Project: Bland King

Chapter 69: Just Mediocre

Karasu never showed his true nature to others. Because he'd convinced himself that there was nothing interesting to show about himself.

After all, he's moved by ordinary things... he got hurt by ordinary things...

The point is that Karasu was well aware that in a world full of interesting people, he was sadly mediocre. He found this embarrassing, detestable, and downright shameful.

Another term for this is... an inferiority complex.

So, to keep the people around him ignorant of his mediocrity, he developed the habit of analyzing his environment and everyone around him at an early age.

Through his analytical eyes, he noticed those with more unusual sensitivity, or whose plays were even more amazing... those cleverer than him or those eviller than him.

Tabito Karasu lived his life with respect for the very few extraordinary phenomena that surpassed his own mediocrity.

However, deep inside... Karasu came to realize that his respect for those geniuses was rooted not in admiration, but in jealousy.

Everything changed when he entered the third selection.

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, Blue Lock's anomaly, made him rethink everything he knew about what a genius was. Because, sure, those lucky humans were born with superhuman abilities. But there was always a weakness he could exploit. He used this fact well during his time on the same team as Hiori.

For the first time in his life, a life of nitpicking and grueling work to stand proud against those born with better genetics... Karasu had found someone perfect, without any flaws to exploit.

He assumed he'd feel the same irking sensation of inferiority as with the others before him. But this genius was different. He didn't solely rely on his genius gifts. He'd also shared the same analytical prowess a prodigy would utilize.

Upon the end of the third selection and witnessing this perfect being evolve even further against Japan's U-20, he had decided on his purpose.

When the Neo Egoist League started up, he immediately chose Paris St. Germain... not because he shared any interest in the culture or the master striker Loki... but because he instinctively thought that Kiyotaka would choose it.

Karasu had unknowingly transcended his analytical prowess and linked up with that perfect genius' mind. It might have been brief, but it gave irrefutable proof... that his mediocre life had a phenomenal purpose.

Tabito Karasu was born to create plays with this perfect being that exceeded thought and reason. It would be instinctual and explosive...

...his very own chemical reaction.

...

...

...

Karasu controlled the ball sent from Kiyotaka. His eyes appeared to be in a trance.

Hiori: (No way...)

His realization of Kiyotaka's plan coupled with complete concentration to see it through, allowed the mediocre crow to finally evolve.

Karasu had entered his own flow.

Karasu: Charles, get fucking open.

Charles was taken aback by the sudden order, but he smirked and did what he was told.

Charles: Yes Sir, Crow-chan.

Kiyora and Ness immediately charged through to defend against Karasu as Kiyotaka rushed back up the field to help build the attack.