"IM NIHEI FROM soccer journal, I'd like to get some material for a story today, until recently, you had been playing in the youth team associated with the world renowned team, real madrid.

But due to their regulations, you weren't able to play on a top team and returned to japan... so now, do you think we'll ever get to see you play in a domestic league?" The man asked, sitting in his cushioned chair.

"...I'd rather drop dead. If I played soccer here, I'd be better off playing with some german college students." The midfielder remarked carelessly as the journalist nervously sweatdropped, "uhm, itoshi-kun, you were chosen as one of pifas 11 best new players."

'This sucks.'

The journalist thought. "as a midfielder, you're a young athlete whos sought out after by club teams all over the world. Dont you have any aspirations to someday wear the rising sun... and represent japan?"

Sae stood up, "I'm not interested in the slightest, I can never become the best in the world by playing for a puny country like this. My dream is to win the champions league.

There in no forward in this country that can receive my passes... i was just born into the wrong country." He explained, grabbing onto the door handle and opening the door.

"Ah- thanks for your precious time."
'he's so conceited'

The journalist sweatdropped, "thanks for your hard work, my manager will handle the rest." 'I suppose there isnt anyone in japan who can satisfy this genius, who's only interested in being the best in the world.'

"You cant do that, itoshi-chan! The press is going to hate you!" Sae's manager exclaimed, "I don't care about that, i only came back because my passport expired."

'And the fact that shes here makes me want to stay in japan longer,' "Does it seem seems crowded here? ah, it seems a press conference is being held in the event hall." The manager stated the obvious,

An elderly man spoke on a microphone, "so we've gathered 300 of the most outstanding high schoolers... and are training them as strikers that can lead japan to a world cup victory. We call it the blue lock project."

A woman spoke up from the crowd, "This is indeed a revolutionary project... but is it necessary to disrupt these high school lives?" A few shouts of agreements were heard from across the crowd.

"And supposing you were able to produce a single world- class striker, where's the proof that japan would be able to win the world cup?"

"It sounds as if you're
saying you dont mind wasting the lives of 299 people for the sake of one person, arent there any parents opposed to this?!" Another man yelled from the audience as the elder man panicked,

He began, "well... of course we hold the students wishes in highest esteem... And the parents have all signed their consent already-" the older man was cut off as the pink haired female stood up and quietly muttered,

"Their lives will be wasted...?" Then suddenly shouted, "Damn right! This insane project is necessary for japanese soccer to advance to the next level!" The old man next to her quietly called her name, she ignored him, continuing, "dont you want to see... the moment when- a hero is born in the world of japanese soccer?!"

-bllk building

"Now then, let's begin blue locks first selection. For the first selection, all of you in wing 5... will have a round robin tournament for all five teams. After the final match... the top 2 teams will clear the selection. it's a survival match." Ego informed as chigiri asked,  "So the eleven of us in team Z count as one team? Even though we're all forwards...?"

"That means we just have to play all the other positions, you can be the goalie" imamura cheekily said to iemon, "knock it off, I'd do it if I have to."

Others in the room were arguing on who'll be the forward until ego cut in. "Listen, soccer is primarily a game about scoring points, having eleven forwards makes perfect sense.

The positions and tactics that have been stupidly imprinted on you brains... were just roles that were created as a part of soccer's evolution, when soccer first started, all players were strikers.

play soccer from that starting point. rebuild it from zero in your heads." 'Rebuild soccer...from zero...' isagi thought while slightly sweating.

-jfu

"Over the last quarter century... Japanese soccer has made incredible progress on a global scale. And that's because our citizens have frequently believed in their dreams. The pro league was established in 1992.

And we first entered the world cup in 1997. Out partnership with Korea first got us into the world cup best sixteen in 2002, then we disproved the rumors and made it into the league again in 2010. Then in 2018 we nearly beat belgium who was a finalist.

It was so close... and so frustrating... after just one more step, we wouldve stood shoulder to shoulder with the worlds best. The worlds soccer fans had to admit, that japanese soccer had grown truly strong. But in order to take that "one more step"... japanese soccer in it's current state must die.

The dream of our predecessors was "to enter the world cup"... as well as to prove that japanese soccer... could compete with the world. And at some point, the dream we had served its purpose... which means... that now is the time... for us to find a new dream!"

-

"Dont trust the common sense you've learned up until now. Throw it away. And pound this new concept into your brains. What japan needs most of all to win the world cup, isnt the teamwork of eleven people... it's for just one person to be a hero.

Messi... c.ronaldo... neymar... soccers evolution is limitless thanks to those lone heros. The defensive system was created to stop them... And new tactics are required to surpass that." Ego explained.

-

"One person's light can change a team... a country... and even the world! That's the kind of sport soccer is! Right now, japanese soccer is on the cusp... of a new stage! And it's not us jaded adults... but those three hundred high schoolers who will play the leading parts! All of it... is in blue lock!!!, that concludes... this confrence."

Anri finished off her speech as people in the crowd started shouting in protest, "You cant be serious!" "You're betting too much on young talent!" Has the association gone mad?!"

Sae's manager glanced at him and informed, "Itoshi-chan, we need to leave to catch our flight to spain..."

"Cancel it." Sae ordered.

His manager was confused
before sae started speaking again, "I'll see for myself... what kind of forward this country will produce."

-

'The one who will survive... is me!' Isagi thought with determination in his eyes. (name) anxiously looked around the room as she thought, 'i- do I really want to do this... with these big and scary dudes? Either way, its too late to turn back now...'

.

.

.

'man isagi is a b-'

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sorry for uploading late ajksjzjzjnz I've been rlly busy lol