Tryouts (適性試験 Toraiauto?) is the 25th episode of the Blue Lock anime series, and the first of the second season.
Synopsis[]
Summary[]
On a snowy field littered by footballs, Sae Itoshi challenges his brother Rin; he boasts that if he wins, their dream will be over. Rin shows discomfort at playing against his brother but Sae immediately kicks the ball to start their one-shot match. He steps over the ball to rush past Rin, forcing him to chase after his brother. Sae then feints the ball, causing Rin to stop and allowing him to dribble the ball around him; Rin is stunned and asks how he was able to move past him. As he nears the net, Sae stops to coldly ask Rin for what he has been doing in the four years he has been away, causing Rin to breathe rapidly and erratically as he kicks the ball into the goal, winning their skirmish.
While analyzing his file on Rin, Ego receives a call from Chairman Buratsuta, who snidely asks if everything is going in his favour; he is pleased that the media frenzy around Sae's interest in Blue Lock has caused ticket sales to skyrocket. He also insinuates that the large revenue will hopefully pay his deficits. Ego only asks if his rambling is finished; Buratsuta questions his faith in a rag-tag team of strikers beating Japan's premier U-20 team, to which Ego smiles as he repeats his previous words that Blue Lock will transform Japanese football.
Ego addresses the 35 finalists, congratulating their success for surviving the selection process. He mentions that their match against the U-20 team will be in three weeks time, the team to be captained by Sae Itoshi. Winning will give them the chance to represent Japan, while their loss will mean the end of Blue Lock. Isagi reflects on his path leading to now; once an unknown nobody a few months prior, he has now entered Blue Lock, learned about the philosophy of ego, and gained a chance to represent his country. Likewise, losing will end his career completely, and the match will decide how his life changes. Raichi questions Ego on how the final team will be comprised, given that they are all strikers; likewise, Gagamaru wonders if some of them will be placed in other positions like midfield and defense, to which Ego confirms that he will. Tokimitsu is aghast and wonders how they will succeed against true defenders; when Aryu chimes in that he does not mind the predicament, Raichi grows annoyed and declares his likes aren't what's necessary, causing Ego to silence their quarrel.
He then calls out six names to make up the team's core; additionally, these players are currently Blue Lock's Top Six based on his evaluation. First is Rin, which Isagi is unsurprised by; second is Shido, which surprises teammate Igarashi. Shido is excited to see he and Rin are the Top Two. The third ranked player is Karasu Tabito, fourth ranked is Eita Otoya, and the fifth ranked player is Kenyu Yukimiya. As the last player is about to be announced, Isagi secretly hopes it is him, but his hopes are dashed when Ego announces that Nagi is the sixth ranked player. Yukimiya asks Ego for how he was decided as fifth and what differentiates him from the top player, to which Ego explains that out of the 35 of them, only Rin and Shido were able to score against the World Five. The remaining four were selected based goals from the first selection, the Five's evaluation, and his own choosing. When Ego asks if Yukimiya is satisfied, to which he answers that he is, Gagamaru realizes that the bespectacled player also models based on his nickname.
Ego reveals the criteria for the second selection; the named six will be paired to form three teams based on ranking: Rin will be paired with Shido as Team A, Tabito with Otoya as Team B, and Yukimiya with Nagi as Team C. The remaining 29 finalists will play with a pair of their choosing. Three players will be picked to join a pair and form a team of five, which will then play another team of five. Isagi sees that this selection will find who can mesh their playstyle the most effectively with the Top Six. Ego explains that each player will play with a pair only once and this will determine spots for the final team's makeup. Aryu notes the difficulty they face proving themselves just once, despite Igarashi's vote of confidence. Because they only number 29, one player will play twice to make up for the one head deficit. This player is the runner-up and 7th ranked, Bachira; Isagi bemoans the realization that despite playing with him, Rin, and Nagi, the three remain considerably better than him. As Ego leads the six to a new room, he mentions that their rankings only reflect current standings, and they can fall out of ranking if they don't remain vigilant.
To the remaining 29, Ego tells them that the key to passing the tryouts is "Assertion and Coexistence"; to match the skill and scoring prowess of the Top Six, they must assert that they are a player they cannot afford to replace and coexist with their playing. Last but not least, they must subjugate the players, for they are not friends to play with but stepping stones they will supersede for themselves. Ego gives them 24 hours to choose their teams.
At the dining hall, Isagi, Bachira, Chigiri, Raichi, Gagamaru, and Igarashi sit down for dinner. Raichi is surprised to see Igarashi has ordered one of every available meal, to which he asserts is due to tonight being the only chance to do so; Gagamaru proceeds to take a piece of his food, annoying him and causing Raichi to yell for everyone to be silent. He then notes that the present six are what remains of the former Team Z; Gagamaru remarks he is saddened to not see Asahi Naruhaya, followed by Raichi mentioning the missing Wataru Kuon, Yudai Imamura, and Okuhito Iemon. Isagi also mentions Kunigami's absence, to which Bachira remarks of his surprise to learn the highly skilled player was eliminated. Igarashi solemnly explains that it was Shido who eliminated Kunigami, though Chigiri remains adamant it is how Blue Lock operates. Isagi is surprised to hear his indifference to a friend's elimination, but he maintains that they too will disappear by losing to the U-20 team and they cannot afford to worry about others.
Raichi then asks if they have chosen who they will play with; Igarashi reveals he will play with Team A due to previously playing with Shido, while Gagamaru makes his choice between B and C. Bachira reveals that he will play based on a ladder lottery choice since he will also play twice, causing Raichi to irritably concede that Bachira is officially the most successful member of Team Z. Chigiri and Isagi remain undecided, though Bachira notes that his choice will between Rin and Nagi due to past experience; when Isagi expresses surprise at his awareness of his options, Bachira explains his thinking that Isagi would choose Nagi for playing known combinations while choosing Rin would allow him to learn new moves. Isagi reflects on Ego's message and wonders who he will play with.
In the Top Six's VIP room, a lonesome Nagi plays on his phone when he is approached by Yukimiya, who introduces himself to his new teammate. The latter expresses excitement over who they will play with, just as Shido enters the room. He immediately approaches Rin and offers him a chance to get along; Rin's blunt ignorance provokes him and Shido instead asks if he likes explosions. He remains uninterested and orders "Antenna-head" to leave his presence. The aggravated Shido then kicks Rin in the head, but the blow is blocked from hitting his face. As Otoya grows amused by the scuffle, Yukimiya wonders if they should be stopped; Tabito tells him to leave them be as the Top Two taking each other down will be to their benefit. Rin grabs his teammate's shirts and threatens to kill him should he interfere with his game, while Shido explains his actions isn't merely playing football but a "biological need". He raises his leg for a kick but is stopped by Ego onscreen, ordering him to gain self-awareness.
Ego addresses the pairing of the players as what he believes constitutes the best partnership for an experimental, aggressive attack style, telling them to show new attack patterns they usually can't show by themselves. They must think of their partner as a tool for them to become the best, and most importantly, they cannot let anyone outside of the six of them to steal their spot. As the pinnacle of Blue Lock, they alone will destroy Japanese football as they know it. Ego orders them to challenge their own selves.
In the communal washroom, Isagi questions what they are being tested on in the tryouts; coexistence is what he interprets is how they can form reactions with the Top Six, as well as believing that the meaning of assertion is they cannot be buried beneath them. He becomes annoyed that he would have to determine both aspects whilst only have one chance to play, but his frustrations are heard by an annoyed Baro, who cannot believe Isagi is doubting himself now. When asked if he has decided on a team, Baro merely states he will play any team without Nagi, believing he can become the king of his team if he is free to play without someone familiar. Isagi remarks his strategy is very much in his character, upon which Baro asks for why he isn't in the Top Six; he is annoyed as Isagi is who he considers the most he wants to crush, telling him not to get eliminated now before leaving.
Niko then appears to ask for Isagi's facial wash; he too has not chosen who he will play with. He believes that despite Ego's provoking of their competitiveness, the true test is playing alongside the Top Six the most effectively. When Isagi asks for who he will play, Niko answers it will be who he decides can let him play through his own style, having grown tired of being a foil to a team; additionally, it was Isagi who taught him to accept that the lead role is something to steal for himself. Hearing his logic causes Isagi to consider playing with Nagi, as Nagi allowed him to play his own way. Niko then asks if Isagi can leave immediately, not wanting anyone to see him wash his forehead.
In his room analyzing past footage, Isagi accepts that playing with Rin will be extremely difficulty in terms of showing his worth, likely to be overshadowed without showing his skills and considering Team C with Nagi. Reo talks to him about his own difficulty in choosing a team, facing the same issue. Isagi wonders why he isn't picking the obvious choice of Nagi, causing Reo to remark of the irony that the person to drive them apart is now insinuating a reunion. It was his initial plan to play with Nagi, and ever since Nagi chose to play with Isagi instead of him, Reo's motivation had been solely focused on trying to get his friend back. However, seeing him among the Top Six now has diminished his confidence in playing alongside him, believing he is far ahead. Despite this, Reo knows that this is his only chance to do so, though Nagi may also be driven further away by the current gap of their skills.
At a loss, Reo is reassured by Isagi in the same boat. He reflects on his words and sees that by not playing with him, he will become too out of reach for himself, thanking Reo for helping him make up his mind. He believes there is not a true correct answer but instead, his resolve to turn his decision into the answer, and Isagi vows to prove his chosen path is the correct one.
After the voting period finishes, the players awaken, kit themselves in their gear, and head to the hall to see the final selections for the teams. Among other players, Isagi has chosen Team A, though he notices Bachira among the player to do so as well. Among the players to choose Team B, Isagi sees Baro, Raichi, Niko, and Chigiri's names. Within Team C's roster, he sees Zantetsu Tsurugi, Gagamaru, and Reo's names. After recalling Ego's words about "assertion and coexistence" with the Top Six, Isagi sees the key to succeeding is to wedge himself between Rin and Shido to show his worth.
At the JFU, Chairman Buratsuta converses with the current U-20 team coach Yasumori Hoicihi and asks if he knows what is at stake, Hoichi replies he would do anything for the sake of Japanese football. Dropping his Blue Lock folder, Buratsuta angrily stomps onto it as he demands that the Blue Lock team be crushed, unwilling to let unknown players take over Japanese football. Hoichi reassures him that Blue Lock is comprised of idealists and that his players will remain Japan's U-20 team. The chairman eagerly laughs at the JFU's own "Hoichi the Earless", obeying no one but them, though the coach asks him not to use his now commonly known and infamous nickname. Buratsuta sees a person behind them and asks if he has heard the conversation, claiming that he is counting on him; U-20's captain Oliver Aiku acknowledges his new challenge of facing the players of Blue Lock.
Additional Time[]
As preparation for the tryouts, Ego provides the Top Six with two rooms, having three beds in each. As they wonder who will be with who, Rin immediately wants an entire room for himself, aggravating Tabito and Shido. Nagi proposes deciding with team rock paper scissors, something Shido disagrees with; instead, he proposes that the loser of the game will sleep outside, his idea backed by Otoya. Tabito instead proposes that they choose the person they least want to room with, which is agreed upon by everyone but Rin. However, Rin is who they choose would the most unpleasant to be with, causing them to realize that he would get his own room, which is an idea they dislike more. Yukimiya then offers to room with Rin, asking Nagi with join so they can discuss team strategies. Nagi, unwilling to continue disputing roommates, agrees on the idea. With roommates decided, Tabito and Shido proceed to mock each other's spiky hair, joined by Otoya pulling his own loose hair up.
Characters by Appearance[]
- Sae Itoshi
- Rin Itoshi
- Meguru Bachira
- Yoichi Isagi
- Aoshi Tokimitsu
- Jyubei Aryu
- Jinpachi Ego
- Seishiro Nagi
- Shoei Baro
- Hyoma Chigiri
- Zantetsu Tsurugi
- Jin Kiyora
- Eita Otoya
- Aiki Himizu
- Kenyu Yukimiya
- Haruhiko Yuzu
- Tabito Karasu
- Akira Endoji
- Taiga Tsunzaki
- Shizuka Haiji
- Reiji Hiiragi
- Nijiro Nanase
- Ikki Niko
- Yukio Ishikari
- Yo Hiori
- Kairu Saramadara
- Hajime Nishioka
- Jingo Raichi
- Gin Gagamaru
- Junichi Wanima
- Kyohei Shiguma
- Shingen Tanaka
- Gurimu Igarashi
- Tetsu Sokura
- Ranze Kurona
- Reo Mikage
- Ryusei Shido
- Julian Loki (visualized)
- Leonardo Luna (visualized)
- Dada Silva (visualized)
- Pablo Cavasoz (visualized)
- Adam Blake (visualized)
- Asahi Naruhaya (mentioned)
- Wataru Kuon (mentioned)
- Yudai Imamura (mentioned)
- Okuhito Iemon (mentioned)
- Rensuke Kunigami (flashback)
- Hirotoshi Buratsuta
- Yasumori Hoichi
- Oliver Aiku
Episode Notes[]
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List of Episodes |
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1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 23 · 24 |