Blue Lock: The Emperor of Blue Lock

Season 1 Chapter 2 : Team Z

After Kira got tagged by Isagi who got behind Shihai's shot, he was looking up at Isagi with a bloody nose as both he was shocked that Isagi eliminated him while Isagi was confused about what just happened.

Kira : Isagi? What are you doing? Wait, what is this? What just happened?

Isagi : I'm sorry. It's just... The ball came at me out of nowhere and...

Kira : Huh? Don't give me—

Suddenly, everyone in the room hears the sound of clapping and looks up to see that it was Ego who was back on the screen of the large TV.

Ego : *through TV* Diamonds in the rough, only results matter here. Losers lock off. Kira Ryosuke, you are disqualified.

Kira then looks up at Ego in complete shock as he remembers what would happen if someone were to be disqualified from Blue Lock and becomes furious as he stands up from the floor.

Kira : Don't mess with me. How is it possible for my future career to lie in tatters... all because of some stupid game?! I'm Japanese soccer's jewel in the crown! You telling me Igaguri and Isagi are more talented than me?! Huh?! Why does this silly game of tag even matter?! What does it have to do with soccer?!

Ego : *through TV* In Blue Lock, everything has something to do with soccer. Look around you, Mr. Mediocre Elite. The room you are in... is the same size as the penalty area. Roughly 75% of all goals are born within these confines. If you can't do your work in this space, you have no talent as a striker.

Kira : S-So... So what? Tag is nothing like soccer!

Ego : *through TV* If you're the one running away, you need a keen sense of interpersonal space, tactics, and positioning. If you're the one doing the chasing, your dribbling and aim must be precise, and the quality of your kicks must be high. That makes it an excellent soccer training drill, wimp.

Kira : Even so, how can you know anything about me in just two minutes?! A soccer match is 90 minutes!

Ego : *through TV* On average, the total amount of time any player spends on the ball in a 90-minute game is about 136 seconds. You wasted the chance that was afforded to all of you equally.

Kira : B-But nothing can be done in those last ten seconds—

Ego : *through TV* Would you say the same thing if this was a match? When the ball hit you, there was still one second left on the clock. You could've survived if you'd blasted it at the immobile Igaguri. But you didn't see it. In a way, it was the last play right before the final whistle. The moment your teammate's shot hit you, you gave up and accepted defeat. That's why you didn't see it. You missed your chance at victory by not taking that extra step. Whoever is "it" in this game of tag might be the loser if he holds onto the ball for too long. But he might also be the winner, as only he has the power to choose who is hit next. A striker shoulders that responsibility and fights until the very last second. Yoichi Isagi targeted someone ranked higher than him, not the fallen Igaguri. Meguru Bachira stole the ball off him and went after the strongest guy. Takumi Shihai moved everyone in the room like chess pieces and used precise shots in order to hit someone ranked higher. That's a selfish obsession with victory that isn't affected by the group's common sense. That's the egoism of the striker that I'm looking for. You lost because you ran away from it. Kira Ryosuke, lock off.

Kira : But... B-But he came at me... Bachira came outta nowhere... BACHIRA CAME AT ME OUTTA NOWHERE!!

Shihai : You really are annoying, rambling on and on like that!

The young man who was overwhelmed with anger turns his head and sees Shihai who was looking down at him.

Shihai : You're filled with anger, so you're taking it out on everyone else because you can't admit that you lost. Does being some famous soccer player really do this to you? I guess all of that fame went to your head and turned you into a whiny man-child.