3 Striker.
------ONE WEEK LATER----
POV: YOICHI ISAGI
Following the giving direction on the Blue Lock invitation letter led me to a nice-looking building. I couldn't help but wonder what awaited me inside and why I was brought here.
"Hey, you're Yoichi Isagi, right?" Said a person that approached me from behind.
I turned around to meet a Kira Ryosuke. The forward of the team that defeated us recently.
"Oh, h..hi. I'm surprised you remembered me." I say to him.
"Of course, I remember you. I remember your passes. They were really amazing. If we were on the same team with passes like those, I could score a lot more goals." He complimented.
Disregarding the little sting I felt, as a forward being, remember for passes. "Oh, thank you."
We made our way inside the building to a large room filled with lots of other people. Some of which I recognised or heard of.
"I know that guy. That's the Blank Prince Toshiro Hitsugaya. And the guy, too, I know him." Kira indicated with surprise.
"The Blank Prince huh." I muttered to myself, looking at him surrounded by others.
I had heard of him too he was very famous, for his skills and his looks. The rumours weren't exaggerating about his looks. I wondered if it's the same for his skills.
Carefully glancing around the room, trying not to start any trouble, I made a few discoveries.
All the people present were male, and all of them looked roughly between the same age range.
But most importantly was that they were all forwards.
It was a gathering of japan's best 18 and under forwards.
I felt out of place. I did not belong here.
"Testing. Testing."
Before I could wonder why we were all gathered. Our attention was drawn to the stage by a glass wearing lanky looking guy with black hair in a bowlcut.
"Congratulation and welcome diamonds in the rough. You're the 300, 18 and under strikers I've chosen. My name is Jinpachi Ego. The man who was hired to ensure Japan's future victory at the World Cup." said the black haired man claiming to be Jinpachi Ego.
What's he talking about I wondered. And judging by the whispers around me, I wasn't the only one.
He continued, "It's simple really due to Japan's history, culture and upbringing, our football team excels at teamwork and coordination. So it merely stands to reason that to further elevate our team to a higher level, we require something different. Something new. Something daring. Something revolutionary."
He paused
"A true STRIKA." He announced grandly.
"I'll be performing an experiment to transform one of you 300 into the single best striker in the world. At Blue Lock."
"Starting today, you will live there to undergo the specialised training I have developed for you. You won't be allowed to go home, and your previous soccer careers will be but a memory."
"But this I promise you. If you fight hard enough, if you fight to be the last man standing out of the 300 candidates here.
YOU WILL BE THE GREATEST STIKER IN HISTORY."
"That's all for now. it's been fun."
He concluded.
He's not serious. Needless to say, his declaration left us all speechless. To declare to a room full of forwards that your training can make them the best in the world.
And to suggest that we would have to compete against each other till one man stands on top.
It's just crazy.
We are all supposed to be one man's stepping stone?
Who could possibly agree to this.
Kira raised his hand and put forward, "Excuse me, some of us have nationals and prior commitments. We can't just discard that all and join your little crazy experiment."
His statement seemed to have emboldened the other or reminded of their responsibilities cause they all started shouting out in agreement with him.
"He's right. I got nationals too, man."
"I got a job, you know I can just leave."
I don't want to stay I a room with a bunch of guys. They're aren't even cute."
"My team and I have to train for our upcoming match. I can't ditch them. They need me."
"Yeah, I just got the new ps5. i haven't even set it up yet."
Hearing these responses, Ego finally spoke again.
"Hmm, pity. You're all seems."
"LOCK OFF." He shooed.
"Sorry, forgive me. I meant FUCK OFF."
What!!
"The doors are not locked. Anyone that wants to leave, can simply go."
"Are you not embarrassed. Are you not ashamed. Are your dreams really this small? This limiting? You would rather be the top high schooler in some pathetic little town then the world's best striker? The future of Japan's soccer is in your hand?" He mocked.
"Japan's teamwork many be first-rate but in everything else we are second-rate."
"LOOK AT YOU. What do you think score is about?"
"Is it about teammates? Is it about how many poor little passes you can make? Contentment? Camaraderie? Self-sacrifice? WHAT IS IT ABOUT?!" He enquired loudly.
"You don't need to think about it. When it comes down to it, dress it up as much as you like it changes nothing. Soccer is about one thing and one thing only."
"It's about who can scores the most goals. End of story."
"If you are looking for a fun game with your pals then Lock Off."
I guess what he was saying did not sit well with Kira, cause he shouted at Ego.
"Take that back. You take that back this instant. Japan's team is one of the best. Most of us grew up and were inspired by them."
"What? Are you talking about our soccer team? The very same team that has never won a world Cup? That team?" Ego responded with disgust.
"YOU." Ego pointing out to the crowd.
"You are the perfect example of what Japan's soccer is lacking."
"Our soccer lacks ambition, hatred, selfishness. It lacks GREED."
"For our soccer to advance we need one thing and one thing only.
An EGOIST."
"One who would selfishly hog the ball and try to score than pass to an open player."
"You can't possibly become the world's best striker unless you're also the world's biggest Egoist."
The things this guy is saying.
'I feel something. Something deep inside me.'
"Which is why we are all here."
It can't possibly be right.
"Someone who would climb on top of 299 corpses. A solitary hero.
The Egoist."
I can't do it. I'm no one. I've achieved nothing.
'But.'
"Picture it. It the World Cup finials. 85000 people in the stands watching you down on the field."
I want it to be me.
"The score is nill nill in the second half of extra time. It's the last play. With a pass from your teammate you're through the defense."
I need this to be me.
"You against the goal keeper. 6 metres to the right is your teamate. If you pass your team is guaranteed to score a goal."
Pass? No
"The championship. The hope of a nation. They're all riding on you."
Yes, I hear their cries.
"Only an insane egoist could take that shot without a second hesitation."
'Yes, I can see it. I want it to be me. No it has to be me.'
Large gates opened up behind Ego, spreading his arms inviting us in.
"Now, pass through and be transformed. Discard your common sense. Remember out there on the field you the star. You and you alone."
This is the opposite of everything I've been taught.
"Nothing should bring you more enjoy that your own goals. Live only for that glorious moment."
But it's calling to me.
"And if you can't then you are no striker at all."
I don't know how but somehow but next thing I know I was running through the crowds towards that doors.
'I. I AM A STRIKER.'
I AM A STRIKER.
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