Chapter 34: Second Selection: Part 1 – The First Door
Yūshin Seiichi stepped out of the corridor and entered a small, square indoor field—no larger than a five-a-side pitch.
In front of him stood a projected goal and a blue-colored robot.
No… not a robot.
A BLUE LOCK MAN.
"Holograms? This place really doesn't hold back," Seiichi muttered, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
According to the rules of the second selection, the task here was simple: score goals past the BLUE LOCK MAN. A test designed to separate true scorers from the rest.
He began stretching casually.
The screen above flickered to life:
90 minutes. 100 goals.
"So I just have to score, huh?" Seiichi murmured.
He eyed the upper right corner of the goal, then—
Boom!
A precise strike with his dominant right foot.
The BLUE LOCK MAN reacted instantly, diving with uncanny speed—but the ball curved perfectly past him and slammed into the net.
Ding! Goal! Remaining: 99
"Fast reflexes… This is no joke."
Seiichi paused, then smiled.
"But if I want to improve, I won't rely on my right foot."
He looked down at his left.
This is Blue Lock. If I don't evolve now… when will I?
"I'll use this as training."
His weakness—his left foot. There was no better time to fix it.
Boom!
The ball-feeder on the wall activated again.
This time, the target was the opposite corner.
Seiichi set his stance.
Left foot. Boom!
Ding! Goal! Remaining: 98
Not perfect—but it went in.
He grinned.
Boom!
Ding! Remaining: 97
…
Ding! Remaining: 70
He kept at it.
Every shot, a step toward refinement. Every goal—painful, calculated.
Then suddenly:
LEVEL UP – STAGE 2
Three dummy defenders emerged in front of the goal.
Seiichi narrowed his eyes.
"Alright. Now it's serious."
With defenders blocking sightlines and the BLUE LOCK MAN still guarding the net, hitting precise angles—especially with his left—was a real challenge.
But Seiichi never hesitated.
He charged forward.
Blue Lock Surveillance Room
"Wow! Everyone's improving so much!" Anri Teieri gasped as she observed the monitors.
Ego Jinpachi watched silently, arms folded.
"This space is perfect for evolution," he finally said.
"Each trial is designed to match a player's style. Those with weapons—they sharpen them here."
Anri suddenly pointed at one screen.
"Wait! Seiichi's progress is… really slow?"
Ego smirked. "Idiot."
"Huh?"
"He's only using his left foot."
"What?!"
Ego leaned forward, eyes gleaming.
"He's testing different angles. Fixing his posture. Improving shot trajectories. While everyone's playing to their strengths—he's rewriting his weakness."
Anri stared in awe.
"He's actually evolving faster than everyone…"
"Exactly," Ego said. "That's a true egoist."
Elsewhere – Second Room Waiting Area
Click.
A door opened.
Yūshin Zeya entered the quiet, dim chamber.
He looked around.
"No one here yet? Figures. I'm always first."
He leaned back against the wall.
Tch. Seiichi must be doing something insane again.
Click.
The next person entered.
Itoshi Rin.
Their eyes met—neither spoke.
They stood at opposite walls, tension simmering.
Click.
Another arrived.
Long black hair. Black nail polish. Lean and fashionable.
Jyūbei Aryū.
"Oh? Itoshi Rin and Yūshin Zeya. What a stylish group," Aryū said, flipping his hair.
Neither replied.
Just then, a large monitor lit up above them.
Team structure: three-man formation.
"Oh? Looks like it's us," Aryū said.
"I don't care who I team with," Rin said coldly.
Zeya shook his head. "You two go. I'm waiting for someone."
Click.
A fourth person entered—shivering and teary-eyed.
Aoshi Tokimitsu.
"S-sorry I'm late… I'm just… not worthy of being here…"
"Perfect." Rin ignored the excuses and strode toward the next gate.
"Let's go, bumpkin," Aryū said, smiling.
"Uwahhh…"
Zeya watched them disappear through the next gate.
Tch.
Seiichi… What are you doing?
Memory – Age 8
"I'm done! No more running!" Seiichi panted, collapsing. "This is torture!"
Zeya scoffed.
"You say you want to be the world's best midfielder and give up that easily?"
"This body's only 8! Give me a break!" Seiichi wheezed, sticking his tongue out and jogging off, his light-blue braid bouncing.
Zeya glared at his back—but kept running.
Later that night…
"Huh? Zeya, where's Seiichi?" Minako asked.
Zeya blinked. "He's not home?"
"Something might've happened!"
They rushed out.
They found him on a local pitch.
Alone.
Practicing volleys off the wall.
Boom! Bicycle kick!
"YES! I finally got it!"
Seiichi cheered, hugging the ball.
Zeya stood in silence, watching.
He loves this game more than anyone…
Back in the present
Zeya's eyes lit with fire.
That idiot hasn't stopped evolving.
You're always ahead of me.
But this time… I won't let you be the only one growing.
Let's go, Seiichi.