[scribbling]
♪
[SAE] If I win, it means our dream is over.
[RIN] No, wait, stop.
[thumps]
I don't want to, not like this.
- You ready... Rin? - [gasps]
- [thumps] - [fire crackling]
This is a one-shot match.
[gasps]
Huh?
[gasps and grunts]
[grunts]
[ball thudding]
[sighs]
[grunts]
♪
[gasps]
[grunts]
[RIN] Why?
Brother!
[SAE] Rin, I've been away for four years.
[thudding]
[SAE] In all that time...
have you learned nothing?
[panting]
[splashing]
Age: 16 (high school first-year)
Height: 186 cm dominant foot: right
[phone vibrating]
[BURATSUTA] How are things going on your end, Ego?
[laughs]
I'm grateful to you, you know.
All it took was Sae Itoshi showing an interest
in Blue Lock, and the media lost their minds.
Tickets sold out almost instantly.
Big match! Big money!
That's the kind of math I can get behind.
And, hey, it should help pay off your deficit.
Does your rambling have a point?
[BURATSUTA] Listen, are you serious about this?
However good they might be, do you really think
a mishmash of strikers can beat Japan's U-20s?
We're talking about elite players
at the top of their game here!
♪
[chuckles] Like I told you before.
We're transforming Japanese soccer.
You see, that's why Blue Lock exists.
Episode 25: Tryouts
[EGO] My diamonds in the rough.
Three hundred high school strikers
entered our grueling selection process.
Now only thirty-five of you remain
in the fight to become the world's number one egoist.
Who will it be?
♪
The match is in three weeks.
You'll be taking on Japan's U-20s,
captained by Sae Itoshi.
[gulps]
Win this, and you win the right to represent Japan.
But if you lose, it's the end of Blue Lock.
♪
[ISAGI] Until a few months ago, I was a complete unknown.
A no-name nobody.
Then I was chosen to come to Blue Lock,
where I learned about ego,
and went through hell in the process.
If we win this match,
my dream to represent Japan might come true.
But, if we lose,
my soccer career will go up in smoke.
Along with Blue Lock.
♪
[ISAGI] This is it.
One game.
If I can harness all I've learned,
it could change my life.
Hey, mastermind.
I get that this is our big chance and all,
but how are we gonna make up a team?
We've got thirty-five freakin' forwards!
I guess maybe move some of us to midfield?
And then assign the others to play defense?
That's the idea.
A makeshift team of forwards.
Our only and best option.
Oh, no way, we'll have no chance!
We're gonna be going up against
actual defenders!
[ARYU] It will be difficult.
But, I love a challenge.
- [gasps] - Oh, please!
This isn't about whether you like it--
Cut the chatter!
[EGO] The players I am about to call
will make up the core of the team.
Six in total.
Blue Lock's top strikers based on comprehensive evaluation.
If your name is called, step forward.
First.
Rin Itoshi.
♪
[ISAGI] Rin, I knew he'd be number one.
♪
[EGO] Next up, number two.
Ryusei Shidou.
And boom.
It's me.
[gasps] Didn't know he was that good.
Well, well, would you look at that?
So we're numbers one and two.
Nice.
Should be fun, don't you think?
[ISAGI] Four names left.
[EGO] Number three.
Tabito Karasu.
♪
Hold your applause, losers.
Huh.
♪
[EGO] Number four, Eita Otoya.
Hey, 'sup?
[EGO] Number five, Kenyu Yukimiya.
Thanks, it's an honor.
[ISAGI] One more name. I want it to be mine.
I want to be at the core of Ego's group.
The Blue Lock Eleven.
[EGO] Finally, number six.
Seishiro Nagi.
Me?
[groaning]
[EGO] That is all.
Um, if I may.
Why did you rank me fifth?
What separates me from first?
That's easy to explain.
There are thirty-five of you,
and only two managed to score against the World Five.
Rin Itoshi and Ryusei Shidou.
The rest was based on total goals
in the first selection,
as well as evaluations by the World Five.
And, of course, subjective inclination.
That good enough, Mister Low-Key Model?
- It is, thank you, sir. - [gasps]
He's ranked fifth and he's a model?
Pretty annoying, huh?
[growls]
[EGO] And so, the next selection begins now.
First, the Top Six will be divided into three teams
by ranking.
♪
[EGO] The remaining twenty-nine players must then decide
which pair they wish to team up with.
You will make teams of five by adding three players
to the Top Six duos.
Then the fun begins.
Each team will play one five-a-side match.
[ISAGI] I get it.
He's trying to find players who can mesh
with the attacking styles of the core team members.
♪
[EGO] The Top Six will play multiple times,
but for most of those remaining,
this is a one-shot deal.
You see, these tryouts will determine
who plays Japan's U-20 team.
So don't screw it up.
One match to show you're glam enough to keep around.
Oh man, this feels pro-level.
All right, bring it on!
[EGO] Now, because of the headcount,
one of you will get to play two games.
Logically, that honor will go to Number Seven,
the runner-up.
Meguru Bachira, you will fill that role.
Aye-aye, Ego, sir.
[ISAGI] Damn, we've been playing together up 'til now,
yet all of them are better than me?
My Top Six players, proceed into the next room.
[door opens]
[EGO] These rankings only reflect
everyone's current standing.
That's including the Top Six.
If their performance during tryouts declines,
rest assured, their rank will reflect it.
Now then, I have a message for you remaining twenty-nine.
This is how you ace the tryouts,
"Assertion and coexistence."
The Top Six already possess powerful individual skills
and scoring prowess.
You will assert your worth to them,
and prove you're irreplaceable by coexisting.
Oh, and one last thing. [snaps finger]
[glass shattering]
[EGO] You must subjugate them!
Remember this, diamonds.
The Top Six aren't teammates you're playing alongside.
They're stepping-stones to make yourself stand out.
[ISAGI] I have to pick which allies I want.
Who's going to get me where I want to be?
♪
[EGO] Go and choose.
Select the optimal teammates who can determine your destiny.
[machine beeping]
[machine whirring]
♪
[gasps]
[RAICHI] Igaguri! Bruh!
You seriously took every single dish they offered?
[IGARASHI] It's an all-you-can-eat buffet
just for tonight! I've gotta take advantage.
Don't underestimate my earthly desires!
[GAGAMARU] Let me have one of your earthly desires.
[screams] Those are mine.
Go get your own!
[gasps]
[burbling]
[GAGAMARU] Earthly desire combo meal!
You could at least use chopsticks.
Come on, take these.
Just eat like normal people!
- Kinda a shame. - [gasps]
[RAICHI] The original Team Z didn't get a reunion.
Well, a full one anyway.
Yeah. [swallows]
Bums me out that Naruhaya isn't here.
Also, we're missing Kuon the traitor,
Imamura the womanizer,
plus Iemon the goalkeeper.
[chopsticks clink]
And him... Kunigami.
To be honest, it never crossed my mind
he would end up getting eliminated.
[gulps] He was really good.
[shuddering]
Shidou's the one who kicked him out.
But that's Blue Lock, so no point mourning.
- Chigiri? - Well, it's true.
Besides, if we lose to the U-20s,
this will all disappear.
That's the only thing we should be worried about,
nothing else.
[RAICHI] Yeah, right?
On that note, any of you decided
which pair you're teaming up with yet?
[grunting] Obviously I'm gonna go with Team A.
I've played with Shidou before, so makes sense.
I'm leaning towards Team B or C.
Can't explain why, just a hunch.
I'll pick using ladder lottery.
Plus, I'm the only one who gets to play two matches anyway.
Yeah, I forgot.
Out of everyone who's left from Team Z,
you're the most successful.
Man, that really pisses me off.
That's because I'm an egoist!
Who's your pick?
I haven't decided yet.
- How 'bout you? - Uh...
Well, uh, it's between...
Group A or C, right?
You want to team up with Rin or Nagi.
Yeah, that's right.
How did you guess?
[chuckles]
If you're looking for a chemical reaction
with your weapon,
Team C will let you do combination plays with Nagi.
On the other hand, if you want to gamble
on unknown potential you haven't unlocked yet,
it's Team A with Rin.
Or am I wrong? [chuckles]
You're not.
[ISAGI] "Assertion and coexistence".
So, the question is,
which team is the right choice?
Wait, I'm the only one who was surprised?
[gunshots]
The name's Kenyu Yukimiya, a pleasure.
[gunshots]
Seishiro Nagi, same Mister Four-Eyes.
Kind of exciting.
Waiting to find out who's going to team up with us.
[door opens]
Yo, Rin.
[SHIDOU] We should get along, "Number One."
Don't ignore me.
After all, we're teammates.
[chuckles] Hey, man, you like explosions?
What, like your hair?
I don't have time for small talk.
[laughs]
[thumps]
Now there's an image.
Bwah, bwah, bwah, bwah.
You think we should stop them?
[scoffs] No way.
They take each other out, I'm in first.
Oh, man, he also likes taking headshots.
Bastard, don't ever interfere with my gameplay,
or I swear I'll kill you.
Unlike you, I didn't come here looking to play soccer.
What I have is a biological need!
[claps] Stop... enough of that.
[chair creaks]
Don't be so cringe.
♪
[EGO] You're the crème de la crème of Blue Lock,
so to speak.
Each pairing represents the best strike partnerships
I can think of to play in an experimental,
super-attacking style.
I want to see offensive patterns
you can't create on your own.
Think of the other players as a means
of sharpening your weapon
and becoming the best in the world.
And I can't stress this enough,
don't let anyone ranked below the top six
steal your spotlight.
All of you stand at the pinnacle of Blue Lock.
The soccer you're creating is a sword.
An executioner's blade that will end the traditional
Japanese approach for good.
♪
I want Blue Lock's top egoists to challenge themselves.
[ISAGI] Not sure what these tryouts are even testing.
I probably need to break it down.
By "coexistence," does he mean our chemical reactions
with the Top Six?
There's also "assertion".
Like, maybe, I shouldn't get overshadowed by them?
That could be it.
I've got to figure out the point of the assignment
and show results in just one game?
Selection is going to be next to impossible!
Why can't we ever get a straight answer around here?
[BAROU] Would you shut up?
Stop doubting yourself.
It's so lame.
Have you decided, Barou?
[BAROU] Anywhere but Team C with Mister Hassle.
Playing alongside a familiar face won't help me to grow.
Wherever I do end up, I just need to make myself
the King like always.
Pretty simple stuff.
Damn, I should've known, that's one hundred percent you.
Who else would I be?
Anyway, why didn't you land in the Top Six?
Huh?
- [water trickling] - [BAROU] It pisses me off.
Out of everyone here, you're the guy
I wanted to defeat the most.
So try not to get yourself buried by this place.
- Got it, donkey? - Uh, yeah.
- Sorry. - [Barou chuckles]
- [door opens] - Hm?
[NIKO] Isagi, buddy.
I'm gonna borrow your acne face wash.
Huh? Oh, Niko.
So it looks like you're having a little trouble
picking out a team.
Yeah, kinda.
Ego's trying to fan our competitive fire like usual.
But at the end of the day,
I think we're being tested on whether we can gel
with the Top Six.
Gel with them, huh?
Have you decided?
[clicks]
My choice is whoever allows me to stick to playing
my own style.
I'm tired of always being cast as the foil.
No one's going to give you the lead role.
You taught me you have to steal it.
[gasps]
[ISAGI] Maybe that's the answer.
A team where I can be the lead.
[inhales deeply]
Hm.
[NIKO] Now that I've said my piece...
Huh?
...do you mind getting out already?
I'm washing my forehead. I don't want you watching.
- Leave. - Sorry, I was done anyway.
[ISAGI] Why would that embarrass him?
♪
[ISAGI] It won't be easy showing my worth on a team
with Rin on it.
There's a possibility I'll get buried
without being able to prove anything.
Which means...
the person I should team up with is...
[REO] It's not an easy choice, is it?
Hm. Reo.
- I'm in the same boat as you. - Huh.
Figured you would have instantly picked Nagi's group.
[chuckles] That's rich coming from the guy
who drove us apart in the first place.
[gasps] My bad.
♪
[REO] He was the original plan.
But these days, I'm not so sure.
[ISAGI] Why is that?
Really?
I mean, he chose you over me during the second selection.
My desire to get back at him
brought me this far, sure.
♪
[REO] But... watching him make his way
into the Top Six,
and comparing our current levels of play...
♪
[REO] ...it feels like he keeps moving further ahead,
out of my reach.
I don't have the confidence to play alongside him now.
♪
[REO] If I pass up this opportunity,
I might not get a second chance.
If I show I'm weaker than him, though.
Something tells me he's going to slip away entirely.
Huh.
♪
The truth is, I don't know what to do.
♪
- [ISAGI] I'm the same, Reo. - Hm?
You know, you're right.
If we don't play together now, there's a chance
he'll go to a place where I can never reach him.
♪
And that is one regret that I don't want to have.
All right, thanks a lot.
Because of our talk, I've decided.
You know, I bet it's not actually about
what the right answer is.
What matters is having the resolve
to turn your decision into the right answer.
[gasps]
I'll do it.
I'm going to prove the path I've chosen wasn't a mistake.
And that I'm right.
[birds chirping]
[ANRI] The selection deadline has closed.
The last assignment will begin shortly.
After changing into your kits, report to the hall immediately.
♪
[ANRI] The results have been tallied.
We will now present the team divisions.
[ISAGI] So it begins.
My final assignment before the match
against Japan's U-20s,
the tryouts to determine who will be
on the Blue Lock Eleven.
The team I chose was...
And the person I want to be standing alongside most
is you, Rin.
♪
[ISAGI] Bachira wants to be on Team A.
The same as me.
Barou, Raichi.
Niko and Chigiri, what a lineup.
Zantetsu and Gagamaru are in Nagi's group?
Reo's in C, too.
So, despite your doubts,
you still chose to play alongside him.
[EGO] Be irreplaceable.
The key to acing the tryouts is "Assertion and coexistence".
♪
[ISAGI] I have to make a case for myself.
And show them my presence here
can get us wins.
And after this battle's done,
it's on to Japan's U-20s.
♪
[BURATSUTA] Well, Hoi-chan.
I hope everything is crystal clear.
Yes, sir.
Anything for the sake of Japanese soccer.
[clattering]
[thuds]
[BURATSUTA] Crush them.
Yes, demolish those fools.
A bunch of unhinged nobodies,
thinking they can rep Japanese soccer?
Please don't worry, sir.
We're dealing with idealists here.
The notion that Japan's U-20s
could be anyone but who we say is pure insanity.
Huh?
[laughs]
Right.
There's our 'lil JFU loyalist, deaf to all except us.
Hoichi the Earless!
You know I'm sensitive about the moniker
the internet's given me.
[both laugh]
You've heard everything.
I'll be counting on you, captain.
Yeah, sure.
I accept your offer.
♪
Let's go, Blue Lock.
♪
[ISAGI] We'll win!
And I'll prove what I already know.
I'm going to be the number one striker in the world.
The best!
- [whistle blowing] - [RIN] Blue Lock.
[RIN] Additional Time.
♪
Start preparing for the tryouts, my Top Six.
[YUKIMIYA] Uh, wait.
We're divided into triple rooms?
Looks like we gotta decide on groups.
Who's first?
I'm taking one room for myself.
You five can share the other.
What the hell?
No way, not happening.
We just need to split into two groups.
How 'bout team rock and team paper?
Yeah, no, there's nothing exciting about that.
How 'bout rock, paper, scissors, loser sleeps outside?
Now that I like.
It's ego rock, paper, scissors.
Huh? You turned it into a hassle.
- Hell yeah, man, let's do this! - Yo.
I'm going to make you sleep in the hallway!
- Hullo? - Rock, paper...
- [BOTH] Scissors! - Kill me now.
- Rock, paper... - [BOTH] Scissors!
How 'bout we do this?
Everyone points to the person they least wanna be around.
Afterwards, we divvy up rooms based on the results.
Cool?
- Sure. - That works.
Okay, ready.
Then I choose...
[scoffs]
Meaning I get a room all to myself.
[ALL] Uh, no, scratch that.
Let's change that rule.
[laughs]
Look, I've got no problem sharing a room with this guy.
And Nagi, we should talk strategy.
So why don't you join us?
Oh, guess that's fine.
I don't want this to become a bigger hassle.
Okay, I'll bunk with you.
You, too, monster.
[scoffs] Whatever.
♪
Looks like we're rooming together, Spikehead.
Go look in a mirror.
Guys, look, I've got spikes, too.
Otoya, karasu, and shidou are rooming together!