Chapter Text
Staring at the familiar skyline of tall buildings, Isagi let out a silent cheer.
After seeing the advertising screen, he suddenly realized that it had already been five years since the car accident that had thrown him into isekai.
It had been five years without playing soccer with his friends and rivals, his heart was now bursting with excitement. Although he had advertise the joy of soccer in the other world, in the end, nothing could compare to battling the strong rivals who helped him evolve. He couldn’t wait to have another game with his friends!
With that thought in mind, Isagi happily walked home.
On the way, people in familiar clothes passed by in a rush. The bustling city traffic felt both familiar and strange.
So immersed in the scenery, the black-haired striker didn’t even notice the shocked and ecstatic reactions around him. Many passersby secretly pulled out their phones to take a snap from afar, then tapped on their screens.
By the time he reached his old home, it was already dusk. The nostalgic walk stirred emotions in him, and when he rang the doorbell, a tired voice came through the intercom. “Who is it?”
“…Mom?” Isagi asked uncertainly.
After quick footsteps, the door opened, and not only did his mother rush out, but his father too. Stumbling, disbelieving, they threw their arms around their son, as if to confirm he was real.
Isagi was stunned; in only five years, his parents had aged so much—their temples streaked with gray, eyes glistening with tears.Their lips was trembling, unable to form complete sentences.
“Dad… Mom? What’s wrong?” Isagi tried to comfort them.
“You’re back, Yocchan… Is this a miracle? Thank goodness… Finally… No matter what happened, as long as you’re home…” His mother’s words widened his eyes.
“What do you mean? I wasn’t—wait, what happened to me before?” Isagi’s mind was filled with confusion. This time, his parents looked at him with worry. Their eyes met, then explained to the black-haired youth. “Yocchan, did you forget? You were hit by a truck. When you got to the hospital, you were barely clinging to life… You’ve been in a coma for five years,” his mother choked. His father hugged her tightly and continued, “Your friends couldn’t believe it as well. They came to visit us many times… Those kids have been looking out for us all these years.”
“System!!! What the hell is going on? Didn’t you promise me that you can rewrite the history after I returned?” Isagi urgently demanded. A familiar mechanical voice answered with uttermost indifference. “My apologies, dear host. This was our miscalculation. Too many people were affected by your disappearance, so we had no choice but to fabricate a relatively reasonable story. We didn’t realize you were a world-class soccer player that is too famous for our technology to rewrite the story.”
“…Fine.” Isagi was speechless because of the unreliability of the system; he should have known that the system always played word tricks in his adventure in isekai.
“As compensation, I’ve left you your ‘Insight’ skill from the other world. But due to this world’s constraints, its use will cause significant physical exhaustion. Please use it carefully.”
In reality, this so-called “Insight skill” only allowed him, for a short period, to perceive microexpressions and micro-movements. Useful in a fantasy world of battles, sure — but back in a world without swords and magic, what use was it?
Grumbling aside, Isagi simply hugged his parents tightly, happy with their reunion. “Dad, Mom… I’m home.”
“Yocchan… Welcome home.”
They cried as they led him inside, bustling about to prepare dinner for their son. While waiting, Isagi scrolled through his missing games of his friends, now active in leagues around the world.
Unbeknownst to him, On social media, a storm was already taking shape—one destined to shake the world.
Five years ago, Blue Lock’s brightest gem—the egotistical striker hailed across the globe—had been left on the brink of death after a horrific accident, kept alive only by experimental cryo-tech. And now, that same Isagi Yoichi had appeared in public once more. He was walking, smiling, alive. His photos ignited social media like wildfire, and long-silent official accounts suddenly roared back to life, reposting feverishly and demanding answers.
Isagi, oblivious to everything, enjoyed his meal with his parents.
It wasn’t until after dinner that he remembered his phone, untouched for years. The other world had no technology, and even before then he’d been far too consumed by soccer to bother with it. When he finally plugged it in and powered it on, the screen lit up with a shock—every social app overflowing with 999+ notifications.
Thousands of missed calls and messages from friends flooded his screen. But before he could even scroll, Twitter pushed him a trending notification.
World Trend #1: #IsagiYoichi MiracleAwakens
“…Excuse me, WHAT???”
Opening Twitter, the first posts he saw were from his rivals and closest friends:
Bachira Meguru @bachirameguru
Where are you? Still at your mom’s place?? I’m coming right now!!! @IsagiYoichi I’ve been so lonely all these years TT I knew you would never abandon me! Don’t you dare leave me alone again TT
Mikage Reo @mikagereo
@NagiSeishiro Christmas break is coming soon, so requesting leave shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve got the private jet ready. I’m heading back now. What about you? @YoichiIsagi if you see this, when’s good to meet?
Nagi Seishiro @nagiseishiro Reply: …Yeah.
Nagi Seishiro @nagiseishiro
@YoichiIsagi You owe us an apology for disappearing like that.
Chigiri Hyoma @chigirihyoma
Thanks to you, I’m still active on the field. @IsagiYoichi You snail, you’re way behind again. Reo and I are on our way to see you.
Kurona Ranze @kuronaranze
Welcome back, welcome back @IsagiYoichi. Headed to Japan? @YukimiyaKenyu
Yukimiya Kenyu @yukimiyakenyu Reply: Of course. Leave tomorrow morning? I can pack tonight. Hiori’s already preparing too.
…and countless others had posted. Even Rin, usually silent, had changed his flight and announced it online. Soon, video call requests bombarded his phone, leaving Isagi overwhelmed.
He scrolled through the flood of missed calls, hesitated, then decided to ring Ego first. The call connected instantly, making Isagi wonder if the ramen-obsessed coach had been sitting there all along, phone at his side, waiting for this very moment. But Ego didn’t speak right away. The screen showed nothing but darkness, his face the only thing lit, ghostly against the void. It was kinda scary, but it was something familiar and warm for Isagi. After a long silence, he switched on a lamp, took a slurp of ramen, and murmured:“…Welcome back.”
“Thank you, Ego-san.” That awkward, familiar concern tugged a smile out of Isagi. But then Anri shoved Ego aside, eyes shining with tears as she sniffled: “Isagi-kun! Congratulations… you really woke up!!”
She quickly composed herself, her smile fading into seriousness. “But, Isagi-kun, you’ve probably realized the chaos your sudden appearance has caused, haven’t you?”
“Uh… yeah, I didn’t think—”
“Didn’t think what? Did five years of sleep turn your brain to mush? Do you have any idea how many fans you had, how many people were waiting for you?” Ego’s sharp tongue was the same as always.
Isagi couldn’t defend himself even though it wasn’t his fault. He’d just saved another world and been thrown back here by the system. What a unreliable system!
“Ego-san, enough! Get to the point!” Anri snapped, glaring at him before pulling out a tablet. At the same time, a link popped up on Isagi’s screen. It led to a completely ordinary-looking anonymous account on Twitter: random username, gray avatar.
But Anri’s voice was grave. “We found this account by chance, Isagi-kun. Take a look.”
Isagi tapped the link. At the top was a post from just three minutes ago:
“I can only feel safe if I keep you chained by my side.”
His chest tightened. Scrolling further:
“I want to lock you somewhere safe and never stop watching you.”
“Should I go see you or not?”
“I want to see you I want to see you I want to see you I want to see you I want to see you I want to see you I want to see you”
“When I realize I can’t breathe, I find my face covered in tears. Why are you back? Why did you come back now?”
Every post matched perfectly with the timeline of his return. And further back, they aligned disturbingly well with the five years of his supposed coma.
“Why is it you lying in that hospital bed? You should have had such a brilliant future ahead of you.”
“I visited you again today. Your fingers twitched, I thought you were waking up.”
“I should’ve taken action earlier… If I’d hidden you away somewhere safe, maybe…”
Isagi stared at the posts in shock, unable to react. When he finally gathered himself, he frowned. “Anri-san… is this a stalker?”
“No… worse,” Ego finally spoke. “Some of the details they mention could only be known by Blue Lock insiders. Which means, it’s likely someone you familiar.”
Isagi’s mind went blank, as if lightning had struck. He had never imagined someone close to him could be behind this. Just as he opened his mouth to protest, Ego sent over a screenshot of a deleted post.
It detailed an incident from the Blue Lock selection matches—one that had never been broadcast. Ego’s brows knit as he went on: “We’ve been tracking this account for a while. That was the only post they deleted—probably because they realized it gave them away.”
Confronted with such evidence, Isagi had no choice but to steel himself. He had fought to return here for the sake of his soccer career — there was no way he’d allow himself to be caged and kept like someone’s possession.
“So we need you to be careful. It’s the off-season now, and everyone will be coming back one after another to see you. That anonymous account holder will come too.” Ego’s voice dropped low. Anri looked just as worried, but she quickly forced a smile.
“Don’t worry! Oh, and… We’ve prepared a new apartment for you, Isagi-kun. It’s well-populated, has security, rehab facilities… and even a soccer field for you to use.”
“Really?” At the mention of a soccer field, Isagi’s eyes lit up.
Ego sighed heavily, pinching his nose. “Most importantly, don’t let yourself actually get imprisoned. We’ve been tracking this person for four years already; he’s sneaky.”
“That’s right! We’re stuck in FIFA meetings right now, so we can’t return just yet. Please be careful, Isagi-kun.”
After saying goodbye, Isagi was still reeling from the revelation that someone he knew might want to imprison him.
Another video call lit up his screen. He hesitated only for a heartbeat before answering. Hiding wasn’t an option—if someone meant him harm, he would face them head-on. He would never stay there, waiting for help like a helpless victim.
Theocean-blue eyes sharpened, burning with unwavering resolve, as Isagi pressed connect.
Two familiar faces appeared on the screen. Reo leaned in so close he nearly blocked the camera, while Nagi muttered in annoyance at his side. Their features were older, but their boyish excitement hadn’t changed. The sight made Isagi chuckle as he lifted a hand in greeting.
“Hey—you guys doing okay?”
“Isagi!!” Reo nearly slammed into the camera, his face filling the entire screen. His eyes shimmered with tears that spilled freely as he tried to steady his breath.
“Th-thank god—!” His voice cracked, but before Isagi could respond, Reo was already firing off questions in a rush. “Why didn’t you tell us you were out of the hospital?! I would’ve picked you up myself! Oh—wait—did Ego set you up in that new apartment?”
“…Huh? How did you know?” Isagi blinked, startled by the barrage.
Reo seemed calmer after a moment of silence. He just smiled without answering. The two friends seemed to be sitting in a limo. After adjusting his seat, the young master spoke slowly without answering directly. “I retired. I happened to be on a business trip in England during Nagi’s off-season. With your situation, it just made sense for us to come back together.”
Isagi frowned. “Reo…”
“Of course, Reo also helped pick the apartment,” Nagi said lazily at the back. “The moving companies too—Reo recommended them.”
Then, if Reo wanted to interfere, wouldn’t it be easy? As much as Isagi didn’t want to suspect his friend, Ego’s warning rang in his ears. He had to stay cautious.
When Isagi stayed quiet, Reo looked puzzled. “What’s wrong? Ego only let me make a recommendation list. I even wanted to pay for it and help with the move, but he refused. That guy…”
He started grumbling angrily. Nagi puffed his cheeks and muttered, “Maybe he wants to be a sugar…”
“Nagi!” Isagi scolded, uncomfortable at the words. Nagi pouted but lowered his gaze. “Sorry.”
Isagi sighed. “It’s fine… thank you both for caring. I’ll contact you once I’m settled.”
“We can come help…” Reo puffed out his chest.
“No need…! My parents will help. You two just got back, so—”
“We could also play soccer with you. Help with rehab.” Nagi leaned closer, eyes sparkling. “Want to play soccer with you, Isagi…”
As tempting as it was, the thought of being imprisoned was far more terrifying. Remembering the system’s cover story about him lying in a hospital bed for five years, he seized on it as an excuse. “Sorry… my body’s not ready for soccer yet. I’ll train on my own for now.”
And well… The truth was he was dying to play with them again.
Nagi pouted, and Reo pulled him back, looking understanding. “You’re right, Isagi. Just promise you’ll call me when you’re ready, okay? We’re already on our way to the airport. We… really missed you.”
Their emotions seemed sincere, but Isagi chose to test them with his “Insight” skill.
The moment he activated it, time seemed to slow, every flicker of expression laid bare. Yet on Reo’s face, he found nothing amiss.
“Isagi, what’s wrong? You went pale! Are you okay? You’re in Saitama, right? I’ll call a doctor—” Reo panicked, nearly pressing his face to the camera.
Isagi forced a weak smile, hiding the exhaustion that had drained him. “No, it’s fine! I’m just tired.”
“Don’t push yourself, Isagi…” Even Nagi sounded worried.
Shaking his head, Isagi forced a gentle smile. “I’m fine. I just need some rest. Don’t worry about me, Reo.”
Only then did he grasp the limits of his so-called skill. It drained too much energy, and without any real training in psychology, he could do little with it. Back in the other world, it had helped him detect hostility from enemies and monsters—but here, it was practically useless.
…What a pathetic ability.
Reo pressed his lips together. “Alright. But if anything happens, contact me immediately.”
Contact Reo? Wasn’t that… a bit much? Had they even been that close before he vanished? Five years had blurred his memories.
Isagi nodded anyway, then excused himself, saying he was tired.
He couldn’t understand why anyone would want to imprison him. To the blue-eyed striker, they were all friends and rivals. And so, unaware of just how terrifying the storm awaiting him truly was, Isagi tried to convince himself everything would be fine.
[Side B: POV Reo and Nagi]
Meanwhile, after hanging up, Reo and Nagi arrived at the airport. Reo dragged his suitcase while typing furiously into social media.
Mikage Reo @mikagereo
Thank god, Isagi looks fine. These five years without him felt like a dream… I’m glad the dream is finally over. [video call screenshots]Bachira Meguru @bachirameguru: Why’d he call you and not me?? I’m losing it!!
Alexis Ness @alexisness: That clown Isagi called you but not me or Kaiser?!
Karasu Tabito @karasutabito: Stop being so dramatic…
The comments skyrocketed instantly. Reo scoffed and shut off his phone.
Nagi, scrolling silently, finally looked up. “Isagi’s awake…”
“Yeah… thank god.” Reo exhaled, the breath unsteady. A storm of words crowded his chest—apologies left unsaid, gratitude locked away, and a confession he had buried too deep. Before the accident, he thought he had time. Time to sort out his feelings, time to find the right moment. But five years had shown him just how cruel life could be, how easily everything could be stolen away.
His fists clenched, nails biting into his palms, the sharp sting anchoring him in the present.
This time, he swore, he wouldn’t hesitate. He would tell Isagi everything.
“I want to see him… like, right now,” Nagi muttered, dragging his suitcase off the conveyor belt.
“Me too. But you don’t want him to hate us, do you? We should wait until he reaches out.”
“…And if he doesn’t? What if he moves and never tells us?” Nagi’s quiet question made Reo pause. Beneath the brim of his cap, his eyes glinted.
“Then I’ll find out anyway.”
“You’re scary, Reo—” Nagi drawled, tilting his head, though there was a flicker of amusement in his tone. Reo shot him a glare. “Don’t act like you don’t want to know too.”
If Isagi didn’t tell them where he moved, then they’d simply “run into him by chance.” They had no intention of handing him over to anyone else.
As for those who had already given up… they no longer had the right to be part of this game.