Proyect: Bland King - Ayanokouji Kiyotaka en Blue Lock

Aryu: I wonder who the other teams are that passed the second selection.

Raichi: Those bastards from our old team better have survived. 

Igarashi: Who knows really...

Kiyotaka: Well, we're about to get that answered very soon. 

The speaker began to announce the results of the second selection. 

Speaker: Seven Teams have cleared the selection, with a total of thirty-five players. 

The team of five entered the barren room first. There were a total of seven doors spiraled all around including the door the team just entered from. 

Speaker: First cleared team.

Once they were all situated, the speaker continued on. 

Speaker: Next up, please enter second clear team. 

Entering from another door, came familiar faces: Rin, Isagi, Bachira, and Tokimitsu along with someone unfamiliar to the group. 

Shido: Hehe, so the brother-loving loser returns at last. 

Rin: Fuck off. 

Isagi: Hey, it's you Kiyotaka! 

Bachira: Long time no see. 

Both Isagi and Bachira ran up to Kiyotaka as they both embraced him. 

Kiyotaka: Hey, it's been a while. It's nice to see you both made it out. 

Isagi: Same here! 

Raichi: Hey, I'm here too brats!

Igarashi: Am I just chopped liver?!

Shido, almost annoyed at the chatter, put his arm around Kiyotaka's shoulder.

Shido: Can I join in on your little chatter?

Kiyotaka: No, this is only for Team Z players. You can talk to the corpse over there. Looks like he needs a friend more than me. 

Rin got enraged and marched over to Kiyotaka. 

Rin: Don't think I forgot anything. I'll send you out of Blue Lock myself, bastard!

Kiyotaka: Hm? Didn't that last play against us show what level you currently are? Rest assured, I'll put you back in your grave, zombie. 

Bachira smiled, witnessing the new Kiyotaka. Isagi looked flabbergasted. 

Isagi: (Is this really the same Kiyotaka?)

Shido: Eh? The bro-con is scary. Save me, Kiyo~

Shido grips onto Kiyotaka more tightly as Kiyotaka pats his head. He decided to play along with Shido in order to spite Rin. 

Kiyotaka: Don't worry, I'll save you from the zombie. 

While banter between Rin, Kiyotaka, and Shido ensues, Isagi approaches Raichi.

Isagi: Kiyotaka still has a girlfriend right?

Raichi: Yes

Isagi: So, what's the deal with-

Raichi: You'll get used to this. 

The unfamiliar player inserts himself into the scuffle between Kiyotaka and Rin as he greets Kiyotaka.

???: So you're the guy Rin keeps mumbling about. Nice to meet the guy who put him in his place. 

Kiyotaka: And who might you be?

Karasu: Karasu Tabito 

The two shook hands as the chatter began to become intense. The speaker continued with the announcement of the teams. 

Speaker: Third Clear team, please enter now. 

The third door opened slowly, revealing 5 figures. As they stepped inside, they were none other than a mix of Isagi's old team of Baro, Chigiri, and Nagi along with Zantetsu and Kiyora. 

Kiyotaka: Pretty stacked team. 

Shido: Huh? You know those guys. 

Kiyotaka: I know four of them. The fifth one is a mystery. 

Isagi spoke with his old teammates in sheer relief. He was thankful that despite their loss, they moved on and cleared the second selection.

Chigiri: Kiyotaka, long time no see. 

Kiyotaka: Same here. Glad to see your quick feet made it past the second selection. 

The two shared a high five as the reveal of the seven teams continued. 

Speaker: Fourth clear team, please enter. 

Shido: They all look pretty boring. 

Kiyotaka: You're right. They seem like npcs. 

Isagi and the others looked in surprise at Shido and Kiyotaka's commentary. 

Speaker: Fifth Clear Team.

Kiyotaka: Oh, It's Niko. Not bad, glad he made it. He was the only gem I saw in his old team.

The team that came out was indeed short a player. 

Speaker: The Fifth Clear Team's player Hajime Nishioka is being treated for a concussion he sustained during the Selection World All-Star game. 

Tokimitsu: That's Nishioka, the Messi of Aomori!

Shido: Eh? Now that's a pretty cool ass name. 

Kiyotaka: Would've been nice to collect data from him. 

Karasu smiled. 

Karasu: Are you one of my people?

Speaker: Next, the sixth clear team. 

Coming inside the room, Gagamaru and the serious Wanima brother fell over each other as their three other team members entered. 

One of the five was a short player named Kurona. 

Raichi: Gagamaru, you made it through!

Gagamaru: Oh, look it's everyone. 

Another member of Team Z emerged from the selection. 

Isagi smiled but still felt rather worried. 

Isagi: Kunigami isn't here yet. 

Nagi: Neither is Reo. 

Chigiri: There's still one last team. They have to be there. 

Bachira: He'll be there. 

Shido: If he's any good, he'll turn up and if not, then he just wasn't up for it. I mean, this blad cockroach over here made it through. 

Kiyotaka: But you can't compare the situations. The spectator landed in a team with you and me. 

Shido: Hehe, guess you're right. 

Isagi: Kunigami isn't like that. He'll make it! 

Kiyotaka: We'll just have to see. Regardless, the last team is coming out now. 

Finally, the final team was called. 

Speaker: And now for the last, seventh team. 

Kiyotaka and Shido looked on alongside the remaining 30 players inside the room, awaiting the final five people. 

First through the door was none other than the dominant duo of Yukimiya, and Otoya.

Karasu smiled. 

Karasu: I expected nothing less, hehe. 

Isagi: There's still three more people.

The next two were unknown to the group, meaning that either Reo or Kunigami were not making it inside. 

Isagi: There's one person left... who is it?!

Nagi: Reo...

Finally, the last person entered the room and it was none other than Reo, who looked rather dead. 

Nagi smiled. 

Nagi: Reo.

Isagi was left shocked at Kunigami's disappearance. It meant he was eliminated. 

Isagi: Reo! What happened?! Where's Kunigami?!

Reo: We lost and I got selected. What other way could it have turned out?

Shido: Guess he wasn't made of the right stuff. 

Isagi: You don't know a thing about Kunigami!

Shido put up his hands in surrender. 

Shido: Whoa, calm down hot head. I'm just stating the facts. 

Kiyotaka sighed and slapped Shido across the back of his head shocking the other teams surrounding them. 

Kiyotaka: Sorry about him. He has a big mouth and doesn't know when to shut up. In any case, we just need to accept the way things are now. Kunigami wasn't the only one we lost. This is just how Blue Lock is. Eventually, it'll only be one of us anyway. Right?

Saying this, Kiyotaka glared at Rin, purposely getting under his skin. Ever since their duel, it's fair to say that both of them despise each other. 

Isagi was still processing the elimination of Kunigami as Ego appeared on the screen above.

Ego: None of you have time to worry about the failures who dropped out... After all, your soccer careers are in danger of disappearing forever like worthless trash, along with Blue Lock. 

Kiyotaka: Hm? 

Everyone: EH?!

Ego then scratched his hair. 

Ego: Oh... but first, good work. Playing against the World All-Stars was a unique defeat, right? I'll tell you about its purpose another time. You see, after you all completed the second selection.... alot of things happened. I was actually planning to narrow it down to 5 players. But there's been a change of plans... It seems the overlords of the Japanese Football world have made up their minds to stamp out Blue Lock as soon as possible. 

Kiyotaka: (My father might have had a hand in this.) 

Ego: So your next selection is in three weeks. It'll be a match with the continued existence of Blue Lock on the line. If you win this game, Blue Lock will hijack the Japanese U-20 Team. 

On the screen it read: Special Send off Match, Blue Lock 11 vs. Japan National U-20 Team. 

Isagi: Hijacking the U-20 team?

Kiyotaka: That's a surprise. 

Raichi: I'm surprised they even accepted those conditions. 

Ego sighed. 

Ego: Well that's because they don't think there's a chance they lose. Their opponent is a ragtag team of high schoolers, all strikers. Who wouldn't feel confident? They snickered away writing up the contract. Their goal is to terminate Blue Lock and to make a ton of money off the potential crowds who'll be buzzing about a national rep match. They will use us as an example of failed nurturing, to sear into the history of Japanese football. 

His face came closer and closer in view, his eyes gazing at his rough gems. 

Ego: So, hearing this so far, tell me, how does it feel? Do you resent their contempt? Did you flare up with the desire to put them in their place? As for me, coming from a level-headed and realistic standpoint... I say this with absolute certainty. THE WAY YOU ARE NOW, YOU CAN OVERTURN THE WORLD OF JAPANESE FOOTBALL. 

Each and every member of blue took the same message from their master, Ego. A mistake in the next selection meant their dreams would be forever tarnished. 

Ego: But, well with that being said, our opponents are using every card in their hand to ensure a victory. The current Japanese U-20 team you will be facing, is adding another player: ITOSHI SAE. 

Rin's eyes widened. 

Ego: He will be making his very first appearance for the national team.

Shido: Oh, it's oni-chan. Not bad~

Ego: You've all acquired your egos, weapons, and chemical reactions. You've all experienced what it means to fight the very best. A position of Japan's national U-20 team is not a pipe dream anymore. It is a reality that can be grasped simply by reaching out for it. 

Ego: LET'S GO YOU UNPOLISHED GEMS. THE ONES TO CHANGE THIS ERA... WILL BE BLUE LOCK.

...

...

...

Isagi: (A match to determine the Japanese National U-20 Team. Not too long ago, I was a nameless nobody. But now, if I can win here, I can join the U-20 team! I can completely change my life with this match!)

Kiyotaka: Ego-san, I'm assuming that you'll have us play different positions other than strikers such as defenders, midfielders, and the goalkeeper. 

Ego: Look at you, stating the obvious. We'll have to rush the team together. 

Kiyotaka: (Now this is interesting. I wonder how they are going to do the teams. It can't just incorporate the best players. It'd have to be players that are suited for specific positions.) 

Tokimitsu: That's too much! Our opponents will have actual defenders and such, right?!

Arryu: This predicament, I don't hate it that much. 

Shido: I can't see me doing anything but getting your passes, Kiyo!

Kiyotaka: We'll have to see how the teams are made. 

Ego: Shut up morons. I'm not a goddamn idiot. The formation of Blue Lock will center around the following six players I will now call out. 

Kiyotaka: (I wonder where he'll place me. I would be lying if I said I didn't deserve a top 6 finish but then again, I don't have much knowledge on the other great players here.)

Ego: Given your overall evaluations as of this moment, these individuals rank as the 'top 6.' With the goal of putting a team together in three weeks, this method will be our best shot. Those who are called, step forward. 

It was now time for the rankings. 

Ego: FIRST, AS THE NUMBER ONE OVERALL, SHIDO RYUSEI.

Isagi: Eh? I know he beat Rin but number one? (He's a problem.) 

Shido: Hehe, not bad. ~Bada Bing~

Kiyotaka: Congrats. 

Ego: Moving on... NUMBER TWO... ITOSHI RIN. 

Shido: Huh? What kinda bullshit is that? Kiyotaka beat that clown. 

Rin didn't seem happy about the result either despite etching out Kiyotaka. 

Rin: (Is he trying to mock me? Number two on what? I won't accept it. Not until I defeat Kiyotaka and take the mantel of best player myself.)

Isagi: (If they're evaluating everything, Rin did score two goals against the World Five. I thought he was the standard to beat. But I need to know what is in Shido's arsenal.)

Ego: Alright next, NUMBER THREE... AYANOKOUJI KIYOTAKA

Raichi: After what he pulled throughout the whole selection, it only makes sense. 

Isagi: (Kiyotaka... I know everyone grew a lot from the second selection, but I didn't think I'd see you in the top three. Amazing.)

Shido: Eh, still kinda low but at least I get my bragging rights until the rankings change up again, hehehe. 

Kiyotaka: Third's not bad. 

Ego: Number four: Karasu Tabito. 

Karasu: Finally...

Kiyotaka: (He's the person on Rin's team. I'd like to get some data on him. He must be top 4 for a reason.)

Isagi: (I want to be chosen!) 

Ego: Number five: Yukimiya Kenyu

Yukimiya: Yes sir, it's an honor. 

Isagi: (He said top six. That means there's only one other spot left.)

Isagi: (The candidates that Ego chose to center the team's formation... I want to be one of the chosen!) 

Ego: Lastly, number six is... Otoya Eita. 

Isagi: ....

Ego: That is all. 

Suddenly, Yukimiya held his hand up.

Yukimiya: Excuse me, Ego-san. Thinking about what lies ahead, I've got something of a question for you. What's your reason for putting me at fifth? That is, what's the difference between me and number one?

Ego: Well a better question you should be asking is what separates you from the top three. Of course the top six have a decent gap over the others behind, the top three go beyond that. If anything, I had to really nitpick when it came to them so consider those three as your goal. 

He then pulled up each of the top three's profiles on the screen, with Shido in the middle, Rin on the left and Kiyotaka on the right. 

Ego: You asked me what separates you and that is very simple. Of the thirty five of you here, the only ones to score against the World Five are Shido Ryusei, Itoshi Rin, and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. 

Their stats for the game were also displayed underneath their graphic. Shido had two goals, Rin had two goals and Kiyotaka had one goal and two assists. 

Isagi: (They scored three goals?! And Kiyotaka assisted two and scored one? Out of the top three, Kiyotaka had the most complete game. But I'm assuming he's only counting the goals.)

Ego: And of the three that did score, only two scored two goals: Shido Ryusei and Itoshi Rin. Factoring in Rin's epic and utter defeat against Shido, I decided on the top three in that manner. 

Kiyotaka: (He evaluated each of us on the same level but used our approaches to the game to determine who was the better striker. Since I played the role of the midfielder, I was given third.)

Ego: For the rest of the top six and the 29 others, I took into consideration how many goals you scored in the first selection and the world's select player's personal. Lastly, I used my own judgement. Did that answer your question, mister four-eyes model?

Yukimiya smiled. 

Yukimiya: Yes, thank you very much!

Gagamaru: He's a model?

Raichi: That pisses me off. 

Ego: Now then, I'll explain your next selection... First, the top six will separate into pairs in descending order and will be assigned a rank of A, B, or C to make three teams. 

On the board, groups of two were shown:

///

A - Shido and Rin

B - Kiyotaka and Karasu

C - Yukimiya and Otoya

///

Shido looked over to Kiyo and frowned slightly. 

Shido: Guess we got put into different teams. 

Kiyotaka: Guess so. (I'd be lying if I said I was thrilled about it. But it is what it is. A team of me and Shido probably wouldn't have allowed much of a challenge for the remaining players anyway.)

Shido: May the best man win, hehehe. 

Kiyotaka gave him a thumbs up. 

Kiyotaka: May the best man win. 

Ego: Next, the remaining twenty-nine players will decide at their own discretion which team they would like to join. They will be added to their chosen team in randomized groups of three, to make a complete team of five. Then, each of these teams will have the chance to play in one game against another five v five style. 

Isagi: (I see... it's set to find which members will suit the top six's best offensive pattern.)

Ego: With a position as a regular on Japan's national U-20 team on the line, it's time for tryouts. 

Igarashi smiled. 

Igarashi: Hm! Bring it on, that spot is mine!

Ego: Also, when doing the math, one of the teams will be one member short, so I will be having another player play two games. The honor will go to the runner up of the top six... number seven. And the number seven is... 

Ego: ... Nagi Seishiro. 

Isagi: (Damn, so you're saying they're all better than me?)

Ego: First, the top six, you will all proceed to a different room. 

Shido pulled Kiyotaka in with his arm wrapped around his shoulder. 

Shido: Come on, let's go number three. 

Kiyotaka sighed. 

Kiyotaka: Yeah, yeah. 

The top six went in to a different room as Ego continued to talk to those that remained. 

...

...

...

Kiyotaka and the rest of the top six were in an elite VIP suite room as they all sat on different seats, waiting for Ego to show his face on the screen in front of them. 

Karasu: So Kiyotaka, third place. Not bad. Nice to be working with ya. 

Kiyotaka: Likewise. 

Karasu: I know I'll find your weapon when we're going though the footage, but do you mind telling me? If we're gonna be paired up for every match, we should at least know the bare minimum of each other. 

Kiyotaka: My weapon is everything. 

Karasu: ...

Kiyotaka: So what's you-

Karasu: You're not serious. Your weapon is... everything?

Kiyotaka: You'll see it in my footage but that about sums it up. I don't really feel like going into great detail. 

Karasu: Well, I like to analyze people and figure out what I can attack. 

Kiyotaka: (So he's the same as me.)

Shido, who was seated with Rin, was about to spring around over to Kiyotaka, when the screen turned on. 

Ego: Welcome, Blue Lock's elite. I thought of all the combinations of A, B, and C through current standings, and two characteristics: experience and attacking types. Bring forth a new power which can't be born through just yourselves. Think of your opponents as tools to become the world's best. And even if you choose not to do that, do not let anyone outside the top six take your position. You are the pinnacles of Blue Lock. 

He clenched his fist and stared at all of us through the screen with a death glare. 

Ego: I WANT TO SEE YOU ALL AS THE CHALLENGERS!

A 24 hour counter begun as tomorrow, they would begin their 'tryouts.'

And with that, the screen went black. 

Yukimiya and Otoya, alongside Shido, all went over to Karasu and Kiyotaka, since they were all acquainted and started going over film. 

Kiyotaka: Rin, come join us. It'll be better than mopi-

Rin: Leave me alone number three. I'll do just fine on my own. 

Shido: He's so grumpy. That's why you're so much fun, Kiyotaka. You don't wanna stay a loner like him, hehehe. 

Kiyotaka: When was I ever a loner-

Shido: Just my first impression of you, but I don't think that now, hehehe!!!

Kiyotaka: Let's just study some film. The matches begin tomorrow anyway.