In a gripping chapter of Blue Lock, the struggle between personal desire and parental expectation reveals the complexities of ambition, talent, and self-discovery in the pursuit of greatness.
Will you ever be satisfied with where you are? Or will the never-ending search for more only lead to anger and disappointment? This is what Blue Lock subtly conveys through the journey of Hiori Yoichi, a player whose story illustrates how desire and parental expectations can be overwhelming.
Hiori comes from a family of athletes who won silver medals in both high jump and judo. He carries on their tradition of always trying to be the best. Blue Lock has always emphasized that you should strive to be #1, no matter what. Jinpachi Ego, the series’ creator, is a great example of this. However, the story truly shines when it examines the other side—what happens to people when they are driven by ambition?
One of the most interesting parts is when Uber’s Master, Marc Snuffy, who has won four of the five big European leagues, is introduced. Noel Noa, who is thought to be the ultimate goal, agrees that Snuffy is the best in the world. Snuffy’s philosophy differs significantly from that of the main character, making him a unique character in a story where competition is the norm.
It’s no accident that Hiori plays a significant role in the game against Uber. Many fans had forgotten about him up to this point, but his chapter reveals a deep battle stemming from his parents’ unfinished goals. Father and mother, upset about their own missed chances at greatness, push Hiori to do better than they could.
They were attempting to live their regrets through him.
It’s almost a passion for Hiori’s parents that drives him to become the best football player in the world. On the surface, they seem helpful, but their actions are driven by disappointment, which manifests as arguments and excessive pressure. When Hiori hurts his leg, they don’t worry about his health; they worry about how it might affect his future as an athlete. He is not seen as a child with his own hopes and dreams, but as a way for their unmet dreams to come true.
Hiori keeps playing even though he feels empty inside because he is stuck in this situation. Karasu’s observation of Hiori’s lack of emotion is the only thing that forces him to face a personal truth: he has never considered what he wants, regardless of what other people think of him.
The story is like Jinpachi Ego’s own life. Jinpachi, whose own career ended too soon as a player, aims to develop the next generation of players into the best striker in the world. He and Hiori’s parents both demonstrate the dangers of defining life solely by winning. Blue Lock isn’t afraid of the consequences—Snuffy’s friend killed himself because he was obsessed with something.
If I’m not number one, then it’s meaningless.
The part also discusses Isagi’s thoughts, which reveal similar pressures and an obsessive drive to succeed. The story raises an important question: when does desire become a bad thing? Hiori’s parents’ obsession with success has kept him stuck for almost twenty years, illustrating how external demands can hinder personal growth and happiness.
Even with all of these factors at play, a turning point occurs during a match with Uber. Hiori sees a chance to fight Snuffy. He is motivated by a moment that reminds him of his parents’ sports—high jump and judo—but what’s important is that he now has control over his life. He makes a choice for himself for the first time, choosing to help Isagi instead of just following the road that has been set out for him.
For the first time, body and mind are in perfect alignment.
Hiori and Isagi work together to achieve a seamless goal, demonstrating that skill, choice, and self-directed purpose can work well together. Here is where Hiori starts to separate his own goals from the ones set by his parents and Jinpachi Ego. He knows that the fun of the sport doesn’t come from approval from other people, but from doing it on his own terms.
This change finally gives Hiori the chance to talk to his parents about his wish to stop trying so hard to be the best. As he waits for the future to become clear, he starts to explore his own hobbies and learns that being the best isn’t always necessary to be happy. People who read this chapter will likely reflect on how many of us set goals for ourselves and how many for others’ standards.
He was scared that if he lost soccer, nobody would want to love him anymore.
When you read Hiori’s story, you are compelled to reflect deeply on topics such as power, goals, and self-discovery. Being great does not guarantee happiness if it comes at the expense of your own decisions and pleasure, as this demonstrates.
It is necessary to ask ourselves why we struggle and to understand the value of pursuing what matters to us, whether it is the pressure from our parents, societal expectations, or our own internalized aspirations. Blue Lock demonstrates to us the importance of asking ourselves these questions.
When the chapter comes to a close, Hiori experiences a rare moment of clarity: he can take pleasure in the sport not for the sake of pleasing others, but rather because it brings him joy, challenges him, and allows him to choose his own path. It is possible to gain a better understanding of how to be both ambitious and joyful simultaneously by simply pausing for a moment and asking ourselves, “Why are we doing this?” This lesson is applicable beyond the field.
