(Disclaimer! This might contain spoilers, TW: bullying )
Manga and anime fandom have their eyes now on one of the most anticipated adaptation series of the year – Blue Lock.
Table of Contents
Seemingly, Japan wanted to improve their soccer team to win the World Cup, with the enigmatic Jinpachi Ego determined to “develop” the APEX EGOIST and create the best striker in the world, 300 “fit” players received secret invitations from the Japan Football Union to join the specialized facility called Blue Lock.
Here, those who have been chosen are subjected to undergo horrific training not only physically. They are encouraged to be unconventional, promoting selfishness over teamwork and camaraderie. They must leave their reasons behind, to go insane, beat the other 299 players, and evolve to be the ultimate striker.
THE ORIGINS OF THE MONSTER INSIDE BACHIRA
Yoichi Isagi, our main character, while discovering his own goals inside Blue Lock gets to meet other aspiring players. For the first selection, Team Z where Yoichi was included, he needs to team up with Gin Gagamaru, Jingo Raichi, Rensuke Kunigami, Wataru Kuon, Asahi Naruhaya, Okuhtio Lemon, Yudai Imamura, Hyoma Chigiri, and one of the favorites (one of the cutest too!) Blue Lock monsters, Meguru Bachira.
Wearing blue jersey number 8 for Team Z with bright yellow eyes and black bob-cut hair with golden under lights, this slim-figured character has a colorful personality and is engagingly eccentric. As seen in the first few episodes of the anime, though he falls asleep even during important events, like the tag game and team meetings (even during meals), he is cool-headed and enthusiastic in every match.
But then one time, he came up to Yoichi and revealed something – he has a monster inside him, telling Bachira what to do on the field during their games and that Yoichi has one inside him too.
So, who is this monster inside Bachira? Where did it come from?
Meguru Bachira was born to love soccer and be good at it. He has a natural talent and practices to hone his skills every day. When playing on the soccer field, he is a smart-minded player and tends to outshine his teammates. He is specifically very good at dribbling and passing which are considered his weapons. (which will still definitely evolve later on in the series!)
Because of his eccentric personality and his natural talent in soccer, he was bullied by other kids who called him names, like ” weirdo”, “monster”, and even “abnormal”. This constant bullying led to trauma at an early age so he decided to separate himself from other youngsters. Being afraid to be alone, Bachira creates an imaginary friend, a “monster” inside his head, and becomes his companion telling him what to do on the field.
Nonetheless, Bachira’s mother (Yu Bachira) believed in his son and his ability. She inspired him to continue playing soccer and believe in himself whatever others might think of him. She even advised his son that the monster in his head also believes in what he can achieve, as she also has the same one telling her to continue her art since she is a painter.
This setup, between Bachira and his “monster”, became a give-and-take “relationship” and it continued as he grew older. He takes motivation from his “monster” but in return, no one wanted to befriend him. Later on, he played once again with a team, and just like before, no one could surpass his talents. He thought that his other teammates are just focusing on winning but do not find joy in playing soccer, nor the real reason why they are playing.
Bachira, despite being happy with his football ambitions, even after his team lost the Chiba Prefecture Tournament, started to wonder if he could find other players like him, having this “monster” motivation. He then started to feel the emptiness, the loneliness, then another thought enters his mind. “ What if he loses first his “monster” and never finds a true friend? That thought made him feel like he could die.
His goal at first when joining the Blue Lock was not really to become the best striker in the world, (that’s why he is sleeping most of the time, ha!) though he never loses his aspiration, his main goal then was to let go of his dark inner side (his trauma too!), discover a way to catch up with “normal” way of life and have a true friend.
Recalling what Bachira said to Yoichi about having a “monster” too. Could Yoichi be the one who’s Bachira looking for? As we delve into Blue Lock, could Bachira be finally free of his dark inner monster and be motivated to be the world’s best striker?
Bachira indeed is a very intriguing character who has more to offer and surely will develop in the next few chapters. He is a character who symbolizes emotional strength, though, there is despair residing in him, he still is fighting for his dreams and still finding his real purpose in Blue Lock and in his life per se, Indeed, not all who wander are lost.
As Bachira said too: “ It’s not a matter of making the right choice; I’ll make it so the path I choose is the right one. That’s how you get to the top of the world. So what I trust most isn’t logic… it’s instinct.”
Other details interesting about Meguru Bachira:
His name Meguru means “round, revolve, or go around”. While his surname, Bachira could be interpreted as a “happy bee” (he does look like a happy bee dribbling around).
His birthday is on August 8 and loves receiving presents! Standing at 176cm and having a foot size of 27.5cm. He came from Chiba and started playing football at the early age of 6. He also likes canned pineapples and gets excited during the season of summer (like when the bees are active!).
He likes dolphins because they look happy. He is not really fond of going to school and studying so, he does not have any favorite subject and a least favorite subject either! Spends the holiday doing whatever he likes but is very indecisive about what he wants to do!
Check this one next: 15+ Blue Lock Cosplays! (REALISTIC)
