Blue Lock: Genius

(Rewriting the whole story as there has been around more than 100 new chapters which affected of my sense of blue lock's scaling and this was my first story I've ever written in my life so I would like to try again and hopefully sustain a more organized schedule and see it through to the end.)

In the World of Football...

It is possible to produce Elite Goalkeepers, Defenders, and Midfielders. However, the same cannot be said of Strikers.

After all, a First-Rate Striker is one...

Who appears in Football's Most Critical Moment.

...

"Goooooaaaalll!!!Gooooooaaalll!!!Takeyama Keisuke has scored once again to complete his hat-trick! He's taken Fukurodani Academy to Nationals single-handedly once again!!"

"Takeyama Keisuke Japan's Genius has taken Japan's attention away as he has led Fukurodani Academy to nationals as a First-Year Captain!!!"

"Scoring the most goals in the qualifiers across all prefectures!"

"Japan's newest star that has come out of nowhere."

...

"Congratulations Takeyama-san, another hat-trick added onto your tally. How do you feel about being one of the only two non-club players called up to the U-18 national team along with Kira Ryousuke?"

A 16-year old boy with black wavy hair and dark eyes standing at a height of 182cm with a lean muscular build can be seen standing in front of a reporter.

The boy contemplated his answer before replying with, "Well, I must thank the federation and the coaches for choosing me, but I'll have to decline as I have school to worry about."

"Ah ok... Another question before you leave, if I may. According to reports, is it true that you've only started playing these past couple months?" The reporter asked with curiosity in their voice.

"Uhh, well yes, but I've come to like playing football along with my teammates." Keisuke said before walking off to go with the rest of his team.

"Gather round guys! I must congratulate you guys for reaching nationals for the first time as team, I couldn't be prouder of you guys!!!! Remember One Ball, Heart, and Soul!"

"And let's give it up for our captain everyone, Takeyama!"

"Good job, Takeyama-kun!!"

"You did it again, Takeyama-kun!!"

"Man, you sure are the best!!"

...

"I'm home."

Keisuke said out loud in the empty apartment.

'This is kinda sad coming home without seeing mom. But at least I'll have a week break now that the qualifiers are over and I can go back home to visit.' Thought Keisuke as he started to prepare himself a cup of noodles after putting his belongings away. 

Keisuke had just started his first year at Fukurodani Academy, a school his mother encouraged him to attend, hoping it would give him a better chance of getting into a good university and securing a stable job in the future. Although sending him to school in Tokyo was expensive, she was willing to make any sacrifice to ensure he was safe, happy, and had the best opportunities.

As he sat down to start eating his noodles his phone started to ring and he noticed that that caller was his mom as he ran to his phone. 

"Mom! Hey, how are you? I just got home."

"Keisuke! I'm good, just missing you. How was the game? Did everything go alright?"

"It went great, actually! We won, and we're going to Nationals! I even got a hat-trick again."

"A hat-trick! That's incredible. You're making me so proud, Keisuke. I just wish I could've been there to watch you play. But I'm cheering from home, don't forget that."

"I know, Mom. I can always feel it. But I'll come to visit soon."

"Oh, that would be wonderful! I can show everyone here how talented my son is. Speaking of which... there's something I wanted to talk to you about."

"Oh? What's up?"

"Well, I got a letter from the Japan Football Association today. It looks like it's for you. They're inviting you to join."

"Ah I heard about it already, don't worry I'm not going."

"What? Really? Keisuke, why would you say no to such a big opportunity?"

"It's just... school, y'know? I've got a lot going on, and I don't want to fall behind. Plus, school is why I came to Tokyo not football."

"Don't worry about school I already signed the papers, just go and have fun."

"But what about you?"

"Don't worry about me. I'll send you a photo of the letter so that you can know where to go."

"Okay. Goodnight, Mom."

"Goodnight, Keisuke. Love you."

"Mr. Keisuke Takeyama, Selection for a Player Improvement Project..?" Read out Keisuke after he opened the message.

...

Japan Football Union

Keisuke looked around, feeling a bit lost.

'Huh? Where am I supposed to go?'

He scanned the area, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings and trying to make sense of the scattered signs inside the building. There were more players here than he expected for a national team call-up, and it felt... strange. Why would there be so many people?

As he continued walking, he overheard whispers as a few passing players that glanced his way.

"Isn't that…?"

"It's him…"

"Takeyama Keisuke…"

Noticing the stares, Keisuke felt a mix of curiosity and wariness. He took a steadying breath, squared his shoulders, and continued toward the doors ahead. Whatever this invitation was, it seemed bigger than he'd thought. But he was ready to find out exactly what it was going to lead to.

...

As Keisuke walked into the auditorium he noticed the amount of people in the room it seemed that the number was in the 100s. Even being able to recognize some of them as previous opponents in the qualifiers.

'This doesn't make any sense.'

As he settled into the middle of the crowd a tall and slender man with glasses stepped onto the stage.

"Tch, Test, One, Two."

"Congratulations, you unpolished gems."

"All you under-18 strikers have been chosen solely based on my criteria and biases to be here today. All 300 of you."

"I am Jinpachi Ego. My job is to make Japan a team capable of winning the World Cup."

'Eh? World Cup?'

"I'll put in simple terms. Japan only requires one thing to become the strongest powerhouse in Football. And that is the creation of revolutionary striker. From you 300 players gathered today. I will forge the best striker in the world through a certain project."

'Best striker in the world?'

"Look here. For this purpose we have built this facility... called 'BLUE LOCK'."

"Starting today all of you will live in this building, and follow, down to the letter, my personally designed training game regime. You will not be able to go back home, and as of now, can consider your football careers as you know them, over."

"But I will say this: If you manage to survive on Blue Lock, and defeat the other 299 players around you...

You, the last player standing will have become the best striker in the world."

"That is all for the details. Nice to meet you all."

'Is he serious..? What the hell is this?'

"Hey! Sorry, but... I can't just agree with what you just said now."

'Kira Ryosuke'

"For most of us, our team is our main priority... Particularly those of us who'll participate at nationals."

"There's no way I can accept those terms. I... I will not throw away my own team."

'He has a point. As captain I can't just give up my responsibilities.'

"That's right...! I'm also playing at Nationals!"

"And why do we have to live all together...!"

"Yeah! Yeah!"

"Who the hell are you, anyway?!"

"Let's see someone we know!"

'But, becoming the best in world...?'

'The World Cup...?'

"I... see. All of you are really fucked in the head, huh. Get lost, then. If you're thinking of leaving, go right ahead."

'Huh?'

"Your teams are what now...? You'd really choose your teams over becoming the best striker in the world...? You'd rather be a high school champ in this shithole of a country...?"

"HUH?"

"When I look at all of you, I cringe at the thought of Japan's Football future. You get it? Japan is the best country in the world when it comes to organizational skills in football, which most people attribute to our innate national character."

"But before you get any ideas, in everything else... We're second-rate. I want to know something... What is Football to you?"

'I don't know...'

"A sport where you try to score goals in teams of 11 members...? 'Our bonds are important?', 'I will play for my teammates'?"

"Well, that's wrong. That way of thinking is exactly why Japan lacks Football skills. I will show you what it's all about...

Football is, at its core, a sport about scoring goals even at the expense of your teammates."

"The best player is the one that scores the most goals... If you want to play pretend Football instead, then get lost already."

'This guy..'

"...How insulting. Take those words back... Players like Honda, or Kagawa, and many others... All of those who shape Japan National Team's lineup...

The value of team play instilled in the national team is the same part that's part of us!"

"They are our Stars! You're WRONG."

"Hm? Honda...? Kagawa...? Hmm...?"

"You mean the squad that has yet win a single World Cup? I don't care about that trash. Aren't I talking about becoming the best team in the world? Come on."

"Let's talk about Noel Noa, for example. He managed to win the Ballon d'Or over astounding players like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo."

"He's talked about as if he's the best striker in the world... And in his words 'I feel better losing 3-4 after scoring a hat-trick, than winning only by 1-0 with an assist' and, one of the best Football players of the 20th century, Eric Cantona said this: 'When seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea'."

"Pele arguably the best Football player in history, and the winner of three World Cups, once said: 'The best forward? The best midfielder? The best defender? The best goalkeeper? To all of those questions, I always answer that is me'."

"SO! Whaddya think?! Awful aren't they?! But they can say it because they are the best! All of them are revolutionary strikers!!"

"Their extraordinary 'Egoism'... is the one thing that Japan's football lacks. You will not become the greatest striker in the world, unless you have the ego to match."

'Ego..?'

"My purpose here, is to create such a player in Japan... From the corpses of 299 players... One Hero will rise in all his glory!!"

'My heart is racing? Why do I feel so excited?'

"Alright, you unpolished gems... Let me ask you last question."

"Imagine this... You are at the very Finals of the World Cup... Playing under the eyes of 80,000 spectators in the stadium... You are on the very field..."

"The score? 0-0. It's the stoppage time of the second half... The very last play. A teammate has managed to pass the ball to you... It's 1 on 1 with the goalkeeper."

"There's a teammate six meters to your right. If you pass it to him, you'll probably score that goal... The hopes of all of Japan lie on your shoulders... You are at a turning point at the World Cup Finals... Without hesitation, you shoot. If you desire that rebellious 'Egoism'... Then step through the gate."

'This heat...?'

"Football is a sport to develop you all as strikers. Think of literally everybody else on the field as supporting you. Throw away your common sense. When you're on the field, you are the star."

'Those words... I've never felt like this in my life. '

"Your greatest joy is scoring goals, and nothing else. You live for the excitement of the very moment. Now that's a 'Striker' don't you think?"

'This guy… he's changing everything I thought I knew.'

'It was something he said.' Keisuke thought as he ran through the gate into blue lock.

Unknown to anybody but that moment led to the birth of Football's Greatest Genius.

...

"300...

Everyone decided to participate... It seems."

"So the gears have started to turn. From now on, I will follow your every order. The future of Japan's Football is in those 300 players... I will leave this in your hands, Mr. Ego," stated a woman with brown hair and eyes.

"...Perhaps, we'll have to sacrifice 299 players for this... But that will create one true striker above them all. That's the Essence of Blue Lock."

"It is..."

Jinpachi Ego then stood up while smiling at the empty space and said, "Then let us begin, Miss Anri... This will become... Football's Most Critical Moment."