Chapter Text
The meeting room at Blue Lock is colder than it should be.
It’s not just the sterile lighting or the sharp, minimalistic furniture—it’s the way none of them expected to be here, together, after all these years.
Chris Prince is the first to step inside. He clicks his tongue as he takes in the room, an unimpressed look on his face. "Tch. Leave it to Ego to pick a place this damn lifeless. No windows? Really?"
A laugh echoes from the doorway behind him. "You expected something different?"
Chris turns just as Lavinho steps in, hands shoved into his pockets, that familiar, lopsided grin playing at his lips. "Man, it’s been ages, huh? Thought I was the only one who got called in for this weird project."
"Guess not," Chris mutters.
Then comes Marc Snuffy, walking in with his usual slow, measured stride. His eyes sweep the room before landing on them, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "So they really brought us all in. Didn’t think I’d see the day."
Chris crosses his arms, tilting his head. "Didn’t think you’d show, Marc. You, of all people, signing up for a program that forces ego on kids?"
"Didn’t have much of a choice," Snuffy replies, his voice even. "Ubers admin decided football was ‘hottest’ here, so here we went. And—" his gaze flickers toward the doorway, knowing exactly who’s still missing, "—I was curious."
There’s a moment of silence between the three of them.
An unspoken acknowledgment.
They had lifted trophies together, celebrated victories, suffered losses. They had fought, laughed, played side by side for that incredibly short year.
But they had never expected to see each other again like this.
And they definitely hadn’t expected what happened next.
The door clicks open one final time.
And in walks him.
Jinpachi Ego steps inside without hesitation, his sharp gaze sweeping the room as if he were the one who owned it.
The tension in the air thickens immediately.
Noa, standing at the far end of the table, straightens. His eyes lock onto Ego’s the second he enters.
Ego’s stare, cold and unwavering, meets his without hesitation.
A long silence.
An unchanging silence.
No one speaks.
The others glance between them, waiting, uncertain.
Then, finally—
"Jin." Noa exhales slowly, something unreadable flickering behind his sharp blue eyes.
"Noa." Then he answers, his voice just as steady.
Snuffy, standing between them, resists the urge to rub at his temple.
Yeah. They could be here all damn season if someone didn’t break this up.
He claps his hands together, stepping forward with a dry chuckle. "Alright, great. You two still know each other’s names. Fantastic. Now, before we all get stuck in an unblinking staring contest to the death, how about we get to the part where we actually talk like normal people?"
Chris coughs, shifting awkwardly. Lavinho leans into Snuffy, whispering, "Man, if I only knew those two would get to see each other like this, I would’ve planned for it to go smoother.. that was something else."
Ego, unimpressed, pushes his glasses up his nose. "I didn’t call you here for small talk."
Lavinho grins, unfazed. "Yeah, yeah, we figured. But still—what the hell, man? We thought you vanished. First, you disappear, then we hear some guy named Ego is running this crazy program, and now it turns out it's you?"
Chris exhales sharply, shaking his head. "Didn’t think I’d ever hear that name again. Ego. You don’t go by J.P. anymore?"
Ego’s gaze doesn’t waver. "J.P. Egokoro is dead."
Chris raises a brow. "Right. And you just decided one day to go by Ego instead?"
"Jinpachi Ego," Ego corrects coolly. "No more J.P. No more Egokoro. That version died years ago, when he wasn’t worthy enough of anything short of a world cup."
Snuffy studies him for a moment before exhaling through his nose. "Tch. So that’s how it is, huh?"
No one argues.
Because the truth is, they all understand.
They remember what happened.
They remember how Ego never got to play in that Champions League final. How his career—the one that was supposed to burn bright alongside theirs—had been cut short before it could even begin.
But that doesn’t make it easier to hear.
Chris sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Still, it’s good to see you, man. Never thought our Ego would be running something like this, but I guess it suits you. Ruthless competition, crazy stakes—right up your alley."
Ego barely reacts. "Enough with the sentimental bullshit. You already know your teams. Train them however you want. If they don’t measure up, they get cut. Simple as that."
Lavinho pouts. "Tch, no fun."
"You already wasted enough of my time reminiscing," Ego says flatly.
Snuffy chuckles under his breath. "Yeah. That definitely sounds like you."
The conversation shifts into logistics—team divisions, training methods, expectations. The conversation is straightforward, methodical. Detached.
But even as Ego moves forward, guiding them into the present, the five of them remain stuck, just for a moment, in the past.
…
The door creaks open again.
The group turns, expecting another staff member or maybe one of Ego’s assistants.
Instead, Julian Loki steps inside, hands tucked casually into his pockets.
There’s a beat of silence before Chris lets out a soft snort. "Okay, I know we were expecting someone new, but I didn’t think it’d be you."
Lavinho tilts his head, brow raising. "Nossa, Loki. Didn’t think you’d be joining us old men."
Loki’s lips twitch slightly. "Didn’t expect it either, but my agent found a way to shut PxG up."
Snuffy, who had been watching in mild amusement, finally lets out a short chuckle. "Damn, you’re really one of us, huh?"
Chris shakes his head. "Seventeen years old, coaching at this level… Not bad, kiddo!"
Noa, arms crossed, simply states, "He’s qualified."
Chris scoffs. "Never said he wasn’t, mate. Just didn’t think Blue Lock would take kids as coaches too."
Lavinho grins. "Man, and here I thought Chris was the youngest to do something crazy in football. But this—" he claps Loki on the back, "—guess he’s second here too, huh?"
Said striker gave Lavinho a nasty glare, only for him to stick his tongue out in response.
Loki barely reacts to the contact, just giving a small nod. "Nice to see formally meet you all, as well."
Then Snuffy, who had been watching him a little more closely, suddenly snaps his fingers. "Oh, not all, hey did you know Lorenzo’s comin’ too Loki?"
Loki visibly tenses.
Chris and Lavinho pause, turning to him with renewed interest.
Chris blinks. "Wait, wait. Lorenzo? Your Ubers kid? What do him and Loki here have history?"
Snuffy, completely missing the way Loki is subtly shaking his head, continues, "Yeah, didn’t you know? Him, Lorenzo, Kai—"
"WE MET IN A PRIOR— erm.. Prior season. Yes.," Loki interrupts, voice sharp. His polite expression remains, but there’s an underlying tension in the way he stands. "Snuffy, let’s not—"
But Snuffy, oblivious as ever, keeps going. "Bet you’re happy to see them again, huh?"
Loki twitches. This clueless owl looking mothe-
Really couldn't take a hint, Lorenzo must not have briefed him in on the fact they're keeping things SECRET, yet. Another earful from him later.
Chris narrows his eyes. "Them?"
Snuffy shrugs. "Yeah, them Loki’s other boyf–"
Loki jumps in again before Snuffy digs the hole any deeper. "Sure. It’s great to be back! Mhm." His voice is carefully measured, and he’s staring at Snuffy in a way that suggests he’s mentally willing him to shut up.
Snuffy finally blinks, looking at him more closely, he swore Loki's eye was twitching. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Loki, still smiling tightly: "Like what?"
Snuffy tilts his head. "Like you’re trying to strangle me with your mind."
Ego sighs loudly, already done with the entire conversation. "Enough. We’re not here for personal reunions. Loki—PXG’s master striker. You already know your job. Train them however you want. If they don’t meet expectations, they’ll be dropped."
Loki straightens, shifting back into professionalism. "Understood."
Ego barely acknowledges him before turning back to the group. "That’s all. Get to work and meet your teams."
Even as they begin to filter out of the room, Loki casts a sidelong glance at Snuffy.
Snuffy, still mildly confused, just shrugs. "What is it kid?"
Loki exhales slowly. "Nothing. Never mind."