Since the inception of Blue Lock, fans have engaged in considerable discourse about the identity of the series’ “other”protagonist. Initial speculation often revolved around characters like Meguru Bachira and Seishiro Nagi. However, as the narrative progressed, a prevailing consensus emerged among fans, pointing to Rin Itoshi as the second lead character.
While Rin Itoshi’s candidacy as the “other”protagonist garnered widespread acceptance, supporters of Seishiro Nagi found it difficult to agree, particularly given Nagi’s starring role in the spin-off manga, Blue Lock: Episode Nagi. Recently, the series creator addressed this debate, offering clarity that has intrigued the fandom.
Disclaimer: This article includes spoilers from the Blue Lock manga.
The Creator’s Insight: Confirming the Other Protagonist
On May 16, 2025, the seventh compiled volume of Blue Lock: Episode Nagi was released in Japan. This commemorative publication featured remarks from the trio behind the series: author Muneyuki Kaneshiro, lead illustrator Yusuke Nomura, and spin-off illustrator Kota Sannomiya. Among all the insights shared, Kaneshiro’s observation stood out as especially significant.
“After I finished showing all the sides of Nagi I wanted to show, I discovered new sides I wanted to depict. He’s the other protagonist of Blue Lock.”
Kaneshiro’s statement confirms that, while exploring the character deeply in the spin-off, he unearthed facets of Seishiro Nagi that warranted recognition as the “other”protagonist in Blue Lock. This announcement elicited joy among Nagi’s fanbase, who felt validated in their support of the character.
In other remarks, Kota Sannomiya expressed satisfaction upon completing the latest match, noting the emotional investment he made in this seventh volume. Yusuke Nomura praised Episode Nagi as a standout spin-off, highlighting its ability to showcase a broader emotional spectrum for both Nagi and Reo.
Fans React to Kaneshiro’s Revelation about Nagi
Unsurprisingly, the announcement sparked excitement among Seishiro Nagi’s fans. Confirmation of his status as a second protagonist suggests potential for his return in future story arcs, even after his elimination from the main competition. Some fans remarked their preference for the spin-off over the original narrative.
“Nagi second mc confirmed LET’S GOOOOOO. No way he won’t come back,”exclaimed one fan.
“Now if I say Nagi’s perspective and story was way more interesting than whatever plotsagi had going on….,”added another fan.
Conversely, fans of Rin Itoshi expressed displeasure with Kaneshiro’s remarks. They felt that the announcement diminished their character’s role and lamented the absence of an anticipated “Episode Rin”manga.
“Yes, I’m not happy about this. Kaneshiro, first you robbed us of Episode Rin, and now this? At least give some importance to Rin too!,”grumbled one fan.
“Maybe that’s why he eliminated him this early to make another spinoff of his journey after Blue Lock, maybe???,”speculated another.
Among various opinions, some fans hypothesized that Kaneshiro’s decision to eliminate Nagi in the main series may be purposeful, leading to a narrative focused on his post-U-20 World Cup journey in another forthcoming spin-off.