His Legacy (Blue Lock)

Chapter 16

Tw: More zesty thoughts from Mikhail

"In that game... at the start, both teams were only thinking about scoring points as individuals..." Isagi explains "So it just turned into us just chasing after the ball." The memory of the mosh pit that began with Raichi trying to steal the ball for himself was still vivid in my brain.

"That really wasn't soccer..." I piped in "More like a game of tag."

"Right right.."

"Agreed."

"Yeah, that was lame."

"The thing that shattered the 'zero' was Barou's one play," Isagi's eyes turned dull as he focused, all while explaining the game in deep detail. "After he showed them that, the rest of the team started passing to him," the images of the game kept appearing in my mind like photographic sketches, not too detailed, but still vivid enough to understand the plays that were made when Barou broke through with the ball.

"It gave them a clear path to scoring goals, and I think team X became more and more of a real team because of it." Isagi made hand gestures as he spoke "Barou took the 'zero' of that chaotic scramble and changed it into a 'one' by stealing the goal with his own talent. The other ten players used that 'one' as a compass to focus their plays, and so now that team can go from 'one' to 'ten' or even 'one hundred.'"

'Not gonna lie Isagi... I'm only looking at your titties...' I closed my eyes and huffed. I was already tired, the smell of sweat and shower products blended into the air to where someone who got used to it wouldn't be able to smell it. It would be a horrible experience being that one person who wasn't here from the start.

"What we need to create that 'one'... is overwhelming individuality and talent."

"...I see..." Apricot head said, rubbing the back of his neck "The striker is someone crazy who can turn 'zero' into 'one' and then the mid-fielders and defense turn that into a 'ten' or 'one hundred'," I rolled my eyes as I stared at them.

"Did you just literally explain what gaining confidence is?" I asked, but I was ignored.

"Indeed, I normally don't think very deeply about that stuff..."

"So did ego make a system where whoever gets the most points gets to stay... in order to make us feel all of that stuff."

"Probably... Thanks to that rule, he got us to bring out our egos, throw away our positions and tactics, and focus solely on stealing goals for ourselves; and only the ones who survive that clash of egos... can become a true team."

'Damn Isagi, is that what you've been thinking about as Raichi roasted your ass?' I was amazed and attracted.

"' Soccer and teams are born from an overwhelming striker,' I'm sure that's Ego's message to us."

Suddenly, the TV above us turned on, taking most of us by surprise. "You're getting warmer."

'His literal face is nightmare fuel.' I sweat dropped as Ego open his mouth. "Howdy, diamonds in the rough. The second match in wing 5 just finished up," Ego opens his hand and there appears the last match's score "Team V crushed Team Y 8-0." My eye twitched slightly at that.

'What kind of monsters are in team Y?'

"Here's the current standing," as a graph appeared, our team being in 4th place. Everyone stared slightly in shock at the screen when the points were displayed.

"From 'zero' to 'one'... huh, I see. You're on the right track with your thinking... but it seems like you don't understand the vital method for turning 'zero' into 'one.'" I scratch the back of my head as he continues speaking, though I know I should tune into this speech.

"Japanese people like to be given roles to fulfill. For other people, and for the good of the world. They're a people skilled at devoting themselves to their roles, and they see that as a virtue." I couldn't look at the screen, I knew I would either say something or have nightmares of Ego's posture in my sleep.

"Putting this into the world of sports, it's easy to understand which major world sport Japan can compete in."

'I'm hungry, I wonder what I can exchange with that one score I got today... probably better food, I'm getting a little bit bored of pickled radish... even if it's good.'

"But soccer is different. In this game, offense and defense are combined. The open field allows for a high degree of freedom, and there's the aspect of hand-to-hand combat. The game is designed so that you can't win just by focusing completely on your assigned role."

"That's why what's needed... is Individual effort."

"Your own personal power."

Omake

Chigiri sees Mikhail staringMikhail likes his lanky but strong boys Mikhail has been traumatized by Ego's postureBachira was going to sit beside Mikhail but Chigiri took the spot, he was quite pouty about it tooChigiri can tell that Mikhail is so tired of the rantsChigiri also heard Mikhail's remarks, he wanted to laugh but didn't