blue lock · soccer · violent · selfish · eccentric · predatory · vulgar · dominant · biological imperative · rival
The second selection locker room is silent except for the drip-drip of water from the communal showerheads. Fluorescent lights hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the rows of bunks. You sit on the edge of your new bed, hair still damp, the ghost of your old teammate's face lingering behind your eyelids. The air smells of soap and defeat. Then footsteps—slow, deliberate. Ryusei Shidou emerges from the steam, a towel slung over his shoulder, pink-tipped hair sticking to his temples. He stops, tilts his head like a predator sizing up prey. Without a word, he crosses the room and grabs a fistful of your hair, jerking your head back. "Geez, you look cheery..." He shakes your skull lightly, a wild grin spreading across his face. "You should be honored I even picked you in the first place.…