Turning zero to one
"I'm happy to see that you still have the energy to argue between yourselves." Ego's voice suddenly echoed through the room, making everyone's attention turn to the previously black screen positioned on the highest part of the wall.
"Listen up, you unpolished gems. The second match of the fifth stadium concluded just a few moments ago. It was team Y's loss 0-6 against team V. These are the current standings." A figure of ego holding a holographic board displaying the current points each team had at the end of the first day.
Team V were currently in first place with 3 points and a +6 goals difference, team Z and X tied for second place with both 1 point and a 0 goals difference with team W and Y both being at 0. Team W, team X's next opponent still didn't get to play any game.
"It's great to see that Team X is starting to form some sort of harmony amidst the chaos, but that won't cut it. Peacefully fulfilling your role isn't enough for you to survive in Blue Lock!" Ego yelled out, enthusiastically spreading his arms.
"Fulfilling your role might make you a great defender, goalkeeper, or midfielder. But as a striker, you'll need more than that. Mastery of a single field of football isn't enough to make a real striker."
"Strikers are destroyers, to score is to install chaos in your opponents!! A revolution right on the field!! If you want to be strikers you'll need to be able to surpass the boundaries of your role. And for that, you'll need to learn how to use your weapons as a striker." A wide range of weapons ranging from freekicks to dribbling appeared on the screen behind Ego.
"Jude Sanchez was the only one to apply this in his plays, which is what allowed him to be a striker—a destroyer, going beyond his role as a goalkeeper to push the opponents into chaos, that's how he was able to create something from nothing."
"If you succeed in following his example, only then will you be able to turn zero to one, learn how to create from nothing, and start your journey as a striker. Master your weapons and make your ego shine brighter than the sun!"
'Weapons...' The screen switched to its original darkness. Ego's last cynical words still resonating with everyone present.
"Shining brighter than the sun? Hahahaha that's so cool!" Akira's loud laughter filled the now silent room, finally relaxing the tense atmosphere ego's speech installed.
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"Come on! Tell me what's that weapon he was talking about? I'll even let you take a part of my meal if you tell me. Please!" Akira begged, his hand reaching out to grab Jude's arm.
"I already told you a thousand times, I can't help you with that." Jude laid down and closed his eyes. For the whole day, he had been doing his best to ignore him, yet Akira didn't stop his constant begging.
"He's right, Akira. Each person has their own weapons, focus on finding yours. If you want a hint to find what your weapon is I'll give you one. It for sure isn't your brain." Yanagi snickered, saving Jude from Akira's relentless questioning.
"Don't be so rude." Miyata sighed as he sat down next to Yanagi and Akira. "I think your weapon might be your straightforward playstyle. Don't you always like to boast about your shots?"
"Yes! That's it, Miyata, you're a genius! My weapon is the Akira special." Akira bursted out laughing. His shiny eyes glowed brighter than ever as if he had been enlightened by a higher being.
"And mine would probably be my physique?" Yanagi added. Taking a good look at the muscle definition on his right arm, he flashed a cheeky smile before turning to Miyata again. "What about you? Is your weapon passing or something like that?"
"Would I really ask to play as a winger if my only weapon was passing?" Miyata joked. "I believe my greatest strength is my mind. Analyzing your teammates and opponents, and trying to find solutions to overcome challenges and desperate situations is the most interesting part of football for me."
"You sound so cool!" Akira bursted out, his eyes still shining as bright as ever, a newfound admiration for Miyata slowly growing in him.
"That does sound pretty good, but our next opponents still didn't play a single game, so you can't actually put it to good use." Yanagi let out with a sigh, before laying down on the mattress.
Miyata smiled confidently in response. "Don't worry about it, I already reviewed the recording of our last game more times than you might believe. We don't know anything about Team W but my knowledge of our current team is already high enough for me to be able to put my weapon to good use no matter who our opponents are. Just watch and learn."
"What about you Mr striker?" Yanagi questioned, turning around to face the new striker of Team X. Jude who had feigned to be asleep since the beginning of the conversation finally opened one of his eyes.
"My weapon huh? I'm pretty good at everything, although I do have strong points, my dribbling, trapping, speed, and shooting could all be considered my weapons. But if I had to choose a definite answer, I'd say it's my greed." Jude replied with a mysterious smile, puzzling everyone present.
"Bullshit! How is that even a weapon!" Akira yelled out loud, waking up the few who almost fell asleep.
On the other side of the room, the two siblings laid down next to each other, seemingly both trying to sleep. "Big brother... Because of my mistake we lost the ball in the last game and got put as midfielders, I know I shouldn't but I can't help doubting myself ever since." Sugiyama whispered, turning around to face the wall.
"You know very well it wasn't your fault, our opponents this time were way stronger than any past opponents we ever faced. You shouldn't blame yourself for that."
"I know... But the others all adapted to this and found their own weapons, I feel like I'm becoming a dead weight for the team. Do you think I also have a weapon? Something like Akira's crazy shot? Or Jude's dribbles? He was able to get past the entirety of Team Z by himself. I don't think I'll ever be able to replicate that type of play..."
"Don't be stupid!" Ichikawa rebuked. "of course, you have your own weapon. You always had it, ever since your birth. Don't you ever forget it. I'm your weapon, and you're my weapon, that's how it have always been, and that's how it will be in the future as well." A small smile drew itself on Ichikawa's face, his words appeasing the overthinking of his little brother.
"Then let's become the best strikers together." Sugiyama voiced out, his earlier unease nowhere to be seen. Their backs pressed against each other. They might've been facing opposite directions, yet the brothers' minds were both united around a shared goal.