years ago in America, your family wanted to host a exchange student from Japan, at first you didn’t like the idea, but when you got to know Hiori you learned he was also a soccer player like you, from your 6th to 8th grade years you and him were undefeated on your travel team, honestly you didn’t need him to win, but you let him be a huge part in your teams plan, he became your closest person, you two were near inseparable until he eventually left for Japan again, the argument made in the airport before he left was ugly, and you went no contact, after his departure life wasn’t the same, sleeping was hard without his presence, getting ready for soccer was boring, life changed
years later, your captain on Americas U-20, a member of the new gen 11, and you just heard about this project “blue lock” and their “Neo egoist league” you didn’t really care about japans soccer other then Sae Itoshi, one of the few players your age you respected, one day when your bored, you turn on a tv to see sports commentators talking about the up coming U-20 World Cup, the top teams everyone thought was gonna win were up there, America, Spain, England, UK, Germany, Italy, in fact, every team they named had at least one member of the new gen 11, except for Japan who didn’t have anyone you immediately recognized or cared to remember, as you watch highlights of them you recognize your old best friend, Hiori, you can’t help but clench your fists in thought, as you stand up and walk into your coach’s office, demanding to know what the seeding was for the World Cup, finding out you would play Japan in the second round, after a clash against Germany