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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Anri quickly finished trimming the ends of my hair as I tied off the tight binding I had around my sport's bra. When she was done, I pulled on a compression tank top, knelt down to tie my cleats, and secured my shin guards. The red haired woman look pained as she stepped back and took in my appearance. "Are you sure about this, Keiko-chan?"
I blinked up at her in worry. "Do you think it's a bad idea?"
"It's not that," she murmured sadly. "It's just that you're compromising everything you've fought for to do this. Are you okay with that?"
Considering her words, my eyes closed for a second. "It doesn't matter how I feel about it. My brother needs me to do this. Rin and Isagi need me. My country needs my help." I turned to look at my reflection in the mirror. How closely I resembled my brother was almost sickening. "I may be pretending to look like a guy, but it's gonna be me out on that field. Whatever it takes, right?"
"Right..." Anri repeated quietly, but she still looked doubtful as she took in my appearance. "If you were a few centimeters taller, it would be really hard to tell that you were actually Keiko."
"It's time," Ego said, taking one step into the room with a stern look. "Our five minutes are about to expire. You need to be on the field before they do."
"She's ready," Anri told him. "She just needs the jersey."
Ego threw it at me and I caught it. "Hurry up."
He left the room and I pulled it over my head before brushing it out to fit on my body. Looking in the mirror, I let out a sigh, "I'm ready."
I turned to where my brother was sitting, getting his leg wrapped by a medical aid across the room.
My brother stared at me. "I hate that we're twins.... You look.... Like me....." I smirked at his comment. "Don't let me down, Keiko. This all depends on you." Hikaru smiled faintly. "I want you to know that I wouldn't want anyone else to take my place right now."
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "Thank you, Hikaru."
"No. Thank you...." he replied back quietly.
Ego stuck his head back in the doorway and commanded, "Let's go, 300. Get out there!"
My brother gave me one last firm nod before I turned and began to walk towards Ego. I lifted the front of my jersey as I passed. "It's not 300, Ego-san. It's 26, I guess." He followed me as we quickly moved down the hallway to where the entrance of the field was waiting. "Why would you do any of this without telling me?"
"Why are you questioning it?" Ego didn't meet my curious gaze. "Do you want to do this or not?"
"Of course I do!"
"You said it yourself..." Ego led me right to the end of the hallway. "You wanna prove you're the best wingman to the world's best striker? Then go do it. This is your chance."
