EP 002: The Demon of The Field
The crowd roared loudly, waving their flags and sang their anthem with all they had, On the pitch, The briefly celebratory spirit of the Raimon Island team had been vaporized right away.
Haizaki Ryouhei, the Demon of the Field, stood at the center circle, a predatory glint in his crimson eyes. His silver-grey hair whipped around his face, as he raised a arm.
"Here it goes..." Mizukamiya whispers, closing his eyes and taking a deep sigh. "It was a good effort..."
"Initiate the Death Zone," he commanded.
Haizaki took the first touch while two of his teammates streaked forward like twin shadows. With a sharp, practiced flick, Haizaki sent the ball soaring into the air.
The three Seishou strikers leaped simultaneously, their silhouettes blotting out the stadium lights. They began to spin with terrifying velocity, their movements weaving a geometric trap in mid-air. Thin, jagged rays of violet energy snapped between them, forming a perfect triangle with the ball pulsating at the center. As the ball absorbed the swirling gravitational force of the void, his teammates prepared the volley.
Haizaki ascended last, his shadow stretching across the entire Raimon half. With a ferocious snapping kick, he connected with the center of the energy.
"DEATH ZONE!"
The impact sounded like a thunderclap inside a vacuum. The ball screamed across the field, encased in a roiling sphere of destructive purple aura that left a scorched trail on the turf.
"W-what the-" Mansaku whispers, his eyes wide open.
"Guys... GUYS STEP BACK-" Hiro shouts, hie eyes narrowing in terror.
The Raimon Island defenders stood no chance. The dark projectile tore through them, throwing them out of the way. "Ghraaaahhh!"
Norika stood alone in the box. Her eyes were wide in terror, her pupils reflecting the violet doom rushing toward her. She shook her head, and hisses, determined to catch the ball and then forward with her arms outstretched. "Haaaaah!"
The kinetic force of the technique blew her aside like she was weightless. The air around her hissed as she was thrown into the dirt just like the others. "Kyaaaa!!!"
The net shrieked, the white mesh straining to the point of snapping as the ball tore into the back of the goal. The referee’s whistle blew, signaling the Seishou's first goal.
"Seishou Academy has immediately caught up!" the commentator shouted, leaning so far over his desk he nearly toppled. "The legend of Teikoku’s forbidden fruit lives on in Seishou! The Death Zone has leveled the field!"
The scoreboard flickered, showing the score: 1 - 1.
On the grass, the Inakuni players lay down hissing in pain. Hanta struggled to sit up, her heart hammering against her ribs. "A...ah..."
"That... that was a real hissatsu technique," she whispered, her voice trembling.
"It's so... powerful," Golem groaned, pushing his massive frame up from the turf. His arms shaking slightly. "Urgh... it felt like a mountain hit me."
"Darn it..." Mansaku hissed, clutching his side. He tried to stand, but his knees buckled for a second.
A shadow fell over them, Haizaki stood a few feet away, a cruel, mocking smirk playing on his lips. He looked down at the islanders with pure disdain, his gaze moving over them.
"What's wrong?" Haizaki taunted, his voice dripping with an arrogance. "The 'miracle' is over. Stand up, you nobodies. Or is this where the fairy tale ends?"
One by one, the Inakuni players forced themselves up. Their movements were slow and pained but their eyes though filled with fear were still locked on the ball.
"Yeah, that's right. Keep standing," Haizaki smirked, and chuckled. "This match is just getting started. I haven't even begun to take this seriously. Kekeke~"
He turned his back on them, walking toward his side of the pitch with confidence. Asuto watched him, his teeth clenched shut hard as he hisses. "Tsk...."
"That's the Demon of the Field,'" Michinari whispered, stepping closer to Asuto. "Haizaki Ryouhei..."
"Now, the match resumes!" the commentator barked. "It's a tie, 1-1! Who will the Goddess of Victory smile upon!?"
The referee’s whistle signaled the restart and the ball was back in play.
"We gotta do something quick... we can't let them set the pace!" Hiura charged forward, the ball at his feet.
But as he looked up, he felt an invisible weight pressing down on his shoulders. Seishou were suffocating the pitch. Every time Hiura moved, three Seishou players shifted in unison, blocking his path like a closing trap.
"This pressure... it’s like they're reading my mind..." Hiura hisses.
Michinari dashed forward, his eyes focused on the Seishou goal, trying to lead by example. "Hiura!" He shouts.
"Captain!" Hiura saw a sliver of an opening and fired a crisp pass. Michinari trapped it and charged, but the pressure of Seishou was quicker. Before he could even pick his next move, three defenders swarmed him, their movements synchronized. "Their pressure is too quick... I can't find a way out..."
The Seishou Academy's defenders feel Michinari's excitation and one of them dashes and slide tackles.
Michinari's eyes wide open and he jumps up, dodging the charge but suddenly, Mizukamiya Seiryuu, the Seishou captain, intercepts the ball. He executed a low, sweeping slide tackle, popping the ball into the air and catching it on his chest in one fluid motion.
Michinari’s eyes went wide as he stumbled. "What the-"
Mizukamiya shakes his head and turns, sprinting away, kickstarting a Seishou counter-attack.
"Go back! Everyone go back!" Michinari shouted, his voice cracking with urgency as he spun around to chase.
"Okay!" Asuto nodded, He sprinted after the Seishou captain, keeping up with him.
The Inakuni players retreated, getting ready for Seishou's assault. Asuto hissed a breath through his teeth, his fists tight.
"So this is Seishou Academy..." he thought, "They’re like monsters. But we’ve come too far to be eaten. Losing isn't an option, not today, not ever!"
...
One Week Earlier.
The Inakuni team stood on the middle of Raimon Academy grounds, looking around. Despite almost already seeing everything they could around the school, they gazes were once more everywhere, their necks sore from looking up.
"Woah..."
They gasp in awe, looking around as the school looked like a high-tech fortress.
"The house mountain is huge!" Hiyori cried out, his neck craned so far back he nearly tumbled over. He pointed a finger at the massive Raimon main building. "Gao! Is that where they keep the giants!?"
Asuto stood with his gaze around, his hands gripping the straps of his bag. "Whoa... Never thought I would one day see mainland buildings..."
Goujin puffed out his chest, He planted his feet and looked around with a scowl. "Hmph! A true warrior must have built this stuff! Just look at it! This is supposed to be a school!? It looks more like a secret base for a superhero team!"
Norika let out a weary sigh, with a small and amused smile on her lips as she adjusted her hair. "You three look like cavemen discovering fire for the first time. Try to keep your mouths closed, or you’ll catch flies. You are all still looking around despite us being here for an hour or so."
Michinari chuckled softly, adjusting his own bag. "Now, Norika-san, give them a break. It’s a lot to take in. It's a completely different world from the island."
"Sick place... right, Hiura?" Mansaku grinned, leaning back as he scanned the sprawling campus. "Wonder if the food here is as fancy as the walls."
"Yeah..." Hiura replied with his voice calm and melodic. He closed his eyes for a second, taking in the breeze. "It’s so cold and cozy around here. The city climax feels... different."
Hiro adjusted his glasses, the sunlight glinting off the lenses as he tracked the height of the clock tower. "Look at how tall these buildings are. It’s just like on television, but the scale... the scale is logically overwhelming."
"So much noise! And people! It looks like another planet or something!" Hanta chirped from her perch on top of Golem’s shoulders.
Golem looking around, his eyes narrowing. "Y-yeah... too many things going on at once," he rumbled, his voice shacking.
After a little bit of observation, they stood there looking at nothing with nobody sure of what to do next.
"Ehem... Hiro cleans his throat. "I think we should be getting inside the Football Club."
"Yeah..." They nod.
"Alright, I'll going to do it." Norika cracks her fingers.
Norika stepped to the front, the team crowding behind her in a silent, She reached for the handle of the double doors.
"Okay, let's see what the legendary club looks like!" she said, giving the handle a tug.
*Clack.*
"Eh?" Norika blinked. She gripped the handle with both hands, her fingers tightening around it.
She leaned back, digging her sneakers into the pavement. "Urgh!!!!" She pulled.
"Mhmmm!!!" She pulls more as her face began to turn a bright shade of pink. "Ghrrrrr!!!"
The door remained stubbornly shut.
"Ehehe... It's probably locked..." Hiro said, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish look.
"Uhum!" The rest of the team nodded.
Norika let go of the handle, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead. "It won't open. I thought a legendary club would always have its doors open to the spirit of football."
"But this place is different from our own school, you know," Hiura added, looking at the security cameras mounted near the eaves. "Everything here is about protocols."
"Right! But I can already feel my energy shooting right up! Ahahaha!" Goujin bellowed, striking a series of bodybuilding poses in the middle of the path. "A locked door is just a challenge for the muscles of Goujin-sama!"
"Raise your skills instead, muscle head," Kozoumaru muttered, standing off to the side with his arms crossed. "Vocal cords don't win matches."
"Eh!? Who do you think you are!?" Goujin roared, leaning into Kozoumaru’s personal space. "I’m the fireball of this team! You’re just... a grumpy boulder!"
"Guys, come on now..." Golem pleaded, waving his massive hands.
"Ai ai... these two," Norika smiled, shaking her head.
As Goujin continued to bark at an indifferent Kozoumaru, a group of students walking along the nearby courtyard stopped to watch the spectacle.
"Are those guys the new team?" one boy whispered to his friend, glancing at their slightly dusty duffels and simple clothes.
"Those?" the other replied with a snicker. "Are those hicks even able to play? They look like they got lost on their way to a farm... They took the old team out just for a bunch of nobodies..."
Asuto looked around, noticing the growing crowd of onlookers, feeling the judgment in their eyes. "Tsk..."
Suddenly, the crowd of students parted. A group of girls approached with a rhythmic stride. At the center was a girl with blonde hair and sharp eyes, her gaze around the team.
"You must be the soccer team from Inakuni," she said.
"Hm?" The team turned, going quiet as they sensed the change in atmosphere.
"Yes, that's us. May I ask who you are?" Michinari stepped forward, his expression polite and open.
"Anna Mikado." She stared at him, her gaze lingering on his jersey then back at his face. "As Student Council President, I overlook the management of all club activities at Raimon. Evaluating the new soccer team is also the student council’s responsibility." She says placing a hand over her heart.
"Nice to meet you, Ms. Anna. I'm Michinari, the Inakuni Soccer Club captain." Michinari smiled warmly and extended his hand for a handshake.
Behind Anna, the other council members laughed softly, whispering behind their hands. Anna looked down at Michinari’s hand as if it were a strange specimen, then back up at his face, making no move to take it.
"Hm..." Michinari slowly pulled his hand back, his cheeks flushing a faint red as he tucked his hand into his pocket.
The team’s eyes went wide as they stared at Michinari and then at the girls.
"Captain..." Mansaku whispered, his yellow eyes narrowing into a sharp glare directed at Anna. "What you have in looks, you don't seem to have in education. On the island, we actually teach people how to say hello."
"How dare you!" one of the student council members snapped back, stepping forward. "You’re lucky to even be standing on this campus!"
"Mansaku, just calm down. It's not a big deal," Michinari said, though his voice was tight. He placed a hand on Mansaku’s shoulder to hold him back.
Asuto stepped up beside Michinari, nodding firmly. "Calm down, Mansaku. Don't fall for it.
Mansaku let out a sharp huff and crossed his arms.
Anna continued, staring down at them with an icy indifference. "I'm here just to deliver a warning. If we find you untrustworthy or if your presence taints the reputation of this school, you will be kicked out immediately. A sponsorless team has no right to the name of Raimon."
"We are here to win."
Asuto stepped forward, moving in front of his teammates, his eyes locked onto Anna’s.
"Asuto..." Norika whispered.
One of the council girls hissed, "And you are...?"
"It doesn't matter who I am," Asuto said, his voice steady.
Kozoumaru looked away, a small and amused smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Heh... finally saying something useful."
"You nobodies sure are full of your-" the council girl started but Anna raised a hand, signaling her to be quiet.
The girls fell silent instantly, stepping back. Anna stared at Asuto, her eyebrows twitching slightly in surprise.
"What matters is what we came here to do," Asuto continued. Behind him, the team nods, their gazes just as determined as him. "We are here to get back something they wanted to take from us. And we won't stop until we get it back."
Anna’s eyes narrowed. She sighed, a long, weary sound as she looked at the boy who dared to stare back. "Do you even know who your first opponent is?"
"Seishou Academy?" Asuto blinked, his eyebrows rising.
"The, Seishou Academy," Anna said, making name sounding like a death sentence. "Their ace striker is known as the 'Demon of the Field.' Before you even catch his eye, he’ll plunder your team beyond the chance of recovery. That is how countless teams before you were broken."
"Big and bad monster!?" Hiyori squealed, shivering and hiding behind Golem’s leg.
"That... sounds intense," Golem whispers.
"The Demon on the Field?" Hiura asked, his voice curious.
"His name is Haizaki Ryouhei," Anna added.
"Now that you say it... I remember something," Hiro interjected, "Seishou Academy almost always wins their games by ten points or more. It’s a statistical slaughter. Very, very intense."
Anna gave a cold smile. "But you might be lucky. He only appears in every third game. Maybe you’ll get the luck of the draw and avoid him entirely."
"Luck is for the weak," Mansaku hissed, his competitive fire reignited. "Inakuni plays to win, not to get lucky."
"Uhum!" Hanta nodded vigorously. "We totally got this! Right, Golem?"
"Eh... I really don't know..." Golem scratched his head, looking more overwhelmed than ever.
Anna’s smile softened into something that looked dangerously like pity. "In any case, we’ll be observing what you’ve got in your first match. If you manage to beat the number-one ranked Seishou Academy... well, that’s a million-to-one chance. It would turn the football world on its head."
"Then we’ll just have to win and turn it on its head." Asuto replied, a proud, defiant smile breaking across his face.
Kozoumaru let out a long sigh. "That’s sarcasm for you, idiot. She’s calling us a joke."
"I don't care." Asuto crosses his arms.
The student council members laughed one last time as Anna turned on her heel. "We'll see," she called back over her shoulder as the group walked away.
The team stood in the silence left behind, the excitement of the city slightly gone.
"Tch, what a rude bunch..." Goujin hissed, kicking a loose pebble.
"Well," Michinari sighed, looking at his teammates. "Think about it from their point of view. We’re a bunch of bizarre hicks who just cracked into their school and claim to be as good as a legendary team. We aren't going to be accepted that easily."
"We don't need to be accepted," Asuto said, looking toward the field. "We just need to show our skills. That's enough to get us through."
"Guess that's the plan," Norika sighed, nodding in agreement.
"Oh! There you all are! Thank goodness!"
The voice was high and bright, coming from across the courtyard. The team turned back in unison. A girl was running toward them, her face flushed with effort and a wide, friendly smile on her face.
"You are the soccer team from Inakuni, right!?"
A girl skidded to a halt directly in front of them. Looking excited. Her eyes crinkled as she beamed at them, with her smile wide.
She pointed a finger at the group, her stance wide and confident. "That makes you guys the new Inazuma Eleven!"
The team stares at her in silence, their gazes wide at the title she called them.
"Eh... That's a heavy title... eheheh..." Golem murmured, his massive hands reaching up to scratch the back of his neck. He turns over Hanta, who looked up at the girl with a skeptical squint.
Hiro adjusted his glasses, the sunlight glinting off the frames. "I detected a slight hint of satire in her tone," he whispered, his voice clinical. "The probability of a genuine compliment from a stranger in this city is currently sitting at less than twelve percent."
"Bad girl! Ghrrrrr!" Hiyori growled behind Golem’s massive leg, peeking out with a wide and untrusting gaze.
Mansaku crosses his arms tightly over his chest. He looked the girl up and down, his yellow eyes sharp. "Are you here to make fun of us too? You city girls are all the same, all looks and no heart."
"We are here to play football!" Goujin roared, stepping forward until he was nearly towering over the girl. He hissed through his teeth, "We didn't come across the ocean to be jesters for you guys to laugh at! If you want a comedy show, go find a theater!"
The girl blinked, her smile faltering for only a fraction of a second. She looked from Goujin’s angry face to Hiyori’s growling, her head tilting in confusion. "Eh? What did I say?"
"What are you guys doing!?" Norika suddenly shouted, stepping between the girl and her teammates. She turned on the boys, her hands on her hips. "Did you guys leave your manners back at the island? Along with your luggage? Stop acting like cornered crabs!"
Michinari stepped up beside her, his expression weary but firm. "Now guys, let's calm down. We can't judge people we don't know based on what happened five minutes ago. That’s not how we do things on Inakuni." He turned to the girl, bowing slightly in apology.
Asuto let out a long sigh, He looked at the girl, his gaze curious and soft. "Sorry for the whole mess. It's been a long day. Who are you, again?"
"Oh, allow me to introduce myself!" The girl snapped into a polite bow, her pigtails swinging forward. "My name is Ootani Tsukushi. It's a pleasure to meet you all! I’ve been following the news about the island, and I hope we can all give our best to win the upcoming Football Frontier!"
"Thanks... Nice to meet you, Ootani, that's very sweet of you," Asuto said, a genuine smile breaking through his fatigue.
"Nice to meet you, Ootani-chan!" Norika added, her voice warm.
She looked back at the boys, "Well? What are you all waiting for?"
The boys shuffled their feet, looking at each other in embarrassment
"Nice to meet you..." they mumbled in a disjointed and polite chorus.
Mansaku scratched his head, his posture relaxing. "Sorry for the mean words. You’re kind of the only one giving us any encouragement in this place. We didn't exactly had the best reception when we walked through the gates."
"We were beginning to think Tokyo made of ice," Hiura added, his voice and calm as he offered a small, respectful nod. "Everyone looks so cold and distant..."
"Ooh! I get it!" Ootani nodded. "Football is kind of an intense topic around here. After what happened in the last couple of year, things haven't been going as well as they used to for Raimon. People are... protective of the name."
"That's just more motivation to work even harder," Michinari whispered to himself, his fingers curling into a fist at his side.
"Hmmm..." Goujin suddenly leaned in, his nose only inches from Ootani’s face as he squinted at her. "So you’re our new teammate, huh? You look a bit small for a defender."
"Respect her personal space, man!" Hanta barked, grabbing the back of Goujin’s jersey and hauling him backward with a sharp yank.
"So what will you be helping us with, Ootani-chan?" Norika asked, her eyes bright with curiosity.
"Oh! Yeah! I'm-"
"Gao! O-o-t-a-n-i-chan play ball?" Hiyori asked, tilting his head.
"Eh... I mean..." Ootani started.
Asuto nodded, his eyes lighting up. "Are you supposed to join our team as a player? We could use another mid-fielder!"
"Ah-"
"Are you our trainer?" Golem asked, "You’re really good with words, Ootani-chan. Much better than the guys shouting at us earlier."
"Mhmmm..." Ootani tried to speak, but she was interrupted again.
"What position do you play!?" Goujin shouted, flexing his bicep. "You must be a striker, right? You’ve got that 'fire in the eyes' look!"
"Ootani-chan looks more like a tactician to me," Hiro interjected, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Probably a midfielder. You look like you have the cardiovascular capacity for high-speed transitions."
"Eh... wait..." Ootani looked around, her eyes wide as the entire team surrounded her.
"Now let's calm down a little," Michinari finally intervened, his voice cutting through the noise. "We’re overwhelming Ms. Ootani. Give the girl a second to breathe."
"Sorry!" the team shouted in unison, quickly backing off and looking at their shoes in embarrassment.
Ootani let out a long sigh, but her eyes were sparkling as she giggles. "Tee-hee~"
She put a hand over her heart and stood up straight. "It’s okay! I like the energy! But to answer your questions... I will have the honor of being the Raimon Soccer Club's Manager. I promise to do my absolute best to keep the club activities in perfect order!"
"Manager!?" The team gasped.
"Well," Hiura said with a thoughtful smile. "This is a prestigious school after all. I suppose it's normal for them to have someone managing the logistics."
"It sounds strange," Golem added, his brow furrowing. "A manager? Like a maid?"
"Just you for all of us?" Norika asked, her voice tinged with worry. "Back on the island, we had everyone's parents helping out with the uniforms and the snacks. Can you really do it all alone?"
"No, no! Don't worry!" Ootani chirped, waving her hands. "The managers from the previous team had to leave for other assignments, so as one of the new managers, I, Ootani Tsukushi, will support you along with a whole new team of managers!"
"A whole team!?" Norika’s eyes went wide. "I was thinking like... two people. Not a whole squad!"
"I'm feeling like a superstar already, hehehe," Mansaku smirked, leaning back and looking pleased with himself. "Weird feeling..."
"What a luxury! Don't you think, Golem?" Hanta asked, giving Golem’s arm a playful punch.
"Eh... more people..." Golem murmured, "But I guess it is good...?"
"Oh yeah! I almost forgot!" Ootani clapped her hands together. "I came here to escort you! The Principal is waiting for you in his office!" She looked at the group, her eyes searching. "Who is the captain?"
"That would be me," Michinari said, stepping forward. "But you can just call me Michinari."
"Alright, Michinari-san! Follow me!" Ootani pointed toward the imposing main building as she led them away from the clubroom.
...
The interior of the Principal’s office was a different from the overall structure of the school. It felt old, and simple just like their old principal's office back at the island, The walls were covered in framed photographs, faded images of teams from decades past, their faces filled with a raw determination.
"So, you're the boys from the island," a voice rasped. "Welcome, welcome."
The Principal sat behind a heavy oak desk, looking at them with a gaze of strange, expectant hope. "I've heard your story. It’s a tragic one, but football has a way of turning tragedy into triumph."
He gestured to the room. "Please feel welcome here. Raimon is a place of legends, and I’m sure you will learn how to master your skills within these walls."
"Yes!" the team shouted in unison, bowing down.
"Never saw such a nice principal! Wow..." Hiro whispered to Goujin.
"Yeah! We’re so lucky! Hahaha," Goujin laughed loudly.
"Shh! Quiet!" Norika hissed, elbowing them both.
Asuto took a deep breath, his gaze around the room, He looked at a photo on the wall, a boy with a bright orange headband holding a trophy high. There was a spark in that boy's eyes that Asuto recognized. "Heh..."
Michinari stepped forward, his expression becoming serious. "Sir, May I ask a question?"
"Mhm?" The principal tilted his head.
"May I know... what happened to the original team? The ones everyone talks about?" Michinari asks.
The room fell silent as the Inakuni players stare at each other and then back at the principal, The Principal let out a long, heavy sigh and staid. "Yes. I should explain the task that our old Raimon Soccer Club has been given."
"Raimon has become a legend in the youth soccer world. They broke the forty-year winning streak of the legendary Royal Academy."
"Yes, they're an inspiration to all of us," Asuto said, his voice filled with a quiet reverence.
"Hm!" The Inakuni team nods.
"There isn't a single player in this country who hasn't heard of them," Michinari added. "So... why is such an amazing team gone?"
"Right now," the Principal said, his voice growing firm, "the team is putting their efforts into helping Japan reach the world stage as the Football Reinforcement Committee Members."
"Hm?" The team gasped.
"In order to raise the level of football across the entire country," the Principal said walking toward the large window that overlooked the school’s main pitch, "the members of the legendary Raimon team have been scattered. They’ve joined various schools throughout Japan, acting as pillars to support those teams and help them improve rapidly." He turned back to them.
"Oh!?" The realization hit them like a shockwave.
"So... the legends are now everywhere...." Michinari whispers.
"The teams they’ve joined are gaining strength at an incredible rate," the Principal continued. "They are earning the right to participate in the Football Frontier with ease. I am impatiently waiting for the day when you will be able to play against those teams... against our own Raimon genes."
"Raimon... genes..." Asuto whispered, glancing at the pictures of past players.
"I expect that you all will not fail your mission," the Principal said, turning to face them with a warm, encouraging smile. "You are the ones who carry the name now. Do not let it falter."
"Yes, sir!" they shouted in unison.
"Oh, one more thing," the Principal added, "Since you don't have a sponsor, you would technically be disqualified from the Football Frontier. Rules are quite strict about that these days."
The team’s hearts collectively stopped. "Hm!?"
"But fear not!" the Principal chirped, waving a hand dismissively. "The institution is already working on the process. It’s been delayed by some bureaucratic red tape, but you can expect everything to be finalized very soon!"
"EHHH!?"
The team shouts, their voices echoing out of the office and across the halls of Raimon Junior High.
...
After meeting with the principal, The team followed Ootani past the fields and other clubs around the school. Finally reaching the facilities.
As they stepped inside, the automatic doors hissed shut behind them, The lobby was lined with trophy cases that glowed with a soft blue light housing gleaming silver cups and gold-plated soccer balls.
"Everyone, line up!"
A tall man stood in the center of the main hall, He had a clipboard tucked under one arm and an expression that suggested he had never laughed a day in his life.
The Inakuni players scrambled to find a spot, bumping into each other before forming a somewhat jagged, awkward line.
The man cleans his throat, his gaze straight at them. "Ehem, Welcome to our school. I am Sub-coach. Kameda, It is my responsibility to ensure the logistical and structural integrity of this team. Nice to meet you all."
"Nice to meet you, sir!" the team shouted in a frantic, accidental unison. They caught each other's eyes immediately after, a few muffled snickers breaking out as they realized they had all reacted like a single hive mind. "Ehehehe..."
Ootani stood off to the side, covering her mouth with her hand as she giggled softly at their infectious energy.
"Alright," Kameda said, He stepped to the side, gesturing toward the shadows of the inner corridor. "And this is your head coach. Mr. Zhao Jinyun."
The Inakuni team stares to the side, seeing a man who looked like he had wandered out of a completely place.
"Ohohohoho~" The coach let out a rich and amused laugh. He fanned himself slowly, looking at the row of teenagers with a look of pure delight. "Everyone, at ease. Relax your shoulders! You look like you’re waiting for a doctor’s appointment, Hohohohoho."
Mansaku tilted his head, his yellow eyes wide with curiosity. "Our coach is..."
"Chinese?" Goujin blinked, his mouth hanging open. "I thought we’d get some old guy in a tracksuit with a whistle and a bad attitude."
"He’s... huge..." Golem whispered, stepping back slightly as the coach approached.
"G-o-l-e-m-san huge too! Gao!" Hiyori giggled, reaching up to poke Golem’s arm before bouncing on his toes.
"Eh..." Golem let out a long, defeated sigh.
"As of this moment, you are all officially members of the Raimon Football Club," Sub-coach Kameda announced, "This is a name that carries weight across the country. You are expected to behave in a manner befitting that legacy at all times."
"Y-yes, sir!" the team responded.
Asuto looked down at his own sneakers, his chest swelling with a feeling he couldn't quite name. "We did it... we're actually here," he whispered to himself, his fingers curling into fists. "We can do it..."
"Alright! Enough talk!" Coach Zhao Jinyun clapped his hands together, "The first step to becoming a team is looking like one. Go! Change into your uniforms!"
The players quickly dashed to the locker rooms, As they pulled on the jerseys, it wasn't the thin, faded cotton they had worn back on Inakuni. The material was slick, breathable, seeming perfectly done for them.
Asuto stood in front of a full-length mirror staring at his reflection. The bright yellow jersey with the blue lightning-bolt trim seemed to glow. He ran his hand over the fabric, feeling the raised embroidery of the Raimon crest over his heart. "It’s so... it feels like it has a weight to it, even though it's light."
"Soft... It’s so slick and soft... Woah..." Hiura said slowly spinning in front of another mirror.
"Gao! Hehehehehehe!" Hiyori sprints in tight circles around the locker room benches, giggling on the way. "H-i-y-o-r-i feel fast! The wind just goes right through it! Gao!"
"The quality is statistically superior," Hiro noted, adjusting his glasses and leaning in to inspect the stitching. "The drag coefficient must be incredibly low. It's amazing... Wow..."
"Eh... don't you guys think it's a little too flashy?" Goujin asked, though he was busy flexing his biceps in the mirror, admiring the way the sleeves hugged his arms. "I feel like a giant lemon."
"It’s so cute! It looks like the deep sea!" Norika’s voice rang out from the adjacent changing area. She spun around, her hair whipping through the air. "It feels like an aquatic matchup! I love it!"
"This is so sick! I can't believe I'm actually wearing a Raimon kit!" Hanta says with a wide grin. She adjusted her ninja-style mask, turning at Golem. "This is exciting, right Golem?"
"Yeah! They even got my size! And it actually fits!" Golem let out a booming laugh, patting his stomach.
"Nice kits, I can feel the energy already..." Mansaku does a few high-knee stretches, his cleats clicking against the floor.
Kozoumaru sat on a bench, stomping his foot against the ground to test the grip and durability of the shoes. He reached up, turning his collar up and adjusting the fit of the shirt until it sat exactly how he wanted it.
"Woah..." The team stopped their celebrating for a moment, staring at him in awe.
"Tsk." He turned his back on them, ignoring the stares as he headed for the door.
Michinari looked at his hands, then at his teammates. "We... we are the Raimon Eleven... It feels like a dream..."
"We really are captain, we really are." Asuto pats Michinari's shoulder and smiles, as the others stare at each other, filled with determination.
The automatic door hissed open and Ootani entered, carrying a box.
"Oh?" She stopped dead, her eyes sparkling as she took in the sight of the team in their full kits.
"Woah! You guys look... wonderful!" Her voice cracked. Her eyes suddenly filled with tears, she quickly put the box down on a bench, sniffing and wiping her face with her sleeve. "Ah~ sorry! This just brings back so many memories. I used to watch the old team from the stands... seeing these colors again... it’s so emotional!"
"We're sorry to make you cry, Ootani-chan," Asuto said, stepping forward with a worried look.
"Hahh... it’s okay." Ootani took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. "We have to focus on the future, right? Hehe!" She slapped her cheeks to steady herself. "There is no time for crying at work! Now, I have something very important for all of you."
She opened the box, revealing eleven sleek, high-tech wristbands. They were matte black with a small, glowing LED screen on the top.
"What are those?" Michinari raised an eyebrow, his fingers hovering over the devices.
"These are mandatory for all players in the Football Frontier system," Ootani explained, handing them out one by one. "They are the Eleven Bands. Go on, put them on!"
The team snapped the bands onto their wrists. They felt light, almost like they weren't there, until the screens flickered to life with a soft blue glow.
"Woah..."
"These bands do everything," Ootani said, her voice filled with a hint of pride. "They keep track of your heart rate, your stamina, and your exercise amounts. They can even receive direct tactical orders from the coaches during a match."
"So it’s like a tiny computer on our wrists?" Hiro asked, tapping the screen to see a graph of his current pulse.
"Exactly! It checks if you are overdoing it in training or if your physical condition is dipping. It’s here to protect you!" Ootani bowed politely.
*Beep. Beep. Beep-beep-beep!*
"WAA! What’s happening!? Did I break mine already!?" Goujin shouted, waving his arm frantically as the band began to pulse with a red light and a sharp alarm.
"Is this thing broken?!" Mansaku shouted as a chorus of beeps filled the locker room.
"Yeah, they’re all going off!" Golem panicked, holding his wrist.
"No, no! It’s okay!" Ootani laughed, shaking her head. "It’s not a malfunction. That’s the signal from the coach! He’s calling us to the field! It’s time for your first practice! Let's go!"
"Let’s go!" the team roared in unison, They surged toward the exit, following Otani.
...
The late afternoon sun hung heavy over the Raimon training field, Sub-coach Kameda taps a finger against his tablet. His left eye began to twitch twitching. He gasps, leaning close to the digital screen and then looking up at Coach Zhao Jinyun with an expression of pure horror.
Zhao Jinyun sat on a bench, a smug smirk plastered across his face as he fanned himself lazily.
"Coach..." Kameda’s voice trembled with confusion. "I’ve been analyzing the training menu you uploaded, and... what on earth is this?! I’ve seen some unconventional methods in my time, but this? This is horrible! It’s not even a football menu!"
"Is that so? Ho ho ho!" Zhao let out a round, amused belly laugh, his shoulders shaking.
Kameda blinked, his mouth hanging open. "Do you... do you actually have any knowledge of football at all? This looks like a list of chores for a very busy janitor!"
Zhao’s smirk turned into a playful taunt. He stood up, smoothing out his tracksuit. "Knowledge? Just a bit. I told you before, Kameda-kun, I know far more about Kung-Fu than I do about football. Now, enough talk. Watch this!"
"Eh? But-"
Before Kameda could finish, Zhao stood up quickly, moving likea whirlwind of silk and flexibility. "Hah! Hiya!" he barked, throwing a lightning-fast palm strike into the air, followed by a sweeping kick that sent a gust of wind whistling past Kameda’s ears. He bobbed and weaved, punching the air rhythm.
"H-hold on a second... what is the meaning of this!?" Kameda squeaked, frantically backpedaling as Zhao’s powerful Kung Fu moves came uncomfortably close to his nose.
Just as Zhao finished his demonstration with a dramatic pose with one leg tucked behind the other, fingers shaped like claws, the Inakuni team marched onto the field. They moved as a single unit, forming a perfectly straight line.
"Oh, you are all here already," Zhao said, instantly dropping his fighting stance and flashing a mischievous smile.
"All eleven of us are present, sir!" Michinari stepped forward, his back straight and his expression grave.
Ootani scurried over to the coaches' side, clutching her clipboard and smoothing her skirt, looking back and forth between the coach and the sub-coach.
"Good!" Zhao’s smirk returned, sharper than before. He reached out and snatched the tablet right out of Kameda’s trembling hands. "Now, I will explain the training plan for next week’s game. I want you all to be prepared before we set foot in that stadium. Are you prepared?"
"Yes, coach!" they roared in unison.
"Alright, let’s see here..." Zhao tapped the screen, his eyes gleaming.
"Day 1: Run 100 laps along the riverbank. That’s all for Day 1," he announced proudly.
The team’s collective jaw dropped. A heavy silence followed, broken only by the distant sound of a crow cawing.
...
"Huh!?" they gasped, looking at each other in a confusion.
"Coach if you excuse me, The match is in a week..." Hiro interjected, "Is running along a riverbank really going to help us against Seishou’s tactical blitz?"
"Is that enough?" Michinari asked, his brow furrowing. "We need to be working on our formations, surely?"
Zhao ignored, his finger scrolling down. "Day 2: Up and down Inazuma Hill 100 times."
"Eh?" The team flinched.
"Day 3: Pull tires in Observatory Park for 100 laps," Zhao continued, his voice upbeat.
"Wha- " Golem’s eyes went wide, his massive hands twitching at his sides.
"Day 4: Gather 100 bags of trash per person in the shopping district."
"EH!?" Hanta looked at her hands, "Gathering what!?"
"Day 5: Dribble 100 laps around the outside of Tsurukame Park," Zhao finished with a flourish. He looked up and beamed. "And for the rest of the week... rest. That’s all, folks!"
"EH!?!?" The entire Eleven fell into a state of total shock.
Ootani smiled awkwardly, her eyes into Sub-Coach. Kameda simply shook his head, looking defeated by the lack of logic.
"Since you all just arrived here," Zhao said, his voice softening into a mockingly sweet tone, "I’m sure things will be tough. You won't fit in easily with the city life. I want you to adapt to this town as quickly as possible! That’s why you're going to the river, the hill, and the shops!"
He let out a long, theatrical yawn and turned his back on them. "Well, that’s it for the day..."
"CO-COACH!" they screamed.
Goujin stomped forward, his face turning red. "You’ve gotta be kidding us! We want training that helps us win! Give us stuff for hissatsu techniques! Give us something that explodes!"
"Hmmm..." Zhao paused, stroking his chin thoughtfully without turning around. The team held its breath, staring at his back.
"Meh... no need to rush," he said with an indifferent shrug.
"But if we don't win the next match, we lose football forever!" Mansaku shouted, his usual cool demeanor snapping. "Coach, The island depends on this!"
"Coach, please... reconsider," Norika pleaded, her voice trembling with confusion and desperation.
"Hmm, I see," Zhao said. He finally turned around, his smirk replaced by a look of mock intensity. "Then let me ask you this. In order to keep playing football, what do you think you must do?"
"P-practice?" Hanta whispered, leaning forward.
"And then?" Zhao prodded.
"After we practice a lot, we’ll crush Seishou Academy!" Goujin shouted, slamming his fist into his palm.
"And then?"
"We’ll get a sponsor and keep playing football." Hiura added.
Zhao started swaying his head back and forth. "Tick tock... tick tock..."
"Eh..." The team looked at each other.
"And-" Asuto started, stepping forward.
"WRONG!" Zhao shouted, the word exploding from his mouth like a cannon blast.
The whole team flinched, stepping back from the sheer volume.
"H-i-y-o-r-i don't understand! Gao!" Hiyori scratched the back of his head.
"What you need to do in order to keep playing football is..." Zhao lowered his voice until it was a deep, gravelly rumble. The Inakuni Eleven leaned in preparing to hear a legendary piece of wisdom that would change their lives.
"...IS TO NOT LOSE! HO HO HO HO HO!"
Zhao erupted into laughter, clutching his stomach as if it were the funniest joke in the history of the world.
A dead silence fell over the field. Then, as if they were a set of dominoes, the entire team collapsed.
"What a clown..." Kozoumaru cursed under his breath, walking away toward the clubhouse.
"Kozoumaru-san, wait!" Otani turns to Kozoumaru as he walks away.
"W-what kind of of analogy is that?!" Hanta hisses, her eyes twitching.
"This has to be a joke..." Hiro adjusts his glasses with a frown.
"GAHHH! What’s wrong with you, you fatty! Why are you toying with us!" Goujin screamed, springing up and lunging toward Zhao with his sleeves rolled up.
"Goujin-san! Calm down!" Hiro shouted, throwing his arms around Goujin’s waist and digging his heels into the turf to hold the hot-head back.
"Goujin! Stop it!" Norika yelled, waving her hands frantically.
"Eek! Goujin-sama is going all savage!" Ootani gasped, hiding behind her clipboard.
"Don't worry," Asuto said, crossing his arms. He was looking at the ground, a strange, thoughtful light in his eyes. "He isn't... totally wrong."
"WE NEED WINNING TRAINING, YOU FATTY!" Goujin continued to roar, frothing at the mouth as Hiro struggled to keep him from committing coach-side assault.
"Goujin, let's calm down, please," Michinari sighed, placing a hand on his shoulder, staring at coach with disappointment.
"Hohohoho! My training instructions are final! Good luck, little islanders!" Zhao laughed at their faces.
"And don't even think about skipping. The Eleven Band on your wrists will warn me immediately! If you stop moving, I'll know! Ho ho ho!"
His laughter echoed across the campus, the team turned their gaze at Otani, she shrugs with an awkward smile, and the team stares back at Coach.
...
The sun was a bruised purple smear against the Tokyo skyline by the time the Inakuni Eleven reached the end of their first official training day in the Riverbank.
"I-isn't there... something... really wrong with this!?" Goujin wheezed, His legs shaking violently.
"Less... talking... more... breathing," Hiura gasped beside him, hissing and grinting his tooths.
As the shadows lengthened, the team finally finished their training. They moved through the narrow residential streets of the Kogarashi district like a line of ghosts.
"I think I’m going to die..." Hiro hissed, his steps heavy and flat-footed. He adjusted his glasses with a trembling finger. "Who does... intense physical conditioning... right before a game against the national favorites? It’s suicidal."
"We came all this way just for this, huh..." Goujin sighed, He looked defeated, his head hanging low.
"Hah... but did you guys see those people?" Norika said, Her face was flushed, but her eyes were bright. "A lot of people in town called out to support us while we were running. They actually looked... hopeful."
"The Raimon uniform is sacred to these people," Michinari added, his voice thin but steady. "Just like Ms. Ootani said. We are carrying our own dreams and the history of this school."
"It is nice to have support..." Hiura whispers with a small smile.
"Uhum, it makes me feel like we at still at home..." Hanta smiles, resting her head in Golem's shoulder.
"Yeah..." The others nod.
Asuto suddenly stopped in front of a modest, traditional gate. "Here it is..."
The team looked up, their gazes were at the Kogarashi Manor, the place where they would be staying.
"So this is where we’re staying, huh..." Mansaku murmured, looking at the stone path leading to the entrance.
"HOME!?" Hiyori’s eyes went wide with awe. He lunged forward, pressing his face against the gate. "Gao! It smells like... like the forest, but better!"
"Wow... it feels brand new! The wood smells so nice!" Norika smiled, her fatigue momentarily forgotten as she stepped into the entryway.
"This is my first time sleeping somewhere other than the island," Golem said, looking around the genkan with a sudden, nervous twitch. He shifted his bag from one shoulder to the other. "I don't even know if I can fall asleep in a place this... quiet."
"You’ll get used to it, Golem! We’re going to be roomies!" Hanta chirped, jumping onto Golem’s back. "We’ll stay up and plan our secret moves!"
"Oh yeah... I forgot... that..." Golem smiles, staring at the mansion.
Asuto and Kozoumaru stood near the back. Asuto looked at the manor with a soft, reverent gaze, while Kozoumaru simply leaned against the gatepost, his arms crossed.
"Not only do we get to play football again, but we’re actually in the Football Frontier," Asuto said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I don't think I ever would have dreamed about something like this... it feels like we’re finally moving... It feels nice..."
"Tsk. We’re all toast if we lose, though," Kozoumaru sighed, closing his eyes. "A nice house doesn't win games."
"It will all depend on the way we play next week," Asuto said, his gaze on the horizon, as if looking for a star that wasn't there yet. "So give it your best, Kozoumaru, in that way, we will win."
Kozoumaru glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, his expression unreadable.
"Are you the kids from Inagoonie?"
A kind-looking elderly woman stepped out from the hallway, leaning on a small wooden broom.
"It’s Inakuni, grandma! Get it right!" Goujin shouted.
"Goujin!" Norika barked, delivering a swift, stinging punch to his shoulder. "Behave!"
"We’re sorry, ma'am," Michinari said, stepping forward with a deep bow. "He didn't mean to be disrespectful. We're just a bit tired."
"Oh no, no, no, it’s okay," the woman chuckled, waving a hand dismissively. "I did get the name wrong, didn't I? I’m not as good at remembering things as I used to be! My brain is like an old attic, lots of stuff in there, but hard to find the right box."
"Are you the landlady, Kazeaki-sama?" Hiura asked politely.
"Yep, Yone Kazeaki, but you can just call me Yone-san," she smiled, her gaze warm as she looked at each of them. "Now, come in, come in! It’s getting cold, and I won't have my guests catching a chill before their big debut!"
"Thank you for having us, Yone-san!" Asuto bowed.
"Thank you for having us!" the team shouted in unison, bowing down.
...
Later that evening, the Manor was filled with the sounds of unpacking and the clatter of dishes. In the main living room, a smaller group had gathered around the low table. Mansaku, Michinari, Norika, Hiro, were huddled together and Goujin was sleeping on the floor like a rock, while Hiyori was in the corner, spinning in circles.
Mansaku held the worn photograph of the woman in the rose garden. "So this is what Hiyori’s... 'home' looked like," he whispered, staring at the contrast of the laboratory and the photo.
"This is really too much to understand," Michinari said, rubbing his temples. "A secret lab on our island? Abandoned for ten years?"
"We felt the same way when we found it," Hiro said, "Hiyori’s mother... if she was from the mainland, she could be in a city just a few miles from where we’re sitting. The statistical probability is staggering."
"It’s insane," Norika whispered, looking over at Hiyori. "He’s been carrying this around the whole time."
They all turned to watch him. Hiyori was running after his own shadow his energy seemingly infinite. "Hehehehehehehe!"
"We need to listen to him more," Hiro said quietly. "He's more that a wild kid, He really is a survivor."
"Yeah," Michinari agreed, his gaze distant. "He’s been thinking about this since I first met him. Back then, it seemed like nothing, just a kid with a big imagination. We didn't know what to say to him, so we just... ignored it."
"I always felt like he wasn't from the island," Mansaku admitted, leaning back against the wall. "He used to say it so much that I actually started to believe him. But that lab... what was it for?"
"Probably specimens," Hiro suggested, "Humans, animals... who knows. I’ve seen enough movies to know how those stories go. Biological research, hidden away where no one can ask questions."
"Did the elders say anything else?" Michinari asked, looking at Norika.
"No," she sighed, her shoulders dropping. "Just what we told you. They said that only the late leaders knew about that lab."
"Maybe..." Mansaku started, his voice trailing off. The others looked at him expectantly. "Maybe Falcon-sama knows something about it."
Michinari’s body tense, His eyes narrowing.
"Falcon-sama?" Norika rises her eyebrows.
"Oh yeah, you are right Mansaku, maybe Chief Falcon knows about what happen." Hiro nods.
"My mother doesn't know anything about this," Michinari said, his voice sharp and defensive. "If she knew, she would have told me."
"We don't know that for sure," Mansaku pressed, his voice calm but firm. "She was in charge of the village's logistics for years. Maybe you just need to ask-"
"And then what!?" Michinari shouted, slamming his hand onto the tatami. "What are we going to do with that information? We’re here to play football! We’re here to save the island!"
"Michinari, just calm down-" Mansaku started.
"We don't even know if Hiyori’s mother still exists!" Michinari hissed, his voice trembling. "She’s probably been gone for a long time. Why bother digging up ghosts when we have a game to win? Why give him hope for something that isn't there!?"
Hiyori stopped.
Hiyori froze mid-spin, The wide, manic grin he’d been wearing slowly, painfully faded. He looked down at his feet, his hands clenching into small, tight fists.
"Gao-san..." Hiro whispered, standing up quickly and moving toward the boy.
"Oh no..." Norika gasped, her heart breaking at the sight of Hiyori’s slumped shoulders.
"Tsk..." Michinari let out a sharp, jagged hiss of breath and looked away, his face contorted with immediate regret. "Darn it..."
Mansaku looked at Michinari for a long, hard second with a look of deep disappointment before standing up to join the others around Hiyori.
In the doorway of the kitchen, Golem and Hanta stood frozen, their hands full of dinner trays. They looked at each other, and then back at the others.
Outside, on the porch, Asuto stared up at the moon with his hand tightened over his heart. The star he was looking for seemed very far away.
...
Back at the Holy Ground Stadium, Asuto hissed, the harsh light of the stadium hitting right into his face.
He sprinted, his lungs burning. Every muscle in his legs screamed in protest, but he pushed harder, his eyes locked onto the ball. The stadium, the flags and the screaming fans fading into a muffled gray static around him.
RAIMON 1 - 5 SEISHOU ACADEMY
The announcer’s voice crackled through the speakers, sounding breathless and incredulous. "While Raimon managed the impossible by scoring the opening point, Seishou’s retaliation has been absolute! Their fierce, calculated counter-attack has earned them a five-point lead in the blink of an eye!"
Goujin lunged for a loose ball. He tried to pivot but a Seishou defender appeared like a shadow right on front of him.
"You are not going to stop me! Haaah!' Goujin shouts and dribbles pass the defender, The Seishou Academy's defender smirks prepares himself.
The Seishou Academy's defender ran towards runs towards Goujin and jumps in the air, getting into position to slide tackle with their left foot. Once they land on the field, they get covered with flamelike energy and hit their opponent, blowing them away and successfully stealing the ball from them.
"KILLA SLIDOO!!!"
"Urgh... Darn it!" Goujin roared standing up, his voice cracking.
"Goujin! Are you okay!?' Hiro shouts.
"I'm fine! I won't go out that easy!" Goujin spun around, his eyes wild as he gave chase. "Don't you dare! Get back here!"
"Let's go, guys! Don't let them through!" Michinari shouts, pointing around the field. "Close the gaps! Defend with everything you have!"
Asuto hissed through gritted teeth, his gaze narrowing. "Tsk... We won't lose here," he whispered, "We won't! Not after everything!"
Leading the charge was Haizaki Ryouhei, sprinting as a single unit. As he felt Asuto’s presence closing in behind him, a flicker of a memory surfaced him. "Kidou... where’s the merit in fighting these guys?" He whispers to himself.
...
A few days before in showers of the Seishou Academy locker room. The rhythmic hiss of the water was the only sound around, until someone entered the stall directly adjacent to Haizaki's.
"Haizaki," a voice said, calm and firmly.
Haizaki leaned his head back against the cold tile, letting the hot water beat against his chest. "Hah... is that you, Kidou?" He let out a sharp, mocking exhale.
"You’re playing in the next match against Raimon." Kidou added.
"Hm?" Haizaki stares at the void of a wall. "I’ll decide which games I play in."
Haizaki reached out and gripped the faucet handle, twisting it shut with a delicate snap. He grabbed a towel, calmly drying his messy, silver-blue hair. "I don't care if you're part of the 'Reinforcement Department' or whatever. I don't take orders from anyone."
"But you will play," Kidou said, his voice unmoved.
"What?" Haizaki asked, finally looking toward the adjacent stall.
"I’m sure you’ll find... a certain interest in the team," Kidou said with a subtle, sharp edge of a taunt in his tone.
Haizaki smirked, "Where’s the merit in playing against a team of nobodies? It’s like kicking a puppy, Kidou. It's Boring."
"Who knows?" Kidou says. "I suppose you could say the merit lies in their... 'potential.'"
"Huh." Haizaki stepped out of the shower area, wrapping a towel around his waist. "Kidou Yuuto, the 'Absolute Commander of the Pitch,' is actually interested in a whimsy little band of islanders? That’s rich."
"Right?" Kidou voice drips with sarcasm.
Haizaki hisses, slightly annoyed. "Tck..."
"Stop toying with-" Haizaki started to bark, then checked himself, letting out a long, frustrated sigh. "Whatever..."
He started to walk toward the exit, but Kidou’s voice stopped him one last time.
"Haizaki."
"What?"
"You’re looking for it, aren't you?" Kidou asked, "Searching for something that will save this world from the darkness that’s swallowing it. For you, Raimon might just be your light."
...
Back on the pitch, Haizaki sprinted down the wing, his eyes narrowing.
"So your strategy is to weaken me and then disappear into the shadows, huh, Kidou?" Haizaki hissed, his eyes glowing with an unstable, manic light. "If they're supposed to be my 'light,' then let's see how bright they can burn before they're extinguished!"
He began a relentless solo assault. He bypassed Asuto and Goujin with a change sending them both out of the way.
"He’s too fast!" Goujin cursed, his knuckles white as he tightened his fists.
"Move up, Goujin! Don't look back!" Asuto screamed, Sprinting toward Haizaki again.
Kozoumaru and Hiura stepped into Haizaki's path, planting their feet and bracing for impact. Haizaki quickly stepped around them with a contemptuous flick of the ball, leaving them grasping at thin air.
"This guy... he’s just a beast," Hiura whispered, his heart hammering against his ribs.
"Don't stand there looking at the view, idiot!" Kozoumaru growled, already pivoting on his heel to chase the Seishou ace.
"Hm!" Asuto steps in Haizaki's path again, with Michinari stepping behind him.
Haizaki shoots the ball up, making Asuto stare up at the air and then he dashes through him, sending Asuto away.
"Ghrr..." Asuto hisses, sliding on the grass.
"Asuto!" Michinari shouts, trying to move towards Asuto.
"Look at me, NOW!" Haizaki roars, charging towards Michinari, Michinari eyes wide open as he seems him getting closer. "What the-"
"LOOK OUT!" Norika shouts, making the others turn their gazes towards Michinari.
"CAPTAIN!"
"Rah!!!" Asuto shouts, his eyes wide intensity as he dashes, slamming Michinari out of Haizaki's charge, with Haizaki getting though towards Raimon's side of the field.
"Ohh! Midfielder Asuto from Raimon Island was able to save their Captain Michinari from Haizaki's assault! That was close." The commentator adds.
"Asuto! That guy is nuts, he plays like a animal..." Michinari hisses, turning his gaze at Haizaki who was charging away and back to Asuto. "Hey, are you ok?"
"I'm here, Captain. If you give up, we will all lose, if we stop we will lose football..." Asuto clutches his arm, hissing with an pained gaze.
Hiyori and Mansaku dashes pass them, blocking Haizaki's path, who quickly changes pass them too.
Kozoumaru quickly jumps into Haizaki's path right after the others, following Haizaki's movements.
"Asuto... This game..." Michinari whispers, clutching his armband.
"This game is just as the others, it doesn't matter who we play against." Asuto says, slowly rising up.
"Asuto..." Michinari stares at Asuto, his eyes narrowing.
"Play football the way we always do it, Captain... Do it... Play football the way you love it! The way we used to play on the island! DO IT!" Asuto roars, dashing towards Haizaki.
"Asuto..." Michinari whispers, staring at his hands.
"Michinari! Move it! We need you here! We need the captain!" Mansaku runs pass Michinari, calling him out.
"Right! TEAM! MOVE OUT!" Michinari nods and turns the others, shouting.
"YEAH!"
Hanta and Hiura quickly follow Kozoumaru, blocking Haizaki's path from all the sides, Asuto rushes to them, blocking Haizaki from behind as the others approached.
Haizaki’s smirk widened into a jagged, predatory grin. "If you guys are really good, then show me! Show me this potential Kidou was babbling about! NOW!"
Haizaki struck a powerful shot, going right pass everyone on it's way.
"...!" Hanta, Hiura and Kozoumaru's eyes wide open.
"GUYS!!! DON'T LET HIM THROUGH!!!" Michinari screamed, his voice raw.
"Haaah!" Mansaku threw himself headfirst into the path of the ball, attempting a desperate block. The shot slammed into his leg, the pressure so intense it sent him spinning through the air. "Gaaaaah!"
Asuto changes right after the ball, diving his leg right against. "Ghrrrrrrr!"
The ball zips right pass him, sending him stumbling. "Gah!"
Norika lunged, her fingers inches from the leather, but the ball was a blur of pure spite. It ripped through the air and slammed into the net, dragging her into the goal with it. "Kyaaaa!!!"
The scoreboard spun. 6.
7.
More and more goals went in easily, Haizaki landed, his eyes scanning the broken Raimon players with a look of profound disappointment.
"Move, you idiots!" Kozoumaru shouted, his voice a raspy snarl.
8.
"Don't get beaten by one guy! Come on! MOVE OUT! LET'S GO!" Goujin added, his legs were trembling.
9.
Hiyori scrambled back, his eyes wide in terror. "DEMON! DEMON!!! BIG SCARY DEMON!!!"
"Gao-san!" Mansaku shouted, quickly running to Hiyori.
"Hiyori... Darn it... If only..." Michinari hisses, clutching his armband again.
Hiro adjusted his glasses, his analytical mind reeling. "I can’t stop him... the data doesn't make sense! He’s the Devil of the Field!"
"Block him! Move up! Every man back!" Michinari ordered.
Haizaki stood near the center, the ball at his feet. He leaps on the air and shoots the vall up at the sky and let out a sharp, piercing whistle.
From the shadows of the pitch, six penguins erupted from the ground, They circled the ball, their bodies vibrating as they began to drill into the leather, imbuing it with a terrifying, swirling power.
"OVAHEATO PENGUIN!!!!!"
He leaped into the air, flipping his body until he was completely upside down. With a violent, snapping kick, he struck the ball. The six penguins followed it like heat-seeking missiles, moving straight towards Inakuni's goal.
"P-penguins?" Hiro’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"That's the..." Michinari whispered, "That's the move..."
"Oh oh..." Hanta steps back, her eyes narrowing.
"You... You are not going to score anymore goal!!! ENOUGH!!!" Asuto shouts on the top of his lungs. He sprinted forward, his entire body leaning into the wind. "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"
The team gasped in unison, seeing Asuto running to throw his entire life in front of that shot.
"Follow Asuto!!!!!" Michinari grabbed Hiyori who had curled himself into a ball of sheer panic and hauled him forward.
Hiyori buried his face in Michinari’s shirt, his small hands clutching his shirt as they charged. "Hold on buddy..." Michinari whispers to Hiyori, his eyes filled with determination.
"Let's gooooooo!!!!!!!!" Mansaku bellowed, his fear turning into a burning rage.
"LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
The Raimon Island abandoned their positions, forming a human wall and sprinting back toward their own goal.
"Golem! Now!" Hanta screamed, leaping onto Golem’s massive back to gain height.
"Here we go!!!" Golem roared, holding Hanta's with a tight grip.
The Overhead Penguin shot flew toward them, They jumped, they dived, they threw their bodies into the air but the shot went right pass them.
"This is mine... it's mine! IT'S MINE!" Norika screamed, She planted her feet, her eyes reflecting the violet glow of the incoming shot.
The weight of the island, the memory of her mother’s and the long days on the riverbank with the others, all of that surged into her arms. "IT'S MIIIIIIIIIIINE!!!!!!!!"
She lunged forward, directly into the shot.
Norika went all in, The impact vibrated through the entire stadium. Norika’s boots carved deep, jagged trenches into the turf as she was driven backward.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!" her voice cracked, Her nails bit through the leather of her gloves, the friction generating a searing heat into her hands.
The rest of the team charged toward her. They were close, dots of light approaching slowly. Norika’s vision flickered, her pupils dilating as she poured every ounce of her soul into her forearms. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
On the far side of the pitch, Haizaki stood still, feeling an unsettling sensation in his chest. He watched a girl from a nameless island try to catch a meteor with her bare hands. He let out a sharp, jagged sigh and turned his back. "...Useless."
Norika’s eyes squeezed shut, her muscles spasming under the pressure. The team was there their voices reaching her like a distant echo from across the sea.
"NORIKAAAAAAA!!!!"
With a sound like a snapped violin string, the ball spiraled out of Norika’s numb grip. Her eyes flew open for a fraction of a second, watching the sphere escape into the dark sky.
The force of the failed save sent her hurtling backward, slamming into the net with a force that knocked the wind and the consciousness right out of her. Her eyes went blank, her body slumping into the white mesh like a broken doll.
"N-norika..."
One by one, the rest of the team collapsed not able to continue anymore. Asuto stumbled, his legs turning to water. "G...gah..."
He clawed at the grass, his fingers digging into the ground, before his strength finally failed. He hit the ground face-first, his mind descending into numbness.
The stadium went quiet as the referee blows the whistle.
"I-it’s over!" The commentator’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the carnage on the field. He leaned into his microphone, his hand trembling slightly. "With a colossal score of 10-1, Seishou Academy demonstrates exactly why they are the undisputed number one!"
Haizaki smirks and walks away, "That’s all they’ve got?" he muttered to himself, his voice dripping with boredom. "I was an idiot for expecting anything else."
As he passed Mizukamiya, Mizukamiya stared at the fallen Raimon players. "You’re irritated, Haizaki," Mizukamiya whispered, his voice smooth and cold. "You're irritated because, for a second, you actually thought they might win. And you're even more irritated because they didn't stop trying until their hearts literally gave out."
"You felt it, didn't you, Haizaki? They are pure as the air we breathe right now..." Mizukamiya looks up to the air.
Haizaki eyes wide for a sec.
Then he just walked away, Mizukamiya stares at his back and then into the field again. "How interesting..."
Up in the VIP lounge, The pink haired guy and the grey haired guy were still watching the game, The pink haired guy rested his chin on his hand, Beside him, the gray-haired stood in silence.
"A natural outcome," The grey haired guy stated.
"True," The pink haired guy replied, his eyes following the medics as they rushed onto the field. "But... Nishikage, could you investigate a little more about this Raimon? There was a frequency in their play that I didn't expect."
"Understood." Nishikage nodded.
On the Raimon bench, Ootani sobbed loudly, her hands flying between the players as she tried to shake them back to life, Sub-Coach Kaeda puts his hands on top of his head, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Why doing this to the kids, Coach... Why..." Sub-Coach Kameda whispers.
Coach Zhao keeps his eyes closed with a neutral face, not saying anything.
"WAAAAAA! Guys! Please stand up! Please move your bodies!" she wailed, accidentally juggling a water bottle and a towel in her desperation. "You all look like... like... ZOMBIES! Moving, breathing zombies! WAAAAA!"
"W-we’re finished," Hiro wheezed, his glasses cracked and hanging off one ear. He stared at the stadium roof, "It was all for nothing."
Norika was on the ground besides Hiro, her eyes seaming empty as they twitched slightly.
"Hiro-kun! Norika-chan! Please!" Ootani pleads.
"We won't get to play soccer anymore..." Hanta moaned, her head lolling to the side as she lay on a bench. "No more field... no more island..."
Mansaku stared at his bruised shins, whispering to the air. "It ended... all too soon... I..."
Michinari sat on the grass, his eyes half-closed. Hiyori was sprawled across his lap, snoring.
In the VIP box, the Raimon School Council girl stood up. She looked down at the team with a look of disdain. "That's all they could do," she said to the other girls. "At the end of the day, they are just a bunch of stray cats from the boonies who wandered into a lion’s den. They are a bunch of nobodies."
Asuto lay on the grass, the turf pressing against his cheek. He could hear Ootani’s hysterical sobbing and the distant, fading footsteps of the crowd, his eyes feeling heavy.
"Everyone," he whispered, his voice filled with pain.
"Asuto-chan! Please rest up!" Ootani sobbed, trying to push him back down. "Don't expend your energy! You guys did your best! You're heroes! Very tired, broken heroes!"
"Why are you so sad, Ootani-chan?" Asuto asked, his eyes fluttering open. A small, dizzy smile touching his lips. "It doesn't matter how many... times they knock us off. Football... it won't leave us... It's right here."
Anna's eyes wide open, whispering to herself. "...Despite all that happen, that boy still remains motivated..."
"A-Asuto..." Michinari whispered, his voice cracking as he leaned forward.
"Don't give... up on this," Asuto continued, his fingers twitching as he tried to push himself off the ground. "We... we will get back football. Doesn't matter where... we will find it. I see it now..."
He paused, his breath hitching as he remembered Coach's words. "What the coach said... 'To not lose.' He didn't mean the score... No... He meant that as long as we don't lose heart, a path will open... That week of training... it wasn't for the muscles. It made the town see us... It gave us a reason to surpass our limits..."
"Now w...we are really ready for everything..." Asuto forces a smile, his lips trembling a little.
"Asuto-chan..." Ootani sobs, small tears falling down her eyes.
He let out a long, shuddering breath. "We came all the way to Tokyo... so... Ootani-chan why don't you take us to... explore the c...i...t...y..."
Asuto’s head lollled back, his eyes rolling into his head as he finally fainted from exhaustion.
"WAAAAAA! ASUTO-CHAN!" Ootani screamed, her eyes turning into literal fountains.
"A-Asuto!" Michinari scrambled to his feet, stumbling slightly.
"ASUTO!" Mansaku dragged his bruised leg across the turf, joining the group as they huddled around their fallen forward.
"Asuto..."
The team stood there broken, beaten and defeated but as they looked at Asuto’s peaceful, sleeping face, the look in their eyes began to flicker with a little bit of sadness.
...
Two individuals watched the game on a screen in a fancy looking office, On it, the final score of the Raimon-Seishou match flickered one last time before a gloved hand reached out.
"So, as expected by the Ares System, Seishou Academy wins."
The secretary’s said, With a sharp motion of her wrist, she deactivated the display.
"Of course. Ares sees through everything... every variable, every heartbeat," a man in a pristine white suit replied. He stood by the window, staring out at the Tokyo skyline.
"But that Raimon team... something about them... it doesn't feel right." The secretary crosses her arms around her chest, staring at the man's back.
"Is that so?" The man says, his gaze distant.
"Yes, but they look like a bunch of country pumpkins to me. A minor anomaly that could be corrected by the weight of a superior program." The secretary adds.
The man in the white suit narrowed his eyes. "Perhaps..." He sighs, whispering to himself. "...But pumpkins have a way of taking root where you least expect them..."
...
The next morning, the sun rose over Tokyo. Ootani dragged the entire Inakuni Eleven to the observation deck of the Sunshine Tower, trying to help them cheer up.
"Hah..." Ootani took a deep, theatrical breath of the observatory air. "There! Nothing better than fresh air and a high altitude to clear the cobwebs!" She spun around, a bright, slightly forced smile on her face. "I bet you guys never saw anything this grand on the island, right!?"
"Eh..." The team answers with a ghostly hiss, standing beside her with bandages wrapped around foreheads, cheeks, and arms. Their gazes were distant, their eyes shadowed with hollow exhaustion.
"Ahhh! Come on, guys!" Ootani pouted, stomping her foot. "The doctor said mobility and sunlight are the best medicines! You all look like the undead! The 'Living Dead of Inakuni'!" She forces a smile. "Get over here! You guys will love this!"
"Eh..." the team hissed again, moving in a slow, shuffling line like a group of mummies toward the floor-to-ceiling glass.
"Alright! Look now! Really look!" Ootani urged, pointing toward the horizon.
As they reached the glass, The city of Tokyo stretched out beneath them a sprawling, silver-and-blue labyrinth of shimmering glass, veins of traffic around and tiny, ant-like people peacefully living lives.
"Wow..." Hanta whispered, her breath fogging the glass.
"It’s... it’s a genuinely good view," Hiro admitted. He reached up to adjust his glasses, but his hand shook slightly. "The geometric layout of the metropolitan area... it’s staggering."
"Tokyo sure is amazing," Mansaku muttered, his grip tightening on his crutch. "It’s so big. So... final."
Asuto stood at the very edge, his forehead almost touching the cold glass. His bandages were stark white against his tanned skin. "So this is Tokyo’s peak," he whispered. His gaze on the horizon, toward the distant ocean.
For a long moment, the only sound was the hum of the other people around the observatory. Then, a soft *drip* hit the ground.
Ootani’s eyes widened. "Guys!?"
A tear tracked a path down cheek Asuto's, followed by another, and then his shoulders began to heave. "I... I have the answer but," he choked out, his voice cracking slightly. "It...It just... hurts... It hurts so much..."
He buried his face in his bandaged hands, unable to hide his feelings anymore. "Mom... I'm sorry..."
The whole team start sobbing right after Asuto, tears falling down from their eyes.
"I wish... I wish we could have played more..." Michinari sobbed, covering his eyes as he slumped against a pillar. "Just one more minute... Just one more play..."
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"
Kozoumaru let out a long, shaky sigh. "Come on... here? Of all places?" Even as he spoke, his lip trembled, and he closed his eyes.
"This makes me so sad..." Ootani sobs, whispering to herself. "Poor guys..."
Hiyori was fast asleep, leaning his weight against Ootani’s leg, but even in his slumber, small drops of salt water leaked from beneath his closed eyelids, just like everybody else.
But suddenly they heard a voice.
"Hello, Raimon Eleven.~"
The team froze as they turned, wiping their eyes with their sleeves, to see a middle-aged man standing before them.
"Your plays were so stirring to me," the man said, nodding with genuine respect. "Truly magnificent. I haven't felt that kind of heat in a stadium in decades."
The team blinked, looking at each other in confusion.
Ootani stepped forward, sniffing loudly. "Hey... um... can we help you, sir? Are you a doctor? Or... the police?"
"Oh, where are my manners!" The man chuckled, reaching into his pocket and producing a thick, high-quality business card. "I’m the CEO of the Island Tourism Group, Shimabukuro Ikutaro. It is a pleasure to finally meet the legends of Inakuni."
Hiro grabbed the card, his analytical eyes scanning the logo. "Island... Tourism Group?"
"Uh? Are they famous?" Goujin asked, scratching the back of his head.
"It's... it’s a major travel agency," Hiro whispered, his eyes widening. "Global reach and Massive capital."
"Wow..." The team awe in unison.
"You... you watched our game, sir?" Asuto asked. He stood up straight and bowed deeply, his face red with embarrassment. "Thank you very much... even though it was... what it was."
"It was a very touching game," Shimabukuro said, his smile never wavering.
"It was a loss," Golem rumbled, looking at his feet. "10-1. That’s not a game... that’s just demolition."
"Games aren't solely about the numbers on a scoreboard," the CEO replied softly. "You stood up for each other against the 'Demons and Angels' of Seishou. You played fairly, you didn't resort to foul play even when you were drowning, and you kept running until you literally collapsed. It was beautiful. It was... human."
"Unfortunately, sir... This is the end of the line for us," Michinari said, looking out at the city. "No sponsor, no team, that was what they told us."
The others nodded, their gazes down.
"Is that so?" Shimabukuro asked, his eyebrows rising. "Because my company has been looking for a spirit just like yours. The Island Tourism Group will be officially sponsoring the Raimon Eleven." He paused, his smile widening. "Or should I say... the new Raimon Island?"
"EH!?" The team gasps in unison.
"R-really!?" Asuto’s eyes snapped open, "That's..."
"A..ah! That means...!" Goujin’s shouts.
"We... we can still play football!!! HELL YEAHHHH!!" Michinari screamed, rising his fist up.
"YEAH!!!!!"
The team exploded, jumping, hugging, and tackling each other to the floor of the observatory.
"YEAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
"Another opportunity... Thank God..." Hiro cried, making the tears, fog up his glasses.
"It feels so good to breathe!" Hiura laughed, throwing his arms out wide.
"Han-chan! We can have football back! We really can!" Golem bawled, scooping Hanta up into a bear hug that made her ribs creak.
"We do! We really do! Waaa!" Hanta sobbed back, pounding on Golem’s massive shoulders in joy.
Kozoumaru watched them, finally allowing a small, genuine smile to tug at the corner of his mouth before he looked away, "Darn it... Heh... It wasn't in vain..."
Ootani watched them, her heart swelling with a pride she couldn't quite describe. "I'm glad... I'm so glad for you guys..." She sobs. "So many emotions..."
Asuto walked back to the glass. The sun was higher now, bathing the city in a warm and golden glow. He looked up at the sky, his eyes clear and focused.
"We're still here, Mom," he whispered, his smile radiant. "Thanks..."
The road to the top was a long way, and the Potential they had was only just beginning to flicker. But as the boys descended from the tower, their steps were no longer those of the undead now they were the steps of a team that had found its light one again, a team ready to reach the top.
...
"...Heh"
To Be Continued....
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