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- His dream became my dream. It’s because of Kaiser — I still believe in magic.
- —Alexis Ness, Chapter 243
Kainess is the slash ship between Michael Kaiser and Alexis Ness from the Blue Lock fandom.
Canon[]
Michael Kaiser and Alexis Ness are both U-20 Regulars playing for the German Football team, Bastard München.
Their first introduction depicts the two as somewhat close, Alexis often giving Michael what he requests, acting as a loyal servant to Michael. We see their first proper interaction after Alexis comes following behind Michael after he had intercepted Isagi's kick. When Isagi threatens Michael, he requests for a handkerchief from Alexis.
In their matches, Alexis's plays are often and nearly always, to pass to Michael for him to score, shown in the matches against F.C BARCHA, Manshine City, and Ubers.
During the match against F.C BARCHA, Alexis questions and insults Kunigami after he had missed scoring, claiming that if he had passed to Michael instead, they would of scored. This shows how loyal Alexis is to him, to the point where he would insult people who didn't follow the standard Bastard München rule to follow Michael. Kunigami tells him to piss off, calling him a boot-licker.
We see more of Alexis passing to Michael, complimenting him after he had scored and tied their game 1-1.
After the match against Manshine City, Alexis goes to question why Isagi had passed, insulting him because he couldn't go up against Michael to score his own goal. Isagi calls him "Kaiser's stupid lackey" in response. Before Alexis can continue his arguement with Isagi, Michael comes and grabs Alexis head, pushing it down. He holds Alexis's head while he talks with Isagi, him obviously being in pain, letting go after he was finished.
Later on, we can see Alexis give Michael his sunglasses and his drink. Michael begins to question him on why he joined Bastard München, Alexis responding. Michael then splashes his drink onto Alexis. After he had claimed that "Yoichi was big enough to eat", Alexis pardons himself to leave. In a fit of jealousy, he internally curses Isagi, questioning to himself why Michael was more interested in someone else.
When the match against Ubers start, We can see Michael and Alexis working together with Grim, attempting to help Michael score the first goal. After Isagi manages to get the ball, Alexis tries to throw him off his center of gravity by bumping into him, attempting to not let him score with his direct shot. But Isagi shows them his new lefty shot. This was an attempt to at least impress Kaiser by beating Isagi for once.
After Ubers score again, Alexis begins to doubt his abilities, when Michael comes in and grabs his head. But this time, it seems more gentle then before. He tells Alexis to try and get Lorenzo off him, in which Alexis obliges.
Chapters 242 and 243, titled "The Blue Rose and The Magician", reveals Alexis and Michael's first meeting. Raised in a family of scientists who value logic and rationality, Alexis who believed in magic was shamed and ridiculed throughout his childhood. Trying out for Bastard München further made him realize that his magic may be powerless against the world. In the midst of despair, Michael approaches Alexis and asks whether he believes in the impossible. He then states that Alexis is thinking on a higher level than the rest, but lacks a partner who can understand his ideas. Michael proclaims that Alexis's ideas would not be impossible if he worked with him, and thus, their cooperation and partnership begins.
Michael and Alexis grew closer during their days as Bastard München rookies as they were seen eating, arriving to practice, and even bathing together. In Chapter 243, Alexis is revealed to be the one who cut and dyed Michael's hair as the other talked about the meaning behind his blue rose tattoo. Similar to how a blue rose is seen as unnatural, Michael wants to become something that is deemed impossible in this world. Alexis deeply treasures this moment as he felt that Michael opened his heart to Alexis and it made him happy. This is also where Alexis states that Michael's dream had become his dream as well. Michael is the reason Alexis still believes in the magic of soccer.
Chapter 261 dives into Michael's perspective of their first meeting. Abandoned by his mother and abused by his father, Michael never experienced love growing up. He has trouble receiving goodwill or kindness, resulting in conflicts with his teammates. Rather than a conspiracy of goodwill, Michael decides he needs a "dog" who will submit to his malice. Seeing Alexis for the first time in tryouts, Michael instantly thinks he will make a good test subject as all his abilities are above criticism. Above all, Michael realizes that Alexis is isolated, so it would be the best time to erode his heart. Despite this, Alexis is the person Michael is closest to within the team, shown through their close cooperation on the field and even spending their days off together shopping and doing other activities.
In the match against PXG, Alexis is the only person who remained loyal to Michael and was willing to cooperate with him as Isagi tore their team's Michael-centered attack system apart. Michael realizes that if he loses against strong opponents like Isagi and Noel Noa, all the things (fame, glory, his position, this freedom, etc.) he has already gained might disappear. As a panel of Alexis smiling at him is shown, Michael reflects on his feelings of finally becoming someone who was wanted and his fear of losing everything.
In chapter 267, we see how Kaiser tells Ness that it is easier for him to live in restriction, and tells him to go look for a new king and forget him. As a result, Alexis cries.
For most of the match against PXG, Alexis is seen still clinging to their partnership by passing to Michael alone. Michael remains true to his words as he begins to team up with Isagi instead and tells Alexis to quit soccer as it is a death game unfitting for people who live for someone else. He even goes as far as saying to Alexis's face that pigs without autonomy should get lost. Alexis responds saying he has no reason to play soccer aside from making Michael the world's best. Michael clarifies that he is no longer angry at Alexis, but he just doesn't care about people who fail to keep up.
Nearing the end of the match where Bastard München and PXG are tied at 2-2, Alexis realizes he is getting left behind and is no longer needed. He begins contemplating on Michael's words and accepts that if Michael says he no longer needs him and wants to start afresh, then Alexis would be willing to change too. In Alexis's mind, he bids farewell to his Michael, the idealized version of him, which Alexis believed in becoming the world's best with.
Strengthening his newfound resolve, Alexis then sprints to the middle of the field where the ball happens to perfectly land in his posession. For a second, he hesitates and almost passes to Michael as he always does, but soon realizes that it is his chance to change. On the other side of the field, Michael still expects Alexis to pass to him and thinks he is incapable of change. Alexis proves him wrong by making a pass that is unsuitable for "Kaiser Impact" instead of the easy passes he normally feeds Michael with. Alexis declares this as his first rebellion and declaration of war to the "New Emperor".
As the pass flies across the field in a sharp curve, Alexis thinks that Michael should be able to steal that pass if he was the best in the world. Alexis is willing to try again if Michael changes and evolves alongside him. To Alexis' surprise, the one who believed in him equally and ends up stealing the pass is Isagi. Seeing this, Michael yells Alexis's surname with a furious look on his face as Alexis could only stare at the scene in shock.
After Isagi scores the final goal against PXG, Michael falls to his knees as he realizes he has been totally devoured. Analyzing the sequence of events leading up to the goal, Michael acknowledges that it was a victory he could have gotten too if he had understood Alexis's mind. Michael thinks Alexis was passing to the new self he was evolving into and not the old him. He further admits that Alexis was not the reason he lost and it was his own fault.
Michael and Alexis, who is seen standing close to him, gets approached by Isagi. Isagi addresses Michael and asks whether Alexis is special to him. Michael widens his eyes, taken aback and unable to respond. Isagi explains that he only viewed Alexis as a player with hidden potential, unlike Michael who thought in terms of his relationship with Alexis. By deeming Alexis as worthless, Michael marked Alexis as special and gave in to his emotions.
Chapter 301 shows the aftermath of the match against PXG, specifically its impact on Michael and Alexis's relationship. Having reflected on his actions during the match, Michael has gone back to viewing himself as something less than human. As he quietly exits the field alone, Michael notices Alexis's presence and bitterly asks why he is following him. He goes on to proclaim that the Michael that Alexis believed in was just an illusion. He also states that there is no way to repair whatever was happening between them and tells Alexis to get lost.
- Kaiser – “Have you lost your mind…? I abandoned you and left to go win…but then lost to Yoichi and shamed myself in front of the world…I’m shitty trash! So quit buzzing around…a piece of shit like me!”
- Ness – “No. I won’t do as you say anymore. You’re not shit. You’re flesh and blood, like any other human. My ego wants me…to cast a spell on your broken soul.”
However, unlike previous times, Alexis refuses to back down and insists that he will stay by Michael's side even if Michael views himself worthless. Michael looks dumbfounded as he angrily questions whether Alexis has lost his mind. He then reiterates how he had abandoned Alexis for the sake of victory, but still lost to Isagi in the end and shamed himself in front of the world. He continues to call himself "a piece of shit" and demands Alexis to stop clinging to him. Alexis remains unphased even as Michael yells at him furiously. With unwavering resolve, he stands tall in front of Michael and voices that he will no longer do what Michael tells him to. Michael looks shocked hearing this response and seeing this new version of Alexis. Alexis then articulates that Michael is not worthless, instead he is a flesh and blood human being. Clenching his teeth, Michael fails to mask the raw and vulnerable expression on his face as he is at a loss for words. Their time in the Neo Egoist League ends with Alexis declaring that he wants to cast a spell on Michael's broken self with his ego as his eyes light up reflecting his determination.
Quotes[]
- “Kaiser, is Ness special to you?”
- — Yoichi to Kaiser, Chapter 294
- “Hey loser.. do you believe in the impossible?”
- — Kaiser to Ness, Chapter 242
- “With me, all your ideas will become possible.”
- — Kaiser to Ness, while helping him off the ground, Chapter 243
- “His dream became my dream.”
- — Ness talking about Kaiser, Chapter 243
- “Its because of Kaiser — I still believe in magic.”
- — Ness narrating, talking about Kaiser, Chapter 243
- “We showed them the impossible. It was there Kaiser and I first met.”
- — CHAPTER 243, NESS NARRATING
- “I'll still be by your side.”
- — CHAPTER 301, NESS TALKING TO KAISER
- “With my ego, I want to cast a spell on your broken self.”
- — CHAPTER 301, NESS TALKING TO KAISER
Fanon[]
Kainess is a moderately popular and well-known ship within the fandom. Many in the fandom jokingly refer to Alexis as Michael’s boyfriend and vice versa. When they were first seen, their interactions gained a large amount of shippers. It only grew further as the chapters went on, as we see more of Alexis's devotion to Michael. Most opposing shippers see it as toxic, as Alexis's kindness to Michael is requited with a cold attitude. People often depict it as a 'Master-Servant' Ship Trope. Their complex, gritty dynamic and relationship has led to heavy discussion and controversy.
Fandom[]
- FAN FICTION
- Alexis Ness/Michael Kaiser tag on AO3
- Alexis Ness & Michael Kaiser tag on AO3
- Kainess stories on Wattpad
- @KainessDaily on Twitter
- Kainess hashtag on Twitter
- Kainess posts on Twitter
- KiNs hashtag on Twitter
- カイネス hashtag on Twitter
- ネスカイ posts on Twitter
Trivia[]
- On Alexis's manga cover for volume 20, the chains around his neck contain blue roses, showing his loyalty to Michael, who is associated with blue roses.
- In Blue Lock Egoist Bible, It is stated that Kaiser's Fetish is Faces of despair. Kaiser got a close look of Ness' sorrowful face, after he told him that this was no place for those who lived for someone else.[1]
- Ness' Fetish is faces that look lonely/sad, which perfectly describes Kaiser after the match ended with Isagi scoring the last goal.[2]
- In Blue Lock Egoist Bible, It is stated that Ness' favourite player is Michael Kaiser. [3]
- Ness' favourite season is winter. Coincidentally, Kaiser is born on December 25.[4]
- Ness was asked a question in the Egoist Bible: “What would you take on a deserted island?”. His answer to the question was: “Kaiser. Huh? I can't take a person? Then I don't need anything.”[5]
- Ness said on his days off he is training with Kaiser, eating with Kaiser, shopping with Kaiser. He also stated that if he received 100 million yen, he would probably consult with Kaiser, although he would probably say “I don't fucking need it.”[6]
- In Blue Lock Egoist Bible, Kaiser and Ness' Ideal types describe each other.[7][8]
Gallery[]
Manga[]
Variations[]
- Kainessagi refers to the ship between the two and Yoichi Isagi
[]
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| Blue Lock Ships • Blue Lock Characters | |||
| SHIPS | slash | BachiRin • Bachisagi • Kainess • Kaisagi • Kunigiri • NagiReo • Rinsagi • RyuRin • RyuSae | |