Chapter 12

Reo and Nagi boarded the bus that would take them to Blue Lock's facility. As they took their seats, Nagi let out a sigh and leaned back against the bus seat, looking dejected.

"This isn't funny," Nagi grumbled. "Its going to be hell."

Reo tried to cheer his friend up. "Come on, Nagi. It's not going to be that bad. Think of it as an adventure."

Nagi shook his head. "An adventure? More like a prison sentence. Did you see the way they took our phones? We're cut off from the outside world."

Reo nodded. "Yeah, I know it's tough.", thinking about how he wouldn't be able to talk to Yuna,"But think about it, we're here to become the best striker in the world, remember? This is an opportunity of a lifetime."

But Nagi only sighed and slouched in his seat, "I just wish I was back home, in my bed, sleeping. This whole thing seems like too much work."

The bus ride was long and uncomfortable, but finally, they arrived at the Blue Lock facility. As they stepped off the bus, they were greeted by the sight of a colossal building that seemed to stretch up into the sky.

"Wow," Reo breathed. "This place is impressive."

Nagi just groaned. "Let's just get this over with.", it seemed his mood  didn't improve.

As they walked through the maze-like building, they managed to find their designated room rather quickly, but as they walked in, they realized that they were the only ones there.

"Looks like we're the first ones to arrive," Reo said, trying to sound optimistic.

Nagi only groaned and flopped down onto the ground, "Great, now we have to wait for everyone else to show up. This is going to be boring."

Reo could see that his friend was unmotivated and dejected, but he knew that they were here for a reason. He decided to change into the provided uniforms and wait for the other players to arrive.

"Come on Nagi, let's make the best of this opportunity," Reo said, trying to rouse his friend from his lazy state.

But Nagi only let out a sigh and closed his eyes, "Yeah, yeah, I hear you, Reo. I'll get up in a little bit more..."

As Reo encouraged the lazy and unmotivated Nagi, another player entered the room, looking a little bit lost. The young man was tall, with spiky dark colored hair and weared glasses, he walked up to them with a serious expression.

"Welcome to the club," Reo greeted him with a smile. "I'm Mizukage Reo and this is Seishiro Nagi."

Nagi, still lying on the floor, lazily lifted a hand in greeting. "Yeah, hi."

"Yo. what's good? I'm Tsurugi Zantetsu, striker extraordinaire!" Zantetsu said, giving a thumbs up to Reo and Nagi.

As they continued to chat, Zantetsu's idioms kept coming, "I've come a long way to be here," he said, "but I'm ready to climb the mountain and reach the top."

Reo couldn't help but notice that Zantetsu's idioms didn't quite make sense in context. "I'm here to knock it out of the park," Zantetsu exclaimed, referring to his skill as a striker, "and I'll be sure to give 110%."

Reo smiled politely through the conversation, but he could tell that Zantetsu wasn't the brightest bulb in the box.

Reo couldn't help but think that this room was going to be quite interesting having Tsurugi Zantetsu and Nagi as roommates. These two are quite the characters.

"Hey, Reo," Nagi chimed in, breaking his silence. "Why did I feel that you were thinking of something bad about me?"

"How am I supposed to know?" Reo replied, trying to hide his amusement. Nagi was as sharp as ever it seems, despite his lazy demeanor.

Nagi's face was tinged with skepticism hearing Reo's words. But he couldn't be bothered to pursue the matter any further, he was feeling quite sore from the bus ride. So, Nagi decided to just lay there and wait for the rest of the players to arrive.

As more players entered the room, the atmosphere started to become more lively and Reo couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation for what was to come. As the room slowly filled up with 12 players in total, Reo couldn't help but think that this was going to be one of the most exciting experiences of his life up until now.

As the group of 12 players chatted with each other, a screen flickered to life in front of them. Ego, the man in charge of the Blue Lock facility, appeared on the screen, his eyes piercing through each and every one of the players in the room. He had a sly smile on his face, as if he was about to reveal something grand and life-altering."Welcome to Blue Lock, unpolished gems.", he said in a booming voice. "You have been gathered here today to embark on a journey like no other. For the next several months, you will be each other's roommates and rivals. Your goal? To become the best of the best, and represent Japan in the U-20 World Cup."

Ego then revealed the numbers attached to each player's wristbands, indicating their current ranking among the 300 players in the program. "Your ranking," he continued, "will change based on several factors. It can go up or down depending on your training, your performance in the games, and your overall development as a player. But make no mistake, the top five players will have the privilege of representing Japan in the World Cup. And for those who are defeated... well, let's just say their journey will come to a permanent end."

Ego then paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. "What we are looking for here, my dear players, is something that sets you apart from the rest. Something that defines your character, your spirit, your very essence. Something we call 'ego'."

"Now, to begin your journey, I have a little game for you all. It's called 'Tag', and the rules are simple. The time limit is 136 seconds, and whoever is 'it' when the timer runs out will be removed from the program and will not be allowed to play for the national team. Basically, their careers will come to an end."

Some of the players were in shock. The weight of Ego's words was palpable in the room, and you could hear a pin drop. Some of the players were nervous, while others were determined and a great minority excitedx. But one thing was certain - the journey ahead would be challenging, and only the strong would survive.

"This game of tag will be much more than just a simple warm up elimination exercise," Ego said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "It will also be an egoism test, designed to provide great insight into the level of selfishness behind each of you."

The players listened intently, the weight of the stakes sinking in. Ego continued, "The egoism test is the key factor in determining who will move forward and who will be left behind. It will measure the level of ego and determination you have within you."

A murmur of concern went through the room as they realized the stakes of the game. Ego continued, "And the first 'it' will be the lowest ranked player among the team."

A name appeared on the screen, Masaru Kimura and the players turned to look at him. He looked around nervously, unsure of what to do.

Then players began to move, avoiding, Masaru Kimura, and preparing for the start of their first challenge. Nagi, still lazy and unmotivated, slowly got up from the floor with a groan and began to stretch.

And the game was about to begin, Reo and Nagi exchanged a quick glance, Reo flashed a toothy grin at Nagi, who knew that Reo's toothy grin was a sign that he was about to stir up trouble, something that Nagi didn't particularly enjoy.

Ego's image flickered off the screen, a ball suddenly dropped from an opening in the ceiling, signaling the start of the game. Ego watched from the screen, a satisfied look on his face as the game began. "So it begins," he thinks to himself, "the beginning of a new era."

...

As the game of "Tag" began, the players were all scattered on each side of the room, ready to act. The ball was handed to the lowest ranked player, Masaru Kimura, a shy and timid young man with glasses. But before he could even take a step forward, the ball was snatched away by purple-haired youth, who had a

sly grin on his face.

Without hesitation, Reo charged straight towards Nagi, who was standing on the opposite side of the room with a troubled expression on his face. Nagi knew what was coming, and the thought of it made him roll his eyes with an "I knew it" expression. Reo was always one to push the boundaries and test Nagi's limits, and this game was no exception.

Nagi knew that this would mean he would have to put in effort and move around a lot, something he wasn't too thrilled about.

As Reo fired the ball at Nagi, the latter quickly dodged and darted around the field, trying to avoid being tagged. But Reo was relentless, and he continued to throw the ball at Nagi with precision and speed. Nagi, in turn, would occasionally shoot the ball back at Reo, but it was clear that the purple haired youth was having a blast.

The other players looked on in awe and confusion. Some were amazed at the way these two were having fun with their careers on the line, while others were scared and troubled by the pressure.

"Hey, what's the big idea, Reo?" Nagi called out, trying to dodge the ball once again.

"Just having a little fun, Nagi," Reo replied with a grin. "Don't tell me you're not enjoying this at all."

Nagi grumbled in response, but deep down he knew that he was indeed enjoying the game. He just didn't want to admit it.

But to everyone's surprise, Tsurugi Zantetsu, decided to join in on the fun. He stumbled around the field, trying to keep up with Reo and Nagi, determined to prove himself to the others.

"Looks like Zantetsu wants in on the action," Reo laughed, as he fired the ball in Zantetsu's direction.

As the game continued, the other players couldn't help but feel a mixture of envy and admiration towards the three of them. They had the courage to let loose and enjoy the game, even though their futures were at stake. And in that moment, it was clear that the room was indeed going to be interesting, with these three players leading the way.

For Reo, Nagi, and Zantetsu, the game was just a way to have fun and let off some steam before the real competition began.

As the game of "Tag" continued, the players standing on the sidelines couldn't help but feel a twinge of anger and frustration as they watched Reo, Nagi and Zantetsu, especially for the purple-white haired duo, effortlessly dodging and shooting the ball back and forth.

Some clenched their fists in anger, while others gritted their teeth and took a step forward, determined to not be left behind.

"What the hell are they doing?", a player named Yoshihiro Tanaka muttered, his voice tinged with envy. "They're making it look too easy."

Another player, a tall, broad-shouldered young man, called Tomoyuki Fujimoto, simply shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe they're having so much fun while our careers are on the line," he said, his voice tight with tension.

But despite their clear disadvantage, some of the players on the sidelines couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and eagerness to join in. They knew that Reo and Nagi were out of their league, but they were determined to let themselves out and show their true potential.

"Come on, let's show them what we're made of," another player going by the name, Kenji Yamada, shouted with a determined grin spreading across his face.

The other players nodded in agreement, and together they stepped onto the field, ready to give it their all. The purple-white haired duo may be out of their league, but they were determined to not be left behind and make a name for themselves.

...

Meanwhile, Ego watched the scene unfold before him with a look of intrigue on his face. He had not expected this outcome, but he couldn't deny the spark of interest that had formed within him for the purple-haired youth, Reo. As he leaned forward and crossed his fingers before his face, he couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at the sight of the other players reluctantly joining in on the impromptu game.

He knew that Reo had a unique energy about him, an aura that seemed to draw people in and inspire them to push past their own limitations. Ego had originally only been interested in Reo as a potential player for the national team, but now he found himself wanting to know more about the young man and what made him tick.

As he watched Reo and Nagi continue to play and the other players gradually joining in, Ego couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He had always believed that true potential could only be unlocked when players were pushed to their limits, and it seemed that Reo was doing just that. He would definitely be keeping a close eye on this one.

Ego couldn't help but smile as he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as he watched the players on the screen. He knew that this was only the beginning, and that there was much more to come from these young men. The future of Japanese football was looking bright indeed.

...

As the game progressed, more and more players joined in, each one eager to prove themselves and show that they too had what it takes to play with the best. Reo couldn't help but let out a grin of excitement as he watched them all come together, their spirit and passion for the game evident in their eyes.

He had been keeping a close eye on the clock, counting down the seconds until the end of the game. He knew that time was running out and he wanted to make sure that every last player had a chance to experience the thrill of the game. So he targeted the new players with the ball, firing it at them with lightning speed and precision, giving them a taste of the adrenaline rush that came with playing in this high-intensity game.

With only 40 seconds remaining on the clock, the ball was flying back and forth between players at an alarming pace. Reo found himself at the center of it all, his purple hair whipping around him as he darted around the field, dodging and weaving, trying to avoid getting hit by the incoming shots and firing the ball at anyone who dared to get too close. He couldn't help but think that maybe he should have held back a little when blasting the ball at the new players when they first joined. But then again, he couldn't deny the thrill of the game and the rush of adrenaline that came with it. He was having the time of his life, and so were the rest of the players.

As the game continued, the players were becoming more and more invested in the high-energy game of tag. But suddenly it all came to a halt.

As Nagi appeared out of nowhere, his pout is immediately noticeable, a rare expression to see on his face. With a swift and effortless move, he catched the high-speed ball fired off with incredible power.

"Hey! You made me move and then took all the fun for yourself," Nagi scolded Reo, who just smiled teasingly in response. "I didn't think you were having any fun, Nagi," Reo said playfully, a hint of a challenge in his voice, his grin widening.

Nagi rolled his eyes, but the corners of his mouth twitched upward in a small smile. "Fine, I'll play along," he said, and the two of them darted off into the fray once more, Reo's laughter ringing through the air as they chased each other around the room.

The other players looked on with a mix of awe and confusion as they dodged the ball as if their lives depended on it. They had never seen anything like this before - two players who were so in sync and so invested in the game that they seemed to be enjoying themselves completely, even after being targeted by everyone else.

And as the final seconds ticked away, they couldn't help but feel a sense of envy and longing, wishing they could be part of that special bond that Reo and Nagi shared.

As the game time was coming to a close, Nagi made a final move, blasting the ball towards Reo with incredible power. Reo received it perfectly, his movements in perfect sync with Nagi's previous ones.

Now, with the possession of the ball, Reo's attention turned towards the two players who had avoided involvement in the game until now. He had a decision to make.

The first was a nervous, skinny kid who had been chosen as "it" at the beginning of the game, and the second was a more muscular player who seemed unwilling to join for some reason.

Reo quickly decided that his target would be the muscular player, who he thought would have less potential than the skinny kid. Who with a bit of cultivation and passion could become a force to be reckoned with.

As he observed the muscular player, through the game, he noticed that the player seemed hesitant and unwilling to join the game. Reo speculated that the player's spirit might have been broken after their previous display of skills or perhaps a past disappointment.

Nevertheless, the player had chosen to accept his limitation instead of overcoming it. Reo knew that this kind of attitude would only hold back the team and saw this as a sacrifice for the betterment of the group as a whole.

Reo decided that removing the "bad weeds" from the team, would only make them stronger and more successful in the future, so there was no problem. After all, they were also going to be his teammates. He couldn't let anyone hold them back from reaching their full potential.

As Reo launched the ball towards the muscular player, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness. Having observed the player throughout the game, he could tell that the player had already given up on his passion, hence also his potential.

But, despite that, Reo still held hope that the player could find the mental fortitude to reignite his passion, leaving Blue Lock with a renewed spirit. With this thought in mind, Reo put all his might into the throw.

The muscular player, caught off guard, was unable to dodge the incoming ball. He stumbled backwards, surprised by the sudden impact.

Reo couldn't help but glance with hope, waiting to see if his actions would change something, wondering if there would be a small spark of passion in the player's eyes. However, as he watched the player's expression, Reo realized that maybe there wasn't hope for everyone. The player's expression shifted from one of reluctance to one of anger and envy, and it was clear that his passion for the game had long been lost. Maybe, the player had to bring himself out of his situation without anyones help.

And just as youth rose up, the final seconds ticked away and the game came to an end.

And whe the game came to an end, Ego appeared on the screen once again, his voice booming through the silence of the room, "Good job, you unpolished gems. Let us continue to the results."

"The player we will get rid of is -  Nakamura Katsuro! You are expelled!!"