Chapter 53 : The Right-Way
After the goal, as the cheers from his teammates began to fade, Isagi turned his sharp gaze toward Nanase. The younger player stood a few steps away, his breathing labored but his expression alight with a mix of relief and uncertainty. It was clear to Isagi that Nanase was still processing the moment—the pass, the interception, the goal.
Isagi walked toward him, his movements steady, his demeanor calm yet deliberate. Stopping just short of Nanase, he spoke, his voice low but firm, cutting through the lingering hum of the field.
"Why didn't you use your left foot?"
The question hung in the air, simple yet loaded with intent. Nanase blinked, startled. His mouth opened slightly, but no immediate response came. He replayed the moment in his mind—the pass, the pressure, Rin's looming figure—and realized what Isagi was pointing out.
"I… didn't think about it,"
Nanase admitted, his tone tinged with confusion.
"It just felt natural to use my right."
Isagi's eyes narrowed, but not in frustration—he was analyzing, piecing together Nanase's hesitation. A faint breeze swept through the field, rustling the hair on both players as Isagi considered how to convey what he had observed.
"You're Ambipedal, right?"
Isagi asked, feigning confusion. His tone was casual, almost offhand, the question was to nudge Nanase toward a realization.
Nanase tilted his head, his expression blank with confusion.
"Wha?- What's that?"
Isagi chuckled softly at the reaction, shaking his head in amusement.
"It means you can use both of your feet with equal precision"
He explained, his voice carrying an edge of encouragement.
Nanase's eyes widened at the explanation, a flicker of recognition crossing his face. He'd heard of ambipedal players before—Noel Noa, the world's best striker, was famously one of them. But he had never thought to associate such a rare ability with himself.
"I-I think you're mistaken"
Nanase stammered, shaking his head quickly. His voice was hesitant, as though trying to reject the very possibility.
"I don't think I have something like that."
Isagi raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable, but he didn't press further. Instead, he leaned slightly forward, his voice dropping to a steady, confident tone.
"Try using your left foot more often from now on"
He suggested, as if the matter was already decided.
Nanase blinked, his thoughts racing. Could it really be true? Could he possess such a rare and valuable ability without even realizing it? Before he could dwell further, the sharp sound of the intercom interrupted his thoughts, signaling for the players to get back into position and restart the game.
Isagi glanced toward Nanase, his gaze unwavering.
"You'll figure it out," he said simply, the words carrying an unmistakable weight of belief. Without waiting for a response, he turned and jogged back to his position, leaving Nanase standing there, frozen in thought.
Nanase slowly made his way back to his spot, his mind churning. He flexed his left foot experimentally as if testing the truth of Isagi's words. If there was even a chance that Isagi was right, then he couldn't ignore it.
'I'll give it a try'
Nanase resolved, determination sparking within him. As the whistle blew to resume play, his focus sharpened. This time, he would see what his left foot could do.
Rin stood at the center circle, ready to begin the kick-off. His sharp eyes scanned the field, calculating the best way to start the play. With a decisive motion, he sent the ball to one of the taller players on his team, a choice that caught even the recipient by surprise. The tall player hesitated for a split second but quickly gathered himself, shifting into a forward run with the ball.
Isagi, meanwhile, held his position further back. His eyes locked onto the play ahead, his mind already dissecting potential moves.
The tall player glanced up and decided to send the ball forward toward Nagi Seishiro. He had studied the footage of Nagi's matches and knew the reputation that preceded him—Nagi's impeccable first touch could transform even the most awkward pass into a perfectly controlled opportunity.
Sure enough, Nagi lived up to that reputation. As the ball descended toward him, he effortlessly trapped it with precision, the motion so smooth it was almost hypnotic. But just as the ball settled at Nagi's feet, Isagi closed the distance with startling speed.
Isagi's positioning wasn't random—it was calculated to perfection. He didn't focus solely on Nagi but instead accounted for every option the prodigy might consider. The angles were clear: Nagi could either pass back to Rin or attempt to dribble past Isagi. The shooting course was completely blocked from this range.
Nagi's eyes flicked toward Isagi, narrowing in determination. Despite knowing how formidable Isagi was in one-on-one situations, he decided to try his luck. This wasn't training—this was the match, and Nagi was eager to test himself against the best.
Just as Nagi prepared to make his move, a presence surged from his right side. Instinctively, Nagi pulled back the ball, but the movement came a fraction too late. A foot darted in, grazing the ball and knocking it loose.
That foot belonged to Naruhaya. With a well-timed tackle, Naruhaya had intercepted the play, his relentless energy paying off. The loose ball didn't travel far, bouncing awkwardly just out of Nagi's reach.
Isagi had anticipated this from the start. He remained stationary earlier to keep Nagi's focus on him, ensuring that the genius didn't notice Naruhaya's approach. Now, as the ball broke free, Isagi sprang into action. With a sharp leap, he trapped the ball mid-air, his movement seamless and controlled.
The ball was controlled by Isagi mid-air and near that outstretched leg was the face of Rin, Rin also saw Naruhaya's intent to tackle Nagi and moved to take the loose ball but he was a step slower than Isagi.
Isagi swiftly passed the ball toward the center of the field. The intended recipient was Nanase, who positioned himself with surprising confidence. Up ahead, Shidou broke into a sprint, his intense presence drawing attention from the defenders. Meanwhile, Hiori moved closer to Nanase, offering immediate support to set up the next play.
Team B's defensive line, stretched thin, relied on Chigiri and the two towering defenders to handle the pressure. With Shidou's threatening run, the defense was forced to divide their attention carefully.
Naruhaya, recovering quickly from his earlier tackle, surged forward to join the offensive push. The trio of Nanase, Hiori, and Naruhaya wasted no time, starting a series of quick one-twos that disrupted the defensive rhythm. Their rapid exchanges left Chigiri scrambling to intercept, but their fluid coordination allowed them to slip past his attempted challenge.
As Nanase controlled the ball once again, he decided to try something different—he used his left foot. The motion felt strange at first, slightly awkward and unrefined, but he adjusted quickly. The sensation was new, yet exhilarating.
"He was right! I'm ambi... ambi... what was it?"
Nanase's excitement bubbling over as he realized the potential of his newly discovered ability.
"It's ambipedal, ya idiot!"
Hiori called out with a teasing grin, snapping Nanase back to reality as he received the next pass.
Nanase couldn't help but smile. He wanted to keep using his left foot, to explore and master this latent talent that he hadn't even known existed.
Hiori turned his focus back to the game. He was about to send the ball toward Shidou, who had positioned himself cleverly to evade the tall defender ahead. But before Hiori could execute his pass, a sudden pressure bore down on his shoulder.
It was Chigiri.
Having sprinted at full speed to catch up, Chigiri's relentless pace and presence forced Hiori to act fast. Without hesitation, Hiori tapped the ball back to Nanase with quick, precise touches to escape the press.
"Over here! Shrimp!"
The sharp, commanding voice belonged to Shidou, who was now calling for the ball near the edge of the box. His hand shot up, pointing toward the space he had carved out with his aggressive movement.
Nanase prepared to pass to Shidou, his eyes locked on the star player's position. But then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a flicker of movement. It was Isagi, making a calculated run from the right.
Shidou was tightly marked by one of the tall defenders, his situation looking far from ideal. Meanwhile, though Rin was shadowing Isagi closely, there was an air of opportunity in Isagi's positioning.
In a split-second decision, Nanase sent the ball to Isagi.
Isagi didn't bother trapping it. Instead, with an effortless motion, he sent the ball curving ahead with a lofted pass. The trajectory was beautiful yet deceptive, arching high into the air and bending sharply.
Hiori, trailing behind, caught sight of the movement and instantly understood Isagi's intention. The meaning of the pass unraveled in his mind like a puzzle—complex but perfectly calculated.
The ball's curve was mesmerizing, and Shidou's eyes lit up as he locked onto its predicted descent point. His steps quickened, his focus razor-sharp. He positioned himself to intercept, his confidence radiating as he prepared to finish the play.
But then, the ball began to curve even harder.
Shidou's expression flickered with confusion as the ball veered away at the last moment, slipping just beyond his reach. It bypassed him entirely, heading toward the left side of the penalty box.
The tall defender marking Shidou, thinking the pass had been meant for him, followed suit, shifting toward Shidou in an attempt to contain the danger. But in doing so, he unwittingly left a gaping hole in the defense—a space that only one player noticed and moved to exploit.
Naruhaya Asahi.
Sliding in discreetly behind the chaos Shidou created, Naruhaya anticipated the unthinkable. It was a position so unlikely that no ordinary player could have anticipated a ball reaching it—but Naruhaya knew Isagi wasn't ordinary. If anyone could send such a perfectly curved pass, it was him.
The ball dropped just ahead of Naruhaya, perfectly placed. Without hesitation, Naruhaya struck it with a powerful direct shot. His form was solid, his focus absolute.
The ball sliced through the air, hitting the back of the net with a resounding thud.
A moment of stunned silence hung over the field before Naruhaya erupted in celebration.
"YES!"
He screamed, his voice echoing across the pitch. It was his first goal of the match, and he had earned it with his clever positioning and relentless effort. But deep down, he knew—none of it would have been possible without Isagi's vision and precision.
Overcome with emotion, Naruhaya sprinted toward Isagi, who met him with a small, satisfied grin. For a brief moment, they celebrated together, Naruhaya's gratitude evident in his joyous expression.
But the game was far from over.
When play resumed, Isagi shifted into a different gear. No longer content with staying under the radar, he decided to end things decisively. He had already scored two goals, but now, he was done holding back. He had seen everything he was curious about and now that it's over, He need to get his hat-trick completed.
When Chigiri gained possession, attempting to ignite a counterattack, Isagi closed in to force the speedster to stop and make his move. His timing was flawless, stealing the ball cleanly from Chigiri's feet before Chigiri could react.
Without hesitating, Isagi made his run up ahead without making any passes he dribbled up ahead, Rin noticed the sudden shift in Isagi's movement and chose to get ahead of him to have a face-off but Isagi wasn't having any of this, Rin has most of Isagi's moves stored in his head for him to analyse and predict Isagi's next move, Rin was confident to stop Isagi this time.
Isagi send the ball to his right, Hiori sharing the vision Isagi was having chose to provide assistance, With a well-executed One-Two, They got past Rin.
Isagi once with the open place accelerated forward and once was in good enough range launched a powerful shot from long range. The tall defenders and Nagi tried to intercept the shot but the shot was taken while considering this would happen, Staying out of their reach by just enough space.
The ball rocketed toward the goal, curving slightly before slamming into the top-right corner of the net.
The scoreboard ticked over to 5-1.
The final whistle blew right away, signaling the end of the match.
Isagi stood at the center of the field, his calm demeanor belying the dominant performance he had just delivered. His teammates gathered around him, their expressions a mix of admiration and awe.
Rin although was irritated about the loss, was more angry about the fact that he hadn't even scored, Only Nagi had scored throughout this match while he was completely neutralized in this match against Isagi.
He was fuming, frustration written all over his face. Team C, The next opponent of Team B had no idea that they were about to go up against a monster like him.
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2 Week Later
The atmosphere in the control room was calm but charged with anticipation. Ego sat in his chair, his sharp gaze fixed on the array of monitors displaying player stats and game footage. His fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard, analyzing and tweaking the ideal line-up for Blue Lock's clash against the U-20 team. The glow from the screens illuminated his face, casting sharp shadows that accentuated his calculating expression.
The sound of the door opening broke the silence. Anri stepped in, holding a tablet under her arm. Her posture was professional, but her eyes betrayed the same nervous energy that had been lingering ever since Blue Lock's upcoming match was announced. She stopped just short of Ego's desk, placing the tablet down carefully.
"Done deciding the line-up?"
She asked, her voice steady yet curious.
Ego, without looking up, let out a low hum.
"Hmm, some of th—"
The sharp ring of a phone cut him off mid-sentence. Both paused, their attention shifting to the source of the noise. Ego glanced at the screen of his phone lying on the desk, the caller ID flashing brightly: JFU President.
His sharp eyes narrowed. Picking up the phone, he answered it with a voice that was curt and devoid of any pleasantries.
"What is it?"
The moment the voice on the other side spoke, Ego's expression froze for a fleeting second. It wasn't alarm—it was the look of someone who had just heard something both absurd and irritating. He sat straighter in his chair, his tone sharpening.
"...What?"
Ego repeated, his voice lower now, laced with an edge of disbelief. Anri watched him carefully, her own concern growing. It wasn't often that something caught Ego off-guard, and whatever he had just heard had clearly struck a nerve.
The voice on the other end continued speaking, the words indistinct to Anri, but their effect on Ego was unmistakable. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk, the only visible sign of his growing impatience.
"I refuse"
Ego stated firmly, his voice echoing with finality as he ended the call.
Anri, standing by his desk, raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. The air felt heavier, charged with the weight of the unknown. Whatever the call was about, it clearly hadn't been a simple matter.
"What was that about?"
She asked, her tone a mixture of concern and curiosity.
Ego leaned back in his chair, his steepled fingers resting just below his chin as his calculating gaze met hers. A wry smile tugged at his lips, though it lacked any trace of amusement.
"The JFU," he began, his voice steady but carrying an edge of disdain.
"More precisely, Itoshi Sae. They want Isagi Yoichi as the striker for their U-20 team."
Anri's eyes widened slightly, her surprise evident.
"Isagi? But... that doesn't make any sense. He's our best player. Why would Sae want him on their side now? He hasn't even trained with the U-20 team."
Ego chuckled, low and bitter, as if the absurdity of the situation was almost entertaining.
"Because Sae isn't interested in their training or in the victory of U20. He's interested in the play. He sees Isagi as the key to those wonderful plays to get victory over Blue Lock."
"But Isagi..."
Anri hesitated, her brow furrowing.
"That would undermine everything Blue Lock stands for. He's supposed to lead our team, not theirs!"
"Exactly,"
Ego replied, his smirk growing sharper.
"They want to poach our centerpiece to secure their own success. But they've underestimated me, as usual."
Anri's hands clenched at her sides.
"So you refused?"
"Flatly"
Ego said without hesitation.
"Blue Lock's purpose is to destroy Japan's outdated football system. Lending Isagi to the U-20 team would be handing them the weapon to strike us down. I won't let that happen, no matter what strings they try to pull."
Anri exhaled deeply, a mix of relief and anger coursing through her.
"They really think they can manipulate Blue Lock into serving their agenda. Typical JFU."
Ego leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk.
"It's not just manipulation. It's fear. They know that Blue Lock is a threat to their stagnant hierarchy. They're scrambling to hold onto their control, Also because they have seen Isagi's ability against the World 5 Match which has planted the fear of the result of this match which would commence in front of the whole world and this is their desperate attempt to keep Sae happy while trying to cripple us."
Anri's voice broke the silence in the room, filled with unwavering conviction.
"He beat the World 5 all on his own. He's already world-class. Giving him away would be a guaranteed defeat for us."
Her words carried a sense of absolute belief, more faith in Isagi's ability than even Isagi himself might have held. It was a sentiment that hung heavy in the air, but Ego, leaning back in his chair with his trademark calculating expression, didn't seem entirely swayed.
"That's not it"
Ego said, his tone steady, the edge of his voice cutting through her statement.
"Isagi is a great player, without a doubt. But let's not overestimate the situation."
Anri frowned slightly but stayed quiet as Ego continued.
"He had to give his all to keep up against the World 5. And while he may have outsmarted them at moments, don't forget that the World 5 never took the match seriously. They treated it as a light workout at best. Sure, they found it irritating to be outplayed tactically, but they never pushed themselves to match his intensity."
Ego's words were measured, his gaze unwavering as he laid out the reality.
"The only one who even approached going all-out was Loki. And that was only for the final duel, a single moment in the match."
Anri's eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded, acknowledging the truth in his words.
"If the World 5 had truly given their all from the very beginning"
Ego continued,
"the game would have been completely different from what we saw. They're at a level where they don't even need to sweat to crush opponents below them. The JFU knows that, too."
Ego leaned forward now, his elbows on the desk, his fingers steepled as he spoke with emphasis.
"That's why they want Isagi. Not because he's already world-class, but because they see the potential in him to become a World-Class player. They see what I see—someone who could become the ultimate striker for Japan if developed the right way."
Anri's expression softened, but her determination remained.
"So they think poaching him now will solve their problems?"
Ego smirked, a glint of amusement in his sharp eyes.
"Exactly. They want to fast-track him into their system, use his potential for their own gain. After all Sae Itoshi has shown no interest playing for Japan and is not in control of JFU so they want to use Isagi as Sae's replacement.
But they're missing the bigger picture. Isagi isn't just a talented player—they can't see the fire he's building inside himself, the process that will make him unstoppable. And that process doesn't happen under the JFU. It happens here, in Blue Lock."
Anri exhaled, her tension easing slightly as Ego's words settled.
"You're right. Isagi isn't just a tool to secure a win. He's the future of Japanese football, and that future can't be dictated by people stuck in the past."
Ego leaned back in his chair, his expression cold and calculating.
"Exactly. The JFU can keep dreaming. Isagi Yoichi will rise to the top—but on our terms, not theirs."
The sharpness in his tone only deepened, the air around him heavy with the promise of what was to come.
"After all, Isagi's Ego has only surfaced in that World 5 match. He has potential to reach much greater heights, to understand his Ego, his Flow."
He stood, his posture shifting as he took a step closer to the map of Blue Lock's future, his finger tracing the potential trajectories of those who were destined to rise.
"That will only happen when Isagi is pushed to his limits. The matches commencing now won't do that for him."
Ego's eyes gleamed, his voice carrying the weight of a man who had seen the future.
"The U20 match will bring that competition for him. Especially Oliver Aiku and Itoshi Sae."
His grin deepened, knowing full well that those two forces would provide the crucible Isagi needed to truly awaken.
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2 Days Later
Third Selection Central Room
The large room was buzzing with anticipation, every player in Blue Lock gathered under one roof. The atmosphere was electric, filled with an unspoken tension that made the air feel heavy. This was the moment they had all been waiting for—the declaration of the Blue Lock 11.
The Top 6 stood at the forefront, their presence commanding attention and respect. At the very center was Isagi Yoichi, the first rank, standing with quiet confidence. His sharp eyes scanned the room, his posture firm but relaxed, as though he already knew his place in the lineup was secure. Beside him was Shidou Ryusei, ranked second, his chaotic energy palpable even in his stillness. He wore a twisted grin, his eyes gleaming with a hunger for destruction and glory.
On Shidou's other side was Rin Itoshi, ranked third. His demeanor was icy and distant, his arms crossed as he stared straight ahead. There was an unmistakable frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior—a lingering sting from his loss to Isagi in the recent match. Nagi Seishiro, ranked fourth, stood lazily next to Rin, his white hair slightly tousled, hands stuffed into his pockets.
To their right were Karasu Tabito and Otoya Eita, ranked fifth and sixth respectively. Karasu exuded a calm, strategic aura, his sharp gaze darting between the other players as though he was already analyzing their potential roles. Otoya, on the other hand, stood with a relaxed confidence, his smirk suggesting he was more than ready to prove himself on the grand stage.
Behind the Top 6 stood the remaining 29 players, a sea of tense faces and restless energy. Each of them knew the stakes—they had performed in the one shot they had to prove their worth for the U-20 match. The thought of being excluded from the lineup loomed over them like a dark cloud, but they held their ground.
The heavy doors at the front of the room creaked open, and the murmurs among the gathered players abruptly ceased. Every pair of eyes turned toward the figure stepping into the room—Ego Jinpachi. His tall, lean frame was clad in his usual sharp attire, and his calculating gaze swept over the sea of players before him.
For the Blue Lock players, this was their first time seeing him in person since their initial meeting at the JFU's office. Until now, Ego had been a larger-than-life presence, only seen through the cold glow of a monitor.
The room was heavy with tension and curiosity as he casually strolled to the front, spinning a sleek tablet on his finger with almost playful precision. The Top 6, who stood at the forefront, maintained their composure, but even they couldn't entirely mask their surprise at Ego's physical presence.
Ego stopped at the center, his sharp eyes gleaming behind his glasses. He finally broke the silence.
"Howdy. Good work, diamonds in the rough"
He began, his voice cutting through the air like a knife.
He let the words hang for a moment before tilting his head slightly as he added,
"Is this the second time we've met face-to-face…? Nice to see you."
His tone was casual, almost dismissive, but there was an unmistakable weight behind it that made every player stand just a little straighter.
The tablet spun on his finger one last time before he caught it mid-spin, his movements smooth and deliberate. Holding it firmly, he glanced down at the screen for a moment before looking back up at the players.
"Before we get into the lineup"
Ego began, his voice steady but brimming with authority,
"let me remind you all of one simple truth. A striker's worth isn't in how fast they run, how high they jump, or how much they sweat. Those things are secondary—tools to serve a singular, ruthless purpose."
His gaze was unrelenting as it moved across the room, meeting the eyes of every player.
"The only thing that matters is whether you can score. A striker without goals is nothing but an empty shell—a waste of space on the field."
The weight of his words settled over the room, and some of the players shifted uncomfortably. Others, particularly the Top 6, stood firm, their determination unwavering.
Ego continued, his tone growing sharper.
"To create the Blue Lock Eleven, I've judged each of you on one simple criterion: your ability to put the ball in the back of the net when it matters most. Not in practice. Not when there's no pressure. But in the moments where everything is on the line, where your ego is the only thing driving you forward."
He raised the tablet, tapping it lightly as the screen behind him lit up with an intricate web of player statistics, rankings, and heatmaps from previous matches.
"This is the process we've been refining since day one—the process of turning you into weapons that can destroy Japan's outdated football system. And now, it's time to reveal the weapons that will represent Blue Lock against the U-20 Team."
Ego's smirk returned, sharper than before, as he tilted his head slightly, his calculating gaze locked onto the players.
"So, diamonds in the rough... let's see who's been polished enough to shine on the grand stage."
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[A/N]: Hi Readers! I hope you're enjoying the story so far.
Also, I've received comments that some could not find my Pa7r30n page
For that, I'm leaving my Discord Link down here-
https://discord.gg/dNZG7CGC
I've left the link to my Pa7r30n page there, I wish to build a community to chat about Anime and Fanfiction there.
Thank you reading so far.