Chapter 9: Arrival at the Blue Lock, Assessment Begins!

"What? This is ridiculous!"

In Aida Gym, Aida Riko shows her father, Aida Kagetora, the message Kira Ryosuke just sent her.

"Those who fail will permanently lose their eligibility for the national team? Is this some kind of joke? It's like directly ending a player's future!"

"It doesn't seem like a joke... According to my old friend, the Football Association is going to hold a press conference in a few days to announce a very important project. It's probably the Blue Lock that Ryosuke mentioned..."

Aida Keisuke's expression becomes serious. As a former professional athlete and a top trainer, he has some connections within the Football Association, so he is aware of certain things.

This is not a joke.

"Well, if Ryosuke..."

A worried expression fills Aida Riko's face. She swallows the words she wants to say, but after a few seconds, her expression changes, as if she has gained a firm belief in something.

"If it's Ryosuke, maybe he can really break through. After all, although he usually appears very cheerful and casual, once he gets serious, he really transforms."

"Yeah, that guy is different from other players I've seen. I hope he shines there. Thanks to him, the revenue of our gym increased by thirty percent last week!"

Although he says it jokingly, Aida Kagetora squints his eyes slightly, his gaze projecting into the distance.

He can sense the unknown potential within Kira Ryosuke.

...

Riko: Good luck! Don't embarrass our Aida Gym! (^ ˃ - ˂ )

Riko: How's the food there? Make sure to pay attention to nutrition!

Riko: Also, even if you're there, don't forget to exercise! If not... just wait and see!

Seeing the messages sent by Aida Riko, Kira Ryosuke smiles and after replying a few sentences, he puts his phone down.

Because they had arrived at the building called the Blue Lock.

It was a pentagonal complex consisting of five almost identical buildings connected together. Inside, various high-tech devices filled the space, which was not something one would normally see. It's evident that the Football Association had allocated a considerable budget for the Blue Lock project.

The three hundred players were immediately divided into five groups and sent to five different buildings. Each group was further divided into five different zones.

After passing through strict security checks, Kira Ryosuke surrendered his phone, stored his luggage, and received a special set of football jerseys.

On the shoulder of the jersey, a combination of numbers and letters was prominently displayed: 289Z.

In the original work, Ego Jinpachi claimed that this combination represented the players' ranking among the three hundred participants. However, Kira Ryosuke knew very well that the number held no significance at this moment. It was just a small trick deliberately employed by Ego Jinpachi to undermine the players' confidence and make them feel pressured.

Following the signs in the building, Kira Ryosuke arrived at the room marked with the letter Z.

There were twelve people in each room, and in the Z room, the other eleven had already gathered.

Kira Ryosuke's gaze swept over them, and he knew each person's identity and their unique abilities.

The man lying on the floor sleeping was called Bachira Meguru, known for his excellent dribbling skills and a free-spirited style of play.

Next to him, changing clothes, was Kunigami Rensuke, a dignified individual with a sturdy physique and a powerful left-footed shooting ability.

A person with long red hair and a delicate face resembling that of a woman sat on the side. His name was Chigiri Hyoma, possessing unparalleled speed. However, due to a career-threatening injury in the past, he had never been able to fully unleash his abilities.

Kira Ryosuke knew that his journey in the Blue Lock had officially begun.

Soon, he would face the first round of selection.

"Kira, it's great to see a familiar face here!"

In the room, Isagi Yoichi, who was also assigned to the Z team, greeted Kira Ryosuke with a smile.

"Yeah, it's great."

Kira Ryosuke responded politely.

In the original work, Isagi Yoichi, despite not appearing outstanding in terms of abilities, possessed eyes that could see the big picture and played a role in connecting the whole team.

Moreover, in the original work, it was Isagi Yoichi who directly caused the original character's elimination.

But ultimately, it was a combination of luck and the original character's lack of preparedness for participating in the Blue Lock project that led to his elimination.

Kira Ryosuke wouldn't make the same mistakes.

"Have you all changed into your uniforms, fellow budding stars?"

On the walls made of steel, a massive display screen projected the somewhat eerie face of Ego Jinpachi. Underneath the thick lenses, a pair of pitch-black eyes emitted a cunning gaze.

"Pay attention. The people in the same room as you are not only your roommates but also your competitors to mutually improve. I have quantified your abilities and ranked you accordingly. The number on your opponent represents their ranked..."

As they listened to Ego Jinpachi's words, each person confirmed their own number and began to exchange glances to verify each other's numbers. Their gazes eventually converged on one person.

Kira Ryosuke.

In the Z team, the rankings range from 289 to 300, consisting of 12 consecutive numbers, which means Kira Ryosuke is the strongest among them.

The strongest person is often the one who becomes the primary target.

"...Alright, it's time for Ghost Tag. You have 136 seconds, and whoever touches the ball becomes the ghost. At the moment the countdown ends, the person who is the ghost should pack up and leave! Oh, and no handballs allowed!"

With little introduction, Ego Jinpachi announced the details of the first selection.

In short, the last person to be touched by the ball before the time runs out will be eliminated. This tests the forward's mobility and reaction speed.

The original character failed to notice this and didn't realize the cruelty within the Blue Lock, leading to his elimination.

As soon as Ego Jinpachi finished speaking, a small opening appeared in the ceiling made up of dozens of metal blocks, and a football ball dropped from it. At the same time, the countdown appeared on the big screen, along with a name.

Igarashi Gurimu.

While others were still puzzled, a short boy with a hairstyle resembling a monk stepped forward to the ball. He was the owner of the name Igarashi Gurimu.

Kira Ryosuke carefully observed Igarashi Gurimu. In the original work, he could be described as a complete goofball.

Despite having bottom-tier abilities in every aspect, he always managed to align himself with the right people without even trying, achieving success without any effort and even making it to the end.

In a sense, the Blue Lock also had an element of unfair luck.