A chill ran up Isagi Yoichi's spine.
He didn't know why—
But something made him look.
And then, their eyes met.
Across the crowded entrance hall, Ryu stared straight through him.
Eyes sharp. Burning.
Predatory.
Isagi instinctively stepped back, breath catching in his throat.
W-What is this feeling…?
It wasn't killing intent.
It wasn't rage.
It was something far worse.
Those eyes… they're terrifying.
And he wasn't the only one who felt it.
The moment Ryu appeared, the livestream bullet comments exploded:
[Who is that?!]
[Chills. Those eyes… he's not normal.]
[Forget scary—he's hot as hell. Dangerous bad-boy type!]
[Isagi looks like a rabbit next to him. I'm switching fandoms.]
[I'm already a Ryu Sanada Fan.]
The emotional points came pouring in:
["Ms. Understanding" has developed a good impression of you. +10]
["Don't Come In" has developed a good impression of you. +20]
["ZestyPossum" is simping uncontrollably. +50]
Ryu's jaw tightened.
He hadn't even done anything—
Just looked at the protagonist.
And yet—
[Emotion Value: 10,000+ and rising…]
"So this is how it works," he thought.
"All I have to do… is steal the spotlight."
And then—
[Congratulations, Host. You have gained your first fans.]
[Newbie Reward: "S-Rank Physique" unlocked.]
[Note: S-Rank Physique enhances stamina, speed, reflexes, recovery, and athletic potential beyond national elite level.]
A rush of heat surged through his body.
It was like being dropped into a boiling spring.
Muscles tightened. Vision sharpened.
His body felt… engineered for greatness.
But just as quickly, the sensation faded.
Back to normal—
Or rather, what his new normal was.
Ryu exhaled slowly. A grin tugged at the corner of his lips.
This body… this system… this world…
Let's see how far I can take it.
Across the hall, Isagi stood frozen.
Those eyes… they're not human.
This guy—he's strong.
No—he's dangerous.
He's not like the others here.
Even the bullet comments reflected his fear:
[Isagi's already facing monsters like that?! We're only on episode one!]
[Is this guy gonna be the villain? Or… the true protagonist?]
[The camera's still on Yoichi, but Ryu's stealing every damn scene.]
The debate raged:
Who was the real main character?
Ryu walked past Yoichi without a word, already scanning the room.
Dozens of boys.
All roughly the same age.
All of them forwards.
Bachira leaned close and whispered, "Ryu… this is weird."
"They're all forwards."
Ryu didn't react.
So this is where it begins—the ego project.
His memory wasn't perfect—he wasn't some omniscient reader.
But he remembered enough.
Enough to know—
This was Blue Lock.
Suddenly, a spotlight bathed the stage in white.
And a voice echoed across the vast steel hall.
Flat. Monotone. Unnerving.
"Congratulations, you raw gems."
A man stepped forward.
Long black hair. Hollow eyes.
Ego Jinpachi.
"Three hundred forwards. All under 18. All selected by my criteria."
"You may have already noticed—every single person here plays the forward position."
Gasps rippled across the room.
The comments fired off:
[It really is a breeding factory!!]
[Dude just called them gems and threw them in a meat grinder.]
[This guy's more unhinged than AFO from MHA.]
Ryu crossed his arms. His expression was unreadable.
So it's begun—the plan to create the world's strongest striker.
A prison of ego. A battlefield of selfishness.
Ego continued:
"From now on, all that matters is goals."
"You will discard everything else—friends, team play, past glory."
"This is Blue Lock. And only one of you will leave here reborn."
"So—will you seize this opportunity and reach the world stage?"
"Or crawl back to your boring, forgettable lives?"
Silence.
Then, a voice rose in protest.
"Football… is a team sport!"
A boy stood tall. Angry. Unshaken.
"I can't agree with your idea! You're twisting the game!"
Ego didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Because someone else did.
Ryu stepped forward.
His footsteps echoed—
Each one louder than the last.
The crowd parted around him like prey parting for a predator.
And when he passed the boy—
His words cut like a blade:
"Cling to your little dream of teamwork."
"I'll carve my name into football history and carry Japan to a World Cup—with my goals alone."
Silence.
The boy stood stunned. Shaken.
And like wolves following the alpha—
More forwards began to move.
One by one, they followed Ryu through the open door.
Ego's lips curled into a faint, wicked smile.
He had found the first one.
The one willing to lead.
In the Bus Route to Blue Lock
Ryu sat alone by the window. Back row. Arms folded.
He wasn't watching the scenery fly past.
He was watching numbers rise.
[Emotion Value: 100,000+]
[Shop Unlocked]
[Welcome, Ryu Sanada. Choose your path.]
A holographic interface hovered in his vision—like a personal heads-up display.
The "Shop" menu unfolded.
⬢ SHOP MENU:
[Skill: Professional-level Dribbling – Cost: 100,000,000 Emotion]
[Skill: Reflex Boost Lv.2 – Cost: 2,500,000 Emotion]
[Skill: Spatial Awareness – Proficient Tier – Cost: 10,000,000 Emotion]
[Trait: Cold-Blooded Finisher – Unlockable]
[Trait: Flash Step – Locked]
[Trait: Weaponized Ego – Locked]
The prices were absurd.
But the power behind them?
Real. Tangible. Worth it.
Ryu leaned back and rested his head against the glass.
So I'm not just fighting players…
I'm fighting for attention. For emotion. For power.
He didn't come here to compete.
He came here to consume.
Protagonist. Side character. Antagonist.
Call me whatever you want.
As long as the world is watching.
I'll become the strongest forward this game has ever seen.
To be continued.