Chapter Text
Chapter 1: The Power Ranking
"We're ranked 6?! There's only 5 countries ahead of us?!" Nanase roared excitedly, scrolling on ESPN. The lineups were announced. The Neo-Egoist League had taken the football world by storm, and everyone was talking about it. What was next for Blue Lock?
The U20 World Cup, of course.
"Huh. There's so many rankings... goalkeeper ranking... striker ranking... player ranking... think they'll release a food ranking?" Gagamaru looks at Nanase's phone.
"Seriously, Gagamaru... Look! France, Spain, Brazil, England, Germany, Japan! We're 6! Over USA, Italy, and... so many other countries!" Nanase fell back, smiling at his phone.
Isagi looked at the player rankings, silently analyzing.
1. Julian Loki (France)
2. Bunny Iglesias (Spain)
3. Michael Kaiser (Germany)
4. Carmelo Wilts (USA)
5. Itoshi Sae (Japan)
6. Vivian Hugo (France)
7. Teddy Knight (England)
8. Don Lorenzo (Italy)
9. Domenic Salamanci (Croatia)
10. Gabriel Kouame (Ivory Coast)
"Damn... not in the top 10..." Isagi's eyes look more focused. He spots his name. 14. Right over him is Itoshi Rin. He grits his teeth, looking up at Rin, who didn't seem to look at anyone else, just sat on his own. The Blue Lock facility was loud, members of the Japanese U20 team chattering about the new rankings posted by PIFA, ESPN, Fanduel, every possible gambling and sports app you could imagine. A notification came on Reo's phone.
"Woah... USA beat South Africa 6-1." Reo stood his phone up on a water bottle, Hiori and Zantetsu watched the match highlights.
What stood out to them most was Number 5. He was tall. 6'5, maybe. Darkskin. The name on his back, Wilts. He had short black hair, a mid-taper fade, with grown out natural curls. He had a small stubble mustache and goatee, and small brown eyes.
"Wait a minute... he's that New Gen 11 Defender... What was his name again? Car... somethin', right?"
Zantetsu pushes his glasses up. "Carmelo Wilts. USA's Center Back!" He looks smug, as he speaks.
"Carmelo Wilts, huh? Tall guy, ain't he..."
"Tall, tall."
The screen showed Carmelo walking up to a South African player, a smile on his face. The scoreboard read 6-1. 89th minute. He put his hands on his shorts, looking at the South African, a fair-skinned young man. Carmelo just smirked at him, and said something the cameras couldn't catch. Reo's eyes widened as he watched. The South African pushed Carmelo, who just laughed, looking down at him. The referee split the two apart. The South African was still trying to get at Carmelo, who just smiled at him.
"Damn..." Hiori leaned his face against his hands.
"He's a massive piece of shit, isn't he?" Reo looked around. Nanase even gulped, like watching a cliche cartoon villain. The referee had sent the South African off, and Carmelo just clapped.
"Aye! Make sure you link me up with some of them South African girls back home, huh? Yeah, fuck you!"
Isagi walked over, overhearing the American speak. "What's he even saying?" Isagi looks at Reo, then at the rest watching Reo's screen with intent. "He's just another trash talker, right? No big deal. And he's in Group N. We wouldn't play them for a while."
"Yeah. Your boyfriend Kaiser would play them earlier." Hiori snickered.
"You know he- whatever." Isagi huffs. "Carmelo Wilts. CB, Number 5 for America. He's part of the New Generation Eleven. Like Sae and Kaiser. He's nicknamed Menace. Plays for Re Al. Just like Sae." Isagi looks at his Player Profile. "He wins a majority of his duels, which makes sense for a player of his size. Re Al says he's listed at 6'5, 225 pounds. He's a behemoth. He should be playing basketball."
Bachira jumps on Isagi's back, nearly knocking him down to the floor. "What does that mean, Isagi?" Bachira pats Isagi on the head, jumping off of him. "Just means he's a big mean guy! And the bigger they are, the harder they fall!"
"He's ranked 4 in ESPN's official best U20 players. But that list is... stupid. Kaiser's in 3rd. He's... he shouldn't be third. It's just a popularity contest." Isagi grumbles to himself.
"Then maybe stop being so lukewarm." Rin looks up at Isagi, and the cheerful attitude of the room slightly fades. "I saw the list too. All these other players... they're just in my way. Just like you."
"Yeah, right. Keep telling yourself that."
The air became cold. Isagi and Rin stared at each other. "We could be playing the States, so how about you watch the film, like Ego told us too. Our game against Nigeria is tomorrow."
"I'm going to the gym." Rin brushes past Isagi. "Don't get in my way."
"Nobody's getting in your way, dumbass. You bumped into me..." Isagi sighed. He looked at the rankings once again. He had to prove everyone wrong. He saw the images of the previous winners. How much ego did those guys have? They all went on to play professionally. Isagi had grown more and more, learning more things about himself in his time at Blue Lock. He's seen new players. Made new friends, new enemies. There were doubters. Japan was placed in the group of death. Reporters, fans, many across the world said that Blue Lock, that Japan, would be grouped. He was there to prove them wrong.
SCORES FOR THE FIRST DAY
USA vs. South Africa
USA victory. 6-1.
USA
7', 21' - Smith
'51 - Wilts
71', 74', 90+2' - Balogun
SOUTH AFRICA
15' - Van Heisen
Netherlands vs. New Zealand
Netherlands victory. 1-0.
Netherlands
56' - Vandeweghe
Cape Verde vs. Türkiye
Draw. 0-0.
Day 2 Matches
Japan vs. Nigeria
Germany vs. Costa Rica
Ivory Coast vs. China
Who wants it more?