Chapter 10 – Team X vs Team Z

The team made their way onto the pitch, clad in blue jerseys with their uniform numbers proudly displayed. As they crossed the field, their eyes fixed on their opponents, Team X emerged from the opposite side, dressed in white jerseys. There was a palpable tension in the air as both teams prepared for the game. Team X exuded an aura of anticipation, clearly eager for the match.

Kira scanned Team X, sizing up the competition. 'Nothing special,' he thought, his gaze sweeping across their lineup, until his eyes landed on a large, muscular young man with red eyes and spiky black hair. 'That guy will be a threat to our defense,' Kira mused, identifying him as the most dangerous player on the field.

Suddenly, the intercom blared to life, and an announcement rang out: "For the first selection, all foul determinations will be made by VAR. Each half will be 45 minutes."

*VAR = Video Assistant Referee.

With the whistle blown, the kickoff began. Kuon started the game, passing the ball to Kunigami, who began to dribble up the field. But before Kunigami could progress far, three defenders from Team X charged at him, their intent clear. Kunigami immediately stopped the ball, weighing his options. 'Kira can lead the buildup in this stage. I'll pass it to him,' Kunigami decided.

"Hey! Behind you, Kunigami!" Bachira called out, sensing trouble.

Before Kunigami could react, Raichi swooped in, stealing the ball right from under him.

"Huh?! Raichi? What are you doing?" Kunigami shouted, surprise and frustration etched on his face.

Raichi grinned widely, baring his teeth. "Whoever scores the most goals will advance, right? I don't care about teams! I'm doing this MY WAY!" Raichi shouted as he began to charge up the pitch, controlling the ball with single-minded focus.

But before Raichi could make much headway, Naruhaya darted in and did the same, stealing the ball away from him. "Right back at ya'! I'll be the one who passes!" Naruhaya declared, adding to the chaos.

Soon, the pitch erupted into madness. Players from both teams swarmed the ball, fighting desperately to gain control. They crowded the middle of the field, kicking wildly at the ball, their legs tangled in a frantic sea of movement. The ball became obscured by the swarm of players, disappearing beneath the chaotic mass of feet.

From the outside, Kira stood observing the chaos, a look of mild disappointment on his face. 'As much as I expected,' he thought, shaking his head. 'Some people just don't know how to play football, it seems.' He sighed, watching as the game devolved into an uncoordinated mess.

Isagi stood frozen in shock. Players scrambled for the ball like it was a street brawl, far from the structured game he expected.

'This… this isn't football at all!' Isagi thought, his heart racing. 'When Ego said rebuilding football from zero, did he mean this?' Panic bubbled up in his chest. 'What should I do?'

Suddenly, someone broke free from the chaotic mess in the middle of the field. It was the red-eyed, spiky-haired player Kira had noticed earlier. He charged toward Isagi, the ball at his feet. Isagi found himself in the prime position to stop him.

"Get out of my way," the player growled, his voice dripping with malice. "Or I'll kill you."

The menace in his words sent a shiver down Isagi's spine. The player's presence was overwhelming, like a predator on the hunt. Isagi's heart pounded in his chest as the player closed in on him, slowing slightly to control the ball. 'Left... or right?' Isagi thought frantically, trying to anticipate the move as he prepared to defend.

But in the blink of an eye, the player trapped the ball between his legs and executed a perfect rainbow flick, vaulting over Isagi's head and bypassing him with ease.

"Damn! Sorry, Imamura! He's coming your way!" Isagi shouted, already feeling the sting of failure.

"Okay! I've got it!" Imamura responded, determined to block the oncoming attack. Iemon joined in, stepping up to support him. "It's okay! It's two on one!" he added.

But their combined defense was no match for the player's skill. With a swift nutmeg, the unknown player slipped the ball between their legs and breezed past them, now standing directly in front of the goal.

'Who is this guy?!' Isagi thought, wide-eyed in disbelief at the ease with which the player moved.

Without hesitation, the player struck the ball, sending it soaring in a perfect arc toward the top left corner of the goal. Gagamaru, caught out of position, could do nothing but watch helplessly as the ball flew past him and into the net.

The scoreboard lit up: Team X: 1 – 0 Team Z, with a name flashing underneath: Shoei Barou.

Team X erupted into celebration, swarming Barou, who stood arrogantly in the center. "Listen up, you shitty losers," Barou declared, his voice commanding the attention of both teams. "I'm the King of the field. All you servants need to do is pass me the ball."

"Nice one, Barou!" his teammates cheered, clearly rallying around him as they celebrated the goal.

While Team X celebrated their goal, Team Z devolved into arguments, with Raichi and Kunigami at the center of the conflict.

"Oi, Raichi! Didn't we agree to use me as the center!? What the hell are you doing?" Kunigami shouted, grabbing Raichi's jersey by the scruff of his neck.

"I told you! I'm doing this my way!" Raichi shot back, his voice filled with stubborn defiance, unwilling to compromise.

"Get it together, guys! They only have one point," Kuon interjected, stepping between them, trying to calm the two hotheads.

"That's right, if we hold our position instead of chasing the ball..." Isagi started to chime in, only to be cut off by Raichi's hardheaded reply.

"No way! Losers like you should play defense," Raichi spat, refusing to listen. "You should all just pass to me!"

"No, pass to me!" Kunigami retorted, his frustration only growing.

"No, me!" Naruhaya shouted, adding to the chaos.

Despite Kuon and Isagi's attempts to bring some order, the tension in Team Z lingered as they restarted the game. Kunigami, determined not to make the same mistake, quickly kicked the ball toward Kira. "Kira, let's just do it with the two of us!"

But before the ball could reach Kira, Naruhaya swooped in, intercepting it. "Naruhaya, what about your position?!" Kunigami barked, his frustration mounting at his teammate's recklessness.

"It doesn't matter if we win or lose, right! We just have to score the most goals and show our abilities!" Naruhaya shouted as he raced down the pitch with the ball. However, his selfish play was short-lived, as he was easily stopped and the ball stolen by Team X.

"You idiot," Imamura muttered under his breath as he trudged forward.

"Wait, get back and hold your position!" Iemon reminded him, but the defensive structure was already crumbling.

Meanwhile, Team X's players spread out intelligently across the field. Some stayed back in defense, while others filled the midfield. It became clear they had decided to work around Barou, using him as the tip of the spear. Their strategy was taking shape as they passed the ball to Barou once again.

'Team X... is starting to work together?' Isagi thought, watching as Team X divided themselves strategically across the field.

"Damn, cover Barou!" Naruhaya shouted in a panic, and the entire defense mindlessly chased after Barou, leaving large sections of the field open for an attack.

Barou, calm and composed, smirked as he toyed with them. "Are you sure you shitty losers should be covering me?" he taunted, before flicking his heel backward, passing the ball to a teammate waiting behind him.

"Nice pass," a Team X player called out as the ball arrived perfectly at his feet.

It was at that moment Kira decided to take control. He intercepted the ball, breaking up Team X's play just as it was about to progress.

"Tch," Barou clicked his tongue in annoyance, clearly upset by the interruption.

Raichi, seeing Kira with the ball, shouted, "Give me the ball, Kira!" as he and the other attackers closed in, each one wanting to take charge and score themselves.