"Team Z vs Team Y Pt 4"
The whistle blew.
And Team Y took the offensive once more.
But this time, something was different.
Niko wasn't leading the charge.
Instead, Okawa stormed forward with the ball.
His strides purposeful and unwavering.
From his position.
Isagi raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"What's Team Y cooking up now?"
He wondered.
Imamura and Naruhaya rushed to intercept Okawa.
Their timing impeccable.
But Okawa wasn't fazed.
With surprising finesse.
He weaved through them.
Leaving both players in his wake.
"Whoa, when did he get moves like that?"
Imamura grumbled.
Turning to give chase.
As Kuon stepped up to block him.
Okawa didn't bother with him.
Instead, he delivered a clean.
Decisive pass to a teammate stationed in open space.
The ball moved swiftly across the field.
And the receiver sprinted forward, eating up ground.
Though his pace was nothing remarkable.
It was steady progress.
But then Chigiri appeared.
In a flash, he closed the gap.
Just as he was about to intercept.
The player flicked the ball to the right, bypassing him.
The second player from Team Y received the pass.
And, without hesitation.
Launched a long cross-field pass to the left.
The ball arced through the air.
Heading toward where Raichi was charging.
"That's mine!"
Raichi roared.
His eyes lighting up as he positioned himself.
But before he could even get started.
Niko appeared out of nowhere.
The strategist soared higher than anyone thought possible.
Meeting the ball mid-air and heading it toward the edge of the goal.
The ball landed in open space.
Just where Isagi had anticipated.
He darted toward it, ready to capitalize.
But before he could touch the ball.
Okawa was on him.
"What the—?!"
Isagi barely had time to register the speed of Okawa's approach.
Before two more Team Y players joined him, boxing him out.
Isagi was stuck.
As the ball sailed past him to two waiting players from Team Y.
The first player controlled the ball.
And struck immediately toward the goal.
Gagamaru reacted with monstrous reflexes.
Deflecting it with a full dive.
The ball rebounded outward.
But before anyone could breathe.
The second player pounced.
Hammering it back toward the goal.
Gagamaru then pushed himself past his limits.
With a desperate lunge, he blocked the shot.
With his face.
"Gah!"
Gagamaru winced but held his ground.
Sending the ball rebounding once more.
The Team Y attackers froze in disbelief.
The ball landed in front of Bachira.
Who casually trapped it.
A glimmer of excitement danced in his eyes.
"Now this… this is fun!"
He grinned.
Turning to sprint toward the enemy goal.
But three Team Y defenders swarmed him.
Closing off every possible path.
Bachira's grin faded.
As he assessed the situation.
"Oh dear..."
Then Raichi's thunderous voice boomed.
"Oi! Get outta my way!"
As he bulldozed through the defenders like a wrecking ball.
Clearing a path.
Bachira wasted no time.
Threading a slick pass through the chaos to Naruhaya.
Who caught it and sent it flying forward to Kunigami.
Kunigami bolted downfield.
But the last two defenders from Team Y closed in fast.
Without hesitation, Kunigami passed wide to Kira.
Who was stationed near the edge.
Kira received it smoothly.
Set his feet, and unleashed a powerful strike.
The goalkeeper, with nerves of steel.
Managed to deflect it.
The ball ricocheted back toward the center.
Landing in an open space.
Players from both teams scrambled to claim it.
Out of nowhere, Lemon appeared.
"Lemon?!"
Naruhaya yelled, astonished.
Through sheer luck—or divine intervention.
Lemon was in the perfect spot.
He trapped the ball and, with a swing of his foot.
Sent it screaming toward the goal.
The goalkeeper, still reeling from Kira's shot.
Had no chance.
The ball hit the back of the net with a satisfying thud.
Goal!
5-1
Team Z erupted into cheers, mobbing Lemon.
Who looked as surprised as anyone.
But something felt was off.
Team Y wasn't upset.
In fact, they looked sharper, more determined.
Their energy felt dangerous.
Team Z noticed this.
"Is it just me, or are they getting weirdly calm about this?"
Naruhaya muttered.
"You're not wrong…"
Imamura agreed.
…
With the final five minutes left into the match.
Both teams reset into their positions.
Isagi stood at the front.
Locking eyes with Okawa and Niko on Team Y's side.
The change in their energy was undeniable.
Team Y felt like a bomb, ready to explode.
"Something's about to happen…"
Isagi thought.
His focus sharpening.
The whistle blew.
Team Y launched into a full-on sprint.
Reckless and relentless.
Their sheer aggression caught Team Z off guard.
Even Raichi, who prided himself on his toughness.
Stumbled backward, muttering.
"What the hell is wrong with these guys?!"
Okawa, seemingly possessed.
Struck a powerful shot directly at Naruhaya.
The ball smacked him square in the face.
Bouncing off with a loud thwack.
Naruhaya staggered.
Yelling in frustration.
"What's with your problem?!"
The ricocheted ball landed with another Team Y player.
Who repeated the same move—this time targeting Raichi.
"Hah! Big Mistake!"
Raichi mocked, standing firm.
But before he could react.
Four players from Team Y swarmed him.
Bulldozing through him and reclaiming the ball.
"Stick together!"
Kuon bellowed.
Realizing Team Y's strategy.
"They're isolating us one by one!"
Hearing the warning.
Kunigami, Kira, and Imamura formed a tight cluster.
Closing in on the ball carrier.
Team Y countered.
Shielding their teammate while he dashed forward.
Okawa, positioned nearby.
Yelled for the pass.
The ball zipped to Okawa.
Who now had two teammates behind him.
As he pushed into Team Z's field.
Bachira, Lemon, and Kuon moved in to intercept.
Creating a tense standoff near the center of the field.
Then, with a quick glance to the far edge.
Okawa spotted Niko lurking in open space.
Without hesitation, he passed.
Niko caught the ball cleanly and darted toward the goal.
He reached the edge of the box before Isagi appeared.
Cutting off his path.
"This is where it ends."
Isagi said.
His voice steady.
Niko smiled.
"No, it's not."
He replied calmly.
From Isagi's blind spot.
Another Team Y player emerged.
Positioned perfectly in front of the goal.
Niko sent a precise pass.
Catching Isagi off guard.
"Gagamaru, watch out!"
Isagi shouted.
Sprinting to close the gap.
The player in front of the goal readied a powerful strike.
Gagamaru dove with everything he had.
Only to realize it was a feint.
The player tapped the ball back to Niko.
Who had repositioned himself.
With no hesitation.
Niko took the shot.
The ball curved sharply to the far corner of the net.
Leaving both Gagamaru and Isagi powerless.
Goal!
5-2
"Pip, Pip, Piiiip!"
The whistle blew.
Marking the end of the match.
The field speaker's voice boomed.
"Fifth Stratum Game 6, Winner: Team Z!"
Team Z stood frozen.
They had won.
But the situation was strange.
Team Y cheered as if they had emerged victorious.
Their joy palpable despite the loss.
Naruhaya, rubbing his sore face, muttered.
"What's with them? We won, right?"
"Yeah, but it doesn't feel like it."
Imamura replied.
Raichi, fuming, stormed off the field without another word.
Gradually, the rest of Team Z followed.
The tension dissipating as they processed the victory.
By the time the mood lightened.
Only Isagi remained.
A glowing interface appeared before him.
[Win Against Team Y (Match) - Round 6]
Reward:
+100 Points for Winning
Match Performance Points:
+150 Points (+50 x 3 per goal scored)
+200 Points for being named MVP of the match.
Total Points Earned for this Mission:
= 450 Points
Isagi barely glanced at it.
Instead, his eyes were on Niko.
Who was celebrating with Team Y.
Slowly, he approached.
The cheers died down as Team Y noticed him.
Niko straightened, wary of Isagi's intent.
Isagi extended a hand.
A grin spreading across his face.
"That was a great match, Niko. You really got me there."
After a brief pause.
Niko smiled back and shook his hand.
"I agree. But next time…"
His voice trailed off as he tightened his grip.
"I'll win."
Isagi laughed.
Releasing his hand and turning to leave.
"I'll be looking forward to it."
As he exited the field.
Niko watched him go.
Softly, he muttered to himself.
"Yoichi Isagi…"