𝐒𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐓 | 𝘽𝙡𝙪𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙘𝙠

04. 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥

"𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐀 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔'𝐕𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐌𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄, 𝐉𝐈𝐍𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐈 𝐄𝐆𝐎?"

Apparently Adonis had taken one too many wrong turns, and ran into the benefactor of Blue Lock.

Immediately, Ego asked the young teen to follow him into a room, saying that he had a request.

"It's a large ask, but I'd like to hide your identity," Ego spoke, slight nervousness filling his mind.

"When we spoke I realized a harsh truth. You were right, Rin Itoshi was Blue Lock's top prize." Ego spoke again, Adonis listening silently, "It made me think of how easily someone could give up just because of the difference in skill, that is why I ask."

Ego fell silent, waiting for Adonis to respond, watching the man carefully in anticipation.

"No."

"No?" Ego repeats, his eyebrows furrowing as he looked at Adonis, confused at the refusal.

"Football is built on Egoism. You know that." Adonis starts, turning away from Ego to walk to the door."If anyone in Blue Lock gives up because they're scared, then they're trash."

"There's no space in this sport for weak-minded shit like that." Adonis spoke once again, Ego starstruck at the answer.

Thats why it was so funny to Adonis, that he was getting interrogated because of his basic kick.

"You all think I'm Adonis Saint?" Adonis spoke, feigned confusion laced throughout his words, listening as multiple voices spoke up, confirming them.

Team Z didn't know how to feel.

I mean, was it wrong to be accusing him of something like this? Yes. But he did look very similar to how Adonis did nowadays.

He was a private man, but the media had their ways.

None of them in the room quite understood it. It never made sense to then why Adonis Saint had quit.

They all saw the tapes, even some in-person. He really could be considered one of the greatest Japanese striker of all time. As a thirteen year old.

He and Sae Itoshi, they dominated teams even years above them in age. It was madness in real time.

On top of that, that insane late game comeback against Sae Itoshi? Insanity.

But it wasn't him. right?

Adonis walks forwards, the tension in the air getting thicker with each step as he gets closer to the one that initialy asked his name.

"Why? Are you scared of him? Would you quit Blue Lock if I was Adonis Saint?"

Bachira stood there, hesitating to answer the question, dumbstruck.

Did he want that guy to be Adonis Saint? It was foolish if you thought about it, a wild guess that had no basis aside from similarities, and maybe a powerful shot.

But most strikers had a powerful shot.

In this moment however, Bachira had no thoughts but one, one that almost snuffed out any other ideas he may have gotten.

There was zero chance this was Adonis Saint. The child gifted by god? Not a chance. The way this guy looked in the moment....

He looked up at the man who towered over him—there was atleast a 5 inch difference. He looked at the man's darkened face with fear in his head.

Maybe this is what Ego had been meaning about Egoism, this scary feeling that made even his monster run.

This was the best ranked in their room?

A small laugh escapes Adonis's throat, Bachira being brought out of his trance as he looks at the taller man who steps back, Adonis's hands reaching up and pointing to his eyes.

"Ha, you're terrified! Sorry, not possible. His eyes aren't brown. My name is Akito Kaguya."

"Awe, I guess a part of me was actually hoping you were the holy child." Bachira responded, the dissapointment evident in his tone.

"I'm glad you aren't though... it doesn't matter how long its been. If he was here, we'd be screwed." Isagi followed up with, the rest of them agreeing with his words, erupting into conversation after.

Adonis kept quiet while his team talked, listening to their words. Being glad they didn't have that type of competition?

This is what Ego wanted out of Blue Lock? Players that would run away from someone their age?

What was the point in playing if you didn't think you were the best? If you don't think you're the best, you won't be, right?

He found striker like this repulsive, they weren't any fun. They were no challenge.

Blue Lock, was no challenge.

—

'We've finished compiling the data from the past three days' stamina tests, please return to your rooms, we will present the new rankings.'

Back in the newly created Team Z's room, everyone was raving about their ranks having changed, Adonis's own going up to 265.

"Nice work, you lumps of talent. Are you enjoying life in Blue Lock?" The tv in the room had clicked to life, a voice speaking through it.

"Are you kidding me?? How could we enjoy this?! Can we really get good at football in this shitty place?"

"He's right! I wanna eat some real food!"

"....you ate my gyoza, didn't you?"

"Allow me to explain a little about Blue Lock," Ego spoke, putting an end to the side talk, "This faculty is composed of five wings, teams B through Z, twenty-five in all are split into groups of five and are living together in each wing."

"Also, since one person was kicked out from each room, there are only 275 of you left in Blue Lock."

"So...even though I went from 300 to 275, I'm still dead last? That was some short-lived joy." Igaguri spoke after Ego did, voice full of dissapointment.

"Your team is in the lowest of the five wings, wing #5, additionally, your team is made of the bottom tier of this wing. Numbers 265-275."

A low chuckle escaped Adonis's lips when he said that. It was laughable, Ego intentionally placing him in the lowest team in Blue Lock.

"Now then," Ego spoke again. "Those in the upper ranks are enjoying good food and training in the top wing, and are leading the lifestyle of a good striker."

"Whoever is best at football here is king—If you want a nice life, then win and boost yourselves."

Team Z each listen to Ego words, a new fire lit underneath them, a burning desire to win.

"Now then, let's begin. Blue Lock's first selection."

—

1080 words

oh my glorious lebonbon