"Isagi's Arrival"
The scene before him revealed a room bustling with activity.
Eleven other players wandered about, inspecting their surroundings.
Along the far-right wall.
Twelve corresponding lockers stood neatly in a row, each labeled with a name.
The chatter died down as everyone noticed Isagi's presence.
He paused briefly, scanning the room.
"A shared room…?" he thought.
A familiar voice broke through his thoughts.
"Isagi!"
Isagi's head snapped toward the source.
And he was visibly relieved to see someone he recognized.
"Oh, Kira!"
Kira smiled and approached him.
"I'm relieved… there's a familiar face here!"
Isagi nodded, sharing his sentiment.
"Haha… I'm glad too…"
Before he could say more, something white came flying toward his face.
Instinctively, Isagi caught it.
In his hands was a white long-sleeved shirt.
"Oh, my bad," came a deep voice.
Isagi turned to see the culprit.
A tall, muscular guy with spiky orange hair styled in an undercut.
He was in the middle of changing, his broad shoulders and well-defined upper body on full display.
"No problem," Isagi replied.
Tossing the shirt back.
"Look at those muscles…", he thought.
"Watch your step," the guy warned.
Isagi processed the words and noticed something unusual on the floor to his right.
There, sprawled out and seemingly asleep, was another player.
With chin-length black hair with golden under-lights.
The guy murmured softly, his face calm as if lost in a dream.
"Wha…? He's sleeping?!"
Isagi was dumbfounded.
The guy stirred slightly and mumbled.
"Hey… Zico… Pass… Pass it… to me… Zico…"
What's with him?
Is he dreaming or what?
Shaking his head, Isagi decided to focus on finding his locker.
He walked to the row along the far wall, searching for his name.
Finally, he found it.
Yoichi Isagi – 299Z.
As he began changing into his uniform.
A commotion broke out nearby.
"Whoa! Don't tell me you're really Ryosuke Kira?!"
A loud voice exclaimed.
"The 'Treasure of Japan,' right here?! Look at that! It's the real deal!!"
Isagi turned.
It was wiry guy vigorously shaking Kira's hand.
Kira, visibly overwhelmed, managed a polite smile.
"Th… thanks…"
The energetic guy suddenly noticed Isagi watching and beamed.
"Is this Isagi a friend of yours too? Nice to meet 'cha! My name's Gurimu Igarashi!"
Isagi nodded politely.
"Oh, hello."
Igarashi then launched into his story.
"You see, I was born in a temple, so even though I was basically destined to inherit it, I hated having my life written out like that!"
He paused dramatically.
"So I made a promise with my old man to forget it all if I became a pro player! That's why that guy's speech pumped me up so much!"
He gestured emphatically, his enthusiasm almost infectious.
"I felt like, wow, I really can change my own fate! My ambition's gonna be what makes me win!"
Igarashi extended his hand for a handshake.
Which Isagi accepted out of courtesy.
"Same here…" he replied.
He's just like me…
But who asked?
Isagi's gaze drifted to the patch on Igarashi's shirt.
300Z.
He furrowed his brow.
Still wondering what the numbers signified.
Before he could dwell on it further.
A sudden flicker caught his attention.
Mounted high on the wall, a large monitor came to life.
Jinpachi Ego's face filled the screen.
"Are you done changing, you unpolished gems?" he questioned.
His voice cutting through the noise like a blade.
Jinpachi Ego…
The imposing figure on the monitor leaned forward slightly.
With a deliberate gesture.
He raised his right hand and made a strange motion.
Almost like he was groping the air.
"Hey, hey…" Jinpachi began.
"The people in your room will be both your roommates... and your rivals."
A ripple of shock ran through the room.
Most of the players exchanged uneasy glances.
Their previous camaraderie replaced with a simmering tension.
Isagi, however, barely flinched.
While the revelation surprised him a little.
A part of him had already expected it.
Jinpachi continued.
"We have estimated your potential based on my judgment and my peers' calculations... represented by your ranking."
Isagi instinctively glanced down at the patch on his uniform.
299Z.
He was second to last out of the entire group.
Yet, it didn't bother him.
If anything, it lit a fire within him.
"299, huh?" Isagi thought.
Rankings are just numbers.
Jinpachi's voice broke through.
"Your ranking will change daily based on several factors. For example, you will move up or down depending on your training… or the results of your games."
Isagi's ears perked up.
"And unconditionally," Jinpachi continued.
His tone colder now.
"The top-five players... will participate in a certain tournament six months from now. They will become the selected strikers for Japan's U-20 National Team competing in the World Cup."
The room collectively gasped.
The stakes had just skyrocketed.
Around him, Isagi could see the resolve in their eyes.
The chance to play at the World Cup was no small opportunity.
It was the pinnacle of their dreams.
"The Top Five…", he thought.
He'll get there no matter what.
Jinpachi wasn't finished.
"Also…" His voice turned ominous.
"Those who are defeated at Blue Lock… will be permanently banned from Japan's National Team."
The air seemed to drain from the room.
The players, moments ago brimming with excitement.
Now wore expressions of shock and dread.
Jinpachi's gaze on the screen hardened.
"We are looking for one crucial component here: Ego. That is what we will measure as you live here in this facility."
The consequence of his words bore down on everyone.
Jinpachi's voice suddenly shifted to a more casual.
Almost teasing tone.
"Well now…" His grin widened.
"It is time to play TAG."
The screen flickered off.
Isagi's pulse quickened.
His mind raced as he tried to piece together what Jinpachi meant.
Tag? What does that mean here?