Chapter 111

## "FLOW"

**Flow** (FLOW (フロー) , *Furō*?) is the 111th chapter of the Blue Lock manga series.

## Overview

Ego begins his seminar on Flow and begins explaining what Flow is, how to access it, and how the egos cultivated by the players will help immensely in that process. Isagi thinks about Ego's words and his experiences in Blue Lock and how he can enter Flow in this upcoming match. After the seminar, the team starts finishing their training for the upcoming match while at the Japan U-20 camp Aiku makes a proposal to Sae to play the match without Shidou. After some explanations, Sae agrees to do what Oliver wants but warns him not to misunderstand his kindness for he will leave if he is not satisfied.

## Summary

Jinpachi Ego begins his seminar on Flow. He states that when a person gets so focused on something, they get so absorbed in their work that they don't notice the passage of time. Taking enjoyment in the process, their brains enter into a state of excitement, which is Flow. It's possible for anybody doing any activity to enter Flow and football is no exception. Ego tells his players to think back to when they first came to Blue Lock and they initially broke out of their shells, they must have experienced a moment where they put their everything into a play. Some of the players like Shoei Baro, Reo Mikage, and Hyoma Chigiri think back to these moments. Yoichi Isagi thinks about Flow and realizes that he has entered it multiple times while in Blue Lock and thinks that the next step for his development is him understanding it.

Ego continues by asking "How does one enter into Flow?" He states that there are many ways but the one he wants to discuss is "challenge centered focus", which involves attempting an objective at a suitable level of difficulty. The objective cannot be too easy because the person will become bored and the challenge cannot be too hard because the person will become anxious. Ego reminds them that one cannot achieve enjoyment in a challenge that makes them bored or anxious, which is why "challenge centered focus" is about accurately understanding one's self and one's abilities and setting up clear and suitable goals that can allow for the immersion into Flow State. Plays that seem like miracles to others are in fact, brought about by one's individual Flow State. However, it is not an easy feat because in our society people cannot become immersed in things very easily. Our everyday lives, which is overflowing with a constant stream of information and entertainment, is an infinite hell designed to distract us from our boredom and anxiety. You could say that it is easy to get immersed in a smartphone screen and you will indeed be able to forget about time and yourself but such a passive activity does not grant a unique state of immersion. It is not an immersion that you gained for yourself with your own ego.

The exaltation of scoring your own goal, the elation of obtaining a new weapon to destroy your enemies, the happiness that comes only from your skill and belongs only to you, that is your ego. All the Blue Lock players have experienced it already so they understand what it is. Blue Lock is a place where only those who can excel outside of the traditional challenges and expectations and immerse themselves in football wholeheartedly can survive. Isagi realizes that each time he entered Flow, he became immersed in football and his own skills becoming stronger each time. Ego continues by reminding the players that they have accumulated their small victories, explored themselves and their capabilities, and have experienced the world and realized how powerless and small they really are. Ego finishes by asking "does facing the Japan U-20 make them bored or anxious?" Isagi thinks that this objective is nothing more than a challenge he can immerse himself in and he becomes visibly excited. On that day on the big stage, he will find a way to enter into Flow by immersing himself in a goal only he can score. Ego concludes that by the end of this training camp, the Blue Lock players will be a team that can destroy Japanese football and become the egotist of a new era; the world awaits their goals.

At the U-20 training camp, Sae Itoshi is walking in the hallway when he runs into Aiku Oliver who seems to be waiting for him. Oliver calls out to him and request a conversation. Sae asks what does he want and to make it quick. Oliver responds by explaining that Shuto Sendo, the Japan U-20 ace, got into another fight with Ryusei Shidou; it seems they just can't get along. Sae tells Oliver to get rid of Sendou then, he is trash anyway. Oliver rebuttals by explaining even though Sae might think he is trash, Sendou is their beloved ace and most of the members are saying they will refuse to play if Sendou isn't in. This could lead to them boycotting the match altogether and Oliver asks if he is really going to stick to his guns? Sae questions if Oliver is threatening him and Oliver denies such a thing. Nobody wants this match cancelled and Oliver genuinely feels bad that Sae is being treated like a theme park attraction and is trying to be nice. Says asks Oliver what exactly he wants and Oliver states that he wants Sae to take the Japan U-20 to victory without Shidou. Oliver teases and says it should be easy enough for Sae and Sae pauses for a moment. He then asks if Oliver is speaking for his team or for the adults of the JFA. Oliver laughs and replies that 99% of it is him wondering what will Sae Itoshi bring about in their current team, a selfish indulgence sort to speak. This answer surprises Sae a bit and Oliver continues that the other 1% is just him being a dutiful captain; he dislikes those money hungry adults just as much as Sae. Sae replies saying that for a captain Oliver sure does what he wants, so he is intrigued; he will comply with Oliver's wishes but he tells him to not misunderstand. The one testing them is Sae, if they can't keep up then he will drop out of the match.

## Chapter Notes

* Ego goes into depth about Flow
* He explains how the egos cultivated in Blue Lock are the key to the players Flow
* Aiku asks Sae to bench Shidou for the match
* Sae after contemplating agrees to do so
* At the end of this chapter, the Japan National Representative Match is 1 day away.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

1. Jinpachi Ego
2. Seishiro Nagi
3. Gin Gagamaru
4. Kairu Saramadara
5. Yoichi Isagi
6. Shoei Baro
7. Reo Mikage
8. Hyoma Chigiri
9. Meguru Bachira
10. Eita Otoya
11. Tabito Karasu
12. Jyubei Aryu
13. Kenyu Yukimiya
14. Sae Itoshi
15. Aiku Oliver