Chapter 3: I Have Something to Say
Japan Football Union Headquarters, front entrance.
This place is something else. Kira tilted his head back, taking in the towering building before him. This was it—the true starting line of his football journey in this world.
Over the past few days since receiving the Blue Lock invitation, Kira had noticed something during training. His vision ability had improved, even if only slightly. It wasn't dramatic, but he could now pick up on details he'd never noticed before—like recalling exactly how many convenience stores he passed on his way here. The old Kira, the one from the manga, wouldn't have registered such things.
Could it be that using the Attribute Trial Card during matches or training was causing permanent improvements? He'd need to test this theory later.
Kira was lost in thought when a familiar, energetic voice snapped him out of it.
"Kira-san from Matsukaze Kokuo?"
"I knew it was you! Of course they'd call you here too!"
[Detected attribute that can be absorbed!]
[Vision +18 (Continuous decay)]
[Duration: 10 minutes]
[Retention Time: 24 hours]
[Absorb?]
Kira smirked inwardly. I've been waiting for you, Isagi.
"Absorb!" he silently commanded.
[Absorption successful. Obtained Isagi Yoichi Attribute Trial Card x1]
[Vision +18 (Continuous decay)]
[Duration: 10 minutes]
[Retention Time: 24 hours]
[Silently chant 'Use Trial Card' to activate!]
The boost is lower this time. Is it because my own vision has improved? Kira mused, forming a hypothesis.
"Kira-san?"
He turned to see Isagi looking at him with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty.
Kira flashed his signature grin, all charm and confidence. "Yo, Isagi! You put up a good fight in that match the other day. Didn't expect you to know who I am."
Know you? My head's been replaying your plays non-stop for days, Isagi thought, managing an awkward smile. "How could I not? You crushed us in the prefectural finals."
"I've got my eye on you too," Kira said, his tone warm but carrying a competitive edge, just like in the manga. Facing Isagi Yoichi head-on had shown him the guy's insane potential.
"Your ball control's sharp, and that field vision of yours? Unreal. I kept thinking during the match—if we were teammates, you'd be slinging some killer passes my way."
"Wha—? Uh, thanks!" Isagi stammered, his heart racing. No way. Kira Ryosuke, the guy everyone's talking about, is praising me?
"Come on, let's head inside. I think it's this way. And drop the formal stuff—we're the same age, yeah?" Kira laughed, his easygoing vibe putting Isagi at ease as he led the way into the building. Inside, though, Kira was buzzing with anticipation to meet the others.
"R-right," Isagi mumbled, still processing.
There are people like this out there, huh? Crazy talented and approachable. If someone like him thinks I've got something, maybe I'm not half bad, Isagi thought, trailing behind Kira.
Moments later, they pushed open the doors to the lobby.
The room was packed with players, a sea of egos and talent. Kira's eyes swept the crowd, zeroing in on two figures instantly. Itoshi Rin, standing aloof with his nose practically in the clouds, exuding untouchable arrogance. And Shidou Ryusei, causing a ruckus in the corner, his wild energy impossible to ignore. Besides a fully evolved Isagi, these two were Kira's real rivals in this world.
[Detected attribute that can be absorbed!]
[Vision +30 (Continuous decay)]
[Dribbling +20 (Continuous decay)]
[Shooting +20 (Continuous decay)]
[Speed +20 (Continuous decay)]
[Duration: 10 minutes]
[Retention Time: 24 hours]
[Absorb?]
[Detected attribute that can be absorbed!]
[Vision +15 (Continuous decay)]
[Strength +30 (Continuous decay)]
[Speed +30 (Continuous decay)]
[Shooting +20 (Continuous decay)]
[Duration: 10 minutes]
[Retention Time: 24 hours]
[Absorb?]
[Detected attribute that can be absorbed!]
…
Kira's head nearly spun as over a hundred notifications flooded his mind at once.
"Absorb!" he silently commanded.
[Absorption successful. Obtained Itoshi Rin Attribute Trial Card x1]
[Vision +30 (Continuous decay)]
[Dribbling +20 (Continuous decay)]
[Shooting +20 (Continuous decay)]
[Speed +20 (Continuous decay)]
[Duration: 10 minutes]
[Retention Time: 24 hours]
[Silently chant 'Use Trial Card' to activate!]
[Absorption successful. Obtained Shidou Ryusei Attribute Trial Card x1]
[Vision +15 (Continuous decay)]
[Strength +30 (Continuous decay)]
[Speed +30 (Continuous decay)]
[Shooting +20 (Continuous decay)]
[Duration: 10 minutes]
[Retention Time: 24 hours]
[Silently chant 'Use Trial Card' to activate!]
[The system can currently only absorb and retain three attributes. No further absorption possible.]
[After the host passes the entrance exam, the system can be upgraded to absorb more attributes.]
[Other detectable attributes have disappeared as they were not absorbed. Can be re-detected after 24 hours.]
[Absorbed attributes have been placed in the backpack. Silently chant 'Backpack' to view.]
"Backpack," Kira thought.
Three Attribute Trial Cards appeared in his mind: one from Isagi Yoichi at the entrance, and two just absorbed from Itoshi Rin and Shidou Ryusei.
So, for anyone I meet, if their abilities outshine mine, the system flags them as absorbable. Passing the first round upgrades the system, like expanding the backpack? This just keeps getting better.
"Kira? You okay?" Isagi's voice cut through, tinged with concern.
"All good, all good. Probably just didn't sleep enough last night," Kira said, shaking his head and snapping back to reality.
"Why do I feel like I've seen a lot of these guys before?" Isagi muttered, scanning the room with a puzzled look.
Because they're Japan's top young strikers, that's why, Kira thought, keeping the answer to himself.
A spotlight suddenly snapped on, illuminating the center of the lobby stage. A scrawny man in a suit, with square glasses and a bowl cut, stepped forward, clearing his throat dramatically.
"Listen up, you diamonds in the rough!" Ego Jinpachi's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
"You're the 300 best strikers I've handpicked, all under 18, based on my own flawless judgment!"
"I'm Ego Jinpachi, hired to make Japan win the World Cup!"
Whoosh—
The lobby erupted into chaos, voices overlapping in a frenzy.
"Who's this weirdo?"
"Anyone know this guy?"
"World Cup? Seriously?"
Kira facepalmed, a grin tugging at his lips. Here we go. Classic Ego Jinpachi, ready to brainwash everyone.
"I'll cut to the chase," Ego continued, unfazed.
He laid it all out: the Blue Lock project, designed to forge the world's greatest striker. The 300 players would live here, cut off from the outside world, undergoing brutal training. Only one would emerge, having crushed the other 299, to claim the title of the world's number one striker. Japan's obsession with possession-based play, Ego declared, would never produce a true goal-scoring beast.
The crowd was dumbfounded, murmurs rippling through the room.
"Who does this guy think he is?"
"This is insane!"
"I'm supposed to be at the national tournament, not stuck in some weird camp!"
Kira knew the script. In the manga, the original Kira Ryosuke would've jumped up to challenge Ego, sparking an argument that ended with Ego's fiery speech igniting everyone's competitive spirit, convincing them to stay.
But Kira wasn't that guy. He was here to shake things up.
"Excuse me," Kira called out, raising his hand. Every eye in the room turned to him. Ego Jinpachi's sharp gaze locked onto the star player he'd already pegged as a standout.
"Who's that? Wait, is that Kira Ryosuke from Saitama?"
"The guy who scored four goals in the prefectural finals?"
"What's he gonna say?"
Ignoring the whispers, Kira stepped forward, ready to deliver a speech that would set the stage for his own legend.
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