Just a bit of context, I'm cross posting this with AO3 and fanfiction.net as well.
If you guys want early access for further chapters, please check out my Patreon! I update every 2-3 days over there, and it is currently on chapter 5. With that announcement out the way, let's get straight into it!
---
"I have an offer for you, Isagi Yoichi. I want to bring you into Blue Lock."
Isagi's heart skipped a beat. Confusion coursed through him as he tilted his head. "Blue Lock?"
Jinpachi's eyes gleamed with excitement as he leaned in slightly, watching Isagi intently, sensing the moment of decision. He took a step back, his hands clasped behind his back, as if preparing to deliver a lecture of monumental importance.
"Understandable that you're confused, Isagi. Let me explain." he began, his voice steady but carrying a weight that made it clear how serious he was. "You see, Blue Lock isn't just any ordinary training program. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity that Japanese soccer desperately needs. A facility that gives players a chance to create the new generation of strikers who will change the game forever. But this isn't a friendly competition. This is survival. A fight to the death, where only one can emerge as the ultimate striker that will lead Japan to their first World Cup Title."
Jinpachi took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing as he continued, his voice growing more intense with every word. "Blue Lock is a massive facility, an isolated training complex where 300 of the most talented young strikers across Japan, ranging from 15-18 years old, will be brought together. Every one of them is a potential candidate to become the next striker that leads Japan to the World Cup Trophy. You are one of those 300."
Isagi's pulse quickened as he processed the weight of what Jinpachi was saying. 300 strikers? And he was one of them? That seemed absurd at first, but the conviction and undeniable fanaticism in Jinpachi's voice made it impossible not to believe him
Jinpachi paced back and forth as he spoke, painting the picture for Isagi with vivid words. "These 300 players, each one with raw potential, brimming with untold amounts of talent, will be tested to the absolute limit. They will be pushed to their breaking points. You'll be forced to confront your deepest weaknesses, your biggest flaws. And only the most ruthless, the most self-centered players will survive."
Isagi swallowed hard, the full extent of what he was hearing sinking in. The way Jinpachi was describing Blue Lock, it sounded like a brutal, cutthroat arena where self-interest and personal glory would be the only guiding principles.
Jinpachi saw the anticipation flicker in Isagi's eyes, and he wasted no time in capitalizing on it. He stopped pacing and leaned forward slightly, his hands now gripping his jacket as if the very fabric of his words held the power to shape Isagi's future.
"The moment you step into Blue Lock, everything you've known about soccer will be turned on its head. It's not about being part of a team. It's about creating yourself into the perfect striker who stands above everyone else, someone who doesn't rely on anyone else but himself. Because in the end, the striker is the one to primarily score the goal and win the match. No one else has that privilege." Jinpachi's voice dropped lower, growing more intense. "And that's where you come in, Isagi. You have what it takes to be that striker. You just need the right environment to unlock that potential."
Isagi stood frozen, processing everything Jinpachi had just told him. His heart pounded faster as he imagined a world where he could truly carve his own path in soccer, where he wasn't bound by the expectations of team-first mentality. Yes, this was the kind of ruthless, unapologetic place he would need to cultivate his new selfish mindset, and hearing about the trials that Blue Lock presented made the blood in Isagi's veins boil with excitement.
But, doubt still lingered. Isagi hesitated, swallowing the lump in his throat. "But… if it's survival of the fittest, and only one will emerge as the best, won't that mean that 299 of us will be thrown out?"
Jinpachi's grin returned, though it was colder, sharper. He gave a small nod, his voice unwavering. "Exactly. Blue Lock doesn't care about your feelings. It doesn't care about your 'team spirit' or 'sportsmanship' mentality. This isn't a place for mediocrity. This is a place where you either fight to the top, or you fail. It's brutal and unforgiving, but the one who succeeds will be unstoppable. You'll become a player capable of carrying the entire nation of Japan on your back."
"The 300 players in Blue Lock will be isolated from the world," Jinpachi continued. "There will be no distractions, no outside pressures. You will only have one goal: to be the best striker. Every part of Blue Lock is designed to create the perfect, unflinching striker who can carry the weight of any match on their shoulders. You will train, you will compete, and you will be pushed to the edge of your abilities."
Jinpachi stopped pacing and turned to face Isagi directly, his eyes locking with his. "But here's the thing," he said, his voice lowering in intensity. "The moment you fail, whether by losing excessively or being unable to keep up with the others, you will be expelled. Blue Lock doesn't care about your background, your feelings, or your history. All that matters is how far you're willing to push yourself. It's an unforgiving system designed to weed out the weak."
Isagi's throat felt dry as Jinpachi's words hit him like a wave. A place where failure meant expulsion. Where being weak was unacceptable. It was a terrifying thought, the old Isagi would have trembled at the thought, but the new Isagi only felt excitement building up inside him. The stakes were higher than anything he would ever experience, but all it did was make him want to play.
Jinpachi took another step toward him, his voice growing even more intense, if possible. "Once you're in, there will be no turning back. You will train against the best of the best. You will play against players who have never been tested like this before. Some of them will be arrogant, others will be quiet. But they will all be fighting for the same thing you are—the chance to be number one. But only one will make it. Only one will survive and stand atop the other 299 corpses that are left behind."
Isagi's hands were clenched into fists by his sides now. His thoughts raced, his body filled with a burning desire to prove himself. He had spent so long being fed useless crap as a striker, forcing him to fit into a mold that never quite felt right. And now, Jinpachi was offering him a chance to cultivate his new found freedom. To, for once, prioritize himself above everything else.
Jinpachi's expression softened, but only slightly. He wasn't offering this to Isagi out of kindness or sympathy. No, this was about potential. About creating the next great striker. He looked directly into Isagi's eyes, his voice steady but full of conviction. "I see a lot of myself in you, Isagi, and that is why I am offering you this. Do you want to join Blue Lock? Do you want to prove that you can be the best striker in Japan? If you do, I'll offer you that chance to take it. But understand this: once you step inside, there's no going back. The only way out is through success. Do you have the hunger, the will, the ruthlessness to be the one who stands at the top? To leave every other player behind?"
For a moment, the silence was deafening. Isagi could feel the weight of Jinpachi's words hanging in the air, pressing on him. His heart was pounding in his chest. This wasn't just a decision about training or improving, this was everything he had ever dreamed of. The chance to truly become the best, to carve out his own legacy, he couldn't ask for anything more.
He met Jinpachi's gaze, feeling the weight of his words settle in his chest. "So, what do I have to do?"
Jinpachi's smile grew even wider, his eyes burning with intensity. "All you need to do is accept. Like I said earlier, you'll be one of 300 players in Blue Lock, but only one will make it to the top. Only one will prove themselves worthy. You'll face countless trials, challenges, and opponents who will push you to your limits. You'll have to fight tooth and nail to stay in the game. But if you can rise to the top, if you can truly become the best striker, then you'll have a chance to lead Japan to victory in the World Cup."
"Then you can count me in," he said, his voice steady with resolve. "I'm going to be the best and lead Japan to their first World Cup victory."
Jinpachi nodded approvingly, his grin turning even more dangerous. "Good. That's exactly what I wanted to hear."
He paused for a moment, his gaze unwavering. "But let me say this again, Isagi. The training will be ruthless. You'll face players who will do anything to take you down. You'll confront walls that seem unbreachable to the point you will almost beg to give up. But if you survive, if you make it through, then you will be reborn as the ultimate striker. Blue Lock will break you down to build you back up. If you don't think you can do it, say it now."
Isagi didn't flinch. He wasn't sure whether it was the fear or the excitement that coursed through him, but he felt alive. "I'll handle it just fine."
Jinpachi smiled, the predator's grin still wide. "Good. Then we will begin your training first thing tomorrow morning."
"Huh?"
Jinpachi nodded, his expression growing more serious.
"Yes. I'll train you personally for the next two months. You may think this is favoritism, and it most certainly is, but remember that my goal is to create the best striker in the world. It is not to play the "Everyone gets a turn" game with you all." Jinpachi scoffed.
"Since you remind me of myself the most, and one of the two players I personally scouted, I will make sure that your potential is awakened before then. The official program starts in two months, but I'll make sure you're more than ready by then. I'll make you the player you need to be."
Isagi felt a surge of anticipation.
"I'll be ready," Isagi said, his voice filled with determination.
Jinpachi's smile turned dark, but the glint in his eyes spoke of the excitement he possessed. He turned and began to walk away, his footsteps echoing in the silent stadium. "Then prepare yourself, Isagi Yoichi. Meet me here at 5 AM sharp, I will not tolerate tardiness."
"Urk… Yes coach…"
–
The night outside his room seemed endless. The sky was a deep, impenetrable black, and not even the faintest shimmer of light could break through the oppressive darkness. The curtains were drawn tightly, their thick fabric blocking any chance of moonlight from sneaking into the room. In this blanket of shadow, Isagi slept soundly, lost in peaceful slumber with content only night could bring, unmarred by the drama the outside world provides.
At least, that was until his phone decided to bitch about it.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEE–
*BAM*
With an amazing display of reflexes, Isagi's hand shot out from beneath the covers, slamming down onto his phone with a vengeance. So strong was his collision, so loud was his strike, even the dead arose to ponder on the sleeping boy's might. The shrill noise died instantly, but it was too late. The damage had been done. The dreamscape he'd been drifting through evaporated, leaving only the cold, unforgiving reality in its place.
He groaned deeply, a mix of frustration and exhaustion as his eyes fluttered open. The darkness of the room pressed in around him, and for a moment, he simply lay there, staring at the ceiling, as though willing the world to slow down just for a few minutes more. But no, it was simply not meant to be. Slowly, he dragged himself out of bed, limbs stiff and heavy. It was like dragging lead through mud and tar.
With a muffled sigh, Isagi swung his legs over the side of the bed. His feet touched the cold floor, and the chill immediately sent a jolt through his tired body. He was acutely aware of every ache and soreness as he pushed himself upright, each step a protest from his overworked muscles.
'Ugh, sometimes I wish I could just sleep in…' The thought floated lazily through his foggy mind, but it was quickly smothered by the reality of the situation. There was no time for sleep. No time for rest. No time for weakness. Not anymore.
His eyes shifted to the floor, where he had half-expected to collapse. But instead of surrendering to the temptation to lay down again, he forced himself to move. He couldn't afford to linger. Not today. Not any day. The clock was ticking.
'It's almost time for Blue Lock to open up,' The thought cut through the haze of his exhaustion, dragging him back into the present. 'I can't be slacking off now.'
It's been two months since he signed up for a hellish training regimen that felt less like preparation and more like torture. Ego's training had been grueling. There was no gentleness in his methods nor was there any sympathy. The entire time, the only focus he had was on breaking Isagi down and building him up, always vying for the striker to become sharper, faster, and stronger than he could have ever imagined.
For twelve hours a day, five days a week, Isagi endured the most excruciating exercises he could have ever imagined. His muscles were constantly pushed to their limits, forcibly broken down from the weights he would lift. The strain from endless lifting left him feeling as though his body was on the verge of collapsing under the weight. His legs, heavy and sore, screamed in agony as he was forced to run miles after miles, never allowed to slow down, never given the luxury of catching his breath. Each step felt like an eternity, and his calves and thighs throbbed with each step he took. His feet, raw and blistered from the unrelenting footwork drills, bled from the endless pivots and directional changes that had no mercy.
The shooting drills were just as brutal. Ego had made it clear from the start that shooting was the core of his training, the most important skill he needed to perfect. Isagi was forced to take shots from every angle, at every speed, with both his left and right foot. It didn't matter where he was on the field, he was expected to score. The pressure was constant. Each miss came with undesired consequences. Ego had built a system where every mistake resulted in punishment: a brutal sprint, pushing Isagi's body further into exhaustion with each failure. There was no room for hesitation, no margin for error. If Isagi didn't score, he didn't just fail; he was forced to pay the price, driving his body to the brink of collapse over and over again.
The intensity of the drills and the constant pressure pushed Isagi further than he had ever been pushed before, forging him into the perfect striker through pain, endurance, and relentless pursuit of perfection.
Isagi's only reprieve from the intense physical training came on the two mandatory rest days each week. These days were supposed to give his body time to recover, but they didn't bring the relief he craved. Even when he wasn't physically training, his mind remained restless. Instead of relaxing, Isagi and Ego would spend the weekends immersed in studying soccer. For hours, Isagi would sit there, surrounded by notebooks filled with tactical notes, watching game footage, and meticulously analyzing every detail, with Ego always providing assistance whenever he was needed.
At specific moments and plays, Ego would pause the video to break it down and explain why the play was made and what factors lead to it. How top players positioned themselves, how they read the game, and how they reacted in high-pressure situations, they would replay critical moments over and over, reviewing and working to understand the decisions made in real time.
Sometimes, Ego would have Isagi sketch out formations and play sequences, drawing arrows and circles to better visualize how certain strategies unfolded. Isagi's focus was relentless, analyzing both his own weaknesses and the strengths of others. His mind raced through combinations of plays and what-if scenarios, always searching for something new to incorporate into his own game.
This was exactly what Ego wanted.
Isagi could already feel the toll it was taking on him, both physically and mentally. There were days when he could barely move, when the pain was too much to handle and all he wanted to do was give up. But that was the point, wasn't it? It was Ego's way of testing his limits, gauging just how much he could endure.
To face those weaknesses in his mindset and conquer them without rest, that was the formula engraved in Isagi's brain.
Because of this, despite it all, Isagi never quit. The burning determination inside him wouldn't let him give up, no matter how exhausted he was. The hunger for success was too strong.
With a grunt of effort, Isagi finally pushed himself off the floor. Every part of his body protested, sore from the constant strain it endured, but all he did was relish it.
"Alright, time to get to work".
After getting ready, Isagi went out the door and made his way to the soccer field. It was still dark out, but already he could see the fairest bits of light peak out of the horizon. This was the case for him every time he walked to the soccer field, and it was a beautiful sight to indulge in. It was like healing for him, a soothing energy that seemed to just rejuvenate his soul.
Surely, there was nothing better than this.
It took some time to get there, as per the usual, but eventually he did. There were no complications, which Isagi would always be extremely grateful for (He's read plenty of mangas where the character's get isekai'd by Truck-kun during days like these) and he entered the field. When he arrived at the field, he was greeted by the familiar sight of Ego lounging on the bench, his attention absorbed by his phone.
"Good morning, coach." Isagi called out, his voice carrying across the empty field and drawing Ego's attention. The morning air was still and quiet, with only the sound of Isagi's footsteps breaking the silence.
Ego didn't look up from his phone but acknowledged Isagi's presence with a lazy wave. "Greetings."
Isagi approached him, tossing his bag onto the turf next to the bench. He flopped down beside it, grabbing his cleats and putting them on, ready to get into the rhythm of the day's workout. But just as he was finished lacing them up, Ego began to speak.
"Today will be a light and casual day," Ego said, his attention still on his phone. "We're just going to do some shooting and dribbling. Nothing too intense."
Isagi blinked, surprised. "Light and casual? You're not messing with me, are you?"
"Do I look like I'm messing with you?" Egp replied flatly, glancing up at the trainee with a deadpan. "Blue Lock starts tomorrow, and while I don't believe in babying anyone, even I know when to give you a break"
"Heh, I was beginning to think otherwise, coach."
Ego smirked, clearly amused by Isagi's jest. "I'm not completely heartless, Isagi. You need to rest before the real challenge begins. You don't want to burn yourself out before we even get started."
Isagi leaned back on the bench, stretching his legs out. He wasn't sure how he felt about the news, but it wasn't like he was going to argue. A little bit of rest didn't sound too bad, especially since he was going to need all his energy tomorrow.
After a moment of silence, Ego looked back at his phone. "That said, there's still a bit of a workout planned. I'm not going to let you slack off entirely. So, we'll do two hours of light and easy drills, primarily shooting, just to keep you from rusting. We'll focus on technique, nothing too intense."
Isagi nodded, his eyes narrowing in mock concentration. "Two hours of drills, huh? That doesn't sound too light, but I guess it's better than running sprints for hours."
"It's not just about running or lifting. You need to stay sharp, especially with your shooting. Get comfortable in every position, and don't slack off just because it's 'casual.'"
Isagi let out a dramatic sigh, but the truth was, he didn't mind. Shooting was something he enjoyed, something he could focus on without feeling like he was pushing himself to the absolute limit. Plus, a little less intensity today meant he could get creative with things, and maybe even grab some new ideas for techniques.
"Alright, alright," Isagi replied, standing up and grabbing the ball. "Two hours of fun it is. But don't expect me to go easy on myself just because it's 'light.' I'm still going to give it everything I've got."
Ego's eyes flicked up from his phone for a second, giving Isagi a smirk that suggested he was expecting nothing less. "That's the spirit. Now, let's see if you can actually hit the target consistently today, instead of all those random misses you like to blame on the wind."
Isagi laughed at the joke as he jogged to a spot on the field. He did his usual warmups and stretches, and within minutes he was ready to go.
"Alright, before we begin, is there anything specific you want to achieve today?" Ego asked, standing up from the bench and walking over to Isagi. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the training ground, but the intensity in Ego's eyes remained undiminished. "We've been honing your fundamentals and foundations a lot during these past two months, but you need a weapon in every criteria."
Isagi juggled the ball, the rhythmic taps of it sending a soothing vibration through his fingers as he pondered over the question. 'Weapons…' He repeated in his mind. 'I'll need a weapon that I don't have right now, but what is it? The ball floated in the air with ease, but his thoughts were miles away.'
When the ball came back down, Isagi trapped it with his left foot and balanced it calmly, his gaze narrowing in focus. 'My weapons right now are my shots, vision, and positioning. I guess I can count my physique and playmaking as well, but I'll have to test that out tomorrow against the other players. But what else?'
His thoughts spun faster now, his gears grinding relentlessly against themselves, searching for that missing piece. 'It's gotta be something fundamental. A tool that can shift the game in my favor...'
His mind raced, the gears turning faster as he thought about it. Suddenly, like a spark, his answer appeared.
'Wait, that's right! I don't have any weapons for my dribbling!' Isagi's eyes widened considerably as he realized this. He turned on his heel violently, and locked his gaze with Ego's own. Immediately, upon looking at the expression Isagi gave, the trainer knew that an evolution was about to occur.
"Coach, can we prioritize my dribbling today?" Isagi's voice rang out. There was hunger in tone, a fervent desire alluding to the precipice of change within him. "I know what I need to do."
Ego raised an eyebrow at Isagi but nodded. He trusted in Isagi's ability to transcend himself, seeing how he had done so the past two months without fail, and so would trust him on this again. There was also the look of certainty written across his face that solidified it for him.
"Very well." Ego nodded. "We'll go ahead and prioritize your dribbling today."
"Thank you coach" Isagi replied gratefully as he continued walking to the ball. A look of concentration formed on his face as he thought about his next steps to his evolution.
'Let's see. How would I be able to use dribbling effectively? The way most dribblers do it, they trick the defenders to committing a certain direction by using a combination of jerky and fluid movements. It's their unpredictability that allows them to do this, but that isn't enough for me. I won't be able to learn it in time to use it effectively, and I don't think I would be able to synergize it with my current specs.'
A hum escaped his throat as he continued to think. 'If I were to gauge my current specs, it would probably look something like this.'
Isagi Yoichi
Speed: 87 A
Offense: 94 S
Shot: 96 S
Passing: 90 S
Defense: 82 A
Dribble: 71 B
Total: 87 A
'If I try to add a similar style of dribbling that most other dribble centered players use, like Lavinho, then my offensive potential would go down considerably. It's gotta be something I can use with all my specs at the same time.'
Ego stood there silently, watching the gears work in Isagi's head, patient in his protégé's thinking speed. Seeing him struggling in finding his answer, he decided to step in and help. "I'm assuming you're thinking about what type of dribbling you want, correct?"
Snapping out of his concentration, Isagi glanced at his mentor and nodded. "Ya, I want something that I can use to make all of my specs improve, like my shooting and passing. I can't find anything to work with though. Nothing in soccer can complement all three main aspects, at least from what I can gather."
"I see. Then what about searching for answers that aren't strictly subjective to soccer?"
"What do you mean?"
Ego adjusted his glasses. "I mean take elements from other sports and see what you can incorporate into soccer. Take American Football for example. They primarily use specific routes to position themselves to receive the ball, creating space away from the defenders and continuing the play. Or how about rugby, where the players are always using their bodies to protect the ball from their opponents."
He understood what Ego was getting at, and he definitely found uses in his examples, but Isagi still felt like something was missing. Ego gave no other hints than that. Seeing the trainer go back to his phone, Isagi went back to thinking.
'So my problem was that I was thinking to linearly, huh? Alright, that opens up plenty of new options, I'll definitely be working on using the examples Ego gave me, but it's not what I'm looking for. Think, if I can incorporate different principles from other sports, what would be the best one? Football and rugby are physical, baseball is about reaction speed, and basketball with their… something.'
He continued to list different sports, breaking down the primary trait used in it and their offshoots. Suddenly, a strange thought occurred to Isagi.
'But what if it's not just about sports? What if I can use hobbies as well? What hobbies can best be used in soccer? There is drawing, where attention to detail would be its primary trait, singing, though I don't think that's any good. magic and its misdirect… ion…'
Isagi's thoughts came to a halt as the realization struck him.
His eyes widened and his mind started racing again, this time down an entirely different path. Magicians relied on carefully crafted illusions, leading their audience to believe one thing while executing another. Everything they did served to control the perception of the people watching them..
'That's it!' Isagi clenched his fists. 'Misdirection is the perfect tool! If I can control where my opponent thinks I'm going, I can create space not just for myself but for my teammates too! It'll complement my style perfectly! Everything I would do would have layers to them, it's totally unpredictable! I could make them think I'm passing when I'm really shooting and vice versa! There's so many options I can use to create chances and score!'
Excitement surged through him, but he forced himself to calm down. He needed to analyze this properly. How could he turn this concept into something practical? Magicians mastered misdirection through subtle hand movements, gestures, and controlled body language. In soccer, that would translate to… feints? Step-overs? No, they were decent, but they wouldn't be nearly enough to make him stand out. He needed something deeper, something ingrained in his entire play style rather than just flashy tricks.
'Think, think… How do I make it natural?'
His mind instantly recalled the one player known for his deceptive movement, Messi. He never relied on extravagant skills. He created his own plays through deceit, cunning, and skill. His usage of his pace, his slight shifts in balance, the way he baited defenders into lunging at thin air, and his use of the other players that surrounded him, all of them were calculated and used at the most perfect opportunities.
The corners of Isagi's lips curled up. There was his answer.
"I've got it.," he exclaimed, his voice steady with solid conviction.
The older man glanced up from his phone. "Hoh? Have you figured something out, Isagi?"
Isagi nodded, determination burning in his eyes. "Misdirection. I'll base my dribbling and play style on controlling the opponent's perception and make them react the way I want them to."
Ego smirked, adjusting his glasses once more. "Interesting. And how exactly do you plan to do that?"
Isagi took a deep breath, already visualizing the process in his mind. "First, I need to study how people react to body movement, especially defenders. Then, I'll refine my touches to be more deceptive. Things like small shifts in my movements, subtle weight transfers, and misleading glances to stir up their attention. There's more to it than that, though. I can't just fool one opponent, I have to trick multiple at once. If I can make defenders hesitate, even for a split second, that's all I need to create space and capitalize."
Ego finally put his phone down, a gleam of intrigue in his eyes. "Heh… Now that's a fascinating idea. But how would you manage to trick multiple defenders at once? I don't think simple body feints would cut it."
"You're right. Dribbling by itself won't be enough to outsmart them. So I thought, 'why not use the other players?'. When I say other players, I mean both my teammates and my opponents. Control the entire pitch, predict and orchestrate every play from the beginning, that's how I'll do it. The threat of me passing the ball to my teammates would cause the defenders to hesitate in committing to the tackle, and I can use their teammates as shields to create distance and set myself up for the next play."
Ego stared at him for a long moment, then gave a small nod, his lips curling into a satisfied smile. "Good thinking. If you're this committed to it, I suppose I can call someone to act as the defender right now."
Isagi tilted his head to the side. "Right now?"
"Right now," Ego confirmed. "Let's see if you can put those ideas into action, my diamond in the rough."
Seeing Isagi nod his head, Ego brought out his phone again and dialed in a number. When the sound of the ringing clicked off, Ego brought it to his ear.
"Hello Anri… yes I am… I see. Look, I need you to get in contact with one of the players from the U-20 team… I need one of them for a training session with someone of interest… I don't care if you think they'll reject it, do it anyway."
Withdrawing his phone from his ear, Ego hung up and turned back to the striker.
"We should be receiving a call back soon. In the meantime, I'll act as a dummy wall to see up close what will be needed." Ego said, earning himself a nod of confirmation.
Isagi began to dribble the ball, his touches slow and deliberate. He analyzed the trainer's posture, which stood relaxed and unflinching as he waited for Isagi to make his first move. It was the perfect form for defending, like a crouching tiger ready to pounce.
'Focus.' Isagi thought to himself, eyes scanning Ego's body for any hint of a reaction.
He pressed forward, inching closer and closer with each touch. With every feint, Ego remained still, his body refusing to betray any sign of overcommitment. It was clear to Isagi that he had to break through this quickly.
Without warning, Isagi decided to test the waters. He shifted his weight, setting his foot outward as his shoulder dipped low, attempting to draw Ego into motion. The moment felt fluid in his mind, but Ego didn't budge. His stance remained unwavering. 'Damn, too obvious.'
Isagi wasn't about to give up though. He quickly tapped the ball with the inside of his foot, hopping to the other side and blew past Ego with a burst of speed. As he started sprinting toward the goal, he felt a surge of hope. 'Oh ya. First time, baby~'
But then, in one swift motion, Isagi's confidence faltered. The ball that had been at his feet was suddenly trapped beneath Ego's form, the trainer's foot having subtly intercepted the ball mid-flight.
Isagi came to an abrupt stop, confusion flashing across his face. Ego straightened up slowly, a quiet smirk playing on his lips as he released the ball.
"A decent first attempt," Ego remarked, his voice calm but analytical. "However, your movements were too jerky and forced. When you planted your left foot, it came down too hard, which gave away the fact that it was a feint. You're trying to rush through it, but that's not the problem. It's the manner in which you're executing the feint."
Isagi nodded, listening intently. He'd already noticed that Ego hadn't moved an inch during his feint.
Ego continued, his tone unchanged. "Also, your attempt to misdirect my attention was poor, though it's only fair since there isn't really much else to direct my attention to, is there?" He paused, watching as Isagi processed the feedback. "You need more layers to it. You're too focused on the ball when you're dribbling. Don't do that. Instead, use your body to make me focus on the wrong thing. A defender won't only be watching your feet, they'll also be watching your body language, eyes, and the rhythm of your movement."
Isagi absorbed the feedback, his brow furrowing as he thought about the gaps in his approach. "So, just to reiterate. I can't focus only on the ball's direction, I also have to make my body a part of the trick, right?"
"Exactly," Ego replied, crossing his arms over his chest. "Make everything look and feel natural to the defender. Nothing should feel forced. Right now, it's clear to me that you're just trying to deceive me into going in one direction. A defender can easily read that. If you want to get past me, you'll need to make every movement fluid and convincing. And for your misdirection, it's not just about getting the ball past me. You need to make me think you're doing one thing, then do something completely different. Your feint was obvious because your body wasn't aligned with the deception."
Isagi nodded again, taking it all in. 'So I need to change the rhythm of my movements, make them unpredictable. I have to make the entire action look natural, not forced.'
Ego uncrossed his arms and stepped forward, giving him a sharp glance. "You'll need to change your approach. This time, I want you to slow down. Take your time with it and get a feel for it. Analyze it to the best of your ability before putting it into high gear. You're too fast to properly make use of it, so slow down and dissect it. Don't worry about whether I'm not feeling the pressure or not for now, get used to the movements and then try again."
"Got it. I'll go ahead and work on it right now." With that said, Isagi walked away to continue practicing, leaving Jinpachi to his own devices. And with perfect timing too since his phone began ringing right at that moment. Seeing the caller being Anri, Ego picked up.
"So, what was their reply?"
"Well, to put it simply, they rejected. Harshly."
"I see. Is there any alternative solutions, then?"
"I don't think so. I could try and get in contact with someone else, but that could cost us a lot of money."
"That won't do at all…" Ego muttered to himself.
"Anri, I'll need you to contact the other options you've mentioned. Get the details, but don't commit to anything until I review it. We might need to get creative with our approach to make this work. I won't let this setback derail us."
"Understood," Anri replied. "I'll get to work on that right away."
Ego hung up the phone, his mind already shifting gears. He looked back at Isagi, who was now running through his drills with a more fluid, confident pace. He could see that Isagi was starting to understand the finer details of deception. But as much as Isagi's progress excited him, there was still the matter of the other issue hanging over them. As much as Ego hated delays, he knew this was just another obstacle to overcome.
He walked over to the edge of the field, his eyes tracking Isagi's movements. The player was getting closer to understanding the essence of misdirection, but the real test would be in how he applied it in the game, when defenders weren't just static targets for practice. Ego crossed his arms, watching the young striker carefully.
Just as he turned to walk back toward the bench, he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. It was another call from Anri. Without hesitation, the black haired trainer answered. "What is it?"
"I got into contact with the other options, but only one agreed," Anri answered. Her tone became hesitant. "Though I don't think you'll like it."
"Just tell me."
"It's Sae Itoshi. He said he was willing to help... but his price is five million yen."
Ego's eyes narrowed as he processed the information. Sae Itoshi, one of the brightest stars in the football world, a member of the illustrious "New Generation World 11". He was undeniably talented, but also notoriously difficult to work with. Five million yen was a steep price, but if anyone could help Isagi reach the next level, it was him. Ego's mind quickly ran through the logistics, the risks, and the potential rewards.
"Five million yen..." Ego muttered under his breath, weighing the situation. "That's a steep price for a single session."
"True," Anri replied, "but it's the only other option you have. I don't know why you need him to help train your protégé, whoever he is, but that's his price."
Ego's gaze shifted over to Isagi, who was practicing on the field. The young striker had improved significantly, but there was still a lack of edge in his moves. 'No doubt, with Sae Itoshi's help, Isagi will be forged into a perfect striker. With his experience, tactical insight, and ability to read the game, Sae Itoshi would be invaluable for Isagi in this stage of his development.'
Ego nodded, making his decision. "Alright. I'll take the offer. But let's make one thing clear: this is for training, not for show. We're focusing on improving my protégé's skills. If Sae can't help with that, then the deal ends and he won't get the money."
Anri's voice was slightly more assured now. "Understood. I'll let him know and get things in motion."
Ego ended the call and placed the phone back in his pocket, his mind already calculating the upcoming session. Five million yen was a significant amount of money, but it would be worth it if it meant improving Isagi's game. He had no time to waste on anything else.
"Have you found your rhythm yet?" Ego asked, making his way over to where Isagi was training.
"I have." Isagi looked up from the ball when he heard the question and flashed Ego a confident thumbs up. "This time I'll get past you for sure."
"Good. Let's put your words to the test."
The air thickened with tension as those words were uttered, the challenge in them spurring a fire within the young striker. They moved together toward the tip of the penalty box, the tension building with every step. Ego stood just a few paces from the box, his presence commanding, while Isagi advanced confidently, positioning himself slightly ahead. His pulse quickened, the challenge now clear before him. Every muscle in his body was primed, ready to face Ego's impenetrable defense and push himself beyond what he had been just earlier.
The two locked eyes, and without hesitation, Isagi moved. He dribbled forward, slow at first, testing Ego's response. Ego didn't flinch. He stayed calm, his posture relaxed but his eyes fixed on Isagi's every movement, waiting for the right moment to pounce.
Isagi took a subtle step to the right, feinting to draw Ego's attention. Ego shifted slightly, preparing to cut off the move, but Isagi already had his next plan in motion.
'Time to move' With a sudden shift, Isagi turned his body sharply to the left, moving so his back faced Ego while dragging the ball in front of himself. He positioned himself so that his body shielded the ball, blocking Ego's path with his frame. The move was fluid, making sure that Ego had no immediate way to intercept the ball.
But it wasn't just the shield that mattered. The real magic had yet to come. As Ego closed in, he pressured Isagi with light nudges and quick pokes at the feet to try and grasp the ball. He felt the pressure building, but he held steady, making sure to keep his eyes both on the ball and on Ego as he pivoted further, forcing Ego to adjust his position.
Ego's eyes flicked down, trying to catch sight of the ball. That was the opening Isagi needed. With fluid motion, Isagi stepped to his right, shifting his shoulders to convince Ego he was going in that direction. The sudden movement caused his eyes to lift up from the ground, and Ego stepped accordingly to the move.
'Got him~'
As soon as he saw Ego shift, Isagi pushed off with his planted right foot, moving in the opposite direction. As he made the transition, he used his left heel to flick the ball, sending it through Ego's legs in a perfectly executed meg. The moment was swift and effortless, and before Ego could even realize what happened, Isagi was already sprinting past him, the ball comfortably at his feet.
Ego's eyes widened in disbelief as he registered what had just happened. In an instant, he pivoted, spinning around just in time to watch Isagi strike the ball with precision, sending it flying into the top right corner of the goal. The net rippled with the impact, the perfect shot.
Ego stood frozen for a beat, his gaze fixed on Isagi as he sprinted away, a look of quiet satisfaction on his face. Then, a low chuckle escaped Ego's lips, his smirk barely visible beneath the weight of the moment.
"Not bad," he said, the words carrying both amusement and a hint of approval. "That was completely unexpected."
Isagi grinned back at him, satisfaction written all over his face. "Glad you think so, coach. Was it any good?"
"It was. You would need to execute it much quicker during real games due to the possibility of other players interfering, but in one on one situations it's nigh unguardable. Only someone with superb vision and reactions would be able to defend this."
The compliment was like a divine blessing to Isagi. During the two months of training, Ego had never given any form of praise or compliment to the raven haired teen, not once had even a hint of one escape. Now though, after achieving such a monumental breakthrough in his evolution, Ego congratulated him.
It was awesome.
They continued to practice, the sound of the ball bouncing and the rhythm of their movements filling the air as they experimented with different combinations and refined Isagi's misdirection. With each attempt, Isagi grew sharper, more fluid, his feints and flicks becoming increasingly unpredictable. Time seemed to slip away unnoticed, the clock ticking past the two-hour mark as neither of them showed any sign of slowing down. The relentless focus of Isagi's training was palpable, a shared drive for him to perfect every move until it was second nature.
Finally, when noon arrived, Ego paused, glancing at the sky. The heat of the day was starting to settle in, and he could see the striker's energy was beginning to wane. With a satisfied exhale, Ego called for a break.
"Alright, that's enough for now. Take a break," Ego said, his voice calm but authoritative. "You've made solid progress today, even if it's supposed to be a light workout, so we'll be taking a two hour break instead of the usual one hour. Don't argue with me."
Isagi nodded in agreement, sweat dripping down his face, his body tired but satisfied with the work done. He was eager to catch his breath and use the time to think over everything they'd just worked on.
"Also, in light of you finding your new weapon, I'll grab us some pork cutlets."
"I will worship you forever, coach."
"Succeed in Blue Lock instead."
Before Isagi could respond with his own witty comeback, Ego turned and walked off toward the shop. Isagi leaned back to stare up at the sky, his mind drifting between the training session and the feeling of hunger that had begun to gnaw at him. A few minutes had passed when Isagi heard footsteps again.
'Huh? Ego's back already?' Isagi thought confusedly as he shifted his sight towards the direction of the sound. 'I thought he'd be gone longer.'
However, just as he thought this, he froze.
There, walking right in front of the entryway to the field, was the most famous soccer player in Japan, Sae Itoshi. His expression was aloof and bored, as though he couldn't care about anything, and he wore standard training gear. The faint aura of arrogance surrounding him was unmistakable, the same air that Isagi had seen countless times on TV during interviews. Sae Itoshi was used to being the center of attention, thanks to him being in the New Generation World 11. Behind him, an older man stood. His haggard face looked entirely out of place next to the immaculate clothing, but Isagi didn't give him a second thought. To him, the older man was irrelevant. He was insignificant compared to Sae.
His eyes widened as he recognized Sae, but Isagi quickly masked it with a cool exterior. He'd watched the player's highlights, read about his accolades, but never expected to run into him like this. His heart thudded, though he wouldn't admit it. Sae was one of the most renowned players in Japan, and the fact that he was here, on the field, left Isagi slightly stunned.
As if sensing the weight of Isagi's gaze, Sae turned his attention toward him. The moment their eyes met, the world seemed to narrow down to just the two of them. The space between them pulsed with tension, as if time itself had paused. They didn't speak. They just stood there, each sizing the other up.
Seconds dragged on like minutes. Isagi could feel the scrutiny, the pressure to say something, but he resisted the urge. Finally, Sae broke the silence with a casual tilt of his head, his voice laced with that signature indifference.
"So, you're the one I was hired to train?" He asked boredly, placing his hand on his hip as he analyzed Isagi.
Standing up, Isage faced Sae confidently. His shock was still there, but it was muted to the point of nonexistence. He said nothing as he allowed the famous midfielder to continue studying him.
Sae smirked at him amusedly. "Well, it doesn't really matter. I was around the area since I came back for an interview, so I thought why not? The only reason I decided to accept this was because I recognized Jinpachi Ego's name, anyways."
"You recognized Ego's name?" Isagi raised an eyebrow at his words. "Didn't take you for the kind of guy who fawns over older men."
"The only reason why I know him is because he was the only striker in Japan's history to actually be worth a damn. He was considered Noel Noa's first rival, after all."
"Fair enough."
They both stood in silence, comfortable with the break in banter between them. After a bit, Isagi decided to introduce himself "I'm Isagi Yoichi, by the way. Nice to meet you."
"Itoshi Sae."
They shook hands, a common courtesy that even Sae wasn't arrogant enough to reject. Letting go, Isagi gestured over to his side. "If you want, you can set your stuff down here. Ego's out getting lunch right now, so we have some time before he gets back."
Sae looked over to where he pointed, seeing the empty patch of turf next to Isagi's equipment. He turned to the older man behind him. "Oi, go ahead and put the bag there."
He looked back at Yoichi. "I'm going to test you out for now. If you're not up to my standards, I'll leave right away."
"Sounds good. Thanks for taking care of me."
With their agreement solidified, they entered the field. With the ball at his feet, Isagi stood ready to train. "So, how are we going to do this?"
"You're a striker, right? I'll test you on the goals you score. Both from my passes and from your own merit. Score enough goals to satisfy me, and you'll pass."
"K. Then let me start with a 1v1 then."
Sae raised an eyebrow at the audacious comment but didn't question it. Setting themselves up, with Isagi further away from the goal. Sae was prepared for defense, ready to stop anything that came his way.
Checking the ball to Sae, who checked it back, Isagi dribbled forward. He kept his pace slow and deliberate as he made his way towards the midfielder, assessing his stance and reactions. 'No doubt about it. He's definitely world class. He's got the same stance Ego did, but it's a lot better.'
Sae kept his eyes on the ball as Isagi continued, barely flinching from the subtle feints Isagi would make. He narrowed his eyes.
'This kid… He's good. He's keeping the ball just far enough to try and bait me in, but if I do that it would leave a gap for him to exploit.' He analyzed, shifting his feet as he adjusted to a change in direction. 'Let's see what happens when I pressure him closer.'
Isagi instantly noticed the change in Sae's demeanor and prepared himself. Immediately, Sae exploded forward towards Isagi, intent on forcing a mistake. Isagi met him head on, dribbling to the side and sprinting. Sae followed chase, unwilling to let even the barest of gaps open up.
Isagi's being was filled with intent and focus as he continued their duel.
'Ok, I'm aligned now, I think this will work. If not, then I'll just look like an idiot.' Isagi's eyes widened in concentration. This was the moment to see if his new technique worked as well as he thought. His peripherals caught sight of Sae's manager, and by placing himself between him and Sae, he was ready to act. 'Now.'
Sae stood ready, focused on Isagi while he patiently waited for him to move. So far, he wasn't impressed with the striker. Too timid and less assertive than a striker should be.
His eyes, which were honed on the ball, caught the sight of Isagi's foot move, followed by his body shifting in that direction as well. He flickered his gaze upwards and saw the shoulder dip, and instantly knew it was a feint. Just as he was about to tackle the ball, something happened.
His eyes slipped.
For the briefest of moments, his eyes looked at his manager, it didn't even last a second.
And Isagi disappeared.
'WHAT?!?!' Sae's eyes widened considerably at the disappearance of his opponent, looking wildly to try and find where he was. Hearing the sounds of crunching, he turned around to see Isagi sprinting way beyond him, charging up his left foot for a shot.
And when he let it rip? The ball flew like a bullet. Without a doubt, even if there was a goalkeeper ready to block the shot, they would have failed anyways.
It was a perfect shot.
Sae watched as the net rippled, Isagi standing right in front of the goal. He couldn't understand the play, he didn't understand how he was fooled so easily. It left him confused. It left him frustrated.
But most of all, it left him amazed.
A play, never seen before in the history of soccer, had just been made. Not once in a thousand interviews had anyone even mentioned a feeling similar to what he had just experienced. Not his teammates, not his opponents, not his friends, and most certainly not that tepid brother of his.
A small smirk bloomed on his face at the thought.
While Sae was thinking this, Isagi basked in the novelty of his moment.
'Yes! It was a total victory! I managed to get past Sae, and I confirmed my new technique works! This is perfect!' Isagi had pure jubilation flow through him right now. This was a euphoria that he had never felt before, not once in all of his years of playing soccer. The act of beating the best, of devouring them and surpassing them, even if it's for that one tiny moment, engraved itself into Isagi.
"Hell yeah!" With an enthusiastic pump of his fist, the striker celebrated his achievement. Sae understood it well. It was a monumental accomplishment for the unknown striker to beat him, so he let him have his moment.
There was nothing else he could do, no way for him to lecture Isagi about the play. He didn't even know how it happened.
"That was impressive, Isagi." Turning around, Isagi saw the Itoshi clapping his hands in congratulation. "That move of yours was brilliant."
"Thanks," Isagi chuckled. "I just came up with that move this morning. Glad to know it worked."
"You made it this morning?" Sae's eyebrows lifted in surprise.
"Ya. It took me a while to get it right today, but I'm glad I managed."
"Interesting. You mind telling me about it?"
Isagi grinned at the curious tone Sae took on. He could see the respect and curiosity build up in his eyes, replacing the boredom and condescending tone it once had. "Sure. It's actually really simple. It's misdirection."
"Misdirection?"
"Ya, you know how magicians use misdirection to manipulate people's perception over something? That's basically this."
"I see. When you put it that way…" Sae's eyes widened as something hit him. "You positioned yourself between me and Dabadie intentionally, didn't you?"
"Who's tha- oh, your manager. Ya, that's exactly what I did. I used the body feint to bring your attention up to me, and when it did I moved just subtly enough to make you focus on him behind me. It left you distracted for a second, and that second was all I needed to get past you."
The midfielder regained his smirk, though it wasn't tainted with the feeling of superiority this time. "Now I get it. To me, it just looked like you disappeared."
"It did?"
"Yeah. It left me pretty shocked."
Isagi hummed as he processed Sae's words. He didn't know what it looked like at the receiving end of the move, since he was the one who created it, so getting insight on it gave him an idea for the most important part of the technique.
"Alright, thanks for telling me that. Now I know how to fix the problem I was having with it."
"Wait, you had a problem with it?" This worried Sae. If the technique was incomplete still, how would it work when it was improved? If it already worked on him, how would he be able to defend himself from the move again?
"Ya. I was totally lost on what to name it. But thanks to you, I got the perfect one."
'Oh, so that's what it is.'
"Then what will you call it?"
Isagi brought up his hand and clenched it into a fist. His grin stood promement behind it. "This is… the Vanishing Drive."
Silence came between the two of them as the words hung in the air. Slowly, as time passed, Isagi's face became redder, embarrassment seeping into him "Come on, dude, you gotta respond with something!"
Blinking, Sae came back to the world of the living. When he did, he chuckled.
"Don't laugh, man! I'm actually beginning to feel like it was better when you were quiet!"
He didn't stop until a minute had passed. When he was done chuckling, he looked up at Isagi's embarrassed face. "Sorry about that, couldn't help myself. Anyways, I think I have a decent understanding of your playstyle."
Isagi's expression sobered instantly, standing attentive to Sae's words as he continued. "This time, I want to see how you operate on the field without the ball. We'll br moving the ball around from the midfield to get closer to the goal. Think of it like an actual match, not as a drill. I'll send you my passes every time I see an opportunity. Your job is to find it as well and score the goal. I have high hopes for you right now, so don't let me down."
"Just watch me. You'll be left amazed by the end of it."
—-
It had been an hour since he had left, and Ego finally made it back to the field. Normally, he wouldn't do something like this, but he was impressed with his protégé's performance so he made an exception. As he made his way to the field, the sound of the soccer ball being kicked made its way to his ears.
'Is this kid practicing again? I thought I told him to rest.'
As he entered the field, he found his answer for why Isagi was moving. There, on the field, he saw Isagi and Sae move the ball around together with perfection, a chemistry only seen by players who played with each other for years.
Glancing to the side, he saw the manager sitting on the bench with a look of amazement.
"How long have they been practicing?" Ego's quip startled the manager from his awe, causing him to turn back and look at the trainer.
"Oh, mister Ego. I didn't notice you arrived." The manager, Dabadie, scratched his head. "They've been at it for almost an hour now."
"I see." Ego responded, satisfied with the answer.
Dabadie chuckled awkwardly. "Honestly, I've never seen Sae enjoy himself so much before. He looks like he's having fun practicing with that student of yours."
Ego, confused, didn't understand what the manager was saying. He turned to look at the field, and saw that the manager was right. During the exchanges of the ball, Sae had a smile on his face. It was small, but the satisfaction and contentment in it were larger than anything in the world. Its intensity matched Isagi's own grin, which stretched as wide as it could possibly be.
The speed and precision that they moved the ball was beyond anything Jinpachi had ever seen before, almost rivaling the tiki taka's that the entire Spain National Team was known for. Their chemistry was that fluid, and at times Ego swore that they didn't even look at each other when they were passing.
No, wait, they weren't! At certain times, Isagi and Sae wouldn't even look at each other's direction and just send the ball towards them, and every time the ball would be perfectly positioned for them to continue the play. It was like their vision was synced, like they were one mind in two bodies. It was amazing.
Then, it happened. Sae did what seemed to be an underlap run with Isagi, who heeled it back preemptively for him to receive. Sae didn't charge in like most normally would, instead he continued moving towards the side. Isagi, on the other hand, sprinted towards the goal box like a wrecking ball. It took a second for him to reach the box.
With a light grin, Sae didn't even look at the direction Isagi was in, slamming his foot into the ball in a perfect trivela. It was clear to Ego that he trusted Isagi to be in the right spot for the pass.
And he was right. Isagi was right there, his eyes not even following the ball until it found its way to his foot. Without a seconds hesitation, no touch to control the ball, Isagi launched a powerful volley from the corner of the box, his right foot a blur as the ball slammed into the net, causing it to ripple violently.
They were both sweating, though Sae's was much lighter compared to the shower Isagi was in, but it was still quite the sight.
"Nice shot, Isagi." Sae high-fived Isagi as they jogged towards each other.
"Thanks." Isagi grinned. "Once again you prove that your passes are amazing as everyone says they are."
"Of course, that was a given. The real shock comes from you being able to keep up with them. I've never had such an amazing chemistry with anyone before, not even on Royale."
"Haha, thanks. I'll take that compliment as an offer for a contract."
"At the rate you're going, I'm tempted to make it happen."
Ego watched as the two joked with each other like they were best friends, exchanging jabs and laughs with great amusement. They were making their way back to the bench, presumably to get some water, so Ego decided to intervene.
"I'm glad to see you two get along." Ego said as he held up a plastic bag. The two player's attention shifted to him, and they both landed on the bag. "I had a feeling you would arrive while I was gone, so I got you some too, Itoshi Sae."
"Thanks." Sae nodded his head towards Ego in gratitude, not noticing the peculiar sight next to him. That was, until he turned his head.
He did a double take when he saw the stars in Isagi's eyes.
Ego chuckled at him. "Go ahead, my protégé. You've earned your rest."
That was all that he needed to hear, and without a second's hesitation Isagi pounced on the food and dug in. Sae was a lot more methodical with it, grabbing his portion gracefully and sitting down next to Isagi.
Ego joined them as well, sitting down on the bench and popping open his tray of food. With a soft sigh, he addressed the famous midfielder for Royale Madrid. "So? What's your impression of him?"
Sae opened his chopsticks and dug in, taking a second to think about his response. Isagi's ears perked up at the question, and he too waited for Itoshi's answer.
"He's remarkable." He decided, chewing his food and swallowing. Isagi wondered how he managed to make that look elegant as well. "His abilities are much better than any other striker in Japan that I've seen. If I were to guess, I'd say he's a little more than halfway to becoming a World Class player like me. I'd say with certainty that he's good enough to play in some of the moderate sized leagues like the French League. Maybe not as a starter, but definitely as a priority sub in."
"Oh?" Ego's eyebrow lifted at the lofty praise Sae just gave.
"Right now, he just needs experience to hone his abilities. He told me about his misdirection, and I've got to say it's one of the most brilliant things I've witnessed on the field. He tricked me earlier with a drive when we were doing a one on one. It was like he vanished into thin air."
Ego remained silent at this, but the widening of his eyes spoke volumes of his reaction.
Sae continued to speak. "Not only that, his visions and IQ matches mine perfectly. It took a few tries for him to adapt, but when he did I was amazed. Everything we did was exactly as I envisioned it. Perfect, flawless, and absolutely beautiful. His ability to adapt and reconstruct himself was amazing to see, I'd say that's his biggest weapon so far." Sae looked at Ego resolutely, and Ego knew from the look in his eyes that Sae was speaking with truth. "I'll say this as honestly as I can, he's the best striker I've played with so far. Including Luna"
That left a shock in everyone there. Isagi, the unknown striker about to be indoctrinated into Blue Lock, was just proclaimed to be the greatest striker Sae's played with. Above his past self, above his former teammates.
Above one of the best strikers in the entire world.
Before anyone could make any assumptions on his meaning, Sae explained himself. "I'm not saying he's the best striker as an individual. He's still not nearly as good as Luna or Loki on his own. But as a team player, he has the best flow and potential to play with and make chances for himself. The way he played with me today told me. That's why I say he's the best striker I've played with. Because he can synergize with me perfectly."
That made more sense to them. At first, Ego worried that the caliber of players had worsened, but Sae's explanation cleared up the misunderstanding. Still though, it was a testament to Isagi's ability to evolve.
Sae leaned back, propping his hands on the ground to stabilize himself. "I came here at first because I had nothing better to do, but i'm glad I took you up on your offer, Ego. It's clear to me that Japan has a chance of making it in the World Cup this time around." Sae glanced at Isagi. "If you continue to evolve the way you are right now, we might be able to actually win it entirely."
Isagi sat there shocked, wide eyed as he absorbed the compliment. Finally, after a few seconds, he grinned.
"Glad you think so, Sae. But don't worry, next time you'll see me, I'll have definitely reached the top stage."
"After what I saw today? I'm expecting it."
With his portion said, Sae stood up and began to stretch. "Well, I think that's it for me. I'm going to head home now."
"Already? It's only been an hour though." Isagi stood up with him, giving him a questioning stare.
Before Sae could respond, Ego spoke up. "No, he's right. I had promised you a 2 hour workout today and we went way above that. I think now is the perfect time for us to finish up."
Seeing as Ego agreed with Sae, Isagi had no choice than to comply. "Fine. Guess we're finished then. Nice training with you, Sae."
"You too, Isagi." Turning around, Sae once again dropped another bomb. "Seeing as you're his trainer, Ego, I'm going to let you know that I'll have Royale send Isagi an offer to join the club."
"Wait, WHAT?!!" Isagi yelled in shock at the Itoshi's words.
Sae smirked amusedly. "What, you didn't think I wouldn't try and recruit you after seeing the way you played today? Come on now, you're too good for me too just leave be."
"Unfortunately, I can't have you do that yet." Ego interjected before Isagi could respond. "Isagi is going to be going through a special training program for the next month, and I can't have him leave."
Sae narrowed his eyes at Ego, irked by the news. "Surely, it won't be as good as going to Royale with me, is it?"
"It is. I'm the one who is overseeing everything in the facility. There is no better place for Isagi to grow as a striker than there."
Sae huffed irritably, but didn't try to pressure further. "Fine then. If that's the case, tell me about this facility Isagi is going to be in."
Nodding, Ego explained the process of Blue Lock to Sae. By the end of it, Sae looked thoughtful. Finally, he came to a decision. "I see. That makes sense, I suppose. Very well, I want to be involved with this project too. I want to watch as Isagi becomes stronger than he is now."
"That, I can do." Ego replied, his grin sharp and menacing. "But in exchange, I want you to agree to do something for me, free of charge. I'll still lay you for today, but going forward everything you do pertaining to Blue Lock will be without a price, is that clear?"
"It is. I look forward to working with you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be on my way."
With nothing else to say, Sae turned on his heel and left. He wasn't thrilled about the rejection to his offer, but he was content with the opportunity presented to him. Watching Isagi grow would be a treat to him, and if what Ego was hinting at was true, then there was a possibility that Isagi would go to Royale anyways.
That was the final day they had before Blue Lock. No one could wait.
---
Hello Everyone! Welcome to Chapter 2! Hope you all enjoyed reading it, I sure as hell had a blast writing it. If you guys want early access for further chapters, please check out my Patreon! I update every 2-3 days over there, and it is currently on chapter 5