Chapter 39 – Futile Effort

"Reo..."

It was the first time Nagi had ever seen his friend so visibly shaken. Reo, usually brimming with cocky self-assurance, was always calm, unfazed, and in control. But now, his composure had crumbled. This match had become their greatest challenge yet, and they hadn't even managed to score a single goal. Team Z's relentless pressure was overwhelming them.

For the first time, a surge of urgency overtook Nagi, and he sprinted into the midfield, dropping deeper than usual to receive the ball. Kira immediately noticed the movement, his sharp eyes tracking Nagi's shift, and he signaled Kuon to be ready. Kira himself followed closely behind Nagi, maintaining a calculated distance.

"Reo, pass to me!" Nagi called out, his hand extended toward his feet, his voice sharper than usual.

Reo hesitated, confusion flickering in his eyes, but he complied, sending the ball toward Nagi. As soon as the ball reached him, Nagi turned sharply and began his run toward the goal. But Kira was on him in an instant, sticking to him like a shadow.

"You won't get past me, boy," Kira taunted, his voice dripping with confidence.

Nagi's response was swift—a sudden flick of the ball upwards, bringing it to hip level, a creative move meant to disorient Kira. But Kira anticipated it. With surgical precision, he lashed out with his boot, knocking the ball away just as it left Nagi's control, grazing Nagi's side in the process. The sensation of Kira's boot scraping against his right side was sharp and sudden. Nagi barely dodged in time, but it was too late. He glanced down at the scratch now etched onto his skin.

"Rookies like you shouldn't make mistakes like that," Kira smirked maliciously. "Or they get punished."

Before Nagi could react, one of Team V's midfielders managed to recover the ball, reigniting their offense. Nagi, undeterred, quickly called out, "Zantetsu! Cross it to me!"

Zantetsu's ears perked up at the sound of his name. In an instant, he demanded the ball, and with a sharp heel pass, he bypassed the trap set by Team Z, breaking free down the wing. Seeing this, Chigiri immediately gave chase, his speed unmatched.

'If it's a sprint, I'll beat you to it,' Chigiri thought, fully prepared to overtake Zantetsu. But just before he could snatch the ball, Zantetsu abruptly stopped, pulling the ball back with finesse. Chigiri sped past, overcommitting, and Zantetsu found himself with a rare opening.

"This is the first time you've asked me for something," Zantetsu muttered under his breath, surprised but determined. "Here you go, Nagi." With a swift swing of his left foot, Zantetsu sent a powerful cross sailing into the box.

Nagi sprinted toward the ball, not entirely sure why he had dashed out so recklessly. Was it seeing Reo's despair for the first time? Was it the frustration of watching those he once considered 'a pain' evolve and surpass his expectations? Something had stirred inside him—something he couldn't quite understand. He felt… curious.

With impeccable timing, Nagi leapt into the air to meet the cross, his foot extended to receive the ball. But just as his moment of brilliance unfolded, he felt a harsh elbow slam into his back, throwing him off balance mid-air. His control faltered, and before he could regain his footing, Kuon leapt and headed the ball clear from the box, destroying the trajectory of Zantetsu's cross.

Nagi's eyes widened in disbelief. Even this tactic had been stopped.

As he landed, unsteady and rattled, Nagi glared at the culprit—Kira, who merely stared back with an expression of smug expectation.

"I told you," Kira said, his voice dripping with mockery, "be careful, rookie."

The ball was swiftly collected by Imamura, who wasted no time transitioning into offense. He passed the ball to Isagi, who, without hesitation, launched a long pass to the right wing. Waiting just outside the box was Kunigami, lingering like a predator ready to strike. The ball bounced as it neared him, but Kunigami's focus was unshakable.

'Just like in training,' Kunigami thought, his mind sharp. He swung his left foot with precision and grace, unleashing a shot that rocketed toward the top-right corner of the goal, powerful and fast as a missile.

The net rippled as the ball struck true.

Team V: 0 – 4 : Team Z.

"YOSH!" Kunigami roared in celebration, pumping his fists into the air. The satisfaction of scoring burned through him, but one goal wasn't enough. He wanted more—needed more—to fully grasp his evolving skills. His eyes glinted with determination.

Meanwhile, Team V was crumbling under the pressure. They hadn't scored at all, their nerves visibly fraying as they watched their ace, Nagi, get shut down repeatedly by Kira's impenetrable defense. Frustration mounted in their minds, desperately searching for a solution, but nothing seemed to work. Every attempt was thwarted, every play disrupted.

Yet, amidst their despair, there was a glimmer of hope. Nagi, for the first time, had started initiating plays himself. Dropping deeper into the midfield, he was determined to be part of the build-up, offering a spark of creativity. But Kira was always there, looming like a dark shadow, breaking up every attempt.

In a moment of decision, Nagi kicked the ball toward the left flank and sprinted after it. His legs carried him fast, but as soon as he reached the ball, Kira slid in with perfect timing, his tackle clean yet forceful. The ball was knocked away, and Nagi tumbled to the ground, his body colliding hard with the pitch.

Though his expression remained stoic, the frustration bubbling beneath Nagi's surface was growing, unseen but palpable.

"Nagi, are you okay?" Reo rushed over, concern etched in his face as he crouched beside his friend.

"Yeah... just a scratch," Nagi replied, his voice strained but controlled. Reo's eyes scanned Nagi's body, taking in the marks left by Kira's relentless tackles—the dirt smudged across his uniform, the small bruises forming. It was clear Kira's physical defense was wearing Nagi down, each challenge taking its toll.

"I'll get his attention off you," Reo said, his voice low but filled with steely determination. "When I do, take your chance and score for us."

Reo's frustration mirrored Nagi's, but it ran deeper. Kira had been systematically shutting down his partner, and it stung to watch his "treasure" beaten like this. Reo silently vowed that, when the moment came, he'd repay Kira's antics tenfold.

The game resumed with a throw-in to one of Team V's midfielders, who held the ball on Reo's command. Reo called for the pass, taking control as he orchestrated the attack. He sent his full-backs flying up the flanks, pushing the pace of the game.

Reo quickly passed to Zantetsu, trying to create an overload on the right side, but Chigiri and Raichi were a well-oiled machine, closing in fast. Raichi, in particular, was covering far more ground than Reo had anticipated, clogging passing lanes and stifling their play. When Reo tried to pass to his full-back, they succeeded in pulling Raichi out of position momentarily.

The ball came back to Reo, and he made a quick run into the open space. Just as he linked up with Zantetsu, Raichi came sliding in, cutting off his passing route at the last second.

"Are you that scared of losing, pampered brat!?" Raichi barked, glaring at Reo. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you get your first taste of defeat."

Reo clenched his jaw in frustration but fought to keep his composure. He needed to think clearly. Pulling more of Team Z's players toward him, he waited for the perfect moment. When it came, he switched the ball across the field with a precise through pass, cutting through Team Z's defense like a knife.

The pass sliced diagonally across the field, finding Nagi's left foot with pinpoint accuracy—no interception, no mistake. But just as the ball connected with Nagi, Kira swooped in like a predator, stepping on the ball and Nagi's ankle in the process.

Nagi hit the ground hard, clutching his left foot, his face contorted in pain. The initial jolt shot through his brain, and the lingering sting made it unbearable to move. He stayed down, instinctively protecting his hurting ankle.

Reo's fury ignited instantly. He stormed over to Kira, his expression twisted in anger, brows furrowed sharply as he grabbed Kira by the scruff of his jersey.

"YOU DIRTY SCUM!" Reo shouted, his voice trembling with rage. "What the hell did you do to Nagi!?"

Kira met Reo's eyes, utterly unfazed by the accusation. "I didn't do anything wrong," he replied coldly. "I was just recovering the ball for my team."

There wasn't a hint of remorse in Kira's voice. His words were mechanical, devoid of any guilt. To Reo, it felt like a deliberate mockery.

"You purposefully injured him!" Reo snarled, his grip tightening on Kira's collar.

"I did no such thing," Kira shot back, his lips curling into a smirk. "If your precious Nagi got hurt because he is in my way, that's not my problem."

Reo's vision blurred with red-hot anger. Every muscle in his body tensed as he fought the urge to strike, but Kira's mocking tone was pushing him to the edge.

"You...!" Reo's fist clenched tightly, just seconds away from exploding.

Suddenly, the intercom blared, "Ryosuke Kira, yellow card for a hard tackle."

"It should be a red card!" Reo shouted furiously, but his demand went ignored. Clicking his tongue in frustration, Reo released Kira's jersey, his anger bubbling over.

Kira grinned maliciously. "Spoiled brats like you two shouldn't be on a football field. Go back to your cushy lives and be worthless somewhere else. You won't make it in football anyway."

That was the breaking point.

Without thinking, Reo swung his fist. His punch connected with Kira's left cheek, sending his head snapping to the side. The sharp sting of impact radiated from Kira's face, but he didn't flinch. Instead, he simply smirked, as if he'd been waiting for this moment.

Chaos erupted. Both teams rushed in, pulling Reo away while he struggled to throw more punches. Kira, standing still, simply smiled through the ordeal, watching the mayhem with satisfaction.

"Mikage Reo, red card for assaulting another player on the pitch," the intercom announced.