Narumi Umesawa

History

For as long as Narumi could remember, she had lived with her single parent father in a small apartment with an even smaller kitchen. Her dad worked so hard to keep a roof over their heads, taking on double and sometimes overnight shifts at his job, but no matter what, he always came home with a smile on his face, cheerfully announcing his arrival and following up with affectionate laughter when Narumi welcomed him home.

At an early age, after wanting to contribute to the household but being far too young to work, Narumi asked her single parent father how to help him prepare meals. Their kitchen wasn't too accommodating for two, but since she was a child, it wasn't too difficult for her and her father to work together, and it quickly became apparent that Narumi had a natural knack for cooking. She easily took the reins and responsibility of their household's cooking once her father taught her the ropes, to the point that cooking for them became Narumi's responsibility. Her father never felt ashamed of having to rely on his young daughter for that, either- he fully encouraged her and continued to help her in the kitchen whenever he wasn't taking on extra shifts.

As she grew older, Narumi began thinking of her future and surprised those around her by deciding she wanted to become a kindergarten teacher! Most thought she surely had found her future career through cooking, but for Narumi, she truly wanted to teach and look after younger children, the very idea made her feel a sense of accomplishment for future generations take their first steps into the world of education!

But as eager as Narumi was to become certified for teaching, the career presented itself with financial challenges she absolutely didn't want to ask her father for help with. Now that she was a young adult, Narumi had started noticing just how worked to the bone her father had become in his older age. He had always emphasized that Narumi shouldn't be afraid to roll up her sleeves and work hard, so that's just what she was going to do to achieve her dreams of kindergarten teaching!

And as it just so happened, Narumi received a letter in the mail inviting her to a scholarship program offered by something called the "Blue Lock Project". The offer was clear cut enough- those that took on the challenge of cooking the meals for the three hundred young men participating in the project were eligible to receive financial funding towards their educational endeavors. Narumi was already pretty talented with cooking at home, so how hard could it be?

As it would turn out, through a friendship-rivalry with another scholarship hopeful and shared romantic interest with one of the Blue Lock athletes, things were about to go from zero to one hundred real quick!!