BLUE LOCK (ブルーロック)

C'mon, guys. Stop fighting over a silly bed.

We're teammates now, so—

Quit it!

See? You're kicking up dust!

You...

Ventilate the room.

And don't leave your towels and clothes on the floor. They're eyesores.

Uh, right.

Isn't Barou kinda meticulous?

You're not a king anymore.

You're a maid.

It's the birth of Maid Barou.

You and I don't get along, Mr. Hassle Man.

Huh? That nickname sucks. I don't like it.

Move, Mr. Hassle Man.

Don't call me that. It'll upset my folks.

I see.

He has some absolute rules that must not be broken.

Oh, and I go to bed at 10pm sharp, so no turning on the light after that.

It's like everything has to be just right or he won't be satisfied.

He has a clear idea of how he wants to lead his life.

What a hassle. I'm gonna play my game.

Yeah, having Barou around might be a hassle,

but maybe his whole "I am the rule" shtick is the driving force behind his ego

that makes his exceptional skills possible.

I want to learn more about him, so I can understand his genius.

Hey, wanna come train with me?

Unless we understand each other, there won't be any chemical reactions.

Episode 16

Tri-Fusion

I'm fine with practicing, but why's it just the two of us?

What's he doing?

Apparently, that's his daily physical training routine.

Isn't it a bit long? Not to mention, seriously intense.

How long you gonna keep that up for, Barou? Come join us.

Forty more minutes. Then I'll grace you with my presence.

Did that guy lose his sense of cooperation while still in the womb?

I can watch an episode of a TV drama in forty minutes.

Yeah, or nearly two episodes of anime.

But I guess this strict regime and his self-discipline are why he's so strong.

Right. It's almost an obsession.

Well, in that case...

I'll join you!

Huh? Forget it, donkey.

You can't possibly keep up.

You never know until you try!

Uh, what's happening?

Jeez...

I'll join you, too!

To advance further...

To beat those guys...

I'll trigger a chemical reaction with all three of us.

So, um, as you can see, in the second selection,

interpersonal relations, self-awareness, and understanding others all improve,

Japan Football Union BL Supervisor

and each player has to think for themselves to get their team playing.

This is how they are able to grow into independent strikers without compare.

That concludes my report.

You've presented all sorts of plausible arguments,

but it really all comes down to talent, right?

Japan Football Union Special Adviser

Even left to his own devices, a genius is still a genius.

He's right.

What we want is Japan's next star player.

Hurry up and produce a genius high school player who'll make a splash.

Well, we're only at the second selection, and—

You want a star that badly?

You old geezers truly are money grabbers.

How many geniuses have been crushed underfoot that way?

Blue Lock Project Representative

What do you mean, Ego-kun?

All you ever do is create a temporary genius.

Then the stupid bandwagon fans go crazy about this domestic-level "genius"

and spend tons of money on shirts and tickets.

This deluded "genius" goes off to play overseas totally unprepared,

but two or three years later, he's back,

because he can't produce results due to "cultural and language barriers,"

Domestic Transfer

and he spends the rest of his days as a mid-level player in the domestic league.

If you don't break this cycle, Japanese soccer will forever be third-rate.

Producing the best striker in the world will remain a pipe dream.

W-We have operation costs to think about! Making money is necessary to some extent!

Then, let me ask you this:

What is talent?

Is it a natural gift you're born with?

Or is it being blessed with a splendid physique?

To me, those things make you nothing but a diamond in the rough.

Make a note. Talent is the skill to prove one's own ability.

Someone who dreams of demonstrating the ability he believes in to the rest of the world,

and dedicates his life to it...

That's what I call a genius.

I'm creating a genius in Blue Lock.

And I'm dedicating my life to demonstrating it.

Okay, then! I look forward to seeing the results, Ego-kun.

Failure is not an option.

Oh.

This guy...

We told him over and over, but he still took the single bed!

I said we'd rock, paper, scissors for it.

Hey, can I go kick him awake?

But it looks like the room is tidier.

Maybe Maid Barou cleaned up the place?

I guess it's fine, then. Thinking about it is too much of a hassle, so I'm going to bed.

Huh? It's fine?

Man, you're so laid-back.

Huh?

Wait, I'm on the bottom bunk?

Geniuses really are selfish!

Reo!

Okay!

Run, Chigiri!

Piece of cake.

That was pretty good.

Our coordination's getting better.

Nice shot, missy.

Isagi and the others must have advanced already, right?

If we don't get a move on, they might clear all the stages.

I realize that, but if we just play whoever, we'll get someone mediocre.

Losing to Isagi because we didn't improve would be getting our priorities wrong.

But doesn't it look like the strong guys are already winning and advancing?

That's true.

What do you think, Reo?

As long as we can beat Nagi, I don't care.

I'm gonna make him say he needs me.

Is that a regret?

No, it's revenge.

So intense. I like it.

You are a genius of adaptability!

That's what Naruhaya said, but what exactly is "adaptability"?

I won because I was able to emulate Naruhaya's weapon of getting in behind.

Does adaptability mean getting stronger to match the strength of the opponent?

Then, my next target should be this selfish king.

Can I sit here?

Hm? Knock yourself out.

Say, Barou, what's your ideal playstyle?

What kind of question is that? And what's it to you?

I want to create a chemical reaction with you.

And for that, I think we need to know each other's ideal playstyle.

So tell me about the kind of soccer you wanna play.

Help me so I can score.

That's it. The end.

Well, sure, but...

That's why you lost to us, remember?

Could we consider, like, coordinating as teammates or...

Huh? What do you mean?

I would've won if that shorty had done what I needed him to.

You still lost.

You may score goals by yourself, but that alone won't make your team win.

Who cares?

"Win through my goals."

I'm not changing my rule.

I mean, if you were looking to win by using team play,

why didn't you pick that shorty instead, donkey?

You're not getting it!

Sure, Naruhaya and I could've understood each other,

Off the ball

Off the ball

but a chemical reaction would've been beyond us.

Blind spot

Blind spot

I emulated his weapon, so I know.

A weapon I can emulate won't cut it.

A shot range that's over 28 meters. A bulldozing charge.

You have weapons I could never obtain, even if I spent the rest of my life trying.

With me, your talents can shine brighter.

Then, all the more reason for you to do as I say.

Wait, that's... Then what's the point of being a team?

Hey!

Shut up. I'm taking a bath.

Aw, gimme a break. What's up with that guy?

He's a king through and through.

I'm sure he doesn't have a lot of friends. In fact, I bet he has none!

Man...

He does have talent, though.

But he won't win since he has no sense of cooperation.

It's like Barou...

is a seriously wasteful genius.

Man, my muscles are so sore.

Oh, it's because I did Barou's intense training regimen.

I can't believe he does that every day.

Oh, my bad.

Didn't mean to splash you.

Kunigami?

Isagi?

I didn't know you were here.

No, wait. That's my line.

Why are you still at the third stage?

So long story short, you lost to Itoshi Rin's team and lost Bachira as a result,

then you stole Barou, condemning Naruhaya, and now, you're here. Is that about right?

Yup, more or less.

I don't see you for a while and you go through all that.

Who'd you team up with?

With me, loser.

What were you thinking, leaving us behind? Stupid Isagi.

Chigiri!

Why didn't you wait for me, you jerk?

What he said.

I-I'm sorry. I was gonna wait, but then Nagi asked me—

You talking about me?

What are you doing?