Bluelock I

{Japan Football Union}

*Yoichi's POV*

I spotted Ryosuke Kira standing in front of the gate.

His words from yesterday echoed in my mind, "But you could have had a chance to score there, right? Why did you pass the ball?"

My mind raced with mixed thoughts. "If only... If only I had been the one to kick it... maybe I could have scored!"

"No! Football is about teamwork! It's not a one-man show! It's a team of 11!" I convinced myself, but lingering doubts crept in.

"Hey! You're Yoichi Isagi, right?" Ryosuke suddenly greeted me, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"You... know my name?" I asked in surprise.

"Of course! You're the number 11 who almost scored that goal!" Ryosuke replied with a smile as he placed his hand on my shoulder.

It felt surreal. Could a genius like Ryosuke really hold me in such high regard? He was different from what I initially thought.

"But how could you be so sure I'd score at that moment?" I asked, finally voicing the question that had been on my mind.

Ryosuke smiled in response and said, "I was sure because I know you're a talented striker."

I was dumbfounded by his words. A talented striker? Me?

Almost tearing up, I smiled in gratitude and said, "Thank you! You're a great striker too!"

Ryosuke simply smiled back.

"Hahaha..."

We laughed together, and in that moment, Ryosuke and I felt like long-lost friends.

===

*MC's POV*

I found Yoichi to be quite an intriguing character.

There was a sense of ambition within him that resonated with my own.

Observing that Yoichi was also at the Japan Football Union, I inquired, "Were you also invited by the Japan Football Union?"

"Yeah," Yoichi nodded in response.

"Do you know what this is about? They say it's something like a player improvement project..." I asked as we made our way towards the Japan Football Union building.

Yoichi shook his head at my question. "No. I thought you might know more about it since you're going to participate in the nationals?"

I shook my head at that comment. "Unfortunately, no."

As we entered the building and found the exact location mentioned in the letter, we saw that many people were already occupying the place, including some intimidating individuals.

"Wow, that's a lot of guys..." Yoichi couldn't help but exclaim.

I had researched Japanese rookie players on my computer yesterday because I hadn't recognized Yoichi Isagi during the final match. So, I introduced Yoichi to some of the players.

"That's Okawa, The Ace from Senño."

"And that's Ishikari, the tallest player in high school."

"Also, that's Nishioka. The 'Messi of Aomori' is here."

In Yoichi's mind, he realized that everyone in the place was a forward, something I had also noticed.

Suddenly, a voice from all directions in the hall sounded.

"Congratulations, diamonds in the rough."

A thin person appeared on the stage, and all the young men turned their attention toward him.

Yoichi and I looked at the man on the stage.

"All of you under-18 strikers have been chosen solely based on my criteria and biases to be here today."

"All 300 of you," the thin man said into the microphone attached to his ears.

Then the thin man introduced himself.

"I am Jinpaichi Ego."

Everyone looked at the thin man with confusion, but I felt intrigued. I sensed that something interesting was about to happen.

The thin man continued to speak.

"My job is to make Japan a capable team that can win the World Cup."

When Jinpaichi Ego said that, everyone regarded him as if he were crazy. Murmurs filled the place, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Hey, Isagi. Don't you think this is interesting?" I asked.

Yoichi looked at me with confusion and couldn't help but ask, "Interesting? Why?"

I just smiled. "I don't know... I have a feeling that this guy is interesting."

I smiled as I looked at Jinpaichi Ego.

Meanwhile, Yoichi was lost in thought as he stared at Jinpaichi Ego.

The World Cup, huh? He wanted Japan to win the World Cup? Did he think it was that easy? I couldn't help but think with a smile.

Well, at least that guy's goal aligns somewhat with mine.

I smiled, lost in my thoughts.

{Japan Football Union}

*Yoichi's POV*

I spotted Ryosuke Kira standing in front of the gate.

His words from yesterday echoed in my mind, "But you could have had a chance to score there, right? Why did you pass the ball?"

My mind raced with mixed thoughts. "If only... If only I had been the one to kick it... maybe I could have scored!"

"No! Football is about teamwork! It's not a one-man show! It's a team of 11!" I convinced myself, but lingering doubts crept in.

"Hey! You're Yoichi Isagi, right?" Ryosuke suddenly greeted me, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"You... know my name?" I asked in surprise.

"Of course! You're the number 11 who almost scored that goal!" Ryosuke replied with a smile as he placed his hand on my shoulder.

It felt surreal. Could a genius like Ryosuke really hold me in such high regard? He was different from what I initially thought.

"But how could you be so sure I'd score at that moment?" I asked, finally voicing the question that had been on my mind.

Ryosuke smiled in response and said, "I was sure because I know you're a talented striker."

I was dumbfounded by his words. A talented striker? Me?

Almost tearing up, I smiled in gratitude and said, "Thank you! You're a great striker too!"

Ryosuke simply smiled back.

"Hahaha..."

We laughed together, and in that moment, Ryosuke and I felt like long-lost friends.

===

*MC's POV*

I found Yoichi to be quite an intriguing character.

There was a sense of ambition within him that resonated with my own.

Observing that Yoichi was also at the Japan Football Union, I inquired, "Were you also invited by the Japan Football Union?"

"Yeah," Yoichi nodded in response.

"Do you know what this is about? They say it's something like a player improvement project..." I asked as we made our way towards the Japan Football Union building.

Yoichi shook his head at my question. "No. I thought you might know more about it since you're going to participate in the nationals?"

I shook my head at that comment. "Unfortunately, no."

As we entered the building and found the exact location mentioned in the letter, we saw that many people were already occupying the place, including some intimidating individuals.

"Wow, that's a lot of guys..." Yoichi couldn't help but exclaim.

I had researched Japanese rookie players on my computer yesterday because I hadn't recognized Yoichi Isagi during the final match. So, I introduced Yoichi to some of the players.

"That's Okawa, The Ace from Senño."

"And that's Ishikari, the tallest player in high school."

"Also, that's Nishioka. The 'Messi of Aomori' is here."

In Yoichi's mind, he realized that everyone in the place was a forward, something I had also noticed.

Suddenly, a voice from all directions in the hall sounded.

"Congratulations, diamonds in the rough."

A thin person appeared on the stage, and all the young men turned their attention toward him.

Yoichi and I looked at the man on the stage.

"All of you under-18 strikers have been chosen solely based on my criteria and biases to be here today."

"All 300 of you," the thin man said into the microphone attached to his ears.

Then the thin man introduced himself.

"I am Jinpaichi Ego."

Everyone looked at the thin man with confusion, but I felt intrigued. I sensed that something interesting was about to happen.

The thin man continued to speak.

"My job is to make Japan a capable team that can win the World Cup."

When Jinpaichi Ego said that, everyone regarded him as if he were crazy. Murmurs filled the place, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Hey, Isagi. Don't you think this is interesting?" I asked.

Yoichi looked at me with confusion and couldn't help but ask, "Interesting? Why?"

I just smiled. "I don't know... I have a feeling that this guy is interesting."

I smiled as I looked at Jinpaichi Ego.

Meanwhile, Yoichi was lost in thought as he stared at Jinpaichi Ego.

The World Cup, huh? He wanted Japan to win the World Cup? Did he think it was that easy? I couldn't help but think with a smile.

Well, at least that guy's goal aligns somewhat with mine.

I smiled, lost in my thoughts.