ZEROZEN – Episode 1: “The First Flame”

Here’s a clean, structured Episode 1 of your Zerozen series with proper formatting, smooth dialogue, pacing, and narrative flow. It's anime-style, setting up Takumi’s journey, his motivation, his idol, his heartbreak, and his call to greatness.

ZEROZEN – Episode 1: “The First Flame”

[Scene 1 – Suburban Tokyo, Japan – Evening]

An 8-year-old boy, TAKUMI RAIEN, is glued to the TV, eyes sparkling.

📺 TV COMMENTATOR (Excited):

"France vs Brazil… The stadium is electric! And here comes the magician, Joãozinho!"

📣 DARIUS (Takumi’s father, shouting from the kitchen):

"Takumi! Come take your food!"

👦 TAKUMI (still staring at the screen):

"I’m coming, Dad!"

He dashes to the kitchen, grabs his plate, turns to leave.

👨‍🦱 DARIUS:

"Why the rush, son?"

👦 TAKUMI:

"The game’s starting! France vs Brazil! I want to see my idol — Louise crush Joãozinho!"

👨‍🦱 DARIUS (smiling):

"Alright. Go have fun. But don’t stay up past your bedtime."

👦 TAKUMI (grinning):

"Okay!"

[Scene 2 – Takumi’s Bedroom, Night]

He watches the game intensely. Final score appears on screen: 3–3.

👦 TAKUMI (clenching his fists):

"No… Louise… but we can still do it!"

He grabs his ball and rushes outside under the stars.

👦 TAKUMI (shouting):

"The future best striker of Japan is here!"

He begins training with determination in his eyes.

[Time Skip – 11 Years Later]

[Scene 3 – National Youth League Match: Lions vs Tigers]

📢 ANNOUNCER:

"Lions vs Tigers — the fiercest rivalry in the region!"

Takumi, now 19, wears the #9 jersey. His teammates shout:

🗣️ TEAMMATE 1:

"Takumi! Over here!"

Takumi passes it. The teammate shoots — it hits the post! The ball rebounds fast.

⚡ AXEL, the opposing striker, dashes, shoots — GOAL!

📢 ANNOUNCER:

"Tigers lead! It’s Axel with the winner!"

Final Score: 1–0

[Scene 4 – Takumi’s Home, Night]

Takumi slams the door, teary-eyed. Darius notices.

👨‍🦱 DARIUS:

"What happened?"

👦 TAKUMI:

"We lost… 1–0."

👨‍🦱 DARIUS (calmly):

"Only one goal. That’s not the end. Go to bed, son."

Takumi nods quietly, heading to sleep. He dreams of the missed chance…

👁️‍🗨️ Takumi (in his dream): “If I had shot… I could’ve won it.”

[Scene 5 – Streets of Tokyo, Next Morning]

Takumi rides his bicycle. Suddenly, he crashes into a mysterious man wearing a coat.

🧥 MAN:

"Takumi Raien?"

👦 TAKUMI:

"Yeah? Who are you?"

🧠 MAN:

"My name is Eiro… but you can call me Ego."

Ego hands him a black envelope.

📄 EGO:

"When you're ready… come here."

[Scene 6 – Outside Zerozen Facility – Next Day]

A massive modern building looms with a sign: “ZEROZEN.”

👦 TAKUMI:

"Zerozen…?"

He enters, stunned by the vast facility. He bumps into a boy with glasses.

🤓 SHINOBU:

"Are you blind?"

👦 TAKUMI (bowing):

"Sorry!"

🤓 SHINOBU (smirking):

"Relax. Name’s Shinobu — or just Shin. You?"

👦 TAKUMI:

"Takumi. Nice to meet you."

🤓 SHINOBU:

"Follow me. You're in for a ride."

[Scene 7 – Inside Arena Room]

Hundreds of boys are gathered. Eiro walks onto a platform, arms crossed.

🧠 EGO (voice booming):

"There are 1000 players here. But only one will become Japan’s ultimate striker."

🧠 EGO (intense):

"This is Zerozen — our experiment to birth monsters with ego."

🧠 EGO:

"Today begins your ranking tests. Survive… or disappear."

Shinobu nods to Takumi.

🤓 SHINOBU:

"See you after the test."

👦 TAKUMI:

"Yeah. Good luck."

Suddenly, a cold, familiar voice cuts in.

⚡ AXEL (walking up):

"You won’t last a day here, loser. Just leave now."

Axel walks away as Takumi clenches his fists.

👦 TAKUMI (teary-eyed but fiery):

"Axel… I’ll prove you wrong. I’ll surpass Joãozinho… and Louise… and I’ll become Japan’s best striker!"

🩵 End of Episode 1

Next Episode: “The First Test Begins!”

Would you like Episode 2 to focus on Takumi’s first ranking test and introduce more key characters like Loki, Baki, or Shin’s full power?

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