Chapter Two

After the initial selection, the selected players of "Team Z" were led to their dorms. From now on we were supposed to live, train and play together.

The conception of this approach appeared somewhat unconventional, given that the fundamental objective of project "Blue Lock" was to cultivate a striker who could attain singular dominance and manifest an unapologetic sense of self --- an ego. Nevertheless, there was a crucial element that was often disregarded by many: the art of teamwork was indispensable---necessary for the "Egoists" to exhibit their individual talents and excel in scoring goals.

The harmonious synergy amongst teammates is imperative in unlocking the full potential of a striker, as it is nigh impossible for any individual player to singlehandedly navigate through a sea of defenders on the field. Indeed, the support and contribution of the other players serve as a steppingstone for an egoist striker --- to violate and use the teammates to their maximum ability and then score the goal for themselves.

Raichi let out a thunderous roar of laughter, echoing through the gym as he jeered at Isagi, "BAHAHAHA! Your endurance is about as useful as a chocolate teapot! How in the world do you expect to become the number one striker with that flimsy stamina of yours? You might as well scurry back to the amateurs and cry yourself a river!" Meanwhile, Isagi huffed and puffed, struggling to keep up with the grueling pace on the treadmill. As they engaged in an intense endurance battle, it quickly became apparent that Raichi held a clear advantage over his competitor. The competition was decided the moment they started though. Among all the players in Team Z, Raichi had the most endurance and Isagi almost had the worst physique.

But there was something else about Isagi that caught my eye. It was 'Exploitation of Opportunity.' In the initial selection, Isagi didn't hit the monk even when it was the most logical step to take. Instead, he was fueled by a competitive spirit, prompting him to go after someone who was many levels above him.

"Huh, you're still going on?" Raichi asked me as he turned his head toward me, his shark-like teeth visible as he grinned, "You're a tough nut. Let's see who can last the longest."

"I am done." I replied, immediately after he issued the challenge. The prospect of engaging in a meaningless and tiresome competition held little appeal to me. It was evident that Raichi possessed a never-say-die attitude, but I was of a different disposition.

Currently we were doing an athletic test. However, it has been three days since it started. After endurance training was the jump test.

Walking over to Kuon and Isagi, I stood beside them.

"Hey, Kuon, what do you think is the average jump range?" I asked as he seemed to have a good jumping skills.

"Anywhere in the range of 67-70 I'd say." He replied, his narrow eyes even narrower due to stress and fatigue. Looking to the side I saw Isagi's confused face.

I wonder what's wrong.

Bending down, we readied ourself for the jump.

Isagi: 61 cm

Kiyotaka: 67 cm

Kuon: 68 cm

"That was quite impressive, Ayanokouji." Kuon said as he tapped my back.

"It was just average." I replied as Kuon smiled, "Well for my height it was. I am a bit taller than you, although you're still young so I guess you'll outgrow me." He said as I looked at Isagi, his expressions a living face of someone who was suffering deeply.

"Are you tired, Isagi?" Kuon asked.

"Uh? No, I am using my full strength. My confidence is really taking a hit right now." He replied as I looked at his score. 61 cm, huh? He was panting and beads of sweat rolled down his face as he wiped it with his sleeve.

"How come your rank is dead last, Ayanokouji?" Isagi asked between hushed breaths.

"I am average at everything but not really good in a specific aspect." I replied simply.

"A jack of all trades, huh?" Kuon remarked but I stayed silent. There was something I wanted to talk to Isagi about.

But it seems like now isn't a good time.

Well, I guess I will watch him a while more.

DINNER TIME

In Blue Lock, every aspect of a player's life seemed to be indicative of their value as a player, and this included the food provided. Interestingly, the hierarchy of the players' rankings was reflected even in the meals they received. As one might expect, those situated at the bottom of the pecking order, like myself and Isagi, were served Natto, a traditional Japanese dish made from fermented soybeans. Conversely, those who held higher ranks were granted access to more desirable foods, such as steak and other delicacies.

However, upon closer examination of the portion sizes and nutritional content of the different meals, it became evident that the gap in protein levels between the dishes was not as wide as one might assume. Despite the apparent contrast in the quality of the meals provided, the amount of protein derived from them was relatively comparable. This observation underscored the idea that even when it comes to nutrition, it is not always the type of food that counts, but the quantity and quality of the nutrients they contain.

From the outset, I made a calculated decision to remain detached and aloof from my teammates. While I entertained the notion of forging amicable bonds with my contemporaries, the cold, hard reality is that we are all competing against one another. The thought of getting too invested in any particular individual on the basis of shared interests and goals was simply not a strategic move that I was willing to make. Indeed, in this high-stakes environment, any show of favoritism could be interpreted as a sign of weakness and could thus prove detrimental to my overall ambitions.

Hence, I just chose to position myself in a far corner of the room, from where I could observe and analyze my fellows and make my moves with tactical precision. For me, it was clear that this was not just a matter of forming momentary alliances.

(A/n) Let's just be honest. He can't make friends. Bro is a loner.

- Nighty Night Time -

Under the cover of darkness, I went towards the training field amidst the tranquil stillness of the night. With no one to witness my every move, I allowed my instincts to take over, placing my heel on the ball and giving it a random kick, igniting a spark of creativity within me.

The only goal was to catch up to the ball I had just launched and kick it with all my might towards the upper right corner of the furthest net from me. Closing my eyes, I took in a deep breath, filling my lungs to the brim and leaned forward. Exhaling the air, I readied my legs and propelled myself into a full-blown sprint, my feet pounding against the slick grass in a steady rhythm. The damn grass muffled my sprint's noise, the only sound audible to me was the steady pounding of my heart and wet plops of grass blades beneath me.

As the ball drew closer, my senses heightened, my focus sharpened, and my muscles coiled like a spring. In one fluid motion, I spun my torso violently and kick the ball, sending the ball hurtling through the air like a missile, leaving a trail of dust and water drops in its wake.

But despite the sheer power behind my shot, the ball careened off the post, bouncing back towards me in a cruel twist of irony, a reminder that even the greatest of endeavors can sometimes fall short. It seemed like I could shoot but not aim properly.

Suddenly the doors opened, revealing two figures.

Bachira and Isagi.

"Yo." Bachira greeted as he came in.

"Ayanokouji? Are you having trouble sleeping too?"

"Uh, yeah?" I replied, thinking if that could make sense.

"Oh, I have an idea. How about all 3 of us train together." Bachira said getting closer, an ecstatic looks over his face.

"I have no problems with that. I want to train with Ayanokouji too." Isagi said as I let out a suppressed exhale.

"Fine by me." I replied.

Their faces lit up but Isagi faced Bachira, "Oh, I almost forgot to ask. Why did you pass me the ball in the initial selections, Bachira?"

It could be Bachira's instinct but it had piqued my curiosity as well. In an ideal situation, people would've chosen Kira over Isagi. But Bachira did the opposite.

"At that moment, I just thought 'I really want to hit Kira-kun'" Bachira replied.

"And why did you think like that?" Isagi asked, a concerned look over his face.

"Because," Bachira spoke as he stole the ball from between Isagi's feet, "I have a monster with in me." He said as he tried to take the ball away.

Placing one foot forward, I stopped taking in his dribbling pattern.

"The monster always tells me; play like this, dance some more but at that moment he told me to pass the ball to you. That you have it in you too... A Monster."

His talk made much less sense, but it could be related to someone's natural instincts and intuition. The monster Bachira referred to could be his innate senses, talking to him. It could arise due to his loneliness as a kid.

Just as Bachira performed a quick scissor and almost passed Isagi, I tried to step into his blind spot and cut his attack but Isagi's eyes had the same blue gleam as before. Reading Bachira's attack and my defense, he was already stepping into the spot that had an 80% probability of chasing the ball away from Bachira. However, his calculations were based on ideal situations.

A counter of this type can be effective in an ideal world - for example, if Isagi really pushes into that 'Box' he can steal the ball again. But he didn't consider the fact that Bachira can just change his trajectory once he catches up to Isagi and lean on the other side. His dribble was something else. Right now, my main weapon was to run fast.

'But if I can eliminate his course of action,' I thought to myself and placed a leg between his feet, 'Like this, he will get it.'

Just as I thought, Isagi had an eye for the field. His main weapon was Exploiting opportunity and field awareness. He seems like the perfect conduit to groom that could help me stay inside Blue Lock.

"Now then, try to adapt to this," I muttered under my breath as I stepped forward and with one swift motion snatched the ball back from him. Both Isagi and Bachira had a determined look over their faces as they started to chase me.

(A/n) Yeah, yeah, IK, short chapter. Big deal. 3 updates so don't blame me. Next chapter shall be long and full of action. I am quite tired.