BLUE LOCK - a place where soccer is more than just a sport and a future of worldwide glory is within grasp. Desperate to prove her worth and break barriers, Keiko Iteya fights to hold her own in a rigorous competition against 299 young men in Japan...
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Iteya Hikaru really disliked soccer - at least, that's what he kept to himself. He never really wanted to be an athlete either but there are expectations set upon you when you're the son of an esteemed sportsman.
"I have a good feeling about this," Iteya Katsu said with a large smile, putting his hand on five year old Hikaru's head. Hikaru looked at him with large green eyes. "You're going to be a star just like your old man. I know it." He ruffled his son's hair fondly. "Get out there and make me proud!"
Unfortunately Katsu's plans did not prevail.
"I don't know, Iteya-kun," the little league coach said with a frown as he and Katsu watched Hikaru play catch with the other players. "Your son can't throw a ball to save his life." They watched with discouraged expressions as Hikaru tried to throw a baseball and majorly short cut it. "I guess he didn't inherit your pitching prowess." Katsu frowned and the coach added, "Hikaru-kun is easily the fastest kid out here though. That kid's got some powerful legs."
"Powerful legs, you say?" Katsu tilted his head, looking past the baseball field to see some kids playing soccer in the park.
If baseball wasn't meant to be, than surely another sport would suffice. And luckily for Katsu, Hikaru was a natural when it came to dribbling a soccer ball.
"Your son's incredible!" the new coach Kastu hired exclaimed with wide eyes as Hikaru ran across the grass with the ball, moving around the other kids on the opposite team. "He's so light on his feet for such a young guy!" Young Hikaru kicked the ball as hard as he could, the ball spinning on its axis as it shot into the net. The coach and Katsu exchanged smiles. "We've got to get him on a team."
It's really difficult to admit that you don't want something that you're incredibly good at. It only became more challenging for Hikaru to say aloud as he slowly aged and his talent grew ten-fold. Yet, it seemed to make his parents happy that he was succeeding so young. It also made his community happy. The only person who didn't seem to be happy for him was his twin sister.
"Another soccer game?" Keiko pouted with a sour look at their parents as everyone hustled around the house in preparation to leave. "Why do I have to go?"
"Because you want to support your brother, love," Iteya Tsumugi told her daughter, putting some water bottles into a bag. "One day when you have a dance recital, we will make him go to those too."
"But the games are so boring," Keiko complained. "I don't do anything but sit there and watch... Plus I don't even want to be a dancer!"
"Too bad you can't be a fish," Hikaru mumbled at her as he walked by, carrying his bag on his shoulder. "I bet you would just love to spend your days floating in the ocean, wouldn't you?"
She smirked at him. "Actually, I would love to do that. I wish I was a fish."
"I wish you were a fish too," Hikaru shot back, crossing his arms. "Maybe then you wouldn't talk or complain so much."
