Chapter 21:The Weak Link Unveiled

With a 3-0 lead, Team Z's locker room was filled with optimism. The players laughed and bantered, confident in their abilities and sure that victory was within their grasp. Even Isagi, usually focused and analytical, allowed himself to relax for a moment. The first half had gone almost perfectly, and the team's energy reflected that. However, not everyone shared in this confidence.

Chigiri, sitting quietly in the corner, was lost in thought. The teasing from the Wanima brothers during the first half had rattled him. "Glass Prodigy," they'd sneered, playing on his insecurities and the old injury that haunted his every move. He could still hear their voices mocking him. His pride was at war with his fear—the fear of re-injury, the fear of letting his team down, and, most of all, the fear that he was no longer the player he once was.

Isagi, noticing Chigiri's distant look, approached him as they prepared to head back to the field. "Hey," Isagi began cautiously, "are you still thinking about giving up?"

Chigiri didn't meet Isagi's eyes, his voice low and filled with frustration. "It's none of your business. I've got it handled."

Isagi frowned, his concern for Chigiri growing. He had seen the hesitation in Chigiri's movements, the fear holding him back. Trying to encourage him, Isagi spoke up again. "Chigiri, don't let them get in your head. I don't know much about your past or your injury, but that doesn't matter now. Everything can be reborn in a goal!"

Before Chigiri could respond, Kira, who had been listening from nearby, stepped in, his expression one of barely-contained annoyance. With a swift motion, he cuffed Isagi lightly on the head. "Don't talk," he said sharply.

Isagi, rubbing his head, turned toward Kira, about to protest. "You can't just—"

Kira's cold, piercing glare stopped him mid-sentence. His voice was hard, cutting through the locker room chatter. "You think we can win with just ten people on the field? You're sabotaging us, Chigiri."

Chigiri stiffened, the weight of Kira's accusation hitting him like a punch to the gut. The room fell silent, the lively energy evaporating as tension thickened the air. Kira's words carried a heavy truth—Chigiri knew he had been holding back, and the team had noticed.

Kira stepped closer to Chigiri, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Since you have nothing at stake, you should just stop playing football now. I'm being merciful, getting you out of the game before you cost us everything."

The locker room fell into an uneasy silence. Chigiri bit his lip, trying to hold back the frustration welling up inside him. Kira had always been blunt, but this was harsh, even by his standards. Chigiri knew there was truth in Kira's words, but admitting that would mean admitting his own weakness.

Raichi, watching from a distance, shook his head as the drama unfolded. Team Z really is full of strong personalities, he thought to himself, but something about Kira's words nagged at him. Kira keeps saying Chigiri has nothing at stake... what does that even mean? Raichi couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Kira's frustration than just Chigiri's performance on the field.

As the players began to filter out of the locker room, Raichi resolved to set his own worries aside. He replayed his mistakes from the first half in his mind, particularly his failure to mark Raito effectively. That goal still stung. I won't let Raito score again, he promised himself. This time, I'll mark him so tightly he won't have room to breathe.

Meanwhile, Kuon had been silently watching the interactions between his teammates. He knew that, despite the 3-0 lead, Team Z couldn't afford to let their guard down. As the second half approached, he gathered the team's attention. "Listen up, everyone. We need to adjust our strategy in the second half," he said, his voice firm. "Raito's one-on-one skills are too dangerous for us to handle with just one defender. We need to double-mark him, especially with how aggressive he's been playing."

Imamura nodded in agreement. "I can drop back from my position to provide support. We can't let him get free like last time."

Gagamaru, still haunted by the memory of Raito's goal, added, "If you guys can buy me more time to react, I know I can stop his shots."

But Raichi was having none of it. "He's mine!" he declared, his voice full of conviction. "I won't let him get another shot off!"

Kuon raised an eyebrow, skepticism clear in his expression. "Raichi, you already let him score once. We can't take any chances this time."

Raichi's eyes flashed with determination. "I said he's mine!" His tone left no room for argument, and Kuon, sensing Raichi's stubbornness, decided not to push the matter further.

The whistle blew for the second half, and Team Z returned to the field with a renewed sense of purpose. Their plan was simple: overwhelm Team W with relentless attacks and prevent them from mounting a comeback. But as they advanced, the Wanima brothers, having studied Team Z's weaknesses, began to implement their own strategy.

They had found a weak point in Chigiri. His hesitancy and lack of confidence had made him a liability on defense, and they were determined to exploit it. The twins started focusing their attacks on Chigiri's side, forcing him into one-on-one situations where his fear of re-injury held him back.

The first sign of trouble came when Keisuke Wanima made a run down the wing. Chigiri, still uncertain, hesitated for just a moment, and that was all it took. Keisuke easily slipped past him, delivering a precise cross into the box. Raichi, who had been marking Raito, lost his man for a split second. That was enough. Raito took the cross and smashed the ball into the net.

Team Z: 3 - Team W: 1.

Chigiri's heart sank as the ball hit the back of the net. He knew that hesitation had cost his team, and now the Wanima brothers had found their opening. The twins, never ones to miss a chance to mock their opponents, immediately pounced on Chigiri's mistake.

"Nice defense, Glass Prodigy!" Keisuke jeered, his voice dripping with mockery. "You really lived up to your name there!"

Junichi joined in, laughing. "Maybe you should just sit out the rest of the match. It'd be safer for your precious knee!"

Chigiri's face burned with shame. He had let them get to him again, and it was affecting his game. But worse than the Wanima brothers' taunts was the look Kira gave him as they reset for the next kickoff. Kira didn't even bother to say anything—his cold, dismissive glance was enough to convey his disappointment.

The game resumed, and the Wanima brothers wasted no time in targeting Chigiri again. This time, they doubled down on him, forcing him to defend against both of them. Chigiri, still rattled, hesitated once more, allowing Keisuke to break free and send another dangerous cross into the box.

Raichi, focused on marking Raito, found himself out of position again. Raito, capitalizing on the opportunity, leapt into the air and fired a header past Gagamaru.

Team Z: 3 - Team W: 2.

The comeback was on, and Team Z was feeling the pressure. The once commanding lead had been cut to just one goal, and the momentum had shifted in Team W's favor.

As the players reset for the kickoff, Kira finally broke his silence. He walked over to Chigiri, his expression unreadable, and spoke in a voice that was colder than ice. "Like I said, it's more of a sabotage playing with you than with ten people."

Chigiri flinched at Kira's words, the weight of his failure pressing down on him. He tried to explain himself, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry... they caught me off guard..."

But Kira wasn't interested in excuses. He brushed past Chigiri without another word, making his way back to his position. His silence was more damning than any insult he could have thrown.

Chigiri stood frozen, the weight of the moment crushing him. He could feel his teammates' eyes on him, their unspoken disappointment hanging in the air. Even Isagi, who had tried to encourage him earlier, kept his distance, unsure of how to help.

For Chigiri, this was his worst nightmare come to life. He had always feared that his injury would hold him back, that it would make him a liability on the field. Now, that fear was becoming a reality, and it was tearing him apart.

But deep down, beneath the fear and the shame, something stirred within Chigiri. A flicker of defiance, of the pride he had once carried as one of the fastest players on the field. He wasn't ready to give up just yet. Not without a fight.

As the game wore on, Chigiri realized that this was his moment. He could either continue to let his fear control him, or he could face it head-on and prove to himself, and his teammates, that he still belonged on the field.

The next time the Wanima brothers came his way, Chigiri knew he couldn't afford to hesitate. He had to take the risk, injury or not. This was his chance to redeem himself