Nigellus Raiden/Synopsis

**Table of Contents**
History • Introduction Arc • First Selection Arc • Second Selection Arc

## History

On Halloween at 11 AM, a boy named Nigellus Raiden was born, in the bustling city of Tokyo, Japan's heart and capital. Nigel, as he was fondly called by his parents, was just like any other child and kindergartener growing up. Nigellus started playing football at the age of 7 alongside his younger brother Kenzo, his father awakening that drive in him to play football and it didn't take long for him to become completely crazed about it. While most other children his age were only concerned with catching the ball and running and kicking around, Nigellus tried to understand and observe the strategies and movements of his friends and the players he saw on TV, being delighted with those who seemed confident about what they were doing in field and showed flair and talent. He himself was showing flair, talent and sheer potential, his parents being delighted and happy about it.

He started watching players like Jay-Jay Okocha, Neymar Jr and Cristiano Ronaldo, being mesmerized by their dribbling styles and the presence they exuded on the field. Nigel felt his love for football grow even more and thus established his biggest dream yet: to lead the Japanese national team to victory in a world cup, as well as winning the Ballon D'Or and winning the UCL along the way of greatness. He would dedicate himself every day to improving his dribbling, passing and spatial awareness, to be the most efficient and aware player on the field.

Shortly after his parents enrolled him in Tokyo Gakuen, he joined Tokyo Gakuen's Football Club. It was a prestigious academy with decent players, as they've been to Nationals before. He envisioned controlling the team's playstyle like a conductor controlling the orchestra, him being the conductor and the team being the orchestra. However, due to his race, he got bullied and treated like trash. The team's players had developed a connection with eachother before he arrived and they didn't want a person like him to hog all the attention, developing hostility towards him. The feeling on the field was like that of watching the games of Japan and Nigeria on television. A sense of constant disorder in the field and people acting like fish out of sea: pathetic, incompetent, everything seemed wrong. And if the hostility on the field wasn't enough, with the players refusing to include him in their game and doing everything to disturb him, when Nigel managed to score a goal or make a brilliant play, they waited for the end of the game and continued their bullying, reaching the point of committing physical aggression against him in denial of their inability.

Nigel felt real despair and hopelessness. Those dogs had no willingness to change for the sake of their *pathetic* reputation. But what could he do? He couldn't see his existence without the sport, and he couldn't afford to change schools... Not for his parents, who believed in him so much when he made this much progress. He should try to change that.. And so, he began to focus more on individual training, perfecting his ball control while dribbling, his passes and shots, it was the best he could do.

### The Last Shot

In the 3rd year, Tokyo Gakuen's club found itself in a critical situation. There was only one game left and if they lost: it would be their last game for the year and missing the opportunuty to qualify for Nationals. 0-1, then 0-2, Nigel saw his team getting completely demolished on the pitch. Would he really finish high school without having managed to show off *his* way of football? Disgusting, unacceptable, utterly ridiculous... Until, amidst his confusion, and total abscence, he found himself close to the midfield line, when his team tried to increase the pressure on the opposing team, In a moment of clarity he saw the right wing empty. For that brief moment he was sure that if the ball landed there, none of his team would be there or the opposition for that matter. And so, he slowly phased into that position and lucky for him, the ball landed right by his foot. One chance, he just needed one chance. A single solid contact point. Nigel performed a clean, yet soft finish, placing the ball into the bottom corner of the opponent's goal. 1-2, he only needed to score 2 more goals and he could continue playing. For whatever time he had left here, atleast.

On the next play, after the opposing ball went out as the product of a deflection, Nigel saw one of Tokyo's attackers advance with the ball in his possession, in a desperate attempt to score the goal. He was sure without a shadow of a doubt that the chances of him losing the ball were near-guaranteed, and he dashed to him, accompanying him to directly seize the ball when the defender tackled him. Grandiosely conquered: morale 'completely shattered'. Without thinking twice, Nigel dribbled past the defenders like chess pawns and projected a flawless shot in one swift kick, tying the match. 2-2 followed with a rush of dopamine, just one more to go. He felt like he came. The opposing team gave the ball out and the referee whistled the end of the game. The match would go to penalties.

Nigel was given the opportunity to take the first penalty kick and scored, giving himself confidence but angering some of his teammates. The opposing team converted their penalties while some of his teammates completely bottled theirs, resulting in a shameful loss. He saw his team eliminated before his eyes, a product of their own selfishness and idiocy. His parents discovered the fact that he was being bullied, and decided to move elsewhere in central Tokyo to prevent future occurrences of the sort. This resulted in Nigel getting a bit sad and disappointed, however; upon receiving an invitation showcased to him by his parents, to the facility known as 'Blue Lock', he couldn't help but enter the insane program in hopes of his dreams being reality and the chance to conquer the whole world, a wide smirk plastered on his face...

## Plot

### Introduction Arc

After Jinpachi Ego's speech, Nigel wholeheartedly agrees to participate in the project and signs a consent form. Soon he finds himself on a bus with the other 299 high school students who agreed to participate and after a few hours they finally arrive at the facility. Once there, they have their personal items, such as cell phones and wallets, confiscated and given a uniform with a number and letter. Nigel received uniform 243 with the letter V on the right shoulder, as well as directions to find room V.

He arrives in the room and sees Itoshi Rin, the younger brother of the prodigy who's playing for Royal Madrid, Itoshi Sae. He observes his appearance and stance before moving on. Nigel then meets a tall boy with cyan and orange hair and a heart tattoed under his eye, named Ci Yaoyu. He approached him and began having a conversation with him, eventually easing himself around him.