Original subtitles

So far, Team A have won all their matches.

But Barou and Bachira scored goals, too.

This is the final match.

You're a persistent pest!

Don't like it? Leave.

Son of a...

The fifth match is over.

Team A wins, 5-4.

Oh, boy. I've got a bad feeling about this.

Hey, you do know the match is over, right?

Good. Now I can kill him without any worries.

You talentless piece of trash!

Couldn't agree more.

I'll curb stomp ya and put ya outta action for good!

Your head's gonna be crackalack-Rin-Rin!

Seriously, you shouldn't be doing that!

That's enough out of you.

I can't believe I had to use the electric shock anti-riot measure.

Electric shock?!

All the matches are now over.

The tryouts are complete.

In six hours' time, I will announce the lineup for the match against U-20 Japan.

(Episode 29 Flow)

(List of registered players who passed the 3rd Selection)

(Remove Players)

Have you made your decision?

Yeah.

"Too many cooks spoil the broth."

Huh?

Some talents have to be left out if you want to win.

(Japan Football Union Buratsuta)

At a vitally important time like this?

(Time until Starting Lineup for the U-20 Exhibition Match is Announced)

Aw, heck. I'm super nervous.

Huh? Where's Shidou?

Probably still in the correction room.

Aside from the Top 6, the only guys who scored were me...

Bachira...

Barou...

and Reo.

If that's how he's picking players, I've got a chance.

I want to be chosen.

I want to fight on a field where I can change my own destiny.

Hello there. Good work, diamonds in the rough.

Is this the second time I've seen you in person?

(Blue Lock General Director, Ego Jinpachi) Good to see you again.

Wow, it's been ages.

Ego in the flesh.

Let me redefine this.

Soccer is a sport where you score goals.

Goals are the one and only existential value.

That's why I've built a team around the egoist with the highest goal average.

Prepare yourselves and listen up.

I will now announce the eleven players who will take on U-20 Japan.

First, the guy up top:

Itoshi Rin.

He has the highest goal average of 2.5 per game.

The team will employ a super all-out attack formation centered around you.

If they score five, you will score six and win.

"Destruction follows destruction."

As its vanguard, you embody the philosophy of this team.

And the remaining ten players will be the bullets that escalate that destruction.

First up, the goalkeeper:

Gagamaru Gin.

Oh. Me?

Explosive reactions and a body on springs.

You scored highest in the goalkeeper aptitude.

You'll be the guardian of this team.

So that's why. Got it.

Next up are the two center backs:

Aryu Jyubei...

and Niko Ikki.

The right center back will overwhelm opponents with his height and reach.

The left center back has a sharp mind for stealing the ball and reading the field.

And the two full-backs who'll use speed and technique to dribble up and down the flanks...

On the right is Chigiri Hyoma.

Yes, sir.

And on the left is Bachira Meguru.

All righty.

That said, no matter where I am on the field, I'll try to score.

And the defensive midfielder connecting this defensive line to the front line...

Karasu Tabito.

You're the best at keeping the ball in Blue Lock,

and your analytical skills help you see chances, so you'll be the heart of this team.

I had a feeling you'd say that, dumdum.

Now for the attackers.

Slicing through the opponent's defensive walls from the wings, we have...

Otoya Eita.

'Kay.

Yukimiya Kenyu.

Yes, my pleasure.

The right winger has speed and stealth to get behind opponents,

while the left winger dominates in one-on-ones.

And the two players stationed between them as the core of our attack:

First, a superb talent who scores stellar goals thanks to his ball control...

Nagi Seishiro.

Gotcha.

And let me remind you again.

This team employs a super all-out attack formation, centered around Itoshi Rin.

(Super all-out attack) This team employs a super all-out attack formation, centered around Itoshi Rin.

The one who scored highest in compatibility with Itoshi Rin,

fulfilling the "assertion and coexistence" requirement as his shadow,

while possessing the talent to subjugate him and score himself...

The last piece of this puzzle is you...

Isagi Yoichi.

Yes, sir.

That is all.

Here's the Blue Lock XI to face U-20 Japan.

I did it. I got chosen.

I'm one of the Blue Lock XI!

Damn it.

I have a question.

Why isn't Shidou-kun on the team?

He scored goals, and he's the No.2, right?

Indeed, Shidou Ryusei did have a high goal average of 2.0 per game.

But those goals all stemmed from his own skills.

Which means that in these tryouts,

he wasn't able to trigger a single chemical reaction with Itoshi Rin.

Plus, if he gets a red card for violent conduct, it'll put us at a major disadvantage.

For these reasons, I've determined he shouldn't be on the same field as Itoshi Rin.

More importantly, none of you can handle an egoist of Shidou Ryusei's caliber.

Someone who gets his thought process and goals to mutually improve the level of play...

We have no such talent here in Blue Lock.

I mean, I don't think there's anyone anywhere in Japan who can handle a guy like him.

But it'd be such a waste not to make use of his talents.

Right. So Shidou Ryusei will be a joker card we can sub in for Itoshi Rin.

Or at least, that was the plan.

What changed?

A few hours ago, I received a phone call from Buratsuta of the JFU.

(Japan Football Union Buratsuta)

Unless we meet a condition proposed by Itoshi Sae, he'll back out of the match.

If Itoshi Sae doesn't play, the match will be canceled, since the tickets won't sell.

And Blue Lock will die a natural death. That's what he said.

The condition Itoshi Sae proposed is this...

(3 hours earlier)

Lemme outta here, you four-eyed bastard.

I promise I won't hit anyone anymore.

I know you can hear me!

I'll kill you, Mr. Lock-Off Specs!

What's up, Devil Boy?

Who the hell are you?

This cage must be too small for you.

I'll set you free.

I want your ego.

Go berserk for me.

The condition was to add a player of his choice from Blue Lock to the U-20.

In other words, Itoshi Sae chose Shidou Ryusei over you.

We have 15 days left.

I'll assign you a training schedule that'll guarantee us victory.

Give it everything you've got.

From here on, failure will not be tolerated.

Hmph. That's half-baked, you four-eyed rat.

For me, this game is nothing but a stepping stone to becoming number one in the world.

True. I mean, I already bet my life when I got here.

I ain't average enough for that to scare me.

I'm getting stoked.

I'm looking forward to it.

Yeah. I want to play them now.

That's the ego I want to see, Blue Lock XI.

Right. My goal isn't just to get picked for the team.

I will... no, Blue Lock will win this game and go beyond it...

Onto the world stage!

We will now begin the final training camp.

(The Final Training Camp)

(Meeting Room, U-20 Japan Training Center)

The match is in two weeks.

(U-20 Japan Manager, Hoichi Seiji) And joining the Japan team for the first time is...

Itoshi Sae!

(New Generation World's Best 11)

Wow, it's really him.

I can't believe we get to play with him.

Is that a good thing?

(U-20 Japan Team, Sendou Shuto) He looks like an unpleasant prince to me.

Hey, he can hear you.

Who's that guy?

Hm? Must be a freebie that came with Itoshi Sae. Who knows?

For the honor of representing Japan, we can't afford to lose, no matter what.

Sae-kun, tell them how eager you are.

I don't have an ounce of interest in any of you.

But a chance like this doesn't come around twice in your playing careers.

Do your best not to irritate me. That is all.

Wait, um...

Talk about confidence.

Don't underestimate us, Mr. Genius.

People might make a fuss about you overseas, but that's just at academy level.

We play in Japan's top league, and I'm a starting forward.

So watch your mouth.

And? You compete to be the top scorer in Japan, play for the Japan team,

make an annual salary of 50 million yen, marry a pin-up model, and have a happy family.

That's about the limits of your soccer career.

My only interest is becoming the best in the world.

The depth of your desire is nowhere near mine.

I-I wanna be the best—

You should watch your mouth!

You waste of a striker!

Too bad. So sad. See you in your next life.

You've got zero sense if you're concerned about status.

Wh-What's your deal?!

That's our star player—

Oh?

(U-20 Japan Team, Shidou Ryusei) You all wanna go?

Okay, if I win, put me in the starting lineup.

S-Stop already!

Shut up, freebie.

Don't you dare insult me!

Okay, here's my first goal!

All right, you guys. Stop it now.

Talk about being underestimated.

Love the spirit, little puppy.

But it's on the field you're supposed to be showing results.

Li'l Genius, you're a newcomer here, too.

So why don't you win our trust with your play?

As the defensive line...

(U-20 Japan Team)

...we've got your back.

Built around their tall defender, Aiku, who's gotten offers from Italy's Serie A,

the U-20 play a catenaccio system.

I see. So they're a defensive team.

We just need to smash them, right?

Yeah. That said, they are the strongest elite team of players under 20 in Japan,

so it won't be that easy.

So we just need to smash them, right?

Bachira, you keep repeating yourself.

Because we just need to smash them, right?

Are you even listening?

Complete your morning drill and take a break.

"Smash them," huh?

In that case, I think I'm still lacking in power.

Entering that trancelike state was a total fluke.

If I could use that on command...

Rin?

Hey, it's break time.

You should rest a little.

Huh? If you're going to interfere, get out, Isagi.

Yeah, but if you overdo it and get injured—

If I do, that means I'm only at that level.

At last, I get to play against my big bro. Against Itoshi Sae.

I get to crush and surpass him.

You have no idea how much I've longed for this moment.

I don't need it.

You get injured, Blue Lock's over.

I'm telling you not to cause problems for me.

Drink.

Hmph.

It's lukewarm.

Can it.

I've never seen that look on Rin's face before.

I want to win this match... with him.

Hello there, Team Blue Lock.

Your training should have your bodies awake by now.

So now, we need to wake up your brains.

I'll teach you how to ignite a fire in your life,

which is essential for becoming the best striker in the world.

"Flow." It's a mentally absorbed state that can be obtained

through personal optimal experiences.

Regardless of their scale, human beings have moments when they're so focused,

they even forget the passage of time.

That state of enjoying whatever it is and getting the brain all excited...

That's "flow."

Think back.

To when you broke out of your shells here at Blue Lock.

To when you poured all you had into that one play.

Flow.

It does ring a bell.

If this "flow" is the key to reproducing that trancelike state...

So how do you get into this flow?

The most important condition is concentrating on a daring challenge.

To put it plainly, you have to aim for an objective of optimal difficulty.

This image shows the balance between challenge and ability to get into a flow state.

If your abilities exceed a given challenge, you won't feel joy and you'll get bored.

Conversely, if a given challenge exceeds your abilities,

you can't see yourself succeeding and you become anxious.

In short, you can't experience joy in a state of boredom or anxiety.

That's why you need concentration for a daring challenge.

Know your abilities precisely...

and control them.

Then, challenge yourself with a goal that's appropriate to you.

In that moment, you will pull out an exceptional performance,

which will push you up to the next level.

From the outside, it might look like a miracle.

But there's a formula to it.

And that's "flow."

However...

It's not easy to achieve.

Your daily life is flooded with information and entertainment.

It's an endless hell to cover up your boredom and anxiety.

People can't get absorbed in something so easily.

For example, you may passively get into a trancelike state on your phone.

But that's not the flow state you actively achieve, available only to you.

That cannot be classed as "ego" in my book.

The thrill you feel when you score a goal.

The exhilaration you feel when you gain a new weapon.

That joy is something that belongs only to you.

That's ego.

Blue Lock's the place where you escape the diarrhea of that passive trancelike state,

and only those who fully immerse themselves in soccer can survive.

So remember, diamonds in the rough...

the meaning of everything you've experienced in Blue Lock.

Remember how you've all evolved.

I see.

It's true that I became absorbed in my potential each time I grew stronger.

Now, does the goal of defeating U-20 Japan make you feel...

bored?

Anxious?

No.

It's a challenge I can immerse myself in.

You get it now, don't you?

The door to defeating U-20 Japan will only be opened

when you, the Blue Lock XI, get into a flow state on the field on game day.

On that grand stage, I will find my unique flow.

Now, let's prepare.

You're the new generation of egoists who will tear down Japanese soccer's status quo.

The world's waiting for your goals.

I'll find it.

The goal I can immerse myself in.

The goal that only belongs to me!

Blue Lock Additional Time.

(Blue Lock Additional Time)

(Episode 29 Natural Communication) (Niko Ikki)

I'm Niko Ikki, and I've been chosen for the Blue Lock XI to face U-20 Japan.

As defenders, let's communicate with each other in the game. Nice working with you.

(Aryu Jyubei) Likewise.

Whatever my position may be, I will be at the top of my glam.

(Gagamaru Gin) I've never played in goal before.

I have confidence in my physical abilities.

See? You can count on me.

Uh-oh. Help.

I'm glamming to your aid!

Oh, I see. We've got two airheads.

With this type, the best way to build a rapport is to rely on sensibilities, not logic.

To do that, I should gather info on their preferences.

What do you two do on your days off?

I'd like to get to know you both.

I'm in the mountains.

So I pick wild vegetables, sunbathe,

and take on wild boars.

I also sumo wrestle my bear friend, play Super Smash Bros., look for UFOs...

That second half made no sense.

I am usually found in pursuit of the ultimate glam.

Feeling the universe, cherishing beauty, offering prayers to Buddha...

When you empty your mind, even fire feels glam!

None of what he said makes sense.

B-But I will not dismiss them.

W-Wow, very nice. I like how unique you both are.

Without dismissing them, be positive and compliment them.

That's the best course of action to gain their trust.

So are you interested in pursuing the way of glam with me?

Huh?

Let your universe manifest itself in your body!

(Glam) Like this!

(Glam)

Like this?

Yes. Very good, mountain man.

L-Like this?

Express the glam with your whole body!

Like this!

Glam.

G-Glam!

Wait, am I having fun right now?