Ikki Niko:

Ikki Niko, also known as Niko Ikki, participates in Blue Lock. Initially part of Team Y during the First Selection, he aimed to survive using his existing skills. However, after losing to Yoichi Isagi, he resolved to overcome his fears and improve to succeed in Blue Lock. He began as a center-back for the Blue Lock Eleven in a match against Japan U-20 and now plays as a defensive midfielder for the Ubers in the Neo Egoist League.

Niko’s given name, Ikki (一い揮っき?), translates to “one shake,” while his surname, Niko (二に子こ?), means “twins.” Phonetically, Niko can also represent Ni (二に?) and Ko (五こ?), which symbolize “two” and “five” respectively. This phonetic interpretation corresponds to his birthdate, February 5th.

Appearance:

Niko possesses a slender physique accompanied by long, jet-black hair cascading over both eyes. Despite his average build and size, which may not immediately suggest strength, Niko defies expectations with his prowess on the field. His hair obscures his vision somewhat, yet he manages to navigate the game effectively at a high level.

During his time at Blue Lock, Niko outfits himself in the standard-issued body suit, characterized by a black base with gray stripes, along with the corresponding tracksuit. Throughout the First Selection, he sported Team Y’s distinctive red jersey adorned with vertical black stripes, featuring the number 7. Subsequently, during the Second Selection, Niko donned Team Red’s jersey, proudly bearing the number 63. Transitioning to the Third Selection, he switched to Team B’s white jersey, still emblazoned with the number 63. In the pivotal match against Japan U-20, Niko assumes the official Blue Lock player uniform, proudly displaying the number 3.

Personality:

Niko exudes confidence in his ability to read the field, asserting his superiority over Isagi during the game against Team Z. Despite this, he doesn’t let his confidence turn into arrogance. Instead, he respects those who demonstrate skills similar to his own. This was evident in his game with Isagi, where he acknowledged Isagi’s talent upon realizing they share a similar ability to read the game. This mutual respect has cultivated a friendly rivalry, with Niko aiming to face Isagi again and emerge victorious.

Moreover, Niko has shown a willingness to adapt his mindset and playing style to further his growth. After his defeat to Isagi, he shifted his focus towards personal improvement and staying in the spotlight. During the U-20 match, he discovered a newfound enjoyment in playing as a defender, utilizing his keen eyesight to outmaneuver opponents. This demonstrates Niko’s readiness to embrace change, both in his playing style and role on the field, in pursuit of personal development and ego enhancement.

Abilities:

Niko embodies the archetype of a ball-winning center-back, relying on intelligence over sheer strength. Unlike a stopper who engages in physical duels, Niko focuses on intercepting the ball at its source, minimizing the need for direct confrontations. With his exceptional vision and ability to analyze the entire field, Niko anticipates the flow of play, including pass styles and opponents’ movements, to neutralize threats effectively.

As one of the most intellectually sharp players in Blue Lock, Niko possesses spatial awareness comparable to Isagi’s. He can swiftly assess multiple factors on the field, swiftly identifying and neutralizing potential dangers. Niko’s tactical acumen allows him to briefly withstand the combined pressures of players like Sae and Shido before succumbing to injury.

Skills:

Niko possesses exceptional spatial awareness, allowing him to analyze the entire field comprehensively. He considers the positions, actions, and strengths of both his teammates and opponents to anticipate the next moves and react effectively. His tactical prowess rivals that of Isagi, one of Blue Lock’s most astute players. Isagi himself has acknowledged Niko’s remarkable vision and understanding of the game.

Niko’s tactical acumen extends to organizing Team Y’s defensive and offensive strategies, serving as the team’s linchpin. He disrupts opponents’ attacks while initiating his team’s offensive plays. Additionally, Niko can decipher the trajectory and intent of passes, enabling him to intercept them effectively.

Niko employs a defensive strategy known as “Watchtower Soccer,” where he focuses his vision on the players surrounding the one with the ball. This allows him to function as a watchtower within the defensive line, identifying the most significant threat to his team’s goal and predicting their likely actions. Once he assesses the situation, Niko swiftly moves to neutralize the threat. This approach has proven highly effective, enabling Niko to thwart the advances of formidable opponents like Sae Itoshi. He notably intercepted Sae’s passes twice, a feat achieved previously only by Rin Itoshi.

“Metavision” refers to an advanced form of vision that grants a player an all-seeing perspective of the field. Niko utilizes this ability by continuously gathering data from his central and peripheral vision, monitoring every player’s movements, plays, and positions on the field. During the Neo Egoist League match against Bastard München, Niko unlocked this ability, allowing him to scan the field rapidly. However, he has yet to fully master it. For instance, while intensely focused on stealing the ball from Rensuke Kunigami, Niko fails to notice Jingo Raichi approaching from his blind spot, indicating that he still has room to improve his awareness.

Hibiki Okawa:

Hibiki Okawa (大おお川かわ 響ひび鬼き Ōkawa Hibiki?) was a prominent member of Team Y and renowned as Sennou High School’s star player. Unfortunately, he, along with all other members of Team Y, was eliminated during the First Selection, except for Ikki Niko.

Hibiki’s given name, Hibiki (響ひび鬼き?), can be interpreted as “sound demon.” “Hibi” (響ひび?) translates to “echo, sound, ring,” and “ki” (鬼き?) means “ogre, demon, oni.” His surname, Okawa (大おお川かわ?), means “great river.” Therefore, his full name can be understood as “sound demon of the great river.”

Skills:

“Super-shooting” is a specialized technique in Hibiki Okawa’s arsenal, leveraging feints to exploit the timing of the goalkeeper. With this technique, he aims to deceive the goalkeeper by misjudging the timing of the shot, giving him an advantage in scoring.

On the other hand, a “chip shot” is a different technique where the player strikes the bottom part of the ball, causing it to rise up and over the heads of opponents. This shot resembles the Gyro-Shot in its trajectory but typically lacks the same level of accuracy and power. While the Gyro-Shot spins rapidly, creating unpredictable movement, the chip shot relies more on finesse and precision to loft the ball delicately over defenders and goalkeepers.

In summary, “super-shooting” exploits the goalkeeper’s timing through feints, while a “chip shot” relies on skillful execution to loft the ball over opponents’ heads with finesse.

Major information of character:

Hibiki Okawa, known as the “Ace of Senno High School,” hails from Kumamoto and began his football journey at the tender age of 5. His soccer idol is Emile Smith Rowe, and his motto, “Fight nonchalantly, win solemnly,” reflects his composed yet determined approach to the game. Renowned for his mental fortitude, Okawa’s strength lies in his ability to maintain control under pressure. However, his reserved demeanor often leads others to perceive him as cold, though he remains unfazed, focusing solely on scoring goals effortlessly.

Outside of soccer, Okawa has a diverse range of interests and preferences. He delights in indulging in his favorite food, Don Tacos, but strongly dislikes the smell of shiitake mushrooms. He finds joy in savoring fresh sea urchins with rice and has a peculiar hobby of memorizing train station names and routes. Winter holds a special place in his heart as it coincides with the high school soccer championship finals, his favorite season.

His taste in music leans towards STAY GOLD by Hi-STANDARD, while his preferred movie is I Am Sam. In literature, he enjoys Nippon Sangoku, and academically, he excels in P.E., English, and Music, with Japanese posing as his weakest subject. Okawa’s peculiarities extend to his preferences in physical attributes, as he harbors a fascination with thighs and admires cool-looking older women possessing such features.

Despite his composed demeanor, Okawa finds solace in being acknowledged as cool but feels despondent when left out. Notably, his emotional side surfaced when he suffered a fracture three years prior, preventing him from playing soccer, and during a Ken Yokoyama concert. On his hypothetical last day on Earth, he would passionately indulge in his love for soccer and music, epitomizing his free-spirited nature. If blessed with a substantial sum of 100 million yen, Okawa dreams of establishing a studio to pursue his musical aspirations. His zodiac sign is Gemini, and his dominant leg is his right side, with a foot size of 28 cm. Characterized by Mustard Yellow, Okawa ranked 25th in the first popularity poll, garnering 31 votes, highlighting his modest yet notable presence in the Blue Lock universe.