Reiji Hiiragi

Hiiragi is analytical, confident and deeply interested in fortune-telling. He uses a tarot application recreationally and eagerly interprets cards for other players, connecting their symbolic meanings to the problems he sees in their personalities and football.

His confidence extends to his analytical ability. Hiiragi enjoys explaining why his predictions will come true and can become smug when his data appears to validate his conclusions.

That dependence on prediction is also a weakness. Hiiragi becomes frustrated when players behave differently from the patterns he has recorded, because unexpected development can invalidate the assumptions on which his calculations were built.

Hiiragi's principal weapon is an analytical style described as Big Data Soccer. He collects information about opponents' personalities, tendencies and movements, then uses those patterns to predict their decisions and construct favorable matchups.

His trapping is another major strength. Hiiragi can control difficult balls while moving without sacrificing momentum, and his first touch is refined enough to create immediate shooting opportunities. His trapping is explicitly impressive even when measured against Seishirou Nagi.

The weakness of his predictive football is that data describes what a player has already demonstrated. When an opponent changes during the match, Hiiragi can continue making decisions based on information that is no longer accurate.

Hiiragi's main early footballing role is expanded in Episode Nagi, where he forms a Second Selection trio with Ikki Niko and Zantetsu Tsurugi. They challenge Nagi, Shouei Barou and Hyoma Chigiri.

His predictions initially give his team a substantial advantage because he has carefully studied the opposing trio. The match then tests whether a data-driven strategy can continue working once Blue Lock's players begin changing in ways their previous behavior could not predict.

Hiiragi later clears the Second Selection and participates in the Third Selection on Team B. He is also selected as a reserve for the Blue Lock Eleven against Japan U-20.

Ikki Niko and Zantetsu Tsurugi form Hiiragi's Second Selection trio during his major Episode Nagi appearance.

Seishirou Nagi becomes a central opponent for Hiiragi because his exceptional trapping provides a direct benchmark for Hiiragi's own first-touch technique. Nagi also challenges Hiiragi's dependence on predictions when the match stops following the expected data.

Shouei Barou and Hyoma Chigiri are studied extensively by Hiiragi before their Second Selection match, allowing him to build strategies around their known tendencies.

Nijirou Nanase, Taiga Tsunzaki, Shizuka Haiji and Akira Endoji eventually clear the Second Selection alongside Hiiragi as the fourth qualifying team.