Chapter 63: Star City's Determination
May 7, 2025 – Blue Lock Locker Room
Isagi Yoichi took a deep breath, adjusted his mindset, changed clothes, and prepared to leave the locker room.
But just as he reached the door, his eyes drifted toward the quiet corner.
There sat Yūshin Seiichi, motionless, slouched on a bench.
His eyes were glued to his phone screen. Blank. Dull. Hollow.
"…Seiichi," Isagi whispered under his breath.
He hesitated, wanting to go over—say something, offer a word of comfort—but his voice caught. What could he even say?
This loss… was a deep one.
Not just the match.
Zeya had been officially selected for the U-20 National Team.
For Seiichi… that must've cut deeper than any defeat.
Click.
Isagi slowly stepped out of the locker room, eyes now steady.
Cheer up, Seiichi. I still need your strength… to surpass myself.
Inside the Locker Room
Seiichi remained frozen, still staring at his phone.
Five minutes left…
He gritted his teeth.
If that idiot Zeya doesn't message me soon, I swear…
"…I'll never talk to him again! Damn it!!" he yelled.
He yanked his hair in frustration, stamping his foot repeatedly.
Suddenly—
Ping.
A message.
Zeya: "What do you want to know?"
Seiichi's fingers twitched.
Seiichi: "Everything."
Zeya: "Change your stupid name back first."
Seiichi: "Just talk."
Zeya: "Alright… You remember that fat president of the U20 Football Association who visited last year?"
Seiichi: "Yeah. Didn't we reject his offer flat out?"
Zeya: "We did. But he came back. This time he went straight to our dad. Apparently, he signed a recruitment deal behind our backs."
Seiichi: "…Tch. Why doesn't Dad trust our decisions?"
Zeya: "Honestly… I get it. Every parent dreams of seeing their kid in the national team. Glory and all that."
Seiichi: "That's not our goal. I don't care about just being a national player. We promised to be the best. World No.1."
Seiichi: "…Also, why didn't they recruit me?"
Zeya: "Maybe they think I'm stronger."
Seiichi: "Go to hell."
Zeya: "Got any more questions?"
Seiichi: "Yeah. Were you in FLOW today?"
Zeya: "Nah. I call it the Zone."
Seiichi: "Zone?"
Zeya: "It's like FLOW but deeper. You enter it with complete focus. All the opponent's weaknesses become visible. You can read everything."
Zeya: "But the Zone boosts physical ability too. It lets me perform at 100%, but it drains me fast. Right now, I can't maintain it for a whole match."
Seiichi froze.
Zone… that's from my past life. A basketball concept.
Once you enter that state, the world slows down. Every opening becomes visible. You can attack any way you want.
Zeya mastered that…? And he can enter it at will?
That's insane…
Seiichi: "Okay, we're done here."
Zeya: "Wait. One last question."
Seiichi blinked. Zeya rarely asked him anything seriously.
Seiichi: "Go on."
Zeya: "What's your next move?"
There was a long silence.
Then Seiichi took a deep breath.
Seiichi: "I don't know yet. I'm still… tangled."
Seiichi: "But when I face you again—when it's Blue Lock vs. U-20—I'll have your answer."
Zeya: "Alright. I'll be waiting."
Click.
Phone off.
Seiichi leaned back against the wall. His body slumped, shoulders heavy. His breath shallow.
He covered his eyes with one hand.
In that darkness, old thoughts returned.
The world's best midfielder. That was our promise…
The role of a midfielder is to connect the team. Build plays. Feed the forwards.
But since coming to this world…
A grin cracked on his lips.
Scoring goals… feels so damn good.
I want to score. I want to shoot. I want the spotlight.
But then—
Why am I hesitating?
Would Zeya really blame me for chasing goals?
Seiichi slowly squatted down and picked up a nearby football, pressing it gently to his forehead.
The surface was familiar. The feeling… grounding.
A flicker of deep blue light flared in his eyes.
It swirled. Burned. Grew.
His resolve began to surge.
Midfielder. Forward. It doesn't matter.
Football is freedom. And so am I.
No one tells me how to play.
I'll be the core. I'll be the center of it all.
Not just a teammate… I'll be the one everyone orbits around.
I'll be…
The best.
World No.1.