perfectly aligned the pass and sent it right towards Isagi who penetrated the penalty box.

Isagi: (Perfect, Ayanokouji. All I need to do is control it and fire it home. I can do this! I will... We will...)

However, there was still another genius, on par with Ayanokouji, that had been ignored up to this point. It was... Nagi. He emerged from Isagi's shadow.

Nagi: We meet often, don't we?

Isagi: (The goal chance I could smell, disappeared?! What's this monster doing there?!)

Nagi: Right now, aside from Mr. Copier, you're the most dangerous person on the field. I couldn't reach him but I can reach you...

Isagi: (What do I do?! I need to make a decision. I can get to where it'll drop one second before him. I can touch the ball first. The way I trap the ball is the most important thing right now. I have to pull off some supreme ball control that'll allow me to shoot at top speed! Can I even do something like that?! If it goes wrong, it's game over for us.)

A missing piece in a puzzle formed right in front of Isagi.

Isagi: (It's no good. I can't conjure the image of a goal. I can see the future on the field... but it's not a future where we win!)

Nagi: You can't beat me.

Isagi: Shut up.

Chigiri and Kunigami yelled for Isagi to pass them the ball but they were heavily guarded and unable to receive a pass.

Chigiri: Over here, Isagi!

Kunigami: Pass it to me!

Isagi: (No! I want to... I WANT TO WIN WITH MY GOAL!...)

Suddenly, the realization of his weapon finally hit him right between his eyes.

Isagi: (My goal?)

Bachira: That's right, Isagi. Remember. Remember your goal.

Isagi: (I see. Now I can see it. My mind got caught in how to control the ball. The time spent taking the ball down made my future self a nobody. That won't do! That's always been the case. I have no technique, no power, but the reason I'm in Blue Lock... and the final piece for my goal is... something that gives no one time to catch up to the future I'm in...)

Planting his foot firmly on the ground, he changed his stance completely because trapping the ball was always the wrong answer to his problem. Instead, what he needed to do was use his own weapon: his...

With all his power, Isagi contorted his body and hit the ball right dead in the center before it even touched the ground.

Isagi: My direct shot!

The ball swerved with tremendous power right past the goalkeeper's hands and into the left-most corner of the goal as Isagi collapsed on the ground.

He carefully got up from the ground and...

Isagi: (This is my formula for goals.) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Isagi: (This is the moment, Isagi Yoichi awakens.)

Ayanokouji: (Welcome Isagi, to the realm of geniuses.)

***Team W [5] - Team Z [6]***

The victory belongs to Team Z and the match was over.

...

...

...

The entirety of Team Z cheered.

Everyone: YEAH!!!!

Kunigami grabbed Isagi from behind to lift him up.

Bachira: Yeah! Nicely done!

Isagi ran over to Ayanokouji in his frenzied state and hugged him, almost trying to pull him up.

Isagi: YEAH!!! WE DID IT, AYANOKOUJI!!!!

Ayanokouji: (Why is he holding me?)

Isagi soon regained his sanity and let go.

Isagi: Oh, sorry Ayanokouji. I should've been more careful. You're hurt.

Dried blood lines were present for both of his eyes.

Ayanokouji: I feel great but that could be the adrenaline. I'll have to see later.

Chigiri: We definitely gotta get that checked out.

Ayanokouji: A speedster like you doesn't need to worry about a slo-

Chigiri: Oh, shut up already, copycat. You're my comrade.

Bachira: But still, I can't believe you Ayanokouji-kun. You used my dribbling as an inspiration for your own. Amazing.

Ayanokouji: The credit is all yours, Bachira. My run was only possible by looking at your dribbling for these past few matches.

Bachira smiled.

Bachira: But don't be complacent! I'll create a dribbling move you can't even copy, hehe!

Raichi: You were like a freight train, Ayanokouji. Not bad, dull bastard but you still pale in comparison to my sexy shooting technique!

Kuon stood alone in the back and smiled slightly.

Kuon: I can't believe it. They actually won. I'm... we're saved.

...

On the other side, Zantetsu collapsed from exhaustion and defeat.

Zantetsu: You can't be serious. Damn it!

Reo: I... lost?

The bell finally rung and the game was over.

Nagi: Hey, Reo. This is how it feels to lose after a serious fight, isn't it? It's hard to stomach.

...

While the rest of the team celebrated, Kunigami went over to Kuon.

Kunigami: Hey, Kuon. What are you doing? Come on. Join the group. Our win is also because of you.

Kuon: Huh? No, I...

Kunigami: Why not? We won.

Raichi: Don't go forgivin' him so easily, you wanna-be hero. He's still a traitor and I haven't let him off the hook.

Kuon closed his eyes, waiting for the strike.

Raichi: But y'know... If ya hadn't pathetically fell on the ground like you did, Ayanokouji wouldn't have stolen the ball in time to finish our final counterattack.

Holding out his hand, Raichi appeared to have matured through his time in Blue Lock.

Raichi: Come here, traitor.

Kuon went up to shake his hand, but instead, he lifted his fist and smashed it across Kuon's face, sending him on his ass.

Raichi: I'm gonna hate you for the rest of my life! That's for betraying us, and we're even now. Y'hear? Piece of trash! You with me guys?!

Everyone: Yeah!

Kunigami smiled.

Kunigami: Come on, Let's head back.

Kuon lifted his face and they saw a bloody nose and fresh, red bruises across his face from the single fist.

Kuon: Right!

Speaker: All of Building 5's matches have been completed. We will now announce the results of the first selection. The result of the five-team round robin is as follows:

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1st place: Team V, eleven players progress.

2nd place: Team Z, eleven players progress.

Top goal scorers of the disqualified teams: Wanima Junichi, Niko Ikki, Baro Shouei, three players pass.

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Speaker: These 25 players advance to Building 5's second Blue Lock selection.

Everyone: Yeah!

Isagi: (We all survived!)

...

...

...

Back in their room, the team celebrated their incredible victory.

In the middle of the room, a large table full of food and steaks Ayanokouji, Chigiri, Kunigami, Kuon, and Isagi purchased with their points headlined the feast.

Igarashi three a pillow back and forth with Naruhaya as Lemon scolded them.

Lemon: Stop messing around and help us get things ready for the celebration party!

Chigiri: Yeah, you guys.

Kunigami: You're eating early too.

Chigiri was eating a plate of steak using the points he accumulated.

Kuon: Can someone grab drinks from the cafeteria?

Bachira, who was resting on his sleeping bag and Isagi who was telling him to get off so he can fold it up, both agreed to go.

Ayanokouji lied right on the ground a few feet away, talking with Kei regarding her day.

Raichi: Quit talking to your girlfriend and let's celebrate, love-struck dumbass.

Kei: Hey, why did he call you that? And what are you celebrating? You said nothing happened today, Kiyo.

Ayanokouji: Nothing happened to me. A friend of mine won a soccer match that meant a lot to him so we're celebrating in his room.

Kei: Oh, that sounds like fun. Well, you should have told me. Now it feels like I'm intruding. Well, enjoy your little party. I have to sleep early too since we have our midterms tomorrow.

Ayanokouji: Well good luck. Bye.

Kei: No 'love you' or anything?

Ayanokouji: I don't really feel like it so I'll save it for tomorrow.

Kei: Ah, mou!

***Call ended***

Raichi: Finally, now we can ea- Hey! Who's eating all the damn food?! The drinks aren't even here yet!

Ayanokouji: Go eat before it's completely barren then.

Isagi and Bachira took a long time to return back and in that time, the majority of the team ate the rest of the food and fell asleep due to sheer exhaustion.

Ayanokouji: You guys are too late. Everyone went to sleep.

Isagi: Sorry, we met Niko and we talked for a bit.

Ayanokouji: Don't worry about it. Just go to sleep. We played a very tiring game and need to rest.

And with that, Ayanokouji snuck slowly into his sleeping bag and collapsed into a soft slumber, as the night finally came to an end.

...

...

...

It was early in the morning when a bell rang very loudly, waking up everyone from Team Z.

Ayanokouji's eyes opened immediately and looked over at the screen above to see Ego's face there yet again.

Little by little, Isagi and the others finally got up to listen to Ego's announcement.

Ego: Good morning, diamonds in the rough. Starting today, you will be doing some physical conditioning. For the duration of this training, you are not allowed to kick a ball.

This angered Raichi.

Raichi: Huh?! We're not going straight into the second selection?!

Players mumbled to themselves.

Lemon: How long will this training take?

Igarashi: Yeah! We need to know!

With this, Ego's face became very serious.

Ego: Building 5 is the bottom of the pile, so don't get cocky over surviving that tournament. You'll train until I say stop, you pieces of garbage.

On the screen above, Ego showed a player with a vr headset on his head, running around.

Igarashi: What's that?

Chigiri: It's kind of neo-futuristic.

Ego: Those in the top buildings were exempt from the first selection, and did state-of-the-art training instead. So you have to wait until they're finished up. Be grateful that we're giving gangly, spineless, nobodies like you, the stamina training you'll need, idiots. Understand that you're the bottom of the bottom.

...

For an undisclosed amount of time, Team Z was put to work to the bone, whether it was on the treadmills, or sprints across the pitch, the key point of this training focused on stamina, strength and physique.

During the first few days, Raichi and Ayanokouji finally had their competition on the treadmill, where they went on 8 speed for 5 hours straight.

The match ended with Raichi vomiting and falling off the treadmill onto the ground. Ayanokouji stopped the treadmill and grabbed a wet towel to clean the sweat on his forehead.

Ayanokouji: You did incredible, Raichi. If it had been for another minute, I'd have lost.

Raichi: Shut... the... fuck... up... lying... loser....

Ayanokouji: Come on, I'll get you something to drink. Go rest on the bench over their.

Muscle training was headlined by Lemon, Kunigami, and Ayanokouji. In their long sprint matches, Chigiri was always number 1 and Ayanokouji was number two.

To summarize, this training decimated each and every member of team Z. But because of Ego's words in the beginning, they all persevered in order to improve and prepare to go against those that are higher ranked then they are.

And just like that, 14 days came and went. Each and every one of these strikers leveled up in terms of their stamina and physique. But the person that found this training valuable, was Ayanokouji. He wasn't exactly working out each and every day when he was in school so he was regaining his prior physique of his past in the white room. His abs, forearms, legs, and thighs, all looked completely defined.

But now, it was time to put what they learned in the first selection, and make use of it. Sore from their countless training, Team Z grumbly woke up to the sight of the screen.

On the screen, the Blue Lock logo appeared and the speaker went online.

Speaker: The first selection is now complete.

Chigiri went over to Ayanokouji.

Chigiri: Hey, Kiyotaka. Wake up. It's time.

Ayanokouji: Oh, thanks Chigiri. Yesterday made me really sleepy.

Raichi: Huh? What's going on?

Speaker: Those who have passed, put on your training gear...

Gagamaru: Oh... it's finally done.

Naruhaya: Phew, finally.

Each player had black sacs underneath their eyes. They were put through hell and back and now finally, they could move on.

Speaker: Come to the central basement area of your building immediately. I repeat...

Raichi: Finally. It took those bastards long enough. If it'd taken a day longer, I woulda trashed the whole damn place.

Lemon: I'm with you. I'm gonna take away the status of the higher ranked players who've had it easy.

Igarashi: All right! Amen! What's so great about being higher ranked anyway?!

Kunigami: Let's go guys!

Everyone: Yeah!

Ayanokouji: (So it begins. It's time for the real test.)

Team Z changed into their training gear and exited their dorm, heading towards the central basement area.

Isagi: (I finally get to touch the ball again. The second selection starts now. We're gonna win! From here on out, we'll be fighting against higher ranked players. But I'm not scared at all. I excited to try out my skills!)

Kunigami: Bring it on! I'll crush them all!

Team Z entered the basement area and saw... something they didn't expect.

The other players were there but they looked just as tired as they were.

Isagi: (They're from the other buildings. But don't they look kind of beat? Huh? Why are they all have team W, X, Y, and Z on their arms? I don't recognize anyone.)

Ayanokouji: (Ah, I see. So he lied.)

4 screens turned on at once, revealing Ego looking down at all the players gathered there.

Ego: Good work on your physical conditioning. If you're astute, you might have already noticed. There are no players from Buildings 1, 2, 3, or 4 in here. That's because only Building 5 exists in Blue Lock.

Isagi: What?

Ego: You all believed you were the very bottom of the pile, an battled through the first selection filled with stupid desperation.

This did not go well with many of the players.

???: You put us through all that crazy training! You tryna kill us?!

???: You lied to us?!

Ego: Yup, that's exactly right. It was all a ruse I set up to destroy your half-baked confidence, and give you the hunger to be the best in the world.

???: What the hell, man?!

???: Don't insult us!

???: We're not your toys!

Ego: Idiots. I'm calling those sentiments half-baked. Listen, take Noel Noa as an example. He's currently the best striker in the world, but he grew up in a slum in France. Surrounded by crime and poverty, the only way to change his fate was with a ball. Soccer was literally his only option. There are countless strikers in the world with this same very story. Their hunger for goals is immeasurable. Since you were all born and raised in Japan, where losing doesn't affect your life Blue Lock exists to give you that hunger this country can't instill in you.

Isagi: (I... I want to test myself right now!)

Ego smiled.

Ego: We will begin Blue Lock's second selection. The first selection was about finding what it means to be a striker, and turning zero into one. From here on, it'll be a battle of multiplying that one into 100 on this cutting-edge training field.

A figure of 5 pentagons engulfed the screen.

Ego: The second selection consists of five stages. Only those who clear a stage get to move on to the next one. And those who pass the second selection, will participate in a training camp with the world's top players that I have handpicked.

Igarashi: Wow!

Ego sighed.

Ego: That's all I have for you. When you are ready, go through the gate one at a time.

Isagi: One at a time?

Bachira: Not together?

Ayanokouji: (We're finally getting separated. It's time everyone earns their keep.)

Ego: Naturally, the difficulty spike from the last selection to this one is huge. If you survived the last round because you got lucky with teammates, prepare yourself. In the second selection, the trash will be sifted out first. Only the true egoists will remain. Best of luck to you.

Isagi: (From here on out, we're fighting alone.)

After Ego logged off from his screens, the 125 or so strikers talked with one another, debating who would go first.

???: Do you wanna go first?

???: What? No way.

A striker with long, white spikey hair bumped into Ayanokouji, now for the second time.

Ayanokouji: It's pretty rude to bump into someone for a second time. I let it go the first time but now you're doing it intentionally. What do you want?

He smiled.

???: Oh? Lookie here. Those eyes of yours are different. You're not that boring anymore, hehehe. I thought I'd just pick on the most boring striker I saw cuz I was bored.

His face was now 1 inch away from Ayanokouji's face.

???: But you're actually making me hard... what's your name? You can just call me Shidou.

Ayanokouji: ....

Raichi: Hey! Get the fuck away from him-

Shidou: Relax shit face. I ain't gonna start anything now. We have this second selection to have some real fun. I really want to see your smile, poker face.

And with that, he walked away into another corner of the room.

Before anything else happened, one striker went up and kicked a ball high up in the air, perfectly. He then kicked another ball with a fast spin that smacked into the other ball mid-air with extreme precision.

Naruhaya: What?

Gagamaru: is he for real?

The striker walked up to the front gate.

Mystery striker: My warmup is done. Open the door.

The sliding door opened and the mystery striker entered. On the screen, his name was revealed.

Ayanokouji: (Itoshi, Rin. Oh, it has to be his brother.)

Isagi: Itoshi, Rin?

Ayanokouji: He's Itoshi Sae's brother.

Everyone: Brother?

Igarashi looked terrified.

Igarashi: Is this place swarming with monsters like him?!

Isagi calmed him down.

Isagi: Remember what happened against Team V. We're also unreal, aren't we?

Igarashi: That's true. My defense was unreal.

Kunigami: No, my shots were more unreal.

Bachira: Nah, man. my dribbling was even more unreal.

Chigiri: That's bull. If it weren't for my legs, we would have lost.

Raichi: Huh?! It was because I had the midfield locked down.

Kuon: I-I also tried defending Nagi too.

Naruhaya: No, that's a bit different, hahaha.

Gagamaru: I contributed too, like a lot.

Lemon: Don't forget my plans!

Ayanokouji: I also scored a few goals.

Isagi: I won us the last game with my unreal goal. I'm gonna be the best in the world.

Everyone from Team Z huddled together in a circle, holding onto each other's shoulders.

Lemon: We are unreal! Let's meet again on the other side of Blue Lock!

Everyone: Yeah!

And with this, Isagi was the first person from Team Z to step up and enter the room to commence the second selection.

Isagi: (Thank you everyone. From here on, I have to proceed alone. But somehow, I'm excited. Okay, let's see what's waiting for me. At Blue Lock, I can grow even stronger.)

Ayanokouji looked on as Isagi vanished into the room and the door closed.

Ayanokouji: (I'll take my time. I don't need to be the first person inside. From here on out, I'm going for the win because I need to survive. Simple as that.)