As the ball dropped to the perfect height, white flames surged in Seishiro Nagi's eyes. His right leg cracked through the air like a whip, striking the descending ball with explosive force.
[BOOM!!]
In the blink of an eye, the ball rocketed past the White Team's defense and into the goal.
GOAL!! Red Team 4 – 3 White Team!
Yoichi Isagi stared at Seishiro Nagi, his expression dark, a creeping sense of despair clouding his mind.
(The match is almost over... up until now, both sides were evenly matched.)
(With Chigiri keeping Rin in check, I could just barely hold my own against him.)
(As for Ryūma, as long as I stopped him from getting the ball, I could deal with him.)
(Aryu just needed to guard his control range and aerial space...)
(But now, of all times... that genius, Seishiro Nagi...)
(...has awakened!!)
As Nagi slowly stood, his voice trembled with exhilaration.
(Just as Ryūma said—when I'm with him, I can feel myself getting stronger!)
"Sorry, Reo."
(I can never go back... not after tasting this kind of thrill!!)
"Nagi!!"
Ryūma shouted excitedly. Reaching Nagi, he threw an arm around his neck and laughed.
"That was awesome, man! You totally stole the spotlight!"
"And hey, that wasn't even the plan! I was supposed to take that last shot!"
"Ah, sorry, Ryūma. The idea just popped into my head all of a sudden."
Ryūma grinned, shaking his head.
"Relax, I'm just messing with you. If it was a spur-of-the-moment call, that's fine."
"Geniuses like us get sudden bursts of inspiration all the time."
"But if you'd tricked me from the start—pretending to set me up for the shot just to force me to pass—I'd actually be pissed."
Nagi looked at him seriously.
"I wouldn't. I'd never lie to you, Ryūma."
"Haha, alright, alright. I was just saying."
"Even though we haven't known each other long, I feel like I already get you."
Ryūma stared at Nagi's earnest face, thinking to himself,
(Hah, like I don't know what kind of guy you are, Nagi.)
(In my past life, I even read the spin-offs about you!)
(In short—Seishiro Nagi is a powerful and selfish genius!)
As Ryūma and Nagi walked back to their side of the pitch, Jyubei Aryu jogged over, brushing his hair aside as he approached.
"That move just now? So trendy!!"
"Uh… thanks."
Ryūma glanced over at Rin Itoshi, who stood silently at his position, waiting for kickoff, and smirked.
"Hey, Rin!"
"So? Told you I'd do it, didn't I?"
"Nagi and I just got revenge for how Isagi tricked you. You're not even gonna thank me?"
Rin's eye twitched, veins bulging on his forehead as he clenched his jaw, refusing to look at Ryūma.
If he did, he knew he'd lose control and punch him. Instead, he muttered coldly,
"That mouth of yours… one day, I'm tearing it apart."
"Haha, come on, Rin, I know you're mad—but take it easy (˵¯͒〰¯͒˵)."
...
Unlike the Red Team's laughter, the White Team's side was drowning in silence.
They couldn't think of a single way to win anymore.
Yoichi Isagi was kneeling on the ground, dazed, murmuring to himself,
"Am I… going to lose again?"
Suddenly, someone grabbed him by the collar and hauled him to his feet.
"Hey, Isagi!"
"You giving up already!?"
"Barō!?"
It was Shōei Barō. After shouting at Isagi, he turned toward Hyōma Chigiri and Meguru Bachira.
"Hey! I don't care what you're planning—just pass the ball to me! I'll drag you idiots to victory!"
Chigiri's grin returned at Barō's words.
"Ha! With only one play left, giving it to me is clearly the smart choice, right?"
"Don't you think so, Isagi!?"
Hearing the two of them, fire reignited in Isagi's eyes.
"Yeah… it's not over yet!"
"Let's go!!"
White Team possession—Meguru Bachira kicks off from center!
After kickoff, they stuck to their usual formation. Bachira passed to Isagi, who took control and began analyzing the field.
(I can't use Barō—the "Anomaly"—anymore. With his stamina dropping, he's no match for Ryūma.)
(Bachira's moving up alone. His position's open, but if I pass directly, Rin will intercept it.)
(Then… there's only one option left.)
"You still got it, Chigiri!?"
"Yeah! Watch me break through him!"
Chigiri had deliberately stayed level with Jyubei Aryu earlier, creating the illusion that he was completely spent.
But as the ball reached him, he suddenly exploded forward in a burst of blinding speed.
"Useless! 'My' Chaos Dance!!"
Aryu leapt in front of Chigiri, using his long legs to cut off the passing lane.
Unfortunately for him, that was exactly what Chigiri had been waiting for.
And now, another key figure entered his sight.
(Finally, Rin's coming this way. If he moves in, that means one less defender on the left!)
"Go, Bachira!"
"Break through!!"
Chigiri swung his foot, firing a straight-line pass toward the left flank—where Meguru Bachira was waiting.
Bachira received the ball, but instead of driving forward, he hesitated, thinking to himself—
(Right now…)
(I'm being tested!)
(What can I do? Who should I pass to?)
(Huh? Should I even pass it?)
(No… maybe I should break through myself?)
(Then what? What comes next?)
(What do they want me to do?)
(Tell me, "Monster." What should I do? What do I need to do… for Isagi and Rin to—)
(...acknowledge me?)
"Hey, what are you thinking about?"
"Huh!?"
As Bachira hesitated, Seishiro Nagi slid in from the side, cleanly tackling the ball away.
"Damn it! Bachira, what the hell are you doing!?"
Barō roared furiously—and for good reason.
The ball Nagi had cleared was now flying straight toward him.
He should have been thrilled, but his expression froze.
Because standing just behind him was another player—one who couldn't hide the grin spreading across his face.
"Well, what do you know? I didn't even move, and the ball came right to me."
"Hey, Muscle Gorilla—you don't actually think you can beat me to it, do you?"
"Shut up! I'll stop you if it kills me!!"
"Heh… then try your best~"
As he spoke, purple flames surged in Ryūma's eyes.
He took a few steps back—then exploded forward, sprinting toward Barō's left side with terrifying speed!