Chapter 49 – A Little Rest

As Kira nudged the ball over the goal line, securing his team's victory, the whistle echoed loudly across the field. The voice over the intercom followed soon after: "The third stage's 3v3 rivalry battle goes to team Red, 5 – 4!" It was a confirmation of what every player already knew.

Raichi, still high on adrenaline, wasted no time. "So, who are we stealing?" he asked, eyes scanning the white team.

Nagi, calm but decisive, joined him. "I think it's already decided," he said as the two converged on Kira.

"Yeah, more firepower is always welcome," Raichi agreed, a glint of excitement in his eyes. He pointed toward Shidou. "Ryusei Shidou, you're with us now!"

But Shidou didn't react. His gaze was fixed solely on Kira, who stood a few yards away, mirroring the intensity. Neither acknowledged Raichi or the blaring intercom. They were still trapped in their own world—silent but communicating. Their eyes, unblinking, carried a conversation of their own, one that no one else could hear but them.

The moment dragged on, turning awkward for the other players who began to wonder if the match had fried their brains. Finally, Shidou moved, stepping forward to stand in front of Kira. They were face to face, with Kira slightly shorter, looking up at Shidou.

"Well done, for a squirt," Shidou said with a grudging hint of respect.

Kira's lips curled into a smirk. "What? Got your feelings hurt?"

A vein pulsed on Shidou's forehead, his anger barely contained. "Here I am, trying to compliment you on the win," he growled, the effort evident in his strained voice as though he was forcing each word through clenched teeth. "And you—"

Kira cut him off with a smirk. "You should swallow that blood. It's making your sentences gurgle."

The tension between them spiked again, electric. Shidou, furious over the defeat and Kira's trickery that had left him sprawled out with a bruised ego, and Kira, still riding the high of adrenaline from pushing himself to his limits, were like two storm clouds about to collide.

Forehead to forehead, nose to nose, they taunted each other, their eyes locked in an unblinking, fierce stare. Neither was willing to back down.

"I'll crush you!" Shidou spat.

Kira leaned in closer, his voice calm but cutting. "I did crushed you. Want more?"

Raichi, sensing that things were about to escalate, tried to intervene. "Oi! Cut it out, you two! We need to move on to the next stage, not stand around here."

Shidou didn't even glance at him, his eyes never leaving Kira. "Shut up, shark-teeth! I have unfinished business with this White Dragon."

"Right back at you, Black Dragon," Kira replied, matching Shidou's intensity.

Just as they were about to clash, the intercom crackled to life again, sounding more impatient this time. "Losers, proceed to the losers' gate. Winners, advance to the next stage of the rivalry battle. Now get off the field, we need to move things along for the others to fail."

The announcement seemed to cool their tempers, but their eyes remained locked as they reluctantly turned to leave. Even as they walked toward the exit, the fierce staring contest continued, neither willing to break the connection.

"Your eyes must be dry from all that glaring. Give it up, bastard! I win," Shidou grumbled, still staring intensely.

Kira, unfazed, shot back. "Your eyes have bags under them. You should take care of that, or you'll be stuck with raccoon eyes for life."

Their stubbornness made for a ridiculous sight as they walked side by side, still glaring at each other like crabs ready to clash claws at any moment.

Nagi, watching this spectacle, sighed lazily. "Uh... guys, you should probably walk normally."

Neither of them listened. "Shut up, Nagi!" they both snapped in unison, still not breaking their stare.

Nagi's laid-back tone persisted. "No, seriously. You should watch where you're going because—" Before he could finish his sentence, Kira and Shidou walked straight into a wall, completely missing the open door to the next stage.

There was a loud thud as both players collided with the wall, the sound echoing like a stack of books falling to the floor. They clutched their heads, the sharp pain of the impact snapping them out of their absurd staring contest.

"Ugh..." they groaned in unison.

Raichi, shaking his head in disbelief, muttered, "Idiots..."

…

…

The team of four finally arrived at the lobby for the upcoming 4v4 battle, but unlike the previous 3v3 lobby, no one was there to greet them. The room, an enormous pentagonal space, mirrored the design of the previous lobby, with three sleek sofas lining each side of the walls. The lighting was brighter, casting a cool blue hue across the room that created an ambiance of concentration and alertness.

Raichi glanced around, confused by the emptiness. "Are we the first ones to get here?" he asked.

Nagi, his gaze drawn to a nearby monitor, shook his head. "No, the screen says we're the second team. Rin Itoshi's team is already logged in." The display showed player icons, Rin's team listed at the top, followed by their own team beneath.

"Tch, so where the hell are they?" Shidou muttered, his frustration bubbling up.

Nagi shrugged as he scanned the rules posted near the entrance. "Looks like we have to wait up to 24 hours for the next match. That's if we're confirmed to face another team during this window."

Kira hummed thoughtfully, moving toward one of the adjacent doors. "Seems like we'll just have to rest for now."

With that, the team split up to unwind. They showered, ate at the cafeteria, and relaxed in their shared room. Nagi, ever laid-back, was sprawled out on one of the beds, tapping away at a game on his phone. Raichi, freshly showered, returned to the room and noticed Kira and Shidou sitting on their respective beds, cross-legged and arms folded, locked in what appeared to be a serious conversation.

Kira broke the silence, "My favorite players... are Messi and CR7."

Shidou's reaction was instant and explosive. "What the hell?! That's blasphemy! It's either Messi or CR7, not both!"

Kira, taken aback but holding his ground, shot back. "I'm a fan of football, alright?! I appreciate all styles of the game. They're both geniuses."

Shidou wasn't having it. "That's a weak excuse!" He lunged at Kira, and within seconds, they were wrestling—roughhousing like boys who couldn't keep their competitive energy in check.

Raichi, unfazed by their antics, settled into his bed. He then posed a question that quickly snapped the team back into focus. "Our next opponent is that Number 1, right?"

The room went still. Kira was caught mid-wrestle, his head locked in Shidou's arm. Nagi paused his game, his attention now on Raichi's question.

Kira, though slightly restrained, managed to nod. "Of course. We're going after the best."

The confirmation grounded the group in a shared goal. The air shifted as they realized what lay ahead—facing Rin Itoshi and his team. The excitement was palpable, but they knew they had to rest. The anticipation for tomorrow's battle hung in the room as they settled down, eager to recover from the day's efforts and prepare for the next challenge.