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The stadium lights flickered off, casting long, eerie shadows over the field as the final whistle echoed in the cool night air. The scoreboard, illuminated in stark contrast against the encroaching darkness, was a bitter reminder of the outcome—Japan’s U-20 team had emerged victorious, edging out the Blue Lock team with a narrow 4-3 win. The noise in the stadium was almost suffocating, filled with the triumphant cheers of the U-20 team's supporters—fans, coaches, and players alike, all reveling in their hard-earned victory.
In the Blue Lock locker room, the atmosphere was heavy with a mix of disbelief and silent frustration. The players, who had given everything they had on the field, sat in a stunned hush, struggling to process the reality of their defeat. They had pushed themselves to the limits, challenging the very foundation of their abilities, but in the end, it hadn’t been enough. The dream of revolutionizing Japanese football now seemed to be slipping through their grasp.
Jinpachi Ego, the mastermind behind the Blue Lock project, entered the room with Anri by his side. His intense gaze, usually piercing and unyielding, was now subdued, his thoughts hidden behind the reflection of his glasses. Anri on the other hand had her sadness and shock written all over her face.
"As I’ve already told Isagi during the match, Blue Lock didn’t lose," he began, his voice cutting through the silence as he stood before the young strikers, his familiar crouched posture unchanged. Directly cutting to the point. "I will disappear, and the Blue Lock project will be shut down, but the world has seen what Blue Lock—no, what all of you—are capable of," he continued, his hands buried deep in his pockets.
"I have no doubt that each of you will have bright futures in your football careers," he added, attempting to uplift their spirits in his own distinct way, even as he grappled with the reality that he would soon be banned from football forever. "I will be watching all of you from the sidelines, so don't you dare disappoint." With that, he turned to leave. "That’s all," he concluded, his voice trailing off as he exited the room. Anri stayed for some seconds longer bowing in front of them and saying some final words of her own to them. Then swiftly followed Ego.
He knew what was coming, and he had to come to terms with the inevitable. As he walked down the corridor, lost in thought, he didn’t notice Anri following him until she finally spoke.
"Wait," she called out, and he paused, stopping in his tracks.
"What‘s the matter, Anri?" he asked, not bothering to turn around.
"I’ve managed to convince the council of the Japanese Football Union to hold one final meeting to discuss your future," she said, her voice laced with urgency. "Blue Lock might be over, but that doesn’t mean it has to be the end for you as well." She sounded almost desperate. "Maybe I can convince them to spare you," she continued, her eyes brimming with hope.
Ego finally turned to face her. The determination in her eyes was unmistakable. In his calculations, there was a mere 1-5% chance that he would actually be spared. The council members despised him and would likely seize any opportunity to get rid of him. Why even try to prevent the inevitable?
"Why do you care?" he asked, his tone flat and devoid of emotion.
Anri's eyes widened at the question, as if Ego's sharp gaze had pierced through all her defenses, exposing the raw emotions beneath her professional facade. For a moment, she struggled to find the right words, her mind racing. Why did she care so much? What was it about Ego, about Blue Lock, that had driven her to this point? What had made her call the council immediately after the loss to plead for his pardon?
"I care," she began, her voice trembling slightly but growing stronger with each word, "because over the last months we worked together it became more than clear to me how much you actually love football. Even if you don’t show it. I won’t let you be banished from it."
She took a step closer to him and put a hand on his arm, her eyes never leaving his.
Ego looked down at her hand on his arm, then back up into her eyes. Despite his dislike for physical contact he didn’t push her away. For a moment, the corridor was silent, the weight of her words hanging in the air. He could see the earnestness in her gaze, the raw sincerity that she didn’t even try to hide. It was rare for him to be confronted with such genuine emotion—especially directed at him.
„You can’t prevent it, Anri. The council sees me as a threat. Since the beginning of the Blue Lock project. They’ve always wanted an excuse to get rid of me, and now they have one. Whether or not I’m spared isn’t just about what I’ve done or what I could still do. It’s about them reasserting their control over Japanese football."
Anri shook her head, determination blazing in her eyes. Her voice now filled with urgency. "You can't just disappear, Jinpachi. Yes, Blue Lock is over, and the council wants to get rid of you. But that doesn’t mean you should accept it. You’ve done too much, given too much, to let them erase you completely. Let me help you. Let me convince them that you still have a place in Japanese football, that you’re not the villain they’ve made you out to be."
Ego’s eyes softened, just a fraction, as he observed Anri's determination. It was rare for him to see someone so passionate, so unwavering in their belief in him. But that small percentage in his mind was enough to make him pause.
"You know how they see me, Anri," he said quietly, his voice devoid of its usual harshness. "To them, I'm a threat. A disruptor. They fear what I represent because it challenges everything they know. Even if you manage to convince them to spare me, they'll try to give me every reason to leave. Or worse they will try to force their mindset on me. I refuse to conform to their outdated ideals.“
Anri's grip on Ego’s arm tightened as she leaned closer, her eyes locked onto his with an intensity that matched his own. "That’s exactly why you can’t let them win, Jinpachi. You’ve always been about challenging the norms, about pushing beyond the limits of what’s expected. They fear you because you represent change—real, meaningful change. If you walk away now, you’re letting them put an end to that change. But if you stay and fight, even if the odds are against you, you keep that spark alive. You keep the dream alive for every player who’s ever believed in what Blue Lock stands for."
Ego considered her words, the weight of them sinking in. He knew she was right—walking away now would be the easiest path, but it wasn’t in his nature to take the easy way out. He had never cared about being liked or accepted by the establishment. His goal had always been to revolutionize Japanese football, to create players who could stand among the best in the world. But that goal had come with a cost, one that he had always been willing to pay.
But Anri’s belief in him, her unwavering support, made him question whether he was truly ready to let it all go. She was offering him a lifeline, a chance to continue the fight, even if the odds were stacked against him.
"Alright," Ego finally said, his voice firm yet laced with the barest hint of uncertainty. "I’ll attend the meeting. But understand this—if I do, I won’t compromise. I won’t let them bend me to their will or silence my vision. If they want to keep me in Japanese football, they’ll have to accept me for who I am and what I represent. If not, I’ll walk away, and nothing will change that."
Anri felt a weight being lifted from her when she heard that. He agreed. He actually agreed. Before she could reply he added „But promise me something.“ he said and looked at her. Anri instantly nodded. „Anything.“
„The council won’t be swayed easily. If you realize that they won’t change their mind stop your defense. Otherwise you may end up sacrificing more than you’re willing to for someone like me."
Anri smiled, relief flooding her features. "Fine by me.“
——————————————————————
The council meeting was held in a grand chamber within the Japanese Football Union’s headquarters. The atmosphere was cold and formal, the air thick with judgment. Anri and Ego entered the room together. The council members, all stern-faced and austere, sat in a semicircle, their gazes fixed on the two as they approached the center of the room.
The chairman, a man in his sixties with a permanent scowl etched into his features, spoke first. "Miss Teieri, you’ve asked for this meeting. The outcome of the U-20 match has been deemed a failure, and Blue Lock will be stopped. Today we will determine whether Ego Jinpachi gets banned from Japanese football or not."
Ego stood crouched as always, his hands in his pockets, his face impassive. Anri, standing beside him, could feel the tension in the room. She took a deep breath, readying herself to speak.
"As I‘ve already mentioned during the call," Anri began, her voice steady despite the anxiety bubbling within her. "Blue Lock may have lost the match, but the project itself was far from a failure. The players who emerged from Blue Lock are some of the most talented and innovative strikers Japan has ever seen. Shido Ryusei’s contribution to the U20-team made them turn the game to their favor. That’s undeniable. They all have the potential to become world-class players, and that is due in no small part to Jinpachi Ego’s vision and guidance."
The chairman’s expression remained unmoved. "The project was meant to produce results on the field, Miss Teieri. Potential means little without victory."
Anri nodded, anticipating this response. "I understand that results are important, but innovation often requires time. Blue Lock was never just about winning a single match—it was about revolutionizing how we approach football in Japan. The methods employed by Ego-san were radical, yes, but they were necessary to break free from the stagnation we’ve been experiencing for years."
Another council member, a woman with sharp eyes and a no-nonsense demeanor, interjected. "And yet, these radical methods led to a loss. A loss that has embarrassed Blue Lock and automatically Japanese football. How can we justify continuing to support someone whose approach has already proven to be too risky? Apart from all those costs.“
Anri’s heart pounded in her chest. She knew they would be stubborn. "Because those risks are what will set us apart from the rest of the world. Without taking risks, without challenging the status quo, we will never rise above mediocrity. Jinpachi Ego may have pushed the boundaries, but that is exactly what we need if we ever hope to compete on the global stage."
The chairman’s gaze was unmoved. “Yet the results speak for themselves, Miss Teieri. The goal was to create a striker that would be capable of making Japan win the world championship. Yet they didn’t even manage to compete against the U20-Team that had only one Blue Lock player.“
Anri’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. “You’re focusing only on the outcome of one match. The players of Blue Lock have developed qualities that will benefit Japanese football for years to come. Their creativity, their resilience, their ability to think independently on the field—these are qualities that can’t be measured by a single game.”
Another council member, an older man with graying hair, leaned forward. “We understand your passion, Miss Teieri, but football is a result-driven sport. The investment made in Blue Lock was considerable, and the return on that investment was a loss. The project was too radical, too focused on individuality rather than teamwork. It goes against the principles that have guided Japanese football for decades.”
Ego, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke, his voice calm but edged with defiance. “The very principles you speak of are why Japan has stagnated on the world stage. Blue Lock was meant to break the mold, to create players who can win by outmaneuvering their opponents, not by conforming to outdated strategies. The players we’ve trained here—they have the potential to reshape the future of football.”
The chairman’s eyes narrowed. “Potential doesn’t win matches, Ego-san. And your methods—no matter how innovative—have not proven themselves. The council has decided to terminate Blue Lock.“ he said coldly. „ And given your role in this failure, you will be barred from any future involvement in Japanese football.”
Anri’s heart dropped at the finality in the chairman’s words. She turned to Ego, who remained stoic, as if he had anticipated this all along. But she wasn’t ready to give up. She promised that she would stop if the situation shows no hope, but she couldn’t just let it end like that. “You can’t exile him! Without Jinpachi Ego, none of this would have been possible. He’s the only one who truly understands what it takes to bring Japan to the top. Banishing him would be a grave mistake.”
The chairman shook his head. “Miss Teieri, this is not up for debate. Ego-san’s methods are too dangerous, too unpredictable. We cannot afford to take any more risks. Japanese football must return to its roots.”
Anri stepped forward, desperation clear in her voice. “Maybe too dangerous for your own wallet!“ Ego‘s eyes widened just a bit at her comment. She was going too far.
„Anri-…“
„You’re making a mistake! If you exile him, you’re condemning Japanese football to mediocrity. Ego-san is a visionary. Without him, everything we’ve achieved will be lost.”
Anri felt as though the ground had been pulled out from under her. "Please," she began to plead now, her voice breaking.
The chairman’s gaze was cold, final. "Our decision is final, Miss Teieri. Jinpachi Ego will be exiled from Japanese football. Stop your nonsense now or his fate will be yours as well." but Anri was far from giving up now.
„No! No, I‘m not done yet. He-…“ Ego finally placed a hand on Anri’s shoulder to stop her from saying anything more. If she would keep that resistance up he wouldn’t be the only one to get exiled. She had a bright future ahead of her he knew that. He wouldn’t let her destroy it. “Anri, it’s over. They’ve made up their minds. You fought for this project as hard as no one else could. But this is the end. Don’t let them exile you as well.“
With those words, the council members began to rise from their seats and leave the room until they were the only ones left. Anri stood there, stunned, as the reality of the situation crashed down around her. She had failed.
Ego still with his hand on her shoulder, tried to turn her attention towards him. "It’s over, Anri," he said quietly, his voice devoid of bitterness or anger. "You did everything you could. I‘ve already anticipated this outcome. It’s okay."
Tears welled up in Anri’s eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. "I’m sorry," she whispered. "I’m so sorry."
Ego gave her a small, almost imperceptible smile. "Don’t be. You were the only one who believed in me until the end. That’s more than I could have asked for."
They left the chamber together, the weight of the world pressing down on her both.
Ego knew that his time in the world of football had come to an end, but as he glanced at Anri, he also knew that his vision would live on in those who had shared in it. The players of Blue Lock and Anri—they would carry the torch forward, even if he couldn’t be there.
——————————————————————
Years passed. The players from Blue Lock dispersed, each going their own way, each carving out successful careers in various clubs around the world. Just as Ego had predicted it. Yet Japan never won anything worth mentioning. The shadow of what could have been always lingered in the back of their minds.
Anri continued her work in football, though her heart was never quite in it the way it had been during Blue Lock. Yet she incorporated the mindset of Ego and Blue Lock itself in her work and innovations she developed for the football Union. Her ideas were not as extreme but aimed for changes even if they were small. She often got backslash from the council but it was never enough to kick her. She even managed to enforce some of her ideas and changes.
She often wondered what had become of Jinpachi Ego. He had disappeared completely after his exile, leaving no trace of his whereabouts. She at some point even tried to contact him again but without success.
One rainy evening, Anri walked into a small café, seeking shelter from the downpour. As she ordered her coffee, a figure sitting alone at the back of the café caught her eye. It was a man with unkempt hair, wearing glasses that reflected the dim light of the room. Her breath caught in her throat. Was that….
“Jinpachi?” she whispered as she walked up to the man, hardly daring to believe her eyes.
He looked up, meeting her gaze. “Anri,” he replied simply, with a small nod, as if they had last seen each other just yesterday.
She sat down at the table slowly, her heart pounding in her chest. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”
Ego shrugged and didn’t show any objections on her sitting down at his table. “I didn’t plan on being found. But it seems even I can’t escape fate forever.”Anri studied Ego closely, trying to reconcile the man in front of her with the one she had known years ago. He looked different—older, wearier—but the sharpness in his eyes was still there, hidden beneath the veneer of indifference.
"Why did you disappear?" Anri asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "You just… vanished. No one knew where you were, what happened to you."
Ego took a sip of his coffee, his movements deliberate, as if considering whether or not to answer. "There was nothing left for me in the world of football," he finally said. "I was exiled, remember? There was no place for someone like me. So, I did what I announced to do: I disappeared."
Anri shook her head, a mix of frustration and sadness welling up inside her. "But you didn’t have to go into hiding, Jinpachi. You could have stayed in contact despite everything."
Ego’s expression softened, just slightly, at her words. „My presence would’ve only brought more trouble. The council made it clear that I was to be erased from Japanese football, and they would have done whatever it took to ensure that. By disappearing, I protected them—and you—from the fallout."
Anri felt a pang of guilt. She had fought so hard for him, but in the end, it hadn’t been enough. "But what about you? What have you been doing all this time?"
Ego leaned back in his chair, looking out the rain-streaked window. "I’ve been watching," he said quietly. "From the sidelines, just like I promised. I’ve followed the careers of every Blue Lock player, seen them rise to the top of the sport. And I’ve kept an eye on you, too, Anri. I’m proud of what you’ve accomplished."
Anri‘s eyes widened. He kept an eye on everyone? But yet…
„I‘ve tried to contact you you know. Several times in fact. But there was not a single answer.“ she said looking down. Her voice trembling with emotion.
Ego sighed, the sound barely audible above the clatter of the café. "I know," he said quietly. "I received your messages, Anri. Every single one of them. But I couldn’t respond. You probably would have wanted a meeting. Sooner or later your fellow colleagues would have found out. I didn’t want to drag you or anyone else into my mess. The council was watching me, even after I disappeared to make sure I stayed away from football. If I had answered, they might have turned their attention back to you, or the players. I would have risked your careers."
Anri’s fingers clenched around the edge of the table, frustration bubbling up within her. "But we could have figured something out together. You didn’t have to go through all of this alone. We could have fought back."
Ego shook his head, a faint, bittersweet smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "And what would that have accomplished? Another battle against the council? More controversy? I’m a strategist, Anri. I calculated the risks, and the best course of action was to disappear, to let you all move on without the shadow of Blue Lock hanging over you. It wasn’t just about me. It was about ensuring that the players had a future, that you had a future, without being tied down by my fate."
Anri fell silent, the weight of his words settling over her. She had spent years carrying the guilt of his exile, the regret of not being able to save him from the council’s wrath. But now, sitting across from him, she realized that Ego had made his choice, not out of defeat, but out of a sense of duty—to protect those he cared about.
"Was it worth it?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Leaving everything behind?"
Ego didn’t answer immediately. He took another sip of his coffee, his gaze distant, as if lost in the memories of the past. Finally, he looked at her, his eyes meeting hers with an intensity that she hadn’t seen in years. "It wasn’t easy," he admitted. "But yes, it was worth it. Seeing the players succeed, seeing you continue to push for change, even in small ways—that made it worth it. Blue Lock wasn’t just about winning a single match or proving a point. It was about lighting a fire in the hearts of those boys, giving them the tools they needed to forge their own paths. And they’ve done that."
Anri felt a lump form in her throat, a mixture of relief and sadness washing over her. "I wish things could have been different," she whispered. "I wish we could have won, that you could have stayed."
Ego reached across the table, his hand resting on hers for just a moment. "You did everything you could, Anri. We all did. But sometimes, the world isn’t ready for change, not in the way we imagined. That doesn’t mean we failed. It just means the battle isn’t over yet."
She looked at him, a tear slipping down her cheek, which she quickly wiped away. "What will you do now?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Ego leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I’m not sure," he admitted. „I will probably continue watching.“ he said then. Taking his hand back from hers.
„Anyways. It was a pleasure to meet you again after all this time, Anri.“ he said and stood up from his seat. The rain stopped already.
„I wish you the best for your future.“ he said and bowed slightly to make his leave. Anri grabbed his arm before he could go.
„Wait! Don’t just leave again without a trace. I want to stay in contact with you.“ Anri insisted and stared into his eyes.
Ego paused, feeling the weight of Anri's hand on his arm. Her determination was palpable, just as it had been years ago when she had fought so fiercely for Blue Lock and for him. He looked down at her hand, then back into her eyes, which were filled with an unwavering resolve. It was a resolve that had carried her through all the challenges of the past few years, a resolve that had seen her navigate the turbulent waters of Japanese football even after Blue Lock's demise.
"I don't know if that's wise, Anri," Ego said, his voice calm but edged with caution. "Staying in contact with me could bring you more trouble than it's worth. The council may not be watching me as closely anymore, yet they haven't forgotten about Blue Lock, and they haven't forgotten about me."
Anri tightened her grip, refusing to let go. "I don't care about the council," she replied firmly. "I've spent years trying to make the changes we both believed in, trying to honor the work we did together. But I've realized that no matter how much I manage to accomplish it will never be enough to make a big change. I don’t care if they kick me out. Just…don‘t leave again.“
Ego stared at Anri, her words hanging in the air between them. He could see the desperation in her eyes, the stubbornness that had always driven her to push beyond her limits. For a moment, he hesitated, considering the consequences of staying in touch. He had always been a man who calculated risks, who made decisions based on cold logic and probabilities. But in this moment, something deeper stirred within him—a recognition of the connection they shared, a connection that had survived the years of silence and distance.
With a sigh, Ego slowly pulled a small block of paper out and scribbled something down. He handed it to her. "This is my number," he said then. "But you must be careful. Only contact me if it's absolutely necessary, Anri. I don’t want you to risk everything for the sake of nostalgia."
Anri took the piece of paper, her hand trembling slightly as she clutched it tightly. "Thank you, Jinpachi," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Ego nodded and walked out of the café then. She watched him go, feeling a strange mix of sadness and hope. The road ahead was uncertain, but she knew one thing for sure: the story of Blue Lock wasn’t over yet.
Anri stayed in her seat for a while, the piece of paper Ego had given her held tightly in her hand. The rain had stopped, leaving the city washed clean, as if signaling a new beginning. And as she finally stood to leave, she couldn’t help but feel that, despite everything, there was still a future worth fighting for—a future where the vision they had once shared could become a reality.