Blue Lock: Somehow Igarashi did better than me

On my way to school, I researched my location. Sakuraoka was a high school in Nara Prefecture, ranked in the top 100's for academics and sports. Not bad.

Suddenly, my phone rang. 'Okita' flashed on the screen. I answered. "HAIJI!! WHERE ARE YOU? THE TEAM'S WAITING!"

I jumped at the unexpected yelling. "Sorry, I woke up late. Couldn't sleep well last night." I didn't know him well enough to feel bad about lying. How else could I explain this without sounding insane?

"You better hurry. We might have to play without our star player." His tone sounded sulky.

"Alright, I'll be there soon."

I hung up and shoved my phone into my pocket, quickening my pace. What did he mean by "star player"? I slapped my forehead. This guy was selected for the Blue Lock program. Of course, he'd be the team's star player. Well, my team now.

As I turned the corner, Sakuraoka's gates came into view. The school buzzed with students rushing to class, and the sports field loomed in the distance. My heart rate picked up. I hadn't played soccer for two years, and now here I was, about to represent my school. Hope this guy has good muscle memory.

I pushed through the crowd and made my way to the locker room. I pushed open the door. "DO NOT WORRY!! WHY? BECAUSE I AM HERE!!"

The people in the locker room greeted me with silence and incredulous stares. I looked back out and checked the sign, yeah; I was in the right place. What's with the looks?

"Haiji!" Okita's voice rang out from across the room. He sat on a bench, already in gear. His hair is short and slightly spiky, dark brown with streaks of. His sharp, focused eyes are a deep shade of amber. "Took you long enough."

I gave him a sheepish grin. "Yeah, yeah, just had a rough morning."

His eyebrow raised before it dropped. "Get changed. We're about to head out for the game," he said, a hint of impatience in his tone.

I nodded, quickly pulling on my uniform. As I stood up, a thought struck me—this wasn't just any game, was it? The way Okita was acting, it felt like something bigger.

Well, no better stage to announce my presence to the world, I guess. Or make an ass out of myself. Who knows?

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The locker room buzzed with the tension. Players were adjusting their gear, mentally preparing, and chatting in low voices.

I looked down at my uniform—Sakuraoka High's colors, the pink and white fabric, the way it fit snugly against my form. It was all so natural, but doubt started creeping in my mind. I'd never been a soccer prodigy, let alone someone who was supposed to carry the weight of an entire team.

As I stared at my reflection in the locker room mirror, Okita's voice rang through the air. "Haiji!" he called from across the room, his tone sharp and demanding. "Took you long enough."

I turned, meeting his gaze. The sight of him brought me a twinge of guilt, though I didn't know him at all. His sharp eyes looked almost... concerned.

"Yeah, sorry," I muttered, trying to make it sound casual. "Rough morning."

He rolled his eyes, but his lips twitched into a small smile. "Get finished changing. We're heading out soon."

The weight of it all hit me again. I was the star player here. The one everyone was waiting for. They might not know it yet, but I could feel it. They were all looking at me, silently judging me, wondering if I could live up to this... legendary persona that I had inherited. But could I?

I shook my head. There was no time to dwell on it. Not now. Not when the game was about to start.

I quickly got dressed in the uniform, adjusting the fabric so it fit comfortably. I wasn't nervous. I couldn't afford to be. If I showed even the slightest crack in my confidence, it would spread like wildfire. Haiji was supposed to be... actually, I have no idea what kind of person he's supposed to be. Once again, I am reminded of the fact that a character with such a cool design was left rotting in the shadow realm.

The door to the locker room swung open, and an older guy strode in, the coach most likely, his graying hair and stern expression leaving no room for hesitation. "Alright, team," he barked. "Time to head out. Let's show them what we're made of."

I nodded, though I wasn't sure who I was trying to convince—him or myself. As I walked toward the field with the team, I caught Okita's eye again. This time, there was no mistaking it—he was relying on me. All of them were.

I stepped onto the field, the sounds of the crowd, the smell of fresh grass, and the weight of expectation hitting me all at once. The sun seemed to shine a little too brightly, and the game hadn't even started. Everyone was waiting for me to lead them, but I barely knew what I was doing.

The coach shouted a few final instructions, but my focus was elsewhere. The ball sat in the center of the field, waiting for the whistle. And in that moment, I had to remind myself of something—this was my chance. This was my stage to prove that I wasn't just some reincarnated person caught in someone else's life. I could be Haiji... or maybe, just maybe, I could be something more.

As the whistle blew and the game kicked off, I pushed aside the doubts and focused on the field. I had to play. I had to win. Not just for the team, but for myself. I was Haiji now. And I would make sure the world knew who I was.