sighed deeply as I held the paper in my hands. I was about to enter a place I never imagined I would have the chance to.
"Blue lock project..."
It has been two years since the time I finished the system tutorial and was sent to this world. Since then, I have maintained adequate training and with reduced intensity.
I have been transmigrated to a parallel universe, an alternate reality where I am a Japanese citizen with English parentage. My name has remained the same, but my appearance has changed considerably.
It was difficult at first, but now I'm completely used to it.
However, the biggest change was that...
In this world there is a project called Blue Lock.
As soon as my soul took on this new body, my brain received countless information about this project and the people who participate in it. Like a book that has already been read, I know about every future event.
"Hello..." A boy with dark blue hair spoke awkwardly, breaking me out of my thoughts.
"Were you called too?" He completed, also holding a paper.
I turned towards him, my eyes opening wider than normal as they fell on the familiar face in front of me.
"Are you well?" He asked upon seeing my sudden behavior.
Before I could answer him, another boy of the same age group as the one in front of me appeared. But this one had white hair and was a little prettier.
"Isagi Yoichi? What a surprise, I didn't expect you to be called too."
I also knew this face, it was Ryosuke Kira.
"You're that guy..." Isagi scratched his head as he remembered the defeat he suffered a few days ago.
"Yes, yes... I remember you." Kira extended her hand and shook, "I'd love to get some passes from you." Completed.
Isagi reached out his hand and returned it, his face was a little pink.
"And who are you?" Kira turned her attention to me, frowning and trying to recognize my face.
"I don't remember you..." He scratched his head in disappointment that he couldn't remember.
"My name is Gary Lane." I responded directly, without much formality. I knew this wasn't Ryosuke Kira's real face.
"Oh, nice to meet you." Kira reached out her hand, but I turned before he could get closer and walked to the entrance of the place.
Kira felt a little depressed seeing me ignore him, "H-hey! It's bad manners not to greet others!" He shouted as he followed me along with Isagi.
...
As soon as we opened the door, countless serious faces stared at us firmly. I could feel that the pressure each of those people exuded was heavy.
Familiar faces like Kurona Ranze, Nagi Seishirou, Barou Shouei, Raichi Jingo... they were all together in this room and waited for what would come next.
"Hey, aren't you really going to apologize?" Kira entered the place soon after and, as soon as he did, all attention turned to him.
"You're quite famous..." Isagi said while feeling uncomfortable with so many eyes.
A spotlight was turned on and illuminated a small stage in front of us. Everyone looked and, on top of the stage, was a thin man in a black suit with a strange appearance.
"Welcome, uncut gems."
"Looking over it, I can say that at least 18 of you have above average talent."
"My name is Ego Jinpachi and... I'm the man who will make Japan world cup champions."
His words entered our ears piercingly and echoed in the room. Immediately, some murmurs began after he finished speaking.
"Cough... I'm not done yet." He clapped his hands and turned everyone's attention to him again.
"As you all know, with the exception of Itoshi Sae, the level of Japanese players is... rubbish."
"You could say that our collective is one of the best in the world, but... what's the point?"
"We need a player who can unbalance the attack... a player who takes the points... who crushes the opponent's defense in a crushing way."
"We need an egoist, no... we need the biggest egoist in the world."
My fists clenched, my heart was pounding.
"That's it... I was looking for that!" I thought with excitement, my body shook as I heard that man's speech.
"It's like the system... it thinks the same way!" I held on and prepared to move forward, but before I took a step, Kira shouted angrily.
"What nonsense is this?" Everyone looked at him, "Are you saying that the figures we all grew up watching and learned to admire are not worthy?" She completed.
Ego scratched his head, "Exactly." He leered at Kira as she said.
"I'm already tired of this." Kira's forehead was about to explode when he turned his back and prepared to leave.
"That's it, go away." Ego made a sign with his hands, "I don't need weak-minded losers like you." Completed.
"That's why you'll never be a great player... you don't have enough ego."
Kira stopped as soon as he heard Ego Jinpachi's next sentence.
"I feel better winning 4-3 than 1-0."
"You recognize that phrase, don't you?" Ego smiled.
"Noel Noa, the greatest striker in the world..."
"An example of a striker that Japan needs..."
"Do you think you can reach his level, Japanese football prodigy, Ryosuke Kira?" Ego mocked as he looked at Kira's angry face.
"Of course not. Your ego is weak, ridiculous, tiny."
"In football, ego is the driving force that drives players to overcome their own limits and achieve extraordinary things on the pitch. The bigger your ego, the greater your chances of being a successful striker."
"Now answer me, what kind of player do you think you'll become with that tiny ego?"
"Do you think you can lead Japan to win the World Cup?"
"Huh, mediocre little prodigy?"
Kira remained silent, her eyes fixed on the ground.
"In Blue Lock, only the most selfish will survive."
"So... answer me... do you want to go out that back door and live your lives with a false hope that you will have a successful football career..."
"...Or do you want to move on to Blue Lock?"
A door opened behind Ego Jinpachi's figure, his black eyes showed his determination.
Suddenly, a figure ran from my side towards the door, it was Isagi Yoichi.
"I-isagi?" Kira stuttered, not knowing what to do and seeing everyone else moving on.
"What the hell...!" He ran next, drawing a large crowd.
Only three people remained in the room at the end of Ego Jinpachi's speech. Me, Nagi Seishirou and Reo Mikage.
"And you... aren't going to come?" Ego asked, "Aren't you interested?"
Nagi sighed in disappointment, "That sounds like a pain…."
"Come with me, Nagi!" Reo shouted as he tugged on the latter's clothes, "I'll make you the best striker in the world!"
Nagi didn't refuse Reo's proposal, but stopped just before passing through the door and turned towards Ego.
"Hey...what you talked about earlier."
Ego looked at him firmly, waiting for Nagi's sentence.
"I can..."
"I can imagine winning the World Cup."
As soon as he finished, Nagi ran after Reo and moved forward just like the others.
Ego was a little surprised by Nagi's sentence, but he remained silent while smiling.
"And you?" He looked at me as I approached him.
"I would like to ask you something..." I said while looking into his eyes.
"Can you... be my coach when I become a Real Madrid player?"
Ego looked at me seriously, his eyes were burning. He stared at me like he was looking at a monster.
"Get out of my sight... before I kick you out of here." He held the holder of his glasses as he said.
I smiled and turned around as I ran, leaving Ego behind.
"I will be waiting for you!"
...
"Huhuhu..."
After a few minutes, a slow laugh that grew louder every second broke the silence in the room.
"Yes, that's it, that's the ego I'm talking about!"
"Keep it up!"
"Let's see how you do in Blue lock... the place where all that matters is football!"
...