EP 004: Bring Down! The Impenetrable Stronghold!

 

...

The sun rise over Minodouzan Junior High, shattering into a thousand golden shards against the rugged, stone-hewn architecture of the campus. Built directly into a plateau that overlooked a series of jagged cliffs, the school felt more like a fortress than a place of learning. The air here was thin and sharp, carrying the scent of pine needles and the earthy, metallic tang of wet granite.

It was a Tuesday morning, and the campus was already a beehive of high-velocity movement. The student body moved with the rhythmic intensity of a mountain rescue team. In the central courtyard, a group of students in thick tracksuits were performing synchronized lunges, their collective breath rising in a white mist. Others were jogging in tight formations uphill, their heavy boots crunching rhythmically against the gravel.

Suddenly, the heavy hiss of air brakes cut through the morning's athletic hum. A dusty, weathered bus pulled up to the front gates. The doors folded back with a metallic clatter, and a single figure stepped out.

He was a relatively small kid, but he stood with a grounded, centered gravity. He wore a peculiar, bone-colored mask atop his head like a crown of ancient remains, the horns curving upward. Below the mask, his eyes were wide and shimmering with a frantic, electric awe.

Ryuuki took a deep breath, the cold mountain air filling his lungs. A triumphant smile split his face. "I'm finally here..." he whispered, his voice barely audible over the distant shouting of a track coach.

"So this is... Midoukozan..." He looked up at the main building, a brutalist structure made of dark granite. To any other kid, it might have looked intimidating, even oppressive. To Ryuuki, it looked like freedom. He adjusted his bone mask, pulling it slightly lower until the shadows of the horns fell across his brow. 

Ryuuki wandered past the main gymnasium, where the windows were vibrating from the impact of something heavy hitting the interior walls. He peered through a fence and saw a group of students practicing headers using medicine balls, their expressions set in masks of grim, focused determination.

"Look at that," Ryuuki muttered. His eyes suddenly fluttered shut, and he stood perfectly still in the middle of the walkway. His head tilted to the left, as if leaning toward an invisible companion. 

"They don't hold back, do they?" Ryuuki said out loud, his voice clear and conversational despite nobody being there. "Not like the last place. I don't get why they kicked me out, maybe the formation, the strategy... that's why it wouldn't work at all... the strategies kinda mess up with my head, But here... look at the weight they carry. They’re boulders. You can't tell a boulder where to roll, right? It just goes. Like it feels that there are other ways to win..."

He stood there for several minutes, his eyes closed, his lips moving in a rapid-fire debate with his own thoughts. To a passerby, he looked like a kid lost in a trance. He didn't mean to be a maverick, he just genuinely believed there was other ways to win.

He continued his aimless trek, losing himself in the school's geography. He watched the archery club practicing in the wind, and the wrestling team grappling on mats laid out over the cold stone. Time began to liquefy. The morning sun climbed higher, turning the granite buildings from grey to a blinding, chalky white. 

"You’re quite a long way from the registration office."

The voice was like a landslide, deep, resonant, and steady. 

Ryuuki snapped his eyes open and spun around. Standing a few feet away was a giant of a boy. Kabeyama Heigorou leaned heavily on a pair of silver crutches, his massive frame draped in the orange colors of the Minodouzan reinforcement tracksuit. His face was kind, but his eyes were weary.

Ryuuki’s jaw dropped. The bone mask slipped an inch. "K-Kabeyama-sama? The legendary wall of the old Raimon Eleven?"

Kabeyama let out a soft, bashful chuckle, rubbing the back of his curly hair. "That was a long time ago. Now, I'm just the guy who’s supposed to make sure the new recruits don't wander off the cliffside. You must be Ryuuki. I've been looking all over for you. The bus driver said a kid with a mask got off and immediately started having a very loud argument with himself."

Ryuuki turned bright red, his hand flying up to steady his mask. "I wasn't arguing! It's just... nothing!"

Ryuuki eyes sparked with excitement. "This school is amazing, Kabeyama-sama!"

"Heh, I'm glad you like it." Kabeyama smiles.

"I heard that Minodouzan gives its players total freedom like there are other ways to win? right?" Ryuuki leans forward his eyes wider with excitement.

Kabeyama’s expression shifted, a flicker of concern crossing his features. He adjusted his crutches with a rhythmic *clack-thump* and gestured for Ryuuki to follow him. "Freedom, huh? Well, that’s an interesting way to put it. Come on. Let’s walk. I’ll show you around before the morning drills end."

As they walked, Ryuuki practically vibrated with energy. He hopped over cracks in the pavement, his eyes darting to every training session they passed. Kabeyama moved with a slow, deliberate grace, his crutches marking a steady beat.

"Is it true, Kabeyama-san?" Ryuuki asked, his voice breathless. "Does the coach really let the boulders roll however they want?"

Kabeyama looked down at the small boy. "Minodouzan is a strong place, Ryuuki. It’s built on the idea of the 'Fortress.' But a fortress isn't just one big rock. It's a lot of rocks working together to stay still."

"So everyone plays together right!?" Ryuuki smiles. "That's so cool! I hope everyone can handle the way I play...hehe"

Kabeyama stated at him, he saw the passion, but he also saw the involuntary selfishness that had likely gotten the kid expelled.

Ryuuki stopped in his tracks, his eyes closing again. 

"Did you hear that?" Ryuuki whispered to the empty air beside his ear. "Despite playing like a team, He says that they stay still. That can't be right. We didn't come here to stay still, did we? We came here to be the avalanche. Kabeyama-san is just being modest. He’s a legend, he knows that once we're on the pitch, the whole mountain moves with us."

Kabeyama watched him, fascinated and slightly unnerved by the way Ryuuki's internal thoughts just spilled out into the open. "Ryuuki, you're thinking out loud again."

Ryuuki didn't open his eyes. "Oh sorry. It helps me focus. My old team said it was distracting and creepy, but they just weren't listening to the logic. Once I show this team my playstyle, they'll realize I was right all along."

Kabeyama sighed, his grip tightening on his crutches. The kid was a firecracker, but he was headed straight for a stone wall. "You’ve got a lot of spirit. Just remember... the Boulders here are very heavy. If you try to push them in a direction they don't want to go, you're the one who ends up flat."

Ryuuki didn't seemed to be listening at all, he just followed as he was thinking loudly again.

They reached a massive set of double doors at the end of a long, shaded colonnade. The sound of rhythmic, booming impacts was deafening here. It sounded like a giant heartbeat, slow and tectonic.

"Behind these doors is the rest of the team," Kabeyama said, his voice turning serious. He looked at Ryuuki, noticing the way the boy’s hand went instinctively to the bone mask, adjusting it for the introduction. "They aren't like the kids at your old schools so be careful already? Are you ready to meet them?"

"O...oh! Ok!" Ryuuki’s eyes snapped open. The excitement was there, but it was edged with a sharp, stubborn focus. He looked at the heavy wooden doors and gave a sharp, jerky nod. "They’ve been waiting for me," he whispered to himself, though Kabeyama heard every word. "We’re finally going to show them how a real striker runs this mountain."

Kabeyama reached for the handle, his shoulders tensing. "Then let's go. Welcome to the Boulders."

The clubhouse of the Minodouzan Boulders felt like a cavern carved into the foundation of the earth. The air was thick and heavy, smelling of liniment, old leather, and a faint, metallic scent of iron. As Kabeyama pushed the heavy iron-reinforced doors open, they groaned on their hinges, a low, tectonic sound that made the hair on Ryuuki’s neck stand on end.

"Wow...." Ryuuki looked around with awe.

Inside, the lighting was dim, cast in flickering amber from industrial lamps. Ryuuki froze. Looming in the shadows were giants. Massive silhouettes sat on heavy wooden benches, their shoulders broad enough to block out the walls. Several players were staring directly at the door, their gazes sharp and predatory in the gloom.

"A...ah..." Ryuuki’s eyes snapped shut instinctively, all his awe and excitement slowly died out. His head tilted, and his internal voice spilled out into the room like a rushing stream. "They are huge... I look like a ant compared to them..."

Kabeyama let out a soft snort of amusement, his large hand resting firmly on Ryuuki’s shoulder. 

Suddenly, the silence was shattered. Iwagaki Noborou, the Captain, stood up. He was a mountain of a boy with a square jaw and a gaze that could crack stone. He took one look at Kabeyama and his face split into a wide, toothy grin.

"KABEYAMA-SAMA!" Iwagaki roared.

"Ayeeeeeeeeeee! Kabeyama-sama is back!" The team shouted.

"A...ah?" Ryuuki blinked a little.

The roar was infectious. The predators in the shadows suddenly burst into life, jumping to their feet with a thunderous clamor of cleats on stone. 

"Welcome back, Boss!" shouted Jousai Kento, the goalkeeper, his voice booming like a drum as he slammed a fist against his chest. 

"You're late, you big mountain! Hahahahaha!" Iwagaki shouted, "Oh, who is this?" He blinked staring at Ryuuki.

"E...eh..." Ryuuki steped back a little.

"Who’s the shrimp you brought with you?!" laughed Ugou Sarukichi, a forward with wild, energetic eyes, as he vaulted over a bench with effortless power. "Hey, kiddo!"

"H...hey..." Ryuuki forces a smile, despite being very intimidated.

"Hey everyone!" Kabeyama chuckled and gave Ryuuki a playful shove forward. "Everyone, this is Ryuuki. He’s our newest Boulder. Treat him like one of the family."

"Ayeeeeeeeeeee RYUUKI!!!" The team shouted descending on Ryuuki like a friendly avalanche.

"Gah..." Ryuuki spun around with his eyes wide open as the whole team gathers around him.

"He’s so tiny!" Kofun Miko, the team’s only woman, laughed as she hooked an arm around Ryuuki’s neck, pulling him into a rough headlock. She was a midfielder with a fierce, athletic build and hair tied back in a practical knot. She didn't treat him with delicacy, she treated him like a younger brother who needed toughening up. "Hey, little bean! You actually think you can handle this mountain? Hum?"

"I...I don't know?" Ryuuki blinked, staring at her face with awe.

"He doesn't know guys! He is so lost! Pfft hahahahahahahahah!" Miko laughed.

"Hahahahahahahahahahhahaha!" The whole team laughs.

"He is just a little fella! Hahahahahaha!" Iwagaki laughed.

Ryuuki blushed a little with embarrassement.

"Look at the mask! It’s awesome!" Moriagari Moko, the defender, leaned in close, ruffling Ryuuki’s hair so vigorously the mask nearly flew off. "Is it real bone? Can I see it? Can I wear it?"

"Ah... I mean..." Ryuuki mumbled a little.

Maeno Taihou and Hirata Taizou, the two massive central defenders, stood on either side of him like twin pillars. They slapped him on the back, blows that felt like falling trees, and laughed as Ryuuki stumbled forward. "Pfft hahahahahahahahahah!"

"Eek..." Ryuuki rubs his back.

"Sturdy! He’s sturdy for a small guy!" Maeno bellowed, his voice echoing.

Hirata said, scooping Ryuuki up by the armpits as if he weighed nothing. "Look at this little pebble! Welcome to the family!"

"A...ah...can you put me down please?" Ryuuki eyes wide.

"He's tiny! We can use him as a projectile!" Ishikabe Yamori laughed, slapping Ryuuki’s back with a hand the size of a dinner plate.

Boruku Tsumio and Testsugoshi Kouguro, the midfielders, started pushing him back and forth between them in a game of human pinball, their faces lit with genuine, rowdy affection as they laughed. "Hahahahahahahah!" 

"Welcome to the rock pile, kid! Hope you like bruises!" Kouguro said laughing.

"You're gonna need to eat way more if you want to stand in our line," Tsumio joked.

"What was your name again, kiddo?" Iwagaki asked with a smile on his face.

Ryuuki was bright red, his eyes darting everywhere. "I-I... I’m Ryuuki! I have a triple-axis strike that-"

"Save the talk for the grass, newbie!" Ishikabe shouted, throwing a playful punch that stopped just short of Ryuuki’s shoulder. 

"Hey you dork, let the kid talk!" Miko hissed playfully, putting her arms around his neck. "Don't let them get to you, kiddo!"

"He just got in and you are spoiling him already, big sis?" Kouguro laughed. "He gotta to know, we work with action here!"

"O...oh?" Ryuuki tilts his head.

Kakoi Kouken nodded in agreement, leaning against a locker with a smirk, crossing his arms. "Yeah, we don't do theories here. We do impact."

"Ha! We got a new member guys! Let's give him our best cheer!!!" Yamori shouted.

"Ayeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!" The whole team shouted, right on front of Ryuuki.

"Urgh..." Ryuuki covers his ears.

"Hahahahahahahahahhahahahahah!" The team laughs.

"NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID!!!!!!!!!!"

The room was a mess of shouting and laughter. They stood there, cheering on him, slapping each other’s heads and wrestling for space on the benches. It was a brotherhood and sisterhood, built on sweat and absolute, unyielding unity.

"Eh...." Ryuuki stood in the center of the hurricane, his face turning a bright, frantic red. He was shyly trying to keep his footing as the giants pushed him around with rough, genuine affection. “They’re... they’re nice?” he whispered to the air. “A bit loud. Extremely loud. My ears might actually bleed, but they... they are nice..."

The chaos reached its peak just as the door at the back of the clubhouse flew open with a sharp *bang*.

"EW! GROSS! LITERALLY DISGUSTING!"

The team froze mid-wrestle. Standing there was Kizoku, the manager. her uniform customized with bright accessories, her nails long and painted a vibrant neon green. She held a clipboard like a weapon, her face contorted in a mask of total repulsion.

"It smells like a foot had a baby with a landfill in here!" Kizoku hissed, stepping over a discarded protein shake bottle with exaggerated care. "I am totally not joking. If I see one more empty cup on the floor, I am going to knock every single one of you, and not in the good way. This is, like, a health hazard! My hair is absorbing the grease!"

"Kizoku-chan!" the team shouted.

"Don't 'Kizoku-chan' me!" she snapped, tossing a clipboard onto a bench.

"SORRY, KIZOKU-CHAAAAN!" the team shouted in a perfect, sheepish unison, their giant forms suddenly shrinking under her sharp gaze. They all laughed, but there was a genuine note of fear in their voices.

"She's...intense..." Ryuuki gulped.

Kizoku pointed a long, neon nail at a pile of discarded tape, empty bottles, and dusty equipment scattered across the center of the room. "Clean it. Now. I have to update the Eleven License data and I can't think while I'm surrounded by trash. It’s killing my vibe."

She crossed her arms, taping her feet on the ground.

The team turned as one and looked at Ryuuki. Ryuuki blinked, looking from the mess to the giants surrounding him.

Iwagaki, stepped forward. He placed a heavy, warm hand on Ryuuki’s head, his expression turning solemn but kind. "Listen up, kid."

"E...eh?" Ryuuki blinked, his eyes wide.

"Every mountain has a foundation. Every fortress has a first stone." Iwagaki said. "Today you are going to place your first stone."

"M...my first...stone?" Ryuuki asked, his eyes wide.

He pointed to the pile of trash. A slow, calm smile spread across his face. "We left all of this right here, just for you. It’s the Initiation Ritual. You clean this mess, and you aren't just a guest anymore. You’re a Boulder. You’re one of us."

"I...I clean the mess...?" Ryuuki’s eyes went wide. He looked at the vast mountain of trash, the cups, the mud, the scattered gear. He looked at Kabeyama, who was leaning on his crutches, nodding slowly with a look of quiet encouragement.

"Go for it, Ryuuki," Kabeyama said softly.

"DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!!!!" The team cheered.

Ryuuki swallowed hard. He felt a strange, fluttering sensation in his chest, not the anxiety of being judged, but the heat of being seen. He walked over to the corner, grabbed a tattered broom and a dustpan, and set to work.

At first, he was clumsy. The broom was heavy, and the giants continued their rowdy banter around him, occasionally accidentally kicking a cup toward him to see his reaction. But Ryuuki didn't mind. 

"Mhmm...he is good..." Miko smiled.

"Very good indeed..." Ishikabe said.

"Indeed? Pftt! You don't use this types of words." Miko smirks, amoused.

"O-ofcurse I use!" Ishikabe shouted.

"He is trying to make himself look classy for the kid, Hahahahahaha!" Iwagaki laughed.

"Hahahahahahahaha!"

Ryuuki kept swept with a focused intensity, his eyes narrowed, his internal voice finally going quiet for once. 

*Sweep. Scoop. Dump.*

He scrubbed the mud from the floorboards. He organized the scattered tape. He hauled the overflowing bin to the door. As he worked, the team watched him out of the corners of their eyes. They weren't mocking him, they were gauging his spirit.

When the last piece of trash was tucked into the bin and the floorboards actually showed through the dust, Ryuuki stood up, wiping sweat from his brow. He looked at the clean space and then at the team.

"I’m... I’m done," he whispered.

The silence lasted for exactly one heartbeat.

"HE DID IT!" Ugou screamed, leaping into the air.

"YEAAAAAAH! WELCOME HOME, KID!" Kento roared, his voice shaking the lockers.

"NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! AYEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!"

The entire team erupted into a frenzied cheer. They swarmed him again, but this time it was different. Miko hoisted him up onto her shoulders, and the giants paraded him around the clean clubhouse as if he had just scored the winning goal of the finals. 

"A...ah..." Ryuuki blinked with his eyes wide.

"The new guy’s got grit!" Hirata yelled, slapping a massive hand against a locker in rhythm. "Way to do little one!"

Ryuuki, perched high above the room, looked down at his calloused, dusty hands. A slow, genuine smile spread across his face, not the defensive smirk he usually wore, but a look of pure, unadulterated pride. For the first time in his life, he wasn't the weird kid who didn't fit in. He seemed like part of the team.

Iwagaki looked over at Kabeyama, and the two shared a knowing nod. The foundation was set. The Boulders were now ready.

The moment of celebration was cut short by a synchronized, high-pitched chirping. *BIP-BIP-BIP.* The players all looked down at their wrists, where the sleek, neon-lit Eleven Bands were flashing in unison. The light reflected off the polished stone floor of the clubhouse. In an instant, the atmosphere shifted from rowdy party to professional focus.

They didn't hesitate. The rowdy laughter stayed, but their eyes sharpened instantly. 

"Hm?" Ryuuki blinked, looking around.

"Alright guys, it's time for training, let's go!" Iwagaki barked, his voice booming as he slammed his locker shut.

"YEAH!" The team roared, a stampede of heavy cleats hitting the stone floor as they filed toward the exit.

Ryuuki stood frozen for a second, watching the wave of muscle move past him. Kabeyama lingered at the door, leaning on his crutches with a patient smile. "What are you waiting for, Ryuuki-san? Let's go!"

"Eh... Ok!" Ryuuki scrambled after them, nearly tripping over his own feet. Kizoku, the manager, strolled behind them, tapping away at a tablet with her neon-green nails.

As they walked down the stone colonnade toward the pitch, Ryuuki’s eyes fluttered shut. His head tilted, and the words began to spill out again. "The first training... I was so excited to be here a little while ago and now I'm all nervous. What if they realize I’m just a little rock in a pile of boulders? What if the mask falls off and my brain falls out? I have to be perfect."

The team stopped. tilting their heads in unison, staring at the masked boy who was currently debating his own existence with the air. Kabeyama just sighed and shook his head, a weary but fond expression on his face.

The training field was a vast rectangle of reinforced turf, surrounded by jagged rock walls that echoed every sound, the team stood there in line with Ryuuki standing there akwardly. Waiting at the center were two figures who looked like they had been carved directly from the mountainside.

Coach Saitou was a bear of a man, his chest so broad his whistle looked like a tiny toy against his tracksuit. Beside him stood Sub-coach Hosoi, a thin, wiry man who seemed to exist purely to reflect Saitou’s energy.

"MY BEAUTIFUL BOULDERS!" Saitou bellowed, his voice vibrating in Ryuuki’s teeth. "Are you ready to grind the dust into diamonds!?"

"Diamonds! Absolute diamonds, Coach!" Hosoi chirped immediately, nodding so hard his glasses nearly slid off.

Saitou glanced down at Hosoi, his brow furrowing. "I didn't ask for an echo, Hosoi! I asked for spirit!"

"Spirit! High-octane spirit, sir! My apologies!" Hosoi stood at attention, saluting the air.

Saitou bellowed, his laughter booming across the field. "Welcome to the dirt! Today we sharpen the edges of the fortress!"

"Yes, coach!" The team shouts in unison.

"Sharpening the edges, sir! Razor sharp! Incredibly sharp!" Hosoi shouted immediately, nodding so fast his glasses nearly flew off.

Saitou glanced down at Hosoi, his brow furrowing. "A bit too loud, Hosoi."

"Yes sir! Too loud! Silencing myself now, sir! Absolute silence!" Hosoi chirped back.

Saitou sighed, then looked at the team, his eyes landing on Ryuuki. "So, this is the new one! Welcome to the family, son!"

"Uh...thanks..." Ryuuki stared at the ground, blushing a little.

"Hah!" The coach laughed. "Don't worry about being small, diamonds are small, and they’re the hardest rocks there are! A small rock in the right place can trip a giant! Do you best, alright?"

"Y...yes coach!" Ryuuki nodded.

"Now, split up! Red versus Blue! Let's see some impact! Go Boulders!" The coach shouted.

"Go Boulders!" The team shouted back.

The team divided. Ryuuki found himself in a red bib, standing alongside Kabeyama, Iwagaki, Miko, Maeno Taihou, and Tsumio. 

"Listen up, little brother," Miko said, punching Ryuuki’s shoulder with enough force to make him spin. "Stay close to me. If you get lost, just follow the sound of me breaking someone's shins!"

"Uh....ok?" Ryuuki blinked a little.

The whistle blew, a thunderous blast from the coach.

The game started with a terrifyingly high tempo. Tsumio took the ball first, moving it with short, powerful passes. When Ugou from the blue team tried to slide in, Boruku didn't dodge, he just braced his shoulder and kept moving, his footsteps sounding like a horse’s gallop. "Out the way!"

"Hey! Don't get cocky!" Ugou hisses.

"Passing lane! Give it here!" Ryuuki shouted.

Boruku flicked the ball toward Ryuuki. The speed was incredible. Ryuuki trapped it cleanly, his technique was sharp, and he immediately tried to burst forward. 

"I've got this! Watch the rotation, I’ll slice through the center-" Ryuuki muttered, his eyes wide. He bypassed Kouguro with a clever nutmeg, his small frame allowing him to zip through spaces the giants couldn't reach.

"Heh, nice on lil' guy!" Kouguro shouted.

But then, he hit the wall.

Hirata and Moriagari stepped together. Two mountains of flesh and bone. Ryuuki tried to pivot, his mind racing through a dozen solo maneuvers, but there was no room.

"Too slow, shrimp!" Hirata laughed, his voice deep. He just stood his ground. Ryuuki slammed into Hirata’s chest and felt like he’d run into a brick building. "Urgh!" The ball squirted loose.

"Careful kid!" Iwagaki shouted from the midfield.

The team moved in a terrifying, synchronized wave. As soon as the ball was lost, everyone, including the forwards, sprinted back into a tight, interlocking formation. 

"I gotta keep up! I'm a forward after all..." Ryuuki whispered to the air as he scrambled back.

Kabeyama moved beside him, surprisingly agile despite the crutches he’d just discarded for the drill. "Ryuuki! Don't just watch! Cover the gap between me and Maeno!"

"Right!" Ryuuki lunged into the space. Ishikabe was charging down the wing, looking to cross. Ryuuki timed it perfectly, sticking his foot out to deflect the ball.

"Nice touch, kid!" Maeno roared, slapping Ryuuki’s back so hard he nearly ate the turf. "Now send it back to Miko-san!"

"Uh..." Ryuuki looked at the opponents side of the field, he was so close but he had to pass the ball back. "Right!"

Ryuuki recovered the ball and saw Miko darting forward. He sent a crisp, spinning pass that landed right on her laces. "Mako-san!"

"That's the spirit!" she yelled, charging toward the goal.

On the sidelines, Kizoku blew a bubble with her gum, her eyes flicking between her tablet and the field. "His stats are, like, totally mid in power, but his passing accuracy is actually serving. Too bad he is like a weirdo. It’s totally ruining the aesthetic."

Coach Saitou crossed his arms, his chest puffing out. "Ha!" He has the fire! He just needs to learn that the fire stays in the hearth!"

"The hearth! A sturdy, well-constructed hearth!" Hosoi added, scribbling furiously on a notepad.

Coach Saitou glared at him. "Hosoi, if you say one more word, I’m making you run the cliffside path."

"Running! A healthy, cardiovascular exercise! I'll be quiet now!" Hosoi mimed zipping his lips.

The training continued for two grueling hours. Ryuuki was exhausted, his legs shaking, his jersey soaked in sweat. He had lost the ball dozens of times to of his teammates, but each time he went down, a giant hand would reach down and haul him back up.

"Again!" Jousai shouted from the goal, pounding his gloves together. "Keep the ball, kiddo!"

Ryuuki looked at his teammates, his brothers and sisters. They were bruised, sweaty, and insulting each other's footwork, but their eyes were bright. 

"I got this... I just have to do it...," Ryuuki whispered, tightening his bone mask.

He took the ball, the blue team defenders sprinted towards him, he waited for the overlapping run of Boruku and he passed the ball.

"Nice!" Boruku shouted and passed to Iwagaki.

"Take it back! Kid!" Iwagaki passed back to Ryuuki.

"Alright... just hang in there..." Ryuuki whisper to himself, But as he tried to break into the box, Hirata and Moriagari suddenly slid together like two halves of a closing gate. *THUD.* Ryuuki bounced off their combined chests and hit the turf again.

"Nice try, little brother!" Moriagari laughed, reaching down and hoisting Ryuuki back to his feet by the back of his jersey.

"Uh...thanks...." Ryuuki scratches the back of his head.

Hirata laughs. "What are you waiting for? Go for the ball!"

"Oh! Right!" Ryuuki nods and runs towards the ball.

"Too late!" The ball was scooped up by Ugou, who immediately turned around. he began a series of rapid, rhythmic passes between Testsugoshi and Hirata.

"Over here, Boru-kun!" Kakoi shouted, sliding in to take a pass. He winked at Ryuuki as she zipped past. "Catch us if you can, tiny!"

"I got to get it!" Ryuuki gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing. He dived in, sliding to steal the ball from. He managed to poke it away, but before he could stabilize, Kakoi, his heavy frame shielding the ball with ease.

"You're good, kid, but you not good enough!" Kakoi chuckled, passing the ball back to Jousai.

Jousai caught it with one hand, laughing. "Here it comes! Boulder incoming!" He launched a massive long ball that soared over the midfield.

Ryuuki chased it, his lungs burning. He caught the ball and tried to turn, but the blue team's defense was already a solid line of five players. He was trapped. He tried a radical feint, but Ishikabe simply stepped into his path, the impact sending Ryuuki stumbling back.

"Gah! I almost got it..." Ryuuki hisses.

"Not strong enough!" Ishikabe laughed, ready to pass the ball back.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed over him. Kabeyama had moved up, his presence turning the air heavy.

As Ishikabe comes to a sudden halt, Kabeyama gets into position, quickly extending both of his arms in the air and punching his fists together, raising up a wall behind them. 

"THE WALL!!! CODO GREATO!!!"

As the wall continues to emerge, the field shakes, making Ishikabe lose their balance and fall onto the field as the ball bounces back towards them.

"Argh! Come on Kabeyama-sama!" Ishikabe sighs, standing up immediately.

"Ha! Got owned, dumb ass!" Miko laughed.

"Don't let them set the pace, Ryuuki," Kabeyama said calmly. He flicked the ball perfectly back to Ryuuki’s feet. "Try again."

"Hm!" Ryuuki catched the ball, immediately sprinting forward.

Kakoi quickly stoled the ball from Ryuuki, "Too slow, slug!" "Is that all you got, pebble?!" He laughed.

But then, Kabeyama would inevitably shut down their advance, stealing the ball with a legendary grace and feeding it right back to Ryuuki. "Go!"

Ryuuki nodded, his eyes filled with determination, he passed to ball to Iwagaki who charged through the blue team's defenses easily and passed to Miko.

The Minodouzan players stayed in their half, passing the ball with surgical precision, daring Ryuuki to find a crack.

 "Almost got me!" Mako laughed, dodging a tackle. "Take it kid!"

Ryuuki catched the ball and passed it back to Kabeyama.

"Alright... I think he got the point of the team..." Kabeyama whispered to himself as he passed to Maeno.

"He's like a little squirrel!" Coach Saitou said amoused. "A squirrel with a bone mask!"

"A very determined squirrel, sir! High-speed rodent energy!" Hosoi shouted from the sidelines. 

Saitou roared with laughter, clapping his massive hands. "THAT'S IT! ENJOY THE CRUSH! BE THE MOUNTAIN!"

Ryuuki was exhausted, his jersey soaked in sweat, but for the first time in his life, he felt different, Every time he lost the ball, someone was there to back him up. Every time he fell, a giant hand was there to pull him up. 

In a few minutes, Ryuuki managed to weave through a tiny gap between Ishikabe and Hirata. 

"That's it!" Ryuuki sprints forward. "It's my chance!"

He didn't score, the whistle blew just as he was about to shoot, but the entire team stopped and cheered.

"Oh wow!" Iwagaki shouted, running over and throwing a heavy arm around Ryuuki’s neck. "He actually found a hole! I haven't seen anyone do that in months! Way to go kiddo!"

"A hole in our defense?" Ishikabe blinked a little. "Pretty impressive right, Hira-san?"

"Yep, this kid is amazing!" Hirata laughed.

"Not bad, kid! Not bad at all!" Miko added, playfully scratching at his hair. 

"Ah...err... thanks..." Ryuuki blushes.

"Cheer for Ryuuki-san come on!" Ugou shouts. "WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID! NEW KID!" The team cheered.

Ryuuki stood there, panting, his face flushed. He looked at his hands, then up at the circle of giants grinning down at him. They let him play, they were trusting him to be the one who finally broke their wall, they gave him freedom.

He looked over at Kabeyama, who gave him a slow, proud nod. Ryuuki didn't close his eyes this time. He didn't need to talk to himself. He just looked at his team and smiled.

"I think..." Ryuuki whispered, his voice steady. "I like it here..."

"OF COURSE YOU LIKE!" Coach Saitou bellowed, walking onto the field and nearly crushing Ryuuki in a massive bear hug. "YOU'RE A BOULDER NOW KID!"

"A..ah..." Ryuuki blinked a little and then smiled.

...

The mountain air was even crisper the following morning, carrying the sharp scent of damp pine and the distant, rhythmic *clack-clack-clack* of students in wooden sandals traversing the stone paths.

The morning sun slammed against the heavy stone walls of Minodouzan, signaling the start of the day with a bright, mountain chill. Inside his new room, Ryuuki was buried under a pile of thick blankets. The room smelled of fresh wood and the faint scent of old soccer gear.

He sat up, yawning wide, and immediately reached for his bone mask. He settled it onto his head, feeling the familiar weight. Then, his eyes drifted shut, and he started mumbling to himself, his voice small and rambling.

"Okay... Don't be weird. Or be a little weird, but in a cool way. Like a cool rock. A boulder. Yeah..."

*BAM!*

The door didn't just open; it hit the stopper with a crack that sounded like a gunshot. Miko and Moriagari came charging in like they were storming a castle.

"RISE AND SHINE, PEBBLE!" Miko yelled, grabbing the edge of the mattress and giving it a violent shake. "The sun’s up, so you’re up!"

"Come on, Ryuuki! If you're late, I'm eating your food!" Moko added, laughing as he grabbed Ryuuki’s arm and yanked him toward the floor. 

"I'm up! I'm up! Don't eat my food please!" Ryuuki scrambled to his feet, nearly tripping over his own rug as the two older players ushered him out.

Ryuuki finally went outside, He wore the dark, rugged Minodouzan uniform, which felt heavier and more durable than any he’d worn before. He adjusted his bone mask, pulling it firmly onto his head, and then squeezed his eyes shut. His lips began to move, and the internal monologue spilled out into the morning chill.

"Okay, first official day. New locker, new desk, new life. The stairs are steeper today, aren't they? It’s a maneuver by the architecture to build calf muscles before first period. If I trip and roll down, I’ll just be a literal rolling boulder. That's on brand. But what if the non-football students think I'm weird? What if they haven't heard I'm the new avalanche? I should probably introduce myself with a-"

"A loud voice and a straight back, pebble!"

Ryuuki’s eyes snapped open. Ugou and Ishikabe were suddenly flanking him. Ugou, the wild-eyed forward, He threw a heavy arm around Ryuuki’s shoulders, nearly knocking him sideways.

"Stop whispering to the ghosts, Ryuuki!" Ugou laughed, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "The whole school already knows you’re with us! Look!"

As they climbed the stairs, Ryuuki noticed the change. Students, some carrying heavy rucksacks, others jogging in place at the entrance, actually stopped and nodded. 

"Morning, Boulders!" a track runner shouted.

"New guy’s with the Fortress! Look at the mask!" another whispered.

At the top of the stairs, Moriagari and Kakoi were leaning against the massive stone pillars of the gate. 

Moriagari, the defender, reached out as Ryuuki passed and flicked one of the horns on his mask. "Slept well, kid? You look like you’re ready to tackle a mountain."

"He’s still got that new student sweat on his brow," Kakoi noted with a smirk, crossing his thick arms. "Relax. Nobody touches a member of this team on this campus. You’re under the protection of the Wall now."

Walking through the hallways of Minodouzan was like being part of a royal procession, albeit a very loud and rowdy one. 

Boruku and Kouguro were leaning out of a second-floor window, shouting down at them as they passed through the courtyard. "HEY! RYUUKI! DON'T GET LOST IN THE CLASSROOMS! THEY DON'T HAVE GOALPOSTS!" Bokuro shouted.

Ryuuki turned bright red, waving awkwardly. He felt a sharp tap on his head. He turned to find Miko standing behind him, her hands on her hips. "If those two morons bother you, just tell me," she said with a protective wink. "I’ll bury them in the sand pits during lunch. You’re in my grade, right? Third hall, room 2-B. I’ll check in on you at the bell."

"T-thanks, Miko-san!" Ryuuki stammered.

Inside the locker area, Maeno and Hirata the twin pillars of the defense, were already there. They were so large they practically blocked the entire row of lockers.

As Ryuuki approached his new locker, Maeno moved aside with a booming laugh, while Hirata reached over and grabbed Ryuuki’s bag, shoving it into the narrow metal space with a single, efficient motion.

"It’s a bit tight, but it fits!" Hirata grunted, slapping the locker door shut.

"We made sure your locker was right next to the Captain's," Maeno added, gesturing to the locker on the left, which was meticulously organized.

Suddenly, the air filled with the scent of expensive perfume and the sharp *clack-clack-clack* of heels. Kizoku, the gyaru manager, strutted down the hall. Her uniform was perfectly tailored, and she was busy tapping away at her phone with neon-pink nails.

"Um, excuse me? Why are you all standing in the middle of the hall like a bunch of literal rocks?" she asked, not looking up. She paused in front of Ryuuki and finally lowered her phone. She reached out, adjusted the bone mask on his head by a fraction of an inch, and nodded. "Better. You were totally crooked. It was killing my aesthetic. Also, I got your Eleven License updated. It’s totally cute. Don’t lose it or I will literally end you." She gives him his Eleven License.

"A...ah...." Ryuuki stares at the card, his eyes wide open. "I won't! I promise!" Ryuuki squeaked.

It was finally Lunchtime. The Minodouzan cafeteria was a massive stone hall where the food portions were just as much as the players. 

Ryuuki sat at the center of a long wooden table, surrounded by the entire team. In the middle of the table sat Iwagaki and Jousai, they had piled Ryuuki’s tray so high with rice and grilled protein that he could barely see over it.

"Eat up, kid!" Jousai roared, slapping a massive hand on the table, making the bowls rattle. "A boulder needs mass! You can't be an avalanche if you’re as light as a leaf!"

"It’s... it’s a lot of rice," Ryuuki whispered, staring at the white mound.

"And you’re finishing it all," Maeno grunted, sitting on his left, while Hirata sat on his right. The two massive defenders basically boxed him in with their shoulders.

"Strong body makes a strong defense," Hirata added, sliding a plate of grilled fish toward him. "Eat."

"Don't scare the kid before his first class," Iwagaki, laughed from the end of the table. He reached over and gave Ryuuki a playful, heavy pat on the shoulder. "You ready for school, Ryuuki? The teachers here are tough, but they’re fair."

"I think so," Ryuuki said, taking a huge bite of rice.

"Ugh, literally look at his hair," Kizoku, the manager, walked by, looking sharp in her customized uniform. She leaned over and adjusted Ryuuki’s mask so it sat straight. "There. Now you don't look like a total disaster. Slay the first day, okay? And don't get your shirt dirty, I’m not your laundry lady!"

"Uh... Thanks, Kizoku-san..." Ryuuki said through a mouthful of food.

"Is... is all of this for me? Are you guys going to eat it too?" Ryuuki blinked, looking at the mountain of food.

"Every single bite just for you." Iwagaki said, his voice warm and commanding. "At this school, we take care of our own. If anyone tries to steal your lunch, you tell 'em they’re answering to the Boulders."

Throughout the meal, the team were just as loud as outside. Ugou and Ishikabe were having a loud argument about whose hair was spikier, while Boruku and Testsugoshi were trying to see who could balance the most chopsticks on their nose Miko was rolling her eyes at their antics, but she kept sneaking extra pieces of fruit onto Ryuuki’s tray when he wasn't looking.

Ryuuki felt a presence behind him. He turned to see Kabeyama leaning on his crutches, watching the scene with a soft, proud smile. 

"They’re a handful, aren't they?" Kabeyama asked.

Ryuuki nodded, his eyes shining. He squeezed them shut for just a second, his internal voice whispering, but this time it wasn't anxious. *They really like me. I’m not just the kid who talks to himself or the kid who plays too radical. I’m just... Ryuuki. Part of the team.*

"Thinking out loud again, Ryuuki-kun?" Iwagaki asked, leaning in with a grin.

Ryuuki opened his eyes and laughed, a real, loud laugh that joined the rowdy chorus of the room. "Ehehe... I was just thinking... that this rice is actually pretty good."

The team erupted into cheers and laughter. 

"HE LIKES THE RICE!" Ugou screamed.

"A TRUE MINODOUZAN MAN!" Saitou’s voice boomed from the doorway, as the Coach and Sub-coach Hosoi entered. 

"Rice is life, sir! High-carb energy! Maximum growth!" Hosoi shouted, nodding frantically.

"Hell yeahhhhhhh!" Boruku shouted.

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" The team cheered in unison.

"E...ehehe..." Ryuuki smiles cheering on with the others.

As the bell rang for the afternoon classes, the team stood up as one. Iwagaki walked over and placed a hand on Ryuuki’s shoulder, leading him toward the exit of the hall. 

"The school looks big, Ryuuki," the Captain said, looking out at the sprawling campus. "But as long as you're wearing that uniform and that mask, you'll never have to walk across it alone."

Ryuuki looked around at the giants walking beside him, the team, the stylish manager and the legendary mentor. He didn't feel like a outsider anymore. He felt like a stone that had finally found its place in the wall. 

"Let's go," Ryuuki said, stepping forward with confidence.

Throughout the day, Ryuuki kept finding out that he had brothers and sisters everywhere. 

During the mid-morning break, Koguro and Boruku wandered by his classroom. They didn't come inside they just pounded on the glass of the door and gave him a thumbs-up, making the whole class look over. Ryuuki turned red, but he couldn't help but smile.

At lunch, Miko found him and dropped a carton of milk on his desk. "Drink up. I heard you had a math test. If you fail, the Captain is gonna make you do extra laps, so you better be smart, okay?" She gave him a quick, friendly punch to the shoulder and headed off to her own friends.

"T-thank Miko-san..." Ryuuki whispers.

By the time the final bell rang, Ryuuki wasn't nervous anymore. He walked toward the clubhouse, seeing the sunset paint the granite walls in shades of orange and gold. 

Kabeyama was waiting by the door, leaning on his crutches. "How was it, Ryuuki? Did the mountain treat you okay today?"

Ryuuki looked at the clubhouse door, where he could already hear the team shouting and laughing inside. He looked at his new shoes, then up at Kabeyama with a big, bright smile.

"It was great, Kabeyama-san," Ryuuki said. "I didn't even feel like a pebble today. I felt... big."

Kabeyama smiled and pushed the door open for him. "That’s because you aren't a pebble anymore. Get in there."

As soon as he stepped inside, the room erupted. "LATE AGAIN, NEWBIE! GET THE BROOM!" Iwagaki shouted, laughing as he tossed a clean towel at Ryuuki's head. 

Ryuuki laughed, caught the towel, and realized that for the first time in his life, his thinking out loud wasn't a problem the whole day. He didn't need to talk to himself to feel okay, he had a whole mountain of friends to do the talking for him and he loved it.

The mountain air had turned crisp as the weeks rolled by, but the heat radiating from the Minodouzan training field was enough to melt the morning frost. The rhythmic *thud-thud-thud* of heavy soccer balls against granite walls echoed through the canyon, sounding like a steady heartbeat.

Ryuuki was no longer the nervous kid who stepped off the bus. He was right in the middle of a wrestling match, with Ugou trying to pin him down while Ishikabe and Kakoi laughed, tossing a soccer ball back and forth over them.

"Give up, little rock! You're trapped!" Ugou laughed, his wild hair full of grass.

"Never! I'm a boulder! Boulders don't give up!" Ryuuki squeaked, giggling as he tried to squirm away. He felt a huge hand ruffle his hair so hard his bone mask slipped over his eyes.

"That's the spirit! Keep that fire in your gut!" Iwagaki, boomed as he walked past, giving Ryuuki a thumbs-up.

Ryuuki adjusted his mask, his eyes fluttering shut as he started mumbling to himself. "Day twenty-two. Still haven't been eaten by the giants. Actually, I think I'm part of the giants now. My mask is dusty. I should clean it later. Is it time for the drill? I hope I get to run fast today. Fast like a rocket."

"Positions!" Coach Saitou bellowed, his voice vibrating through the ground. Sub-coach Hosoi stood right behind him, nodding so hard his neck looked like a spring.

"YOU MAGNIFICENT MOUNTAINS! Today we refine the flow! Let's see some unity!" The coach shouted.

"Unity, sir! Total togetherness! Like glue, but stronger!" Hosoi shouted.

The whistle blew, and the field became a blur of orange jerseys. Ryuuki was on the Blue team, with Kabeyama standing right behind him like a protective tower.

"Send it here!" Jousai shouted from the goal, pounding his gloves together with a sound like a drum.

Maeno and Hirata started the play, passing the ball with heavy, powerful strikes. The ball zipped to Boruku, who flicked it to Ryuuki. 

Ryuuki took off. His feet felt light, and the grass seemed to move beneath him. He saw a gap between Moriagari and Kouguro again. His heart hammered. *This is it! I can make it all the way!*

"I'm going! I'm going!" Ryuuki muttered, his eyes wide. He crossed the halfway line, ready to charge the goal.

"Ryuuki! Back to Miko!" Iwagaki’s voice rang out from across the pitch.

Ryuuki blinked. He was so close to the box.

"Wait, back?" he whispered to himself. "The goal is right there, though. Maybe I missed something..."

But before he could think too much about it, Miko waved at him with a big grin. "Over here, little brother! Don't be a hog!"

Ryuuki didn't understand why, but he didn't want to let her down. He pivoted and sent a sharp, clean pass back to her. 

"Perfect!" Miko cheered, catching the ball and immediately zipping it to Kabeyama. 

"Nice one, Ryuuki," Kabeyama said, his voice deep and calm. He shielded the ball from an oncoming attacker with ease, then tapped it back to Ryuuki’s feet. "Keep it moving."

Every time Ryuuki felt that urge to take the ball and run, someone was there shouting his name, cheering for a simple pass, or clapping him on the shoulder. He found the strategy weird but the sound of their voices drowned out the confusion. 

"Nice pass, Ryuuki!" Koguro shouted as he ran by. 

"You're part of the flow now, kid!" Maeno bellowed, laughing as he blocked a shot from the other side.

Side-line, Kizoku was busy filming with her phone, her neon nails flashing. "Literally so cohesive! Ryuuki-kun, that pass was total goals! I’m tagging everyone in this!"

The whistle blew for a brief break. Everyone was panting, sweat dripping from their chins, but the atmosphere was pure joy. They were slapping each other’s backs and sharing water bottles like a big, rowdy family.

Coach Saitou walked onto the field, his chest puffed out. He stopped in front of Ryuuki and placed a hand the size of a dinner plate on the kid’s head.

"I’ve been watching," Saitou said, his voice uncharacteristically soft. "Ryuuki, you're doing something many players never learn. You're trusting your teammates. You're becoming a true Boulder. I'm proud of you, son. And I'm proud of all of you! You're looking like a real fortress out there!"

"So proud, sir! Tears in my eyes! A beautiful fortress!" Hosoi cried out, wiping his face.

Ryuuki looked up at the Coach, then at the circle of giants smiling down at him. Seeing the pride in Saitou's eyes and the grins on his teammates' faces made his heart swell. He felt proud of himself, even if he didn't fully understand the why yet.

"Thanks, Coach..." Ryuuki said, beaming.

"Alright! Enough mushy stuff!" Iwagaki shouted, clapping his hands together with a sound like a thunderclap. He pointed back toward the center of the field, his eyes sharp with leadership. "Coach is proud, and so am I, but the mountain doesn't finish itself! Everyone back to your positions! We’ve got twenty more minutes of rotation drills! Let’s move!"

"YEAH!" the team roared in unison.

"Back to the line, Ryuuki! Let's see if you can pass through my legs this time!" Ugou laughed, giving Ryuuki a playful shove.

Ryuuki laughed and scrambled back to his spot, his earlier confusion completely forgotten.

The whistle blew as the training continued, and the energy shifted instantly. Jousai roared from the goal, "SEND IT TO ME! I WANT TO FEEL THE IMPACT!"

The ball moved with a heavy, deliberate rhythm. Maeno and Hirata passed it between them with such force the ball hissed through the air. Ryuuki sprinted forward, his feet light on the grass.

"Over here! I'm open!" Ryuuki shouted.

Boruku zipped a pass to him. Ryuuki trapped it perfectly, spinning around Moriagari. He saw the goal. His striker instincts screamed at him to charge, to take on the whole defense and smash the ball into the net. He crossed the halfway line, the wind whipping past his mask.

"I’m going! I’m totally going! They can't stop me, I'm too fast! I'm gonna-" Ryuuki started mumbling to himself, his eyes wide with excitement.

"Ha! Going somewhere, kid?" Bokuro laughed, quickly standing on his way.

"This is the end of the line for you!" Moriagari shouted.

"Ryuuki! Back to the line!" Miko shouted from the midfield. 

Ryuuki checked his run, and fired a crisp pass back to Kouguro.

"Good eye, kid!" Koguro grinned, immediately sending the ball across the field to Kakoi.

"Alright, the defense is pretty good, I've got to find a way to store..." Ryuuki whispers to himself.

"Don't get lost in your head, Ryuuki!" Kabeyama’s voice was steady as he intercepted a pass from the Red team. He didn't even look stressed as he shielded the ball from two attackers. He tapped it back to Ryuuki.

"I know, I know!" Ryuuki called back, taking the ball and spinning away from Ugou. Instead of charging again, he looked for the open man. He saw Iwagaki calling for it and sent a long, curving pass that landed right on the Captain's foot.

"Perfect weight on that pass!" Iwagaki roared, passing it immediately to the wing.

Side-line, Kizoku was busy filming the drill. "Literally iconic, Ryuuki-kun! That pass was such a vibe! Keep that energy, but like, don't sweat too much, your jersey is getting wrinkly!"

The drill continued for an hour. The team passed in circles, they defended with absolute unity, and they only moved forward as a slow, crushing wave.

Ugou and Ishikabe would occasionally try to break through, but they always ended up passing back to the center. Everyone was involved. Jousai was constantly shouting directions, Maeno and Hirata were high-fiving after every successful block, and the atmosphere was one of total, joyous cooperation.

"I think I get it," Ryuuki said, his voice small but determined. He adjusted his mask and looked at his teammates. "If I'm a part of the wall... then I'll never be alone on the field again."

"THAT'S MY BOY!" Iwagaki yelled, picking Ryuuki up and spinning him around while the rest of the team cheered and clapped. 

"YEAH! RYUUKI! THE STRONGEST PEBBLE!" Ugou shouted.

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" The team cheered.

As they headed back to the clubhouse to clean up, with Ryuuki happily taking the lead on the cleaning, he didn't even need to mumble to himself. The roar of his brothers and sisters was enough to fill his head with all the confidence he needed.

...

On the edge of the training field, the wind whipped through the pine trees, carrying the sound of distant drills. Kabeyama stood there looking, his gaze fixed on Ryuuki, who was currently laughing as Ugou and Ishikabe tried to see how many soccer balls they could stack on his head while he was sitting down. 

Kabeyama’s eyes narrowed slightly, a shadow of something unreadable crossing his face.

"Hey, Kabeyama-san!" Miko trotted over, wiping sweat from her forehead with her sleeve. She followed his gaze toward the laughing freshman. "What’s up? You’ve been staring at the kid for like five minutes. Something wrong with his form?"

Kabeyama blinked, the shadow vanishing as a small, gentle smile touched his lips. "Oh... no, nothing like that. I was just thinking about how much he’s changed in such a short time."

Miko grinned, punching her open palm. "Yeah, he’s a good little brother. A bit weird with the talking-to-himself thing, but he fits right in. You sure everything’s okay?"

"Yeah," Kabeyama nodded, his voice steady. "Everything is just fine."

Miko nodded and ran back to the group, shouting for Ugou to stop bullying the pebble before she kicked him herself. Kabeyama stayed behind for a moment longer, his quiet gaze lingering on the bone mask glinting in the sun.

A few days later, the mountain air was calm and the sky was a deep, bruising blue. Ryuuki was walking through the school’s stone colonnade after his final class. His footsteps echoed off the granite, and as usual, his eyes were drifted shut as he wandered, his lips moving in a low, constant stream of thought.

"Day fourteen. History class was okay, but I think the teacher is actually a statue that someone brought to life. He doesn't move his arms when he talks. I should ask Iwagaki-san if there are any ghosts in the library. If there are, do they play soccer? Maybe they have a hissatsu ghost-kick. That would be hard to block because the ball would just go through the keeper..."

He rounded a corner and almost walked straight into a pair of crutches. He snapped his eyes open, finding Kabeyama sitting on a low stone wall that overlooked the valley below. The giant looked small against the vastness of the mountains, his shoulders slightly slumped as he watched the clouds.

"Oh! Kabeyama-sama!" Ryuuki said, his voice bright. "I didn't see you there! Well, I wasn't looking, actually. I was... uh... doing a mental map of the school."

Kabeyama chuckled, patting the stone beside him. "It’s a big map to keep in your head, Ryuuki. Want to sit for a bit?"

"Sure!" Ryuuki hopped up onto the wall, his feet dangling. He noticed that Kabeyama wasn't his usual cheerful self. He seemed quiet, his eyes fixed on a distant peak. Ryuuki felt a little tug of worry in his chest. He looks like a lonely mountain, Ryuuki thought.

"Hey, Kabeyama-sama." Ryuuki said, trying to sound extra energetic. "You player with the legendary Endou Mamoru right? I saw a video once where you jumped so high the ground literally broke! Was it scary playing in the Football Frontier back then? Did you ever get nervous before a big game?"

Kabeyama laughed, a real one this time, though it was soft. "Nervous? Ryuuki, I was terrified every single time. I used to hide in the lockers or run to the bathroom before the whistle blew. Endou-kun... he was the one who always pulled me out. He’d slap me on the back and say, 'It’s okay, Kabeyama! Let's play soccer!' And somehow, when he said it, the fear just kind of turned into strength."

Ryuuki’s eyes went wide. "No way! You were a member of the legendary Inazuma Eleven! You were like... a fortress! How could you be scared?"

"Being a fortress is heavy work," Kabeyama said, looking at his crutches. "You realize that if you crumble, the people behind you get hurt. At Raimon, we learned that we didn't have to be perfect, we just had to be together. It’s a lot like here at Minodouzan, actually. Just... different."

"How is it different?" Ryuuki asked, leaning in.

Kabeyama turned to look at him, his expression warm. "At Raimon, we were always chasing the next goal, the next dream. Here... we’re protecting the mountain. We’re holding our ground. It’s a different kind of strength. Tell me, Ryuuki... how are you feeling about the school? And the team? I know they can be a bit... rowdy."

Ryuuki beamed, swinging his legs. "I love it! It’s the first time I don't feel like I'm doing something wrong just by being me. Iwagaki-san is like a big brother, and Miko-san is... well, she’s scary, but in a nice way! And everyone supports me so much. Even when I mess up a pass, they just laugh and tell me to try again. It’s like I have a giant family made of rocks."

Kabeyama smiled, reaching out and gently ruffling the hair around Ryuuki’s mask. "I’m glad. That’s exactly what I hoped for when you got here."

Ryuuki felt a rush of confidence. He hopped off the wall and stood in front of Kabeyama, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"And you know what, Kabeyama-sama? I’m going to make you even prouder! Since everyone is working so hard on the defense, I’ve been practicing something special on my own. I’m working on a brand new hissatsu shoot! It’s going to be incredible! I'm gonna call it Avalanche Crash or maybe Bone-Breaker Strike! Once I master it, I’ll be able to score a ton of goals and finally help the team win every single game by ourselves!"

The silence that followed was sudden and heavy. 

Kabeyama just sat there, his hands tightening into fists, his eyes narrowing as he stared at Ryuuki in total silence. The warmth seemed to drain out of his face, replaced by a look of deep, quiet intensity that Ryuuki had never seen before.

Ryuuki’s smile faltered. He blinked once, then twice, looking up at the giant boy.

"Uh... Kabeyama-san?" Ryuuki asked, his voice trailing off. "What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Kabeyama didn't answer right away. He slowly turned his head, looking out toward the jagged peaks where the sun was dipping low, painting the sky in bruises of purple and deep orange. The wind whistled through the stone colonnade, making the air feel suddenly heavy.

"Ryuuki," Kabeyama said, his voice low and steady. "When you're out there on the grass... does anything feel... I don't know, weird to you? Just technically?"

Ryuuki blinked, his head tilting so far his bone mask almost slipped. "Weird? No way! It’s awesome! Jousai-san is like a giant wall in the goal, and Iwagaki-san’s passes are so strong they almost knock me over. Even Miko-san is faster than anyone I’ve ever seen. It’s the best team I’ve ever been on! Everyone is so... solid."

Kabeyama nodded slowly, but his eyes stayed fixed on the distant mountains. "They are solid. Some of the strongest players I've ever seen. But think about the ball, Ryuuki. Think about where it goes after it leaves your feet."

Ryuuki scrunched up his nose, his eyes fluttering shut as he started mumbling to himself, his lips moving in a fast, rhythmic stream.

"The ball... okay, let's see. Maeno-san gets it, he hits it to Boruku-san. Boruku-san looks for the open spot. He finds me or Miko-san. We move up. We cross the line. Then... then I look for Iwagaki-san. I pass it back. He passes it to Kakoi-san. Then we keep it for a while. We pass in a circle. It’s like a big, moving circle. Everyone gets a turn. It’s very fair. Everyone is happy because we have the ball. We have it for like, ten minutes straight!"

Kabeyama let out a soft, quiet sigh. "And then?"

"And then... the whistle blows for the half? Or someone from the other team gets frustrated and trips over their own feet?" Ryuuki laughed, but the laugh trailed off. He went quiet, his brow furrowing deeper. He replayed the last three weeks of training in his head, the sweat, the cheering, the red vs. blue matches.

"Wait," Ryuuki whispered, his eyes snapping open. He looked at his own hands, then up at Kabeyama. "In all the practices we’ve done... in every single game we played against each other... I’ve never seen Iwagaki-san shoot. I haven't seen Ugou-san shoot either. Even when I was right in front of the goal yesterday, Miko-san told me to pass it back to the defense."

The realization felt more like a slow, cold sink into deep water. He stood there, his bone mask slightly crooked.

"They aren't just playing defense, are they?" Ryuuki asked, his voice getting a little shaky. "They’re... they’re only playing defense. Nobody is trying to score. Not even the forwards. Not even me."

Kabeyama turned his head back to Ryuuki, his expression solemn. "That’s the team philosophy, Ryuuki. They believe that if the opponent never gets the ball, they can never score. And if we never lose the ball, we can never lose the game."

"But... but if we don't shoot, we don't win!" Ryuuki exclaimed, his hands balled into fists. "A 0-0 score isn't a win! It's just... staying still! Why would they do that? Why would a team full of giants like them be afraid to attack?"

Kabeyama’s gaze softened, but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. "They aren't afraid of the other team, Ryuuki. That's just how they play football...They’ve built the perfect family, but a family that only stays inside the house never goes anywhere."

"But... football is more that just doing a single thing!" Ryuuki whispers.

"Not for them..." Kabeyama says, his gaze into the skies.

Ryuuki looked down at his feet. He thought about his move, the hissatsu he had been practicing in secret, the one he was so excited to show them. 

"So that’s why you looked at me like that," Ryuuki said, his voice small. "Because if I try to score... if I try to use my shoot... I'm doing things my own way again. I’m being 'selfish' like at my old school."

Kabeyama didn't say yes or no. He just stood up, reaching for his crutches. "The team loves you, Ryuuki. They’ve made you one of them. But you have to decide... are you a stone that stays in the wall, or are you the striker who’s going to make the mountain move?"

Ryuuki stood frozen as Kabeyama began to walk away, the *clack-thump* of his crutches echoing in the quiet evening. 

"Wait!" Ryuuki called out, his heart hammering. "If I show them... if I show them my shoot... will they hate me? Will I lose the only family I’ve ever had?"

Kabeyama stopped, but he didn't turn around. "That depends on if you're shooting for yourself... or for them. Think about it, Ryuuki."

Ryuuki stayed on the stone wall long after Kabeyama had disappeared. He adjusted his mask, his eyes closing as he began to mumble again, his voice barely a whisper in the wind.

"They don't shoot. They just wait. But I’m a striker. I was born to run. If I don't shoot, I’m not really playing soccer... but if I do, I might break the fortress. What do I do? What does a boulder do when it wants to fly?"

He looked at the dark silhouette of the goalposts on the field, feeling the weight of the entire mountain resting on his shoulders.

The next few days felt like Ryuuki was walking on a tightrope made of glass. Every time Iwagaki laughed and slapped him on the back, or Miko ruffled his hair, a little knot of guilt tightened in his chest. He loved this team, his family more than any team he’d ever been on. But Kabeyama’s words were stuck in his head like a splinter.

“A family that only stays inside the house never goes anywhere.”

Ryuuki sat on his bed in the dorms, staring at his bone mask. He started mumbling, his voice low and fast, his eyes squeezed shut.

"Okay, okay. I have a plan. It’s a great plan. The best plan. If I show them how awesome it feels to score, they’ll want to do it too! It’ll be like... like when someone brings a cake to a party and suddenly everyone wants a piece. But... what if they don't want cake? What if they only like rocks? If I shoot and mess up the 'circle,' will Iwagaki-san look at me like my old captain did? That look that says 'you're the problem'?"

He shivered, pulling his knees to his chest. 

"I have to make it seem natural. Like an accident. Or like... like a defensive move that just happens to end up in the goal. Yeah! If I call it a new strategy they won't think I'm being selfish. I just have to wait for the perfect moment. One chance. One shot."

The clubhouse was a mess of flying towels and booming laughter as the team geared up for the afternoon session. 

"Hey, Ryuuki! Why the long face? Did you lose your mask in the laundry?" Ugou yelled, lunging across a bench to poke Ryuuki in the ribs.

"No! I'm just... thinking about math..." Ryuuki lied quickly, his face turning bright red.

"Math?! Who thinks about math before soccer?!" Jousai laughed, lifting Ryuuki off the ground by his armpits and shaking him gently. "You need more iron in your brain, kid! Forget numbers, think about being a wall!"

"Yeah, a very smart wall!" Hosoi chirped from the doorway, holding a stack of clean bibs. "A wall that knows its multiplication tables! Very impressive, sir!"

Kizoku walked in, snapping her gum and looking at her phone. "Literally why is everyone screaming? It’s a Tuesday. Calm your vibes." She looked at Ryuuki and paused. "Ryuuki-kun, you're looking a little pale. Is that mask too tight? It’s totally clashing with your 'worried' face."

"I'm fine, Kizoku-san! Just... ready to train!" Ryuuki said, forcing a big, shaky smile.

Iwagaki walked over and placed a heavy, warm hand on Ryuuki’s shoulder. The Captain’s eyes were kind, and for a second, Ryuuki felt like he was going to spill the whole plan. 

"You're a good kid, Ryuuki," Iwagaki said softly. "Whatever’s on your mind, just leave it on the grass. Out there, the only thing that matters is the team. We’ve got your back, always."

Ryuuki swallowed hard. *They’ve got my back,* he thought. *That’s why I have to show them. I have to show them that we can be more than just a wall.*

The training session started like any other. The sun was hot, and the air was filled with the sounds of Coach Saitou shouting and the rhythmic *thump* of the Boulders moving in unison.

"ROTATION DRILLS! MOVE THE STONES!" Saitou roared.

Ryuuki ran his heart out. He passed to Boruku, who passed to Miko, who passed to Testsugoshi. Around and around the ball went. It was safe. It was comfortable.

Ryuuki looked at the goal. It was wide open. Jousai was leaning against the post on the other side, chatting with Maeno. They weren't even worried, because they knew the Blue team wouldn't shoot.

*Now,* Ryuuki thought. *Make it look natural.*

He called for the ball. Hirata zipped it to him near the halfway line. Ryuuki trapped it, but instead of looking for Iwagaki to pass back, he took a heavy touch forward. 

"Ryuuki! Back to the line!" Miko shouted, already moving into her defensive spot.

"I... I tripped!" Ryuuki shouted back, though his feet were perfectly steady. He didn't look back. He kept his head down, his heart hammering against his ribs. 

He could feel the eyes of the whole team on him. He could feel the confusion. In his head, the mumbling started again, a frantic whisper. *Don't look at them. Just run. If you score, it’s not selfish, it’s a gift. It’s a gift for the family. One shot. Just one.*

He reached the edge of the box. The goal was right there. He could see the netting fluttering in the wind. He drew his leg back, the power of his secret training beginning to coil in his muscles. 

But then he saw Iwagaki’s face out of the corner of his eye. He just looked confused, like he was watching a brother do something he didn't understand.

Ryuuki’s foot wobbled. The fear of being the annoying kid again hit him like a physical blow. *If I shoot, do I stay a Boulder? Or do I become a pebble they throw away?*

He didn't shoot. At the last second, he checked his motion and sent a soft, awkward pass back to the midfield, nearly losing his balance for real this time.

"Whoa! Watch your feet, kid!" Ugou laughed, scooping up the ball. "You almost went for it there! Got a little excited, huh?"

"Yeah... excited," Ryuuki whispered, his chest aching. He looked toward the sideline and saw Kabeyama standing there, watching him in silence. Kabeyama didn't look disappointed, but he didn't look happy either. He just looked like a mountain waiting for the weather to change.

Ryuuki jogged back into his spot, his eyes shut tight. "I couldn't do it. I’m a coward. A coward with a mask. They’re so nice to me, how can I break their rules? But if I don't break them... we’re just standing still in the dark."

The training continued, the laughter and the cheers of his teammates surrounding him, but for the first time since he arrived at Minodouzan, Ryuuki felt like he was keeping a secret that weighed more than the mountain itself.

The training whistle blew again, and the Blue and Red teams reset. The sun was beginning to dip, casting long, dramatic shadows across the grass, making the Minodouzan players look even more like monolithic statues.

Ryuuki stayed in his position, but the spring in his step was gone. Every time he looked at the goal, he felt a pull in his gut, a striker’s instinct but then he’d look at the smiling faces of Maeno and Hirata, and the pull would turn into a heavy weight.

"Hey! Little rock! Eyes up!" Ugou yelled, playfully kicking a bit of turf toward him. "The ball is coming your way!"

Boruku intercepted a pass from the Red team and immediately zipped it toward Ryuuki. Normally, Ryuuki would have trapped it with a flourish and a mumble about his next move. This time, he just stopped it dead. He looked at the open space ahead. He could see the path. He could feel the move screaming to be released.

*Go... no, don't. Pass. Stay in the house.*

Ryuuki hesitated just a second too long. Moriagari came sliding in, not to steal the ball, but just to test him. "Too slow, Ryuuki! You’re thinking about those math problems again!" Moko laughed, giving Ryuuki a nudge as he stood up.

Ryuuki didn't laugh back. He just turned and fired a crisp, almost robotic pass back to Kouguro.

"Nice and safe! That’s the way!" Koguro cheered, sending the ball over to Miko. 

"Keep the circle moving, everyone!" Iwagaki shouted, his voice full of pride. "No cracks in the fortress! We are unbreakable!"

"UNBREAKABLE!" the team roared back in unison.

The play continued, a perfect, endless loop of defensive mastery. Jousai was barely even watching the ball, he was busy showing Kouken a new way to strap his shinguards while the ball was on the other side of the pitch. Ishikabe was juggling the ball near the corner flag, waiting for someone to come challenge him, only to pass it back twenty yards the moment he saw a Blue jersey.

Ryuuki moved like a ghost. He was doing everything right. He was in the right spot, he was making the right passes, he was defending like a true Boulder. But his eyes were fixed on the grass. 

*Pass to Miko. Move. Pass to Iwagaki. Move. Pass to Boruku.*

"Ryuuki-kun is literally acting so mid right now," Kizoku muttered from the sidelines, her brow furrowing as she looked up from her phone. She noticed he wasn't mumbling. He wasn't talking to himself. He was just... there. "Is he sick? Maybe it’s fever. I should check his temperature, but like, I don't want to mess up my nails."

Coach Saitou*crossed his arms, his booming laughter quieting down. He watched Ryuuki dribble around Ugou with incredible skill, only to see the boy stop at the attack line and pass the ball all the way back to Jousai.

"He's staying in formation," Saitou noted, his voice deep. "That's what's important."

"Perfect formation, sir! Textbook! Absolutely zero risk!" Hosoi chirped, though even he looked a little confused by how quiet Ryuuki had become. "He’s like a little robot today! A very efficient, soccer-playing robot!"

Ryuuki caught the ball again. For a split second, he looked up. He saw the goal. He saw the way the defenders were sagging back, totally unprepared for an actual attack. His leg twitched. The power coiled. He could do it right now. He could show them what a goal felt like. 

But then he heard Miko laugh behind him. "You got this, Ryuuki! Pass it back to the big guys!"

The coil in his leg snapped. He felt a wave of sadness wash over him. If he shot, he’d be breaking that laughter. He’d be telling her that her way of playing wasn't enough. He couldn't do that to his sister. 

He turned and kicked the ball back to Maeno so hard it stung the defender's foot. 

"Whoa! Relax, kid! Save some of that power for the drills!" Maeno laughed, completely unaware of the war happening inside Ryuuki’s head.

Ryuuki stood in the center of the field, the sun setting behind him. He looked like a part of the team. He looked like a part of the family. But as the team cheered and clapped for another perfect defensive set, Ryuuki felt like the only person on the mountain who realized they were all standing in a cage.

He looked toward the sideline. Kabeyama was gone. The spot where he had been standing was empty, leaving Ryuuki alone with the sound of his team’s happy, hollow cheers.

The days turned into a blur of granite and grass, and for the rest of the team, it was a golden age. The atmosphere in the clubhouse was louder than ever, the laughter more thunderous, and the bonds of the family felt unbreakable. But for Ryuuki, each training session felt like he was putting on a costume that was getting tighter and heavier.

He followed the strategy to the letter. He became a master of the safe pass. He moved in perfect synchronization with the wall, but the fire that usually lit up his eyes behind the bone mask had flickered down to a dull ember.

"Ball's coming, Ryuuki! Lock it down!" Iwagaki would roar, his voice full of genuine affection.

Ryuuki would trap the ball, his body screaming to pivot and explode toward the goal. He could see the openings, gaps in the defense wide enough to drive a bus through, but he’d just sigh, turn his back to the net, and tap a soft, rhythmic ball back to Boruku or Miko.

"Nice work! Perfect rotation!" Kofun Miko would chirp, running past and giving his shoulder a friendly squeeze. "We’re like a machine, aren't we?"

"Yeah..." Ryuuki would whisper, his voice flat. "A machine."

In the dining hall, the rowdiness continued. Ugou and Ishikabe would still try to pile food on his plate, and Jousai would still tell loud stories about his legendary saves, but Ryuuki mostly poked at his rice. He didn't mumble to himself as much anymore. There was nothing to say of think of.

"Ryuuki-kun is literally giving ghost vibes lately," Kizoku remarked one afternoon, leaning against the clubhouse wall while watching him walk past. She didn't have her usual sharp wit, she actually looked concerned, her neon-painted finger tapping against her chin. "He’s doing the work, but like, the sparkle is gone. Is he depressed? Someone check if he needs a spa day."

"He's just focused!" Coach Saitou bellowed, though he watched Ryuuki with a thoughtful, narrowed gaze. "He’s becoming the ultimate defensive pillar! Look at that discipline!"

"Maximum discipline, sir! Zero distractions! He’s a statue! A very sad-looking statue!" Hosoi added, his usual energy faltering as he saw Ryuuki walk off the pitch with his head hanging low.

"If you say so..." Kizoku whispers, she knew something was going on with Ryuuki but, she didn't knew what.

The team continued to cheer for him. They praised him for his reliability and his loyalty to the fortress. They loved him more every day because he was finally fitting in. They didn't realize that every time they congratulated him for a defensive play, a little piece of the striker inside him was being crushed under the weight of the mountain.

Ryuuki would stand at his spot on the field, the sun setting behind the goalposts he never approached. He’d hear Maeno and Hirata laughing behind him, and Ugon shouting encouragement, and he’d feel a crushing sense of guilt. 

*They’re so happy,* he’d think. *They love this wall. And I’m the only one who feels like I’m suffocating inside it.*

He was part of the family, just like he always wanted. He was safe, protected, and cared for. But as he looked at the ball at his feet, the ball that was only ever meant to go backward, Ryuuki realized that he had never felt more alone in his life.

The hallways of Minodouzan were usually filled with the booming echoes of the soccer team, a literal wall of noise that moved from classroom to classroom. But lately, the center of that wall had gone quiet.

During lunch, the team gathered at their usual long table. The team was hanging out, having fun, He was just there, he was smiling, and he’d even let out a small laugh when Ishikabe accidentally knocked over his own soup, but he wasn't present.

He didn't mumble about how he felt or what to do. He just sat, staring into his rice bowl, his bone mask pushed slightly up so he could eat, though he barely took a bite.

Iwagaki watched him from the head of the table. The Captain had been quiet for a few minutes, his sharp eyes moving between his rowdy teammates and the silent boy in the middle. He noticed how Ryuuki’s hand hovered over his spoon, frozen, as if he were lost in a thought he couldn't finish.

"Hey, Ryuuki," Iwagaki said, his deep voice cutting through the chatter. The table didn't go silent, but the volume dipped as the others sensed a shift in the Captain's tone.

Ryuuki blinked, his head snapping up. "Eh? Yes, Iwagaki-san? Do you need the salt? I can get the salt. Or the napkins? I'm 80% sure I saw napkins near the-"

"I don't need the salt, kid," Iwagaki interrupted, a small, concerned smile on his face. He leaned forward, resting his heavy arms on the table. "I was just wondering what's going on in that head of yours. You’ve been... quiet. Even for a quiet day."

"Oh! I'm fine! Just... thinking about the rotation drills!" Ryuuki said quickly, his voice a little too high, a little too forced. "They’re pretty good! The way we move back to the goal is... it’s like a masterpiece. A very safe, sturdy masterpiece."

Miko stopped mid-sentence and leaned over, squinting at Ryuuki. "You're doing it again, Ryuuki. That everything is fine face that clearly means everything is weird. Did someone say something to you? Is it the track team? I’ll go talk to them."

"No, no! Everyone is great!" Ryuuki waved his hands frantically. "I love the team! I love the fortress! It’s the best fortress!"

Iwagaki didn't look convinced. He saw the way Ryuuki’s eyes flickered toward the windows, toward the distant goalposts on the practice field, before quickly looking back down at his tray. It was the look of someone trying to convince themselves of a lie.

"You're part of the family, Ryuuki," Iwagaki said softly, his voice meant only for their table. "And in this family, when a stone starts to crack, we notice. You’ve been playing perfectly, technically, you’re the best you’ve ever been. But you don't look like you're having fun anymore."

"I... I am having fun," Ryuuki whispered, but he couldn't meet Iwagaki’s eyes. He felt the weight of the whole team's affection pressing down on him. They cared so much, and that was the problem. How could he tell them he wanted to break the very thing they loved?

Jousai reached over and ruffled Ryuuki's hair. "Maybe he's just tired. Building a fortress is hard work, right?"

"Yeah," Ryuuki said, his voice barely audible. "It's a lot of work."

Iwagaki stayed silent, watching Ryuuki return to his meal. He didn't push further, but he didn't look away either. He knew Ryuuki was hiding something, and for the first time, the Captain realized that the perfect silence of his team might be exactly what was hurting their littlest member.

The next day, The sun hung low over the granite peaks, casting long, jagged shadows that seemed to swallow the pitch, and for the first time, the was starting to sputter.

Ryuuki was the center of all that.

During a standard rotation drill, Boruku sent a sharp, reliable pass toward Ryuuki. Normally, Ryuuki’s trap was like glue, but this time, the ball bounced off his foot and rolled toward the touchline.

"Oops- sorry! I’m sorry!" Ryuuki scrambled after it, his movements frantic and clumsy. "I just... my foot was at the wrong angle. 30 degrees too wide. I’ll fix it! I’m going back to the line now!"

"Hey, it’s just a stray ball, kid! Don't sweat it!" Ugou called out, but his usual booming laugh felt a bit forced.

A few minutes later, it happened again. Ryuuki was dribbling through the midfield, and the path to the goal was wide open. For a split second, he stopped dead, his body tensing as if he were about to explode into a sprint. Then, as if an invisible leash had snapped him back, he jerked around and fired a panicked pass back toward Iwagaki The ball was under-hit, bobbling weakly across the grass.

Iwagaki had to lung forward to keep the Red team from intercepting it. He trapped the ball and looked up, his brow furrowing. "Ryuuki? You okay?"

"Sorry! I’m so sorry, Captain! I’ll do better!" Ryuuki didn't wait for an answer. He turned and sprinted back to his defensive position, his head bowed so low the horns of his mask pointed at the dirt.

The drill ground to a halt. The rhythmic *thump-thump* of the soccer balls stopped, replaced by the whistling mountain wind.

Miko stood with her hands on her hips, staring at Ryuuki’s retreating back. She looked over at Testsugoshi and Moriagari, who both shrugged, their expressions full of confusion and growing worry.

"He's apologizing for *everything*," Miko whispered, her voice uncharacteristically quiet. "Even when he hasn't done anything wrong. It’s like he’s afraid of the ball."

"It’s not the ball he’s afraid of," Jousai grunted from the goal, his massive arms crossed over his chest. He looked toward the sidelines, where Kizoku was standing. She was chewing her lip, watching Ryuuki with a look of genuine distress.

Coach Saitou didn't bellow. He didn't laugh. He stood with Sub-coach Hosoi, both of them watching the small, masked boy who was now standing perfectly still in the defensive line, looking like a statue that was about to shatter.

"He's following the strategy, sir," Hosoi whispered, his voice lacking its usual pep. "He's... he's doing exactly what we asked."

"But look at him, Hosoi," Saitou said, his voice like low thunder. "Does that look like a boy who's part of a family?"

The team members began to gravitate toward each other, forming a small circle away from Ryuuki. Maeno and Hirata looked at Iwagaki, their faces heavy with concern.

"Captain," Maeno said, "he’s not talking to himself anymore. He’s just... saying sorry. It’s like he’s trying to disappear."

Iwagaki looked at Ryuuki, who was still standing at the back, alone, kicking at a tuft of grass and whispering something under his breath that didn't sound like his usual excited mumbling. It sounded like a plea.

The brother and sister mentality that usually made them strong was now making them ache. They had built a fortress to protect themselves, but as they stared at Ryuuki, they began to realize they might have accidentally built a prison for the one person they wanted to protect the most.

"Something is wrong," Iwagaki said, his voice firm but laced with pain. "Something is very, very wrong."

The afternoon sun hung low, casting long, skeletal shadows of the dormitory’s stone arches across the gravel path. The air behind the Minodouzan dorms was stagnant, smelling of damp moss and old granite, a stark contrast to the lively, roaring atmosphere of the front courtyard. 

Iwagaki pressed his back against the rough, cold stone of the building’s corner. His heart hammered against his ribs, a heavy, syncopated beat that felt far too loud in the eerie quiet of the blind spot, a secluded patch of overgrown grass and jagged rocks where students rarely ventured. For days, he had watched Ryuuki twitch and flicker like a dying candle. He had seen the kid darting through the hallways, his head snapping left and right as if he were being hunted by ghosts, only to vanish into the shadows of the dorms.

Iwagaki peered around the edge. Ten yards away, Ryuuki was pacing. It wasn't a normal walk or jog, he was moving in tight, frantic circles, his boots scuffing deep ruts into the dirt. His bone mask was tilted, the horns casting a crooked, jagged shadow against the dormitory wall.

*He’s talking,* Iwagaki realized, his brow furrowing. 

Ryuuki’s lips were moving in a blur, his shoulders hunched up to his ears. He looked small. He looked fragile. Iwagaki’s eyes filled with a sharp, stinging worry. He saw a younger brother whose spirit was visibly fraying at the seams. Without a sound, Iwagaki hissed through his teeth, turned, and sprinted back toward the main school building.

In the central hall, the rest of the team was slumped against the lockers and wooden benches, the usual rowdy energy replaced by a heavy, suffocating tension. 

"Has anyone seen him?" Miko asked, her voice cracking. She was fidgeting with a soccer ball, spinning it on her finger with a nervous, jerky motion. 

"No," Ugou grunted, his massive arms crossed so tightly they looked like knotted wood. "He disappeared right after the final bell. Again."

"Guys!" Iwagaki burst into the hall, his chest heaving. His face was pale, his jaw set in a line of grim determination. "Follow me. Now. Don't make a sound."

The team didn't ask questions. The look on Iwagaki's face was enough to make even Jousai and Maeno stand up with uncharacteristic silence. They followed him like a pack of wolves, moving through the stone corridors and slipping behind the dormitory, their heavy footsteps muffled by the grass.

One by one, they lined up behind the corner of the building. Ugon stood at the back, his eyes wide and glassy. Miko gripped the edge of the stone wall so hard her knuckles turned white.

Ryuuki was still there. He was spinning faster now, his hands clutching his head.

"The wall... the wall is too thick," Ryuuki’s whispered, not audible at all. "I can't breathe in the wall. Every time I pass back, I feel like I'm burying myself. They’re so nice, they’re so kind, they love me... and I hate the way we play. I hate it. I hate it!"

The team stared at each other, the color draining from their faces. Ishikabe reached out as if to grab the air, his mouth hanging open.

Suddenly, Ryuuki stopped. He stood perfectly still, his back to them, his chest heaving. He threw his head back, his voice exploding into the quiet air with a raw, jagged intensity that made the team flinch.

"I'M LEAVING THE TEAM!" Ryuuki shouted at the empty granite walls. "YES! IF I LEAVE THE TEAM, I’LL BE FREE! I’LL JUST LEAVE THE TEAM AND GET RID OF THEM!"

He spun around, kicking a pile of loose stones with a cry of frustration. "I’ll go! I’ll just go and never come back!"

Silence. The team stood there in silence.

Behind the wall, the Minodouzan players looked as if they had been struck by a physical blow. Ugou’s arms dropped to his sides, his fingers trembling. "T...this can't be..."

Miko’s eyes filled with tears that she didn't bother to wipe away. Even Jousai, the mountain of a goalkeeper, looked small, his shoulders sagging.

*Get rid of them.*

The words echoed in their heads like a death knell. They had shared their bread with him. They had guarded him in the hallways. They had called him little brother and meant it with every fiber of their being. And now, the boy they loved was screaming at the sky about how he needed to escape them.

"What did we do?" Kouken whispered, his voice trembling. "What did we do to make him hate us?"

"We didn't do anything," Maeno said, his voice hollow. "We just... we were just being ourselves."

Iwagaki stared at the ground, his heart feeling like it was being crushed by a landslide. He looked at Miko, whose face was a mask of pure heartbreak, and then at Ugou, whose usual fire had been completely extinguished. 

Nobody moved. Nobody had the guts to step out from behind that wall. They felt like intruders in their own home.

Ryuuki collapsed onto his knees in the dirt, his head hanging low. "I have to leave," he whispered, so softly now it was barely a breath. "Before I disappear completely."

Behind the stone wall, the giants of Minodouzan stood in the shadows, paralyzed by the realization that their love had become a weight, and their protection had become a cage. For the first time in the school's history, the Boulders didn't know how to stand their ground.

The following morning, the mountain air was thick with a mist that clung to the jagged peaks of Minodouzan, mirroring the heavy, suffocating atmosphere on the training field. The sun was a pale, weak disc behind the clouds, casting no shadows and offering no warmth. 

Before Coach Saitou or Kabeyama had even arrived, the entire team had formed a loose, uneasy semi-circle around the equipment shed. In the center stood Ryuuki. He was already in his kit, his bone mask pulled low, his fingers nervously picking at a loose thread on his jersey.

Iwagaki stepped forward first. He tried to force his usual booming, confident smile, but it didn't reach his eyes, which were rimmed with the exhaustion of a sleepless night.

"Morning, Ryuuki!" Iwagaki’s voice was a fraction too loud, echoing strangely against the quiet stone walls. "The air is crisp today, right? Perfect for some solid rotation drills. You feeling ready to hold the line with us?"

Ryuuki flinched at the sound of his name. He didn't look up. "Oh! Yes! Good morning, Captain! I’m 100% ready. Or maybe 110%. I’m feeling great. Really great. Super great."

His voice was a monotone rattle, lacking the whimsical rhythm the team had grown to love. It was the sound of a script being read by someone who wanted to run away.

"You don't look super great, kid," Ugou grunted, stepping into Ryuuki’s peripheral vision. He reached out to playfully muss Ryuuki's hair, but Ryuuki instinctively recoiled, his shoulders hiking up to his ears. Ugou froze, his massive hand hanging uselessly in the air. His face fell, a flash of pure hurt crossing his rugged features. "I just... I brought an extra protein bar. Thought you might want it?"

"No thank you, Ugou-san! I’m full! My stomach is at maximum capacity!" Ryuuki squeaked, staring at Ugou’s shoelaces.

Miko pushed her way to the front, her eyes searching Ryuuki’s face with a desperation that made her look years younger. "Hey, Ryuuki! Remember that move we saw on the sports highlights? The one with the crazy backheel? I bet we could incorporate that into our defensive circle today! What do you think?"

Ryuuki’s fingers twitched. For a second, a spark of the old Ryuuki flickered the boy who loved game, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. He shook his head. "I think... I think we should just stay in the lines, Miko-san. The lines are safe. Safe is good. I’m okay. Really."

The team winced. His words felt like a slap. 

Jousai leaned against the goalpost, his gloves tucked under his arm. "Ryuuki, if you're feeling... I don't know... crowded? You can tell us. We’re your brothers, right? We just want you to be happy."

"I am happy, Jousai-san! Super happy!" Ryuuki’s breathing was getting faster, shallower. He began to pace in a small, three-step radius, eyes darting left and right.

Testsugoshi and Boruku tried to flank him, trying to recapture the old rowdy energy. "Hey, let's do the chant!" Testsugoshi suggested, his voice cracking. "The one where we stomp and yell about the mountain! Come on, Ryuuki, do it with us!"

They started a low rhythmic stomp, but Ryuuki didn't join in. He stood like a statue, his hands balled into fists so tight his knuckles were white. 

Maeno and Hirata exchanged a look of pure agony. They were the biggest guys on the team, but they felt powerless. "We can take a break today, kid," Maeno offered softly. "We can just hang out in the clubhouse. Kizoku brought those weird snacks you liked."

"Literally, they’re the ones from the city," Kizoku added, stepping forward. Her usual sharp posture was gone; she looked crumpled. "They have the star-shaped sprinkles. Your favorite vibe, right?"

Ryuuki finally looked up, but his eyes weren't on them, they were looking through them. He looked terrified. "I have to get back to my position. The drill starts soon. I need to be a good rock. I need to be exactly where you want me. I’m fine. I’m great. Please, let’s just play."

The desperation in his voice was like a physical weight. Ishikabe turned away, unable to look at the boy anymore, his shoulders shaking slightly. Kakoi and Moriagari stood in stunned silence, their friendly circle now feeling like an interrogation.

They knew he was lying. They had heard him scream about leaving them behind the dormitory, yet here he was, pretending he loved them, pretending he was okay. It hurt more than any defeat on the pitch. They were trying to reach him, to tell him they knew, to tell him he didn't had to go, but Ryuuki was building his own wall, made of excuses, and he was locking himself inside it where they couldn't follow.

"Ryuuki..." Iwagaki whispered, reaching out one last time.

"I'm fine, Captain!" Ryuuki shouted, his voice high and thin, echoing across the empty field. "Let's just be a family!"

He turned and sprinted to his defensive spot, standing perfectly still, waiting for a coach that hadn't arrived, leaving the rest of the team standing in a huddle of broken hearts.

Coach Saitou stomped onto the pitch, his face a terrifying shade of purple, looking directly at Ryuuki. 

"OUT!" Saitou bellowed, his finger pointing toward the sideline. "I don't know what ghost is haunting you, boy, but you're dragging my team into the dirt with you! Go sit on the bench! The rest of you! ROTATION DRILLS! REAL ONES! NO MISTAKES!"

Ryuuki didn't argue. He didn't even look at his teammates. He turned and walked toward the bench, his head bowed so low he looked like he was trying to fold himself into the grass.

"Wait, Coach-" Miko started, but then she stopped. She looked at Ryuuki’s slumped shoulders, then at her own muddy cleats and tired legs. The annoyance she felt was fighting with the worry, and for the first time, she didn't run after him. She stayed in the line.

Nobody said anything, they just stood there staring at nothing.

Kabeyama stood by the bench as Ryuuki approached. He didn't say a word. He just watched the kid sit down on the cold wood, Ryuuki’s hands trembling in his lap. 

Behind Ryuuki, the training resumed. The sound of the team playing properly the heavy *thump* of perfect passes and the rhythmic, booming shouts of the giants, echoed across the field. Without Ryuuki, the fortress was perfect again. It was solid. it was unbreakable. It was everything it was supposed to be.

And Ryuuki sat there in the rain, listening to how much better his family functioned when he wasn't a part of it. Every cheer from the field felt like a hammer blow. *They're happy now,* he thought, his eyes fluttering shut. *They're better without me. I should just let the mountain be.*

But his striker spirit still hummed in his muscles, a secret, painful energy that had nowhere to go, as he watched the people he loved most slowly grow used to the silence of his absence.

The final whistle blew, but there was no celebratory roar, mournful cry of a hawk circling the peaks. The mountain air felt like a cold, wet sheet against the skin, and the mud on the pitch had turned into a thick, grey sludge that clung to everything.

Ryuuki sat on the edge of the wooden bench, his head bowed so low that the horns of his mask were nearly touching his knees. His jersey was plastered to his back, dark with grime and rainwater, and his chest heaved in shallow, jagged gasps. He looked like a small, broken statue left out in the storm.

The Boulders approached him in a slow, lumbering mass. They moved as one, a landslide of concern that effectively blocked out the remaining light of the setting sun.

"Hey, little rock," Iwagaki said, his voice dropping to that low, brotherly rumble. He sat down on the bench next to Ryuuki, the wood groaning and creaking under his massive frame. He reached out a heavy, warm hand, intending to rest it on Ryuuki’s shoulder. "The Coach was just blowing off steam. You’re still one of us. Let’s head inside, get you cleaned up."

Ryuuki flinched before the hand could even touch him. He jerked his shoulder away, his breath hitching. "I'm fine. Don't touch me."

"Ryuuki, look at your knees, they're all scraped up," Miko said, kneeling in the mud directly in front of him. She didn't care about the stains on her uniform, her eyes were wide, brimming with a desperate, suffocating kind of affection. She reached into a kit bag and pulled out a roll of bandages and a small antiseptic spray. "Just let me clean these. It’ll only take a second, and then we can go to the clubhouse and-"

"I said I'm fine!" Ryuuki snapped, his voice cracking. He pulled his legs back, his boots scuffing harshly against the gravel under the bench. "I don't need bandages. I don't need anything. Just... stop."

"You're shaking, kid," Ugou grunted, stepping into the space beside Miko. He looked tired from the long practice, but he still reached down, trying to grab Ryuuki’s arm to help him stand up. "You’re exhausted. You made some mistakes today, so what? We’ve all been there. Come on, big Ugou will carry your bag for you. You don’t have to do anything."

Ryuuki’s head snapped up. his eyes were red-rimmed and wild. The sight of them all, the way they were circling him, the way they were looking at him like he was a wounded bird, made something inside his chest tighten until it hurt. Every question felt like a weight being added to his back. Every offer of help felt like they were telling him he was too weak to stand on his own.

"Get away from me!" Ryuuki shouted, lunging off the bench and pushing Ugou’s hand away with a violent shove. 

The movement was so sudden that Ugou stumbled back, his eyes going wide with shock. The rest of the team froze in a tight semi-circle. The air between them turned electric and cold.

"Ryuuki, we’re just trying to help-" Jousai started from behind the bench, his deep voice cautious.

"I DON'T WANT YOUR HELP!" Ryuuki screamed. The sound echoed off the granite gymnasium walls, sharp enough to make Miko flinch and pull her hands back to her chest. "Why do you keep doing this?! Why are you always *right there*?! Every time I trip, every time I miss a pass, you all come running like I’m some kind of baby! I'm not a baby! I'm a player!"

"We know you're a player, Ryuuki-kun," Miko said, She looked genuinely hurt. "We’re just worried. You’re acting so... unlike yourself. We’re your family. We’re supposed to care."

"Well, your care is annoying!" Ryuuki barked, his voice trembling with a mixture of rage and overwhelming pressure. He began to pace in a tight, frantic circle, his cleats digging ruts into the dirt. "Stop looking at me! Stop asking me how I feel! I feel fine! I feel perfect! I'm exactly what I'm supposed to be! So why can't you just leave me alone?!"

Iwagaki stood up slowly, his face a mask of profound hurt. He looked like he had been physically struck. "Ryuuki... we didn't mean to make you feel like that. We just... we love having you here. We want to make sure you're okay."

"I DON'T CARE!" Ryuuki yelled, his chest heaving. He pointed a shaking finger at the Captain. "Just because you're all giants doesn't mean you get to hover over me all the time! You’re always talking, always cheering, always there! It’s too much! I can't even breathe without one of you asking if I'm alright! It's frustrating! It's irritating! It makes me want to scream!"

Miko’s lower lip trembled. She looked down at the antiseptic spray in her hand, then back up at Ryuuki. A single tear tracked through the mud on her cheek. "We just... we thought you liked being part of the team. We thought you were happy with us."

Ryuuki looked at her, at the genuine, raw pain in her eyes, and for a split second, he felt a sickening pang of guilt. He saw Ugou looking at the ground, his shoulders slumped. He saw Maeno and Hirata exchanging a look of pure confusion and sorrow. They had protected him, fed him, and welcomed him into their mountain, and he was currently tearing them apart.

But the pressure was too much. The need to be something else, to be the striker he felt dying inside, was twisting into an ugly, aggressive energy. He couldn't tell them he hated the formation, he didn't even have the words for that yet, he just knew he needed them to *move*.

"I'm going back to the dorms," Ryuuki said, his voice now a low, jagged hiss. He grabbed his mud-caked bag from the bench, swinging it over his shoulder with such force that the strap bit into his neck. "Don't follow me."

He turned and bolted, his cleats clattering loudly on the gravel path as he sprinted toward the dormitory. He didn't look back. He couldn't. If he saw Iwagaki’s face or heard Miko cry, he knew he would break, and he wasn't ready to break yet.

The Minodouzan team stayed by the bench for a long time. The drizzle intensified, turning the field into a blur of grey and shadow. 

"What did we do wrong?" **Boruku** asked, his voice barely a whisper in the wind.

Nobody answered. They stood together in the rain, the unbreakable fortress feeling more fragile than it ever had before. Behind them, by the equipment shed, Kabeyama watched Ryuuki’s retreating figure until it vanished into the mist. He sighed a long, heavy sound. He knew exactly what was happening, he wasn't cracking from the outside, he trying to explode from the pressure within.

"I see," Iwagaki said quietly. The thunder was gone from his voice. It was just hollow.

"What captain? What did we do?" Boruku asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"What kind of brothers are we?" Iwagaki’s voice was a low, jagged rasp that barely carried over the sound of the storm. He stared at the gravel path where Ryuuki had vanished, his jaw working as he chewed on the bitter taste of rejection. "We heard him. He said he wanted to get rid of us. He called us a burden. He called our family a cage."

Ugou let out a sharp, frustrated breath, kicking a stray soccer ball with such force it vanished into the mist toward the gymnasium. "It’s insulting! We’ve spent every waking hour making sure he felt safe, making sure he was fed, making sure the Coach didn't rip him a new one for those mistakes... and for what? To be told we’re 'suffocating'?" 

Ugou wiped the rain from his eyes, his expression hardening into something cold. "If he wants to be alone so bad, fine. I’m tired of chasing after someone who doesn't want to be caught."

Miko was still kneeling in the mud, staring at the antiseptic spray she hadn't gotten to use. Her shoulders shook slightly, but it wasn't from the cold. The heartbreak was slowly being replaced by a stinging, hollow frustration. She stood up, her movements stiff. "We did everything we could, didn't we? We tried the food, the cheering, the protection. If he’s still miserable, then... then we’re clearly not the answer. We’re just the problem."

"We’re trying to build a fortress," Jousai grunted from the goalpost, his massive arms crossed over his chest. His eyes were narrowed, looking at the team with a grim, logical finality. "A fortress only works if every stone wants to be there. If Ryuuki is a stone that wants to roll away, then let him go. We can’t force a mountain to stay together if it wants to crumble."

The team fell into a heavy, suffocating silence. They tried to think of a way to fix it, a new plan, a better way to talk to him, but every idea felt like more of the suffocation Ryuuki had screamed about. The more they thought about it, the more the annoyance curdled into a cold, hard resolve.

"He doesn't want us around him," Ryouta muttered, looking off toward the dark silhouette of the dormitory. "So maybe we should stop being around him. Every time we try to help, we just make it worse. We don't know how to make him happy. We never did."

Iwagaki finally looked up. His eyes were flat, like slate. He took a deep, shuddering breath of the freezing air and straightened his back, the Captain’s authority returning, though it felt heavy and joyless.

"Fine," Iwagaki said, the word dropping like a heavy rock. "He wants space? We’ll give him the whole mountain. From now on, we focus on the team. We focus on the fortress. If he wants to sit on the bench, let him sit. If he wants to walk the halls alone, let him. We stop the 'how are yous.' We stop the extra stew. We stop the cheering."

Miko flinched, looking at Iwagaki with wide, pained eyes. "Captain... you mean we just... ignore him?"

"We let him be," Iwagaki corrected, his voice iron-cold. "Let him be alone."

The team stood in the rain, the logic of it sinking in. It was the only thing they hadn't tried yet, giving up. It felt like a defeat, a bitter and jagged end to the family they had tried to build. Maeno and Hirata exchanged a solemn nod, their faces unreadable. Boruku and Ishikabe turned their backs to the dormitory, looking instead at the empty field.

"Let's move," Iwagaki commanded, turning toward the locker rooms. "No more talk about Ryuuki. From tomorrow, we’re back to the Minodouzan way. One mountain. One wall. Nothing else."

They trudged off the field in a silent, monolithic line, their heavy footsteps muffled by the mud. There was no laughter, no rowdy shoving, no plans for dinner. They moved like the statues they were named after, solid, immovable, and cold. 

Behind them, Kabeyama stayed by the shed. He watched the team leave, seeing the way they pulled away from the void Ryuuki had left. He knew they were doing it out of a mix of hurt and a desperate desire to do the right thing, but as he looked at the dark, empty pitch, he knew that the silence of the mountain was going to be the heaviest weight any of them had ever had to carry.

Kizoku stood there, close to Kabeyama. "Literally... it’s going to be so quiet..."

...

The air at Minodouzan felt heavy, The thick, grey mist that usually felt like a protective blanket now felt like a shroud. Ugou passed to Miko, Miko passed to Boruku, and the cycle repeated in a silent, joyless loop.

Ryuuki was a ghost in the machine. He stood in his defensive quadrant, his feet rooted to the mud, his mind a swirling vortex of Kabeyama’s words and his own crushing guilt. He was thinking of how to start, how to tell them he wasn't a rock, but the silence of the team was a wall higher than any he had ever seen.

"Focus! More power in the rotation!" Coach Saitou bellowed from the touchline, his face a mottled, angry purple. Even he could feel the rot. "You’re playing like statues! Move, damn it!"

"Yes, sir! Statues with high efficiency, sir!" Sub-coach Hosoi chirped, though his voice wavered as he glanced at the joyless faces of the players.

Iwagaki stopped dead in his tracks. His chest heaved, his massive shoulders trembling. He looked at Ryuuki standing there, staring at nothing, lost in a world they weren't invited into. It felt like a serrated blade across Iwagaki's heart. Every second of Ryuuki's silence was a reminder that he had failed as a Captain, as a brother, and as a protector.

"Ryuuki! Pass it! Wake up!" Miko screamed, her voice shrill and desperate. She was open, her arms waving, but Ryuuki didn't even blink.

That was the snap.

Iwagaki’s foot came down on the ball with a sound like a hammer hitting an anvil. *THOOM.* His fists were clenched so tight the veins in his forearms looked like knotted ropes. His eyes, usually warm and steady, were clouded with a terrifying, jagged rage, the rage of a man who had lost his most precious treasure and didn't know how to grieve.

"MOVE! YOU DAMN!" Iwagaki roared, his voice a literal thunderclap that made the team gasp and recoil. 

In a blind, explosive burst of frustration, Iwagaki swung his leg. He struck the ball with every ounce of his massive strength, a shot fueled by pure, unadulterated pain.

The ball became a blur, a white-hot comet whistling through the air directly toward Ryuuki’s head. 

"RYUUKI! LOOK OUT!" Ugou screamed, his face pale with horror.

"A...ah!" Ryuuki turned his head slowly, his eyes widening behind the bone mask as the projectile doubled in size. He froze. His mind was too clogged with sorrow to move. He was a target, motionless and small.

"NO!"

A shadow blurred across the grass. Kabeyama, lunged forward with a desperate, guttural cry. He threw himself into the path of the ball, his body a shield for the boy who couldn't protect himself.

The ball struck Kabeyama’s ankle with a sickening *CRACK* that seemed to silence the entire mountain. He was spun in the air, his crutches flying like broken wings, before he crashed into the mud with a heavy, wet thud.

"KABEYAMA-SAMA!" The team roared in a single, terrified voice.

The wall shattered instantly. The giants scrambled, sprinting toward the fallen mentor. "Kabeyama-sama!" Kizoku didn't wait, she was already a neon streak across the pitch, the medical kit swinging wildly in her hand.

"K... Kabeyama-sama..." Iwagaki stood frozen for a heartbeat, his face draining of all color, before he too sprinted forward, his breath coming in ragged, horrified gasps.

"Kabeyama-sama! Talk to me!" Miko cried, falling to her knees beside him. 

"Move up! Help him stand up!" Jousai ordered, his voice shaking.

Kabeyama hissed through his teeth, his face contorted in a mask of agony. He clutched his leg, his fingers digging into the sodden turf. "I... I think I just broke my ankle..." 

The team gasped, a collective shudder of horror. Coach Saitou and Hosoi arrived a second later, Saitou’s shadow looming over Iwagaki like a dark cloud.

"IWAGAKI! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" Saitou’s voice being a low, dangerous snarl. "What's wrong with you?! You’re the Captain! Look at him! He is our best man!"

Iwagaki didn't defend himself. He looked down at his hands, the hands that were supposed to build the fortress and saw only destruction. His eyes narrowed, shimmering with unshed tears of self-hatred.

And there, ten yards away, stood Ryuuki. 

He couldn't move. He watched all of that, His eyes wide in terror. He saw the team he loved breaking apart, and he saw the man who had tried to save him lying in the dirt because of a ball meant for *him*.

...

The air inside the Raimon's Stadium was thick enough to choke on. Thousands of fans leaned over the railings, their collective roar sounding like a crashing ocean. High above, the massive screens flickered with the faces of the players, Behind the Minodouzan Eleven, a shimmering, translucent wall of golden bricks pulsed with a rhythmic light, making the goal look like it was tucked inside an ancient, impenetrable vault.

"Tsk..." Asuto’s breath hitched. He passed the ball back to Goujin, his eyes never leaving the stone-faced giants in front of him.

"That’s totally a stronghold, not a soccer team..." Goujin barked as he trapped the ball. His forehead was slick with sweat, his eyes darting toward the towering frames of Maeno and Hirata. 

Goujin fired a pass back to Michinari, the ball whistling over the grass.

Michinari caught it with a sharp *thwack* of his boot. He stood in the center of the pitch, the weight of the captain’s band feeling like a lead shackle. "But there’s gotta be a way to break through it..." He whispered the words like a prayer before flicking the ball toward Kozoumaru.

Kozoumaru attacked. He hissed through his teeth, his eyes narrow slits of burning intensity. "I’ll get through. Nobody will hold me down." He lunged forward, the ball a blur at his feet, his jersey fluttering behind him as he charged into the teeth of the fortress.

"Kozoumaru charges in!" the announcer’s voice boomed, crackling through the stadium speakers. "How does he intend to attack Minodouzan’s stronghold?!"

Suddenly, a synchronized *beep-beep* resonated across the field. The Raimon players stumbled in their tracks, their momentum dying as they looked down at their wrists. Their Eleven Bands glowing.

Asuto’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the screen. A pixelated, mocking cat face stared back at him. Beneath the whiskers, the text flickered in a cheerful, neon pink: ^w^ Defense only <3

"This... now?" Goujin’s jaw dropped. He looked toward the bench, his face turning a bright, frustrated red.

"So we are really doing this, uh..." Michinari whispered.

Hiro adjusted his glasses, the stadium lights reflecting off the lenses in a cold, analytical flash. "This is risky... very risky. We’re giving them the initiative."

"I wanted to go all out today... aff..." Hanta sighed, her shoulders slouching.

Michinari drifted toward Asuto, his gaze flickering toward the Minodouzan players who stood like statues in their defensive half. "What do you think about this, Asuto?"

Asuto didn't look back. His eyes were locked on Ryuuki, who was standing near the back of the Minodouzan line, looking small and isolated. "I'm not sure. Only you know what we do here, Captain." 

He looked up at the sky, his eyes softening for a fleeting second. *Help me see this through, Mom...* He let out a long, jagged sigh and stared back at Michinari, waiting.

"I don't know neither..." Michael whispers.

Michinari looked at the bench. Coach Zhao Jinyun was currently balanced on one leg, his arms moving in a bizarre, flowing kung-fu pattern, laughing to himself as if he were watching a private comedy show. "Ohohohohohoho!"

Sub-coach Kameda looked like he was about to have a stroke, his eye twitching in a rhythmic spasm, while Ootani watched with tight, worried expression.

Anna looked away, uninterested in whatever that was happening.

"He is our coach after all..." Michinari whispered, his voice gaining a sudden, grim resolve. "We can't ignore his orders. ALRIGHT GUYS! PLAY DEFENSE! WE CAN DO IT!"

"YES!" the team shouted in unison, though the energy was hollow.

"Ghraa!" Kozoumaru’s roar tore through the forced compliance. He accelerated ignoring the orders.

"KOZOUMARU! HOLD ON!" Michinari shouted, but the striker was already gone, a streak of fire against the green turf. 

Asuto hissed and followed Kozoumaru.

"Hey! Wait for me!" Goujin scrambled after them, his heavy footsteps thumping like a drum.

Kozoumaru was a whirlwind. He feinted left, his body a blur of motion as Miko and Boruku stepped into his path. He cut back sharply, his cleats digging deep into the sod, but as he moved, Moriagari and Hirata were already there, their shadows merging to block his view of the goal.

"Darn it..." Kozoumaru hissed.

"Kozoumaru!" Asuto screamed, sprinting past him like a bullet. 

Kozoumaru flicked the ball to Asuto. Asuto didn't hesitate. He saw Ugou lunging in with a heavy slide tackle, the massive boots kicking up a spray of mud and grass. Asuto leaped, his body arching in mid-air as he soared over the tackle. 

"Tsk..." Ugou hissed as he hit the ground. He rolled and sprang to his feet, but he didn't chase Asuto. He turned his head and looked at Ryuuki, who was standing ten yards away.

Ryuuki looked lost, his hands hovering at his sides, his eyes wide and vacant behind his mask. 

Iwagaki saw it too. His eyes narrowed, a flash of pure, annoyance and pain crossing his face before he forced it down into a mask of stone. 

"Captain... let's focus, alright?" Miko said, her voice soft but urgent. She looked at Ryuuki for a split second, a look of pure, aching worry before she snapped her gaze back to the game. 

"Tsk..." Iwagaki looked away, his jaw tightening. "ALRIGHT BOULDERS! BACK TO THE DEFENSE! DON'T LET THEM GET THROUGH!"

"YEAH!!!"

The game stalled into a grinding war of attrition. Raimon retreated, passing the ball in a tight, defensive circle. 

"Keep the ball close!" Michinari shouted, the ball zipping between him and Goujin. 

Kozoumaru stood at the edge of the circle, his teeth bared. "Hey, dork! They’re very good at defending! You’re going to lose the ball if you keep playing like this!" Goujin shouted at him.

"I've got my own way... follow that idiot's play like the loyal dog you are," Kozoumaru hissed.

"SAY THAT AGAIN!" Goujin roared.

"There!" Ishikabe smirked. He didn't wait for the argument to finish. He lunged in with a perfectly timed slide tackle, his boot hooking the ball away from Goujin’s feet.

"Gah!" Goujin stumbled, hitting the dirt hard.

"Miko-san!" Ishikabe fired the ball toward the sideline. 

Kozoumaru appeared out of thin air, intercepting the pass with a brutal snap of his boot. "What the-" Miko gasped.

"You aren't going anywhere!" Boruku shouted, his massive frame looming over Kozoumaru. 

Kozoumaru tried to dash, but everywhere he looked, a Minodouzan player was already there. He was being herded, trapped in a cage of giants. "Kozoumaru, here!" Michinari called, but Kozoumaru ignored him, his eyes fixed on Boruku. 

"You aren't going to get through!" Boruku roared. He dropped into a deep crouch, and slammed his fists together.

"THE WALL!!!"

The ground groaned. A jagged, massive slab of granite erupted from the turf behind Boruku, the force of the emergence sending a shockwave through the field. Kozoumaru’s footing vanished. He was tossed backward, his body spinning before he slammed into the grass. 

"Nice one, Boruku!" Hirata shouted. 

"Back to the formation, guys!" Iwagaki commanded. 

Asuto ran to Kozoumaru’s side. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Tsk... Don't stand in my way. I'm going to knock you out like the opposite team," Kozoumaru spat, pushing Asuto’s hand away. 

Asuto’s face hardened. He didn't argue. He just watched as the ball moved back to Minodouzan. 

Miko passed to Ugou, who flicked it to Maeno. Maeno began to dribble around Goujin with a surprisingly nimble footwork for a man of his size. 

"Got it!" Asuto dived in, a clean slide tackle stealing the ball back. He stopped and stared at the Minodouzan defense. They weren't moving toward him they waited for him.

Asuto passed to Kozoumaru, but as Kozoumaru took the ball, Asuto didn't follow. He retreated. Kozoumaru sighed, his eyes narrowing at the goal, then at Ryuuki.

Ishikabe stepped out of the line, a cocky smirk on his face. "Hehe! C’mon, come at me!"

"Hold yourself!" Asuto’s voice rang out. 

Asuto stopped. He crouched low, his hand pressing against his chest over his heart. A brilliant, golden light began to bleed through his jersey, rivaling the glare of the stadium spotlights. Yellow energy swirled around him, condensing into a pulsating, humming orb that felt like a miniature sun trapped in his palm. 

"SUNSHINE HEARTO!!!"

With a violent thrust of his arm, Asuto launched the orb. The energy slammed into Ishikabe, the impact sounding like a thunderclap.

Ishikabe was launched backward, his feet leaving the ground as he skidded across the grass. And Asuto sprinted through the gap.

"Asuto Ishimori passes Ishikabe Yamori with a new hissatsu technique! Unbelievable!" 

"Ishikabe-san! Are you okay?!" Ryuuki’s voice was a high, thin reed of panic. 

Ishikabe stood up, shaking the stars from his head. He looked at Ryuuki and gave him a single, sharp nod. *I'm fine. Stay in the line.*

Ryuuki’s heart skipped. He just stood there, watching as his teammates gathered around Ishikabe, a silent, protective barrier that he was technically part of, yet completely excluded from.

"Kozoumaru!" Asuto shouted, preparing to cross the ball.

Hirata appeared like a mountain. "End of the line!" He stomped his foot, and the stadium floor literally cracked.

A green-blue aura exploded around him, flickering with static. He crossed his arms, his muscles bulging as a terrifying, stitched-together image of Frankenstein’s monster rose from the earth behind him.

"HAAAAAAAAAA! FRANKENSTEIN!!!"

The spectral monster reached out, its massive hand slamming into the turf right in front of Asuto. 

"BRUTAL SLAM!!!"

The ground buckled, launching Asuto thirty feet into the air. "GHRAAA!" 

Hirata caught the falling ball on the tip of his boot, his expression cold and focused. 

"Nice one, Hirata!" Miko shouted. 

"Keep the rhythm! They won't get through our defense!" Iwagaki’s voice was iron.

Asuto hit the ground hard, hissing in pain. "We aren't making any progress like this..."

The game continued in a surreal loop. Pass, defend, pass, defend.

Kozoumaru tried to charge through Boruku again, roaring with a primal rage. "OUT OF MY WAY!"

"THE WA-" Bokuru shouts, standing on front of Kozoumaru.

Kozoumaru slammed into Boruku before the hissatsu could finish, his shoulder hitting Boruku’s chest like a battering ram. Boruku stumbled, a smirk playing on his lips even as he lost his balance. 

"Bokuru-san!" Ryuuki whispered. 

Boruku looked at him from the corner of his eye and gave that same, silent nod. 

Ryuuki’s eyes narrowed until they were almost closed. He could feel his instincts kicking in, but he still couldn't move.

On the Minodouzan bench, the Coach leaned back, a small, knowing smile on his face. "This Raimon Eleven ain't as bad as I thought."

"Yep, pretty good, sir!" the sub-coach agreed.

The Coach’s eyes flickered to Ryuuki. "Come on, Boulders..." He whispered into the cold wind.

"GOUJIN! Pass the ball back to Kozoumaru when he passes to you!" Asuto shouted, his lungs burning as he sprinted forward, his cleats tearing up bits of turf. 

Goujin gritted his teeth, his face flushed a deep crimson. "Asuto! Did you forget the strategy that fatty told us to do? We’re supposed to be staying back!" 

"DO IT!" Asuto roared, ignoring the protest. He became a blur of yellow and white, dashing past Ugou and weaving around Iwagaki with a agility that seemed to defy the heavy atmosphere of the pitch.

Kozoumaru was already in motion, his eyes burning with a cold, focused fire. He attacked the space. "I'll go through," he hissed through clenched teeth, the ball spinning like a trapped cyclone at his feet. "No matter what!"

"Kouken! Get him!" Iwagaki commanded, his voice a deep, gravelly boom that echoed off the stadium walls.

"Hm!" Kouken stepped forward, his massive frame casting a long shadow over the grass. "Stay away!" He dropped into a low, centered stance, his muscles coiling. He and Hirata locked eyes, a silent understanding passing between the two Boulders.

Kozoumaru tried a sharp feint to the left, but Hirata was already there, charging in like a rhinoceros. The impact sent Kozoumaru reeling backward, right into the path Kouken had prepared.

"THE WALL!!!"

A colossal stone wall erupted from the turf, pulsating with an ancient, earthy energy. The shockwave sent Kozoumaru’s center of gravity spiraling. He lost his footing, his body hitting the grass hard as the ball was launched high into the air by the force of the barrier.

"OHH!" the Commentator shrieked into his microphone. "Kakoi Kouken and Hirata Taizou’s combined assault has completely neutralized Kozoumaru Sasuke’s wild charge! The ball is back in Minodouzan's territory, and the stronghold remains unbroken!"

"Ghraa..." Kozoumaru hissed, his fingers digging into the dirt. With a desperate, last-ditch effort, he kicked the ball away just before he tumbled. "Goujin!"

"I got it!" Goujin leaped into the air, catching the ball on his chest with a heavy *thwack*. He hit the ground running, his eyes fixed on the distant goal.

"Kouguro! Get the ball!" Iwagaki’s command was instantaneous.

Goujin looked up, and his heart nearly skipped a beat. Koguro was suddenly there, a literal wall of meat and bone. "He's huge!" Goujin gasped. Koguro charged, his sheer mass stripping the ball away and leaving Goujin to stumble and fall backward like a discarded toy.

"Goujin is blocked right after receiving the ball! Incredible!" the Announcer shouted. "Minodouzan is playing like they're made of granite!"

Koguro fired a pass toward Ishikabe, but Michinari was reading the play. He intercepted the ball with a sliding trap and immediately zipped it toward Asuto.

"Got it," Asuto whispered, his focus narrowing until the world was just him and the ball.

"Asuto Inamori just avenged Goujin by reclaiming the ball in a split second!" the Commentator roared. "What a recovery! The pace of this game is blistering!"

"Wake up, you idiot!" Kozoumaru shouted at Goujin, who was still trying to find his feet.

"Shut up! I feel like I have five bones crushed right now!" Goujin hissed, his face contorted in pain as he scrambled up.

"Goujin! Back to Kozoumaru!" Asuto sent a blistering pass to Goujin, who trapped it with a groan. 

"Fine... I'll just have to do it!" Goujin growled, preparing to charge again.

"Moriagari!" Miko shouted, her eyes sharp. 

"I'm on it!" Moriagari planted his feet firmly in front of Goujin. He raised his massive hands and slammed them into the pitch. The impact sent visible ripples through the grass, like stones thrown into a pond. 

The ground beneath Goujin’s feet began to bulge and churn, halting his momentum instantly.

"What the-" Goujin’s eyes went wide as the earth beneath him fractured.

A gargantuan stone head, ancient and moss-covered, erupted from the soil with a deafening roar of grinding rock. It caught Goujin square in the center, launching him high into the stadium lights until he was a mere speck against the clouds.

"RISING HILL MOAI!!!"

The ball fell neatly to Moriagari’s feet as Goujin’s distant scream faded. 

"Minodouzan’s impenetrable stronghold prevents even a single opponent from passing through!" the Announcer shouted, the crowd erupting in a deafening cheer. "Is this match destined for a permanent stalemate?!"

Kozoumaru skidded to a halt, his chest heaving. "Darn it..." he whispered to himself, his sweat dripping onto the grass. "They’re too fast... and these idiots are holding me down. We aren't fast enough to prevent the ball from being stolen."

Asuto sighed, his gaze flickering to his Eleven Band. The instruction still being there. He looked over at the Minodouzan side. Ryuuki was standing there, a ghost in the machine. His eyes were glazed, his hands trembling slightly at his sides. He wasn't even watching the ball. He looked like he was a thousand miles away, trapped in a nightmare.

"I can't do it... not now... I... I can't..." Ryuuki’s lips moved silently, his breath coming in shallow, terrified hitches.

Iwagaki watched him from the corner of his eye, his jaw tight. 

The rest of the Minodouzan players all flickered their gazes toward him. There was no anger in their eyes, only a profound, heavy worry. They wanted to reach out, to pull him back into the safety of the fortress, but they knew the wall he had built around himself was thicker than any they could summon.

"Humph..." the Minodouzan coach mumbled, his eyes unreadable.

Sub-coach Hosoi leaned in, trying to catch a directive, but the head coach remained a statue.

On the Raimon side, the situation was reaching a breaking point. Hanta wiped a thick layer of sweat from her forehead, her legs shaking. "Ha... hah..."

"Are you okay, Han-chan?" Golem asked, his voice full of genuine concern.

"I'm not okay at all, Golem," she sighed, leaning her weight on her knees. "This game is a giant back-and-forth. Be thankful you guys don't have to move this much on the line..."

Hiura and Hiro exchanged a grim look. Norika sat down on the grass for a moment to catch her breath, her gloves caked in mud. 

Hiyori kept glancing at the empty spot where Mansaku should have been, the absence felt like a physical weight on the team.

Michinari looked toward the bench, catching Ootani’s eye. She looked down at her phone, then back at him, slowly shaking her head.

"Guys..." Ootani whispered, her knuckles white as she gripped her clipboard.

Coach Zhao was currently in the middle of a particularly elaborate praying mantis pose, a wide, enigmatic smirk plastered on his face. 

"Coach!" Sub-coach Kameda hissed, shoving a tablet into Zhao’s field of vision. "Look at the team’s status! Their stamina has dropped into the red zone! At this rate, they won't even be able to walk by the second half!"

"I see..." Coach Zhao said, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the screen.

Kameda and Ootani leaned in, a flicker of hope igniting. Surely, he would give them an offensive command now. Surely, he would save them. Zhao’s fingers began to fly across the screen. "Boop boop boop boop!"

"Coach! Are you giving them new orders?!" Kameda asked breathlessly.

Ootani let out a sigh of relief. Finally. But as they looked closer at the screen, their faces froze. Coach Zhao wasn't looking at a tactical map. He was playing a colorful mobile game, his thumbs frantically tapping on exploding animals.

"G... GAME?!" Ootani gasped, her eyes nearly popping out of her head.

"Hohohohohohohoho!" Zhao laughed, his eyes bright with digital victory.

"Coach..." Kameda’s eye began to twitch with a rhythmic, violent pulse.

Anna folded her arms, her expression hardening into one of pure disgust. "This indecent man must be mentally unstable," 

"I was right... this team must be dismantled before it embarrasses the school further." she whispered. 

Back on the pitch, the trio of Asuto, Goujin, and Kozoumaru stood in a triangle, their jerseys soaked through with perspiration.

"Asuto, Goujin, Kozoumaru! Get back!" Michinari shouted from the midfield.

Goujin let out a long, ragged sigh. "Had enough, Asuto? Are you still going to follow this jerk's nonsense?" He glared at Kozoumaru.

"Let's go back for now," Asuto said, his voice surprisingly calm despite the chaos. "We need to reset."

"Fine..." Goujin grumbled, following Asuto back toward their own half.

But Kozoumaru didn't move. He stood on the edge of the Minodouzan territory, his cleats dug deep into the sod. His teeth were bared, his eyes fixed on a single point in the Golden Fortress. He watched the way the Minodouzan players looked at Ryuuki. He saw the gap, not a gap in the formation, but a gap in the *soul* of the mountain.

"There..." Kozoumaru hisses.

"Looks like they're giving up," Miko said, her voice lacking its usual bite.

"Hm. All of this will end soon," Iwagaki replied, though his gaze remained fixed on the back of Ryuuki’s head.

"While Minodouzan’s impenetrable stronghold remains firm, Raimon is retreating to their side of the field!" the Commentator shouted. "Is this a tactical withdrawal, or have they finally hit the wall?!"

The Inakuni players began a slow, rhythmic series of passes in their own half, trying to conserve whatever energy they had left. 

Across the field, Coach Zhao was now attempting a crouching tiger pose while his phone let out a series of happy *dings*. "Ohohohohohoho!"

"Raimon's Coach Zhao Jinyun appears to be... playing a game while practicing kung-fu?!" the Commentator exclaimed, his voice dripping with disbelief. "Is this a new form of psychological warfare, or has he simply checked out of the match?!"

Asuto fired a long, looping pass to Kozoumaru. Kozoumaru trapped it, but instead of retreating, he stayed put.

He looked at the Boulders. They were focused, serious, and perfectly aligned except for one.

Ryuuki was staring at a patch of clover near his feet, his eyes vacant. He was the loose stone. He was the pebble that could start a landslide.

"That kid..." Kozoumaru hissed. A slow, dangerous smirk spread across his face. "THAT'S IT!"

"LITTLE PEBBLES!!!!!" the Minodouzan coach suddenly shouted, standing up from the bench for the first time in the game.

Kozoumaru didn't wait. He roared and exploded forward. He didn't aim for the gaps between Iwagaki and Miko. He headed straight for the center.

The Boulders didn't move. They braced themselves, their eyes tracking his trajectory. 

"Bokuru, he’s coming towards you!" Iwagaki shouted.

"I'm ready..." Bokuru grunted, his muscles tensing for the impact of "THE WAL-."

"OUT OF MY WAY!" Kozoumaru screamed.

Bokuru braced himself, waiting for the heavy thud of a collision... but it never came. At the very last microsecond, Kozoumaru performed a lightning-fast roulette spin, pivoting not toward the strong Bokuru, but directly into the space occupied by Ryuuki.

Ryuuki’s head snapped up. His eyes went wide as he saw the brown-haired striker inches from his face. "A... ahhh!" 

Ryuuki instinctively recoiled, stepping back and tripping over his own feet. The stronghold visual behind the whole team flickered and cracked. 

Kozoumaru surged through the opening like water through a burst dam, entering the heart of the Minodouzan side.

The silence that followed was absolute.

The Minodouzan players stood frozen, their eyes wide with shock. Iwagaki’s mouth hung open. Miko gasped, her hand flying to her chest.

"K... Kozoumaru... did it?" Asuto whispered, his heart leaping into his throat.

"He... he actually did it..." Goujin blinked, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten.

"INCREDIBLE!" the Commentator screamed, his voice reaching a pitch that threatened to blow the speakers. "KOZOUMARU SASUKE HAS BREACHED THE STRONGHOLD! He found the one weak point in the mountain and shattered the line! THE FORTRESS HAS BEEN BREACHED!"

"Your doom has arrived!" Kozoumaru smirked, his eyes flashing with a predatory light as he sprinted toward the goal.

"MOVE!!!" Iwagaki shouts.

The Minodouzan players began to scramble, their perfect formation dissolving into chaotic desperation as they turned to chase. 

Ryuuki sat in the mud, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He looked at his hands, then at the retreating back of the striker who had just exploited his broken heart.

"W... what have I done..." Ryuuki whispered, his voice lost in the roar of the crowd as the mountain began to fall.

The stadium was a boiling pot of anticipation. The air, thick with the scent of kicked-up dirt and the metallic tang of stadium lights, seemed to hum as Kozoumaru breached the line. For a fleeting second, the path to glory was wide open.

"Let's go! Now!" Iwagaki roared, his heavy boots thumping against the turf as he rallied the Boulders.

"YES!" the Minodouzan team shouted in a unified, earth-shaking chorus, sprinting to close the gap.

On the other side, the Inakuni Raimon players were vibrating with adrenaline. Hanta’s eyes sparkled, her small frame tensed like a coiled spring. "Guys, let's go! The path is open!" 

Hiro adjusted his glasses, the lenses catching the glare of the overhead lights. "Hanta is right. Kozoumaru-san will need our assistance to maintain this momentum. Let's go!"

"Guys!" Norika screamed from the goal, her gloves punching the air. "Go for it! Put one in!"

"This is our chance!" Goujin barked, his face a mask of sweaty determination. "Let's go!"

"YEAH!" the team roared, beginning their synchronized surge forward.

But then, the air was sliced by a chorus of high-pitched, digital chirps. *BIP-BIP! BIP-BIP!*

Asuto skidded to a halt, his heart plummeting into his stomach. He raised his wrist, staring at the glowing screen of his Eleven Band. "Guys..."

Michinari felt the vibration on his own wrist. His eyes widened as he read the message flashing in bright, neon pink. "DON'T MOVE!" he screamed, his voice cracking with the sheer force of the command.

The Inakuni players froze mid-stride, looking like a collection of statues scattered across the pitch. 

"Uh..." Hiro blinked behind his spectacles, staring at his wrist. 

"What's wrong?" Hanta asked, her momentum carrying her into a clumsy, wobbling stop.

Golem scratched the back of his massive head, leaning over so Hanta could see his screen. A pixelated, winking cat face stared back at them, accompanied by a message that felt like a slap in the face: FREEZE! Another step and you are all gone~ <3 owo

"What..." Hanta’s jaw dropped. "W... why?! We have them on the ropes!"

Hiura let out a long, weary sigh, his shoulders slumping. "Looks like Kozoumaru is on his own. Again."

Asuto stared down the field. Kozoumaru was already a distant streak of purple and white, a lone warrior charging into a forest of giants. There was nothing they could do. They were anchored to the spot by the whims of a coach who was currently, likely, still playing a gacha game on the bench.

"OOH! WHAT IS THIS?!" the Commentator shrieked, leaning so far out of his booth he nearly fell. "The entire Raimon squad has abandoned Kozoumaru Sasuke! They’ve stopped dead in their tracks! Is this supreme confidence in their striker, or has the pressure finally caused a collective system failure?!"

"Let's get him! STONE CAGE!" Iwagaki commanded.

"ROGER!"

The Minodouzan players moved with the terrifying precision of a closing trap. They spiraled and split apart, forming a wide, tightening circle that slowly began to swallow the pitch, moving closer and closer to the lone striker.

Kozoumaru gritted his teeth, the sound like grinding stones. He could feel the breath of the giants on his neck. He was close. The goal was right there.

Jousai slammed his fist into his palm. His eyes were cold, locked onto Kozoumaru with predatory focus. "You have a lot of guts to even consider reaching this far, little man..."

Bokuru and Kouken hammered into position, standing like twin monoliths in front of the net.

"TAKE THIS!" Kozoumaru roared. 

Kozoumaru flicked the ball into the air with his heel, sending the leather sphere spinning toward the darkening sky.

In a display of raw, athletic fury, he performed a crisp backflip. As his body rotated, a violent stream of orange and crimson fire erupted from the grass beneath him. He began to spin, a blurred vortex of flames that turned the pitch into a furnace.

"FAIYAA TORNADOOU!!!"

He connected at the apex of his jump, his foot white-hot. The ball tore through the air, a spiraling comet of fire that scorched the damp grass, leaving a blackened trail in its wake.

"There it goes!" the Commentator shouted. "Kozoumaru Sasuke unleashes his signature move! Will the Boulders hold?!"

"HAAAA!" Bokuru roared. He dropped low, his thighs bulging like tree trunks. He slammed his fists, and the stadium seemed to shiver.

"THE WALL!!!"

The jagged slab of stone erupted, glowing with that dull, ancient light. The flaming ball slammed into the rock with a deafening *CRACK*. Sparks flew, and Bokuru’s boots carved deep furrows in the mud as he was pushed back inch by painful inch.

"Grrr..." Bokuru’s teeth were bared. The fire was eating through the stone. With a final, explosive burst of heat, the Fire Tornado shattered the wall, shards of golden brick flying everywhere as the ball continued its path toward the net.

"Jousai!" Bokuru hissed, collapsing to his knees.

"The ball is through! It's going in!" 

The Inakuni team held their collective breath. Ryuuki, standing near the midfield, felt the world slow down. He saw the fire, felt the heat, and saw the goal wide open. His fault. It was all his fault. His eyes widened in terror.

"Heh." Jousai smirked.

The keeper dropped to one knee, bending his left leg upward in a strange, ritualistic stance. He slammed his right hand into the grass, leaning forward until his forehead nearly touched the ground. Then, he exploded upward, spinning toward the sky like a drill. 

As he fell back, he thrust both arms downward, his fingers clawing into the earth.

"FENCE OF GAIAAA!!!"

A massive, jagged palisade of stone teeth erupted from the goal line. The flaming ball hit the fence and was violently deflected upward, its fire sputtering out against the cold, hard earth.

"It didn't get in! Jousai Kento blocks the shock!" 

The crowd went absolutely nuclear, the roar of ten thousand voices shaking the very foundations of the stadium.

"It's not over yet! TAKE THIS!" Kozoumaru screamed. He had anticipated the rebound. He was already in the air, his body twisting back into the fiery vortex.

"Heh, persistent, isn't he?" Bokuru smirks, wiping dust from his face. "Block it, Kouken!"

"You got it!" Kouken stepped forward, his eyes narrowed.

Once again, the crimson fire swirled. The stadium was illuminated by the flickering, hellish glow of a second assault.

"FAIYAA... TORNADOOU!!!"

"Another one?!" Goujin gasped, his jaw nearly hitting his chest. 

The Inakuni team watched in stunned silence. Ryuuki closed his eyes, hissing through his teeth. Every rotation of Kozoumaru’s body felt like a countdown to his own disgrace.

"Another shot! Kozoumaru releases a second Fire Tornado! Unbelievable stamina!" 

Kouken smirked, dropping into the same deep crouch and slamming his fists.

"THE WALL!!!" 

The second stone barrier rose. The ball shrieked against the stone. The wall fractured and crumbled under the sheer heat of Kozoumaru’s desperation. The ball tore through, heading for the top corner.

"Heh..." Kouken smiled as he stumbled back, exhausted.

"You are good! But not good enough!" Jousai shouted. He wound his left arm diagonally, a fleeting swirl of wind whipping up around his feet. 

"STORM RAIDAAAAA!"

He sprang into the air, swinging his legs in a wide circle, gathering a localized sandstorm around his body.

The flaming ball was sucked into the heart of the dust devil. The spinning sand acted like sandpaper, stripping away the ball's momentum and extinguishing the flames.

Jousai dived, smacking the ball down into the dirt with a heavy, satisfying *thud*. He stood up, clutching the ball, and smirked directly at the panting Kozoumaru.

Kozoumaru stumbled, his legs trembling from the back-to-back hissatsu. 

"HE CAUGHT IT! JOUSAI CAUGHT THE BALL!" the Commentator yelled. "What a display of defensive mastery!"

"Darn it!" Goujin shouted from his "frozen" position. "They caught every single shot!"

"If we were there..." Hiro whispered, his glasses fogging up from his own frantic breathing.

"We should be there! We should be helping him! Argh!" Hanta hissed, her small fists shaking at her sides.

"Han-chan, calm down please..." Golem rumbled, though his own expression was pained.

Michinari looked at his wrist. The cat was still winking. "This strategy isn't working at all..." he whispered, his heart heavy.

Asuto looked toward the bench. Ootani just shook her head, her eyes filled with a helpless sort of sorrow. Beside her, Coach Zhao was still doing a drunken master pose while his thumbs hammered away at his phone.

"Give me the ball!" Kozoumaru roared, don't caring about the rules. He charged Jousai with raw, physical desperation.

"What is he doing?!" Goujin screamed. "He's going to slam into the keeper!"

"Kozoumaru..." Asuto whispered, his eyes wide.

"Gao! Look!" Hiyori shouted, pointing toward the circle.

The team looked, and their blood ran cold. 

"You want the ball? You can have it," Jousai said, a cruel glint in his eye. He didn't punt it. He simply rolled the ball toward Kozoumaru's feet.

"Don't underestimate me!" Kozoumaru shouted, leaning back to strike a third time.

"Don't underestimate us," Jousai smirked.

"Take thi-" Kozoumaru started to swing his leg, but he stopped dead. Iwagaki was suddenly there, looming over him like an eclipse. 

Kozoumaru spun around, searching for a pass, but his heart stopped. The entire Minodouzan team formed a perfect, suffocating circle around him.

"Forgot about us?" Miko smirks, leaning in close, her eyes flashing with a dangerous protective streak.

"Darn it..." Kozoumaru hissed, looking back toward his teammates, who were still frozen near the center line.

"Ha! Looks like he forgot about us..." Ugou chuckled, the sound cold and clinical.

"Jog his memory, Miko," Iwagaki said, his voice dropping into a low, menacing register.

"This is for messing with our brother!" Miko shouted.

She slammed her foot into the grass. *CRACK.*

A sickly green-and-blue aura erupted from the fissure as she crossed her arms.

Behind her, a terrifying, spectral image of a stitched, towering bride emerged from the ground, her hollow eyes glowing with eerie light.

"THE BRIDOOO!!!"

The spectral giant reached out, its massive, grey fingers slamming into the turf right beneath Kozoumaru. The earth buckled, and Kozoumaru was sent soaring into the air, his body spinning helplessly like a ragdoll.

"BRUTAL SLAM!!!"

"Ghraaa..." Kozoumaru groaned as he hit the turf with a sickening thud, his breath leaving him in a single, painful gasp.

"THEY’VE GOT IT!" the Commentator roared. "The Boulders have reclaimed the ball! The assault is over, the chance is gone!"

*PEEEEP! PEEEEP! PEE-EEEEE-P!*

The whistle blew, long and final. 

"And that’s the end of the first half!" the Commentator shouted over the roar of the fans. "Minodouzan leads in spirit, and the score remains a deadlock at 0-0! But the physical and mental toll on Raimon is catastrophic!"

As the players began to limp toward the benches, Ryuuki stood in the center of the field, his gaze fixed on the dirt. He felt the weight of the mountain on his shoulders, and as always, he wasn't sure if he could carry it.

...

The morning sun over the commercial district was calm and warm, Outside the pink-trimmed facade of the local maid cafe, the Raimon Kids FC looked like a collection of deflated balloons.

Mako stood at the front of the group, her small sneaker tapping a frantic rhythm against the pavement. 

"Captain, can we watch the game on our phones or something?" Ryuusuke pleaded, his shoulders slumped.

"No!" Mako pouted, her pigtails shaking. "We have to cheer for them in the field!"

"But it’s taking so longgg..." Haru groaned, leaning against a lamp post.

"Very, very longgg..." Munakata echoed, his stomach giving a growl. "I wanna see Norika-sama catch the ball!"

"I wanna see Kozoumaru-sama score!" Amai added, her eyes momentarily lighting up. 

Mako sighs. "And I wanna watch see Asuto-sama dribble, but we have to be patient alright?"

Mako looked at the cafe door and huffed. "Mommy! We’re late! We already missed the first half!"

"Just a sec, sweethearts!" Sally’s voice drifted from inside, melodic but distracted.

The kids sighed in unison, looking more bored than a group of statues. Then, it happened.

*THUD.*

The sound was heavy, wet, and violent. The kids flinched as one, their eyes widening. 

"Gah! W... what was that?" Ryuusuke whispered, his voice trembling. 

"It was like a stomp from a big monster!" Kaito squeaked, scurrying behind Munakata.

"You baby! Monsters aren't real," Munakata smirked, though his own knees were shaking. 

*THUD.*

The second blow was louder. Munakata let out a yelp and dove behind Mako. "Gah! A big monster is coming!" 

"Hehehehe" The team giggled nervously at his cowardice, but the humor died instantly when a third *THUD* echoed through the street, accompanied by the sound of a trash can clattering down a nearby alleyway.

"Captain, what's going on?" Ryuusuke asked, peeking over Mako’s shoulder.

"I... I don't know..." Mako’s eyes narrowed as she stared at the mouth of a dark, narrow alleyway between the cafe and a tall brick building. "There! The noise is coming from that alley!"

"T-that dark alley?" Munakata whispered. 

"I-It's really a monster!" Hirata shouted, his face turning pale. 

"Shhh!" the team hissed, but their own terror was mounting.

The cafe door swung open, and Sally stepped out, smoothing her apron and adjusting her bag. "I’m ready, kids! We can go now."

The children didn't move. They remained frozen, staring at the shadows. Another massive *THUD* erupted, making Sally and the kids yelp and flinch in unison.

"Good lord..." Sally muttered, her maternal instincts immediately sharpening.

"Mommy!" Mako shouted, grabbing Sally’s hand. 

"Sally-sama! It’s a monster!" Amai cried. "A big, bad monster!"

Sally looked at the alleyway, her eyes narrowing with something. Another blow echoed, the sound of leather hitting something soft and heavy.

"What do we do, Sally-sama!?" Sora asked. 

"W-what if the monster is coming to get us!?" Munakata wailed. 

"Ok, ok, calm down now..." Sally said, her voice dropping into a calm, authoritative tone. 

She reached into the kids' equipment bag and grabbed a soccer ball. "Stay here and don't follow me, alright?"

"Mommy!? You’re going there!?" Mako’s heart hammered. 

"Sally-sama! The monster is going to get you!" Kaito warned, his bottom lip trembling.

"There is no such thing as monsters, darling," Sally said, petting Kaito’s head with a reassuring smile. 

"W-what if it's still something bad?" Mako asked, her voice small.

"Oh, little star, don't worry." Sally’s smile didn't reach her eyes this time. Her gaze shifted to the alley, and for a split second, her gaze sharp. "You all do what I say and stay here. 

"Take care of them, alright, little star?" Mako says.

"M-Mommy..." Mako watched as Sally disappeared into the shadows.

The alley was calm and cold. The light that managed to filter down from the strip of blue sky above was weak, dying long before it reached the grime-slicked pavement where Mansaku lay.

The world had narrowed down to a single, agonizing rhythm. 

*THUD.*

The soccer ball, heavy and caked in grit, slammed into his shoulder. The impact sent a jolt of white-hot pain through his nerves, but he didn't move or flinch. He lay curled on his side, his hands loosely protecting his head.

He had forgotten the time. He had forgotten the date. He had even forgotten the massive, high-stakes game his teammates were currently fighting for their lives in at the stadium. The relentless physical toll of the morning, combined with the crushing weight of a secret he carried like a lead anchor in his chest, had hollowed him out. He had dived so deep into the sea of his own sorrow that the surface was no longer visible.

"What's the matter, Spark?" Mari spat, her voice echoing off the cold brick walls like a whip crack. "I hate to hit you a little bit harder isn't it?"

She was panting, her face flushed with a dark, manic energy. She reached into the mesh bag, grabbing another ball. 

The gang members behind her were shifting uncomfortably. They had seen Mari angry before, but this was different.

"Mari, seriously," a boy named a gang member whispered, looking at his watch. "The time’s up Chief. We were supposed to be out of here ten minutes ago. If we stay, someone’s gonna call the cops."

"Let's go, Chief! He already got his dose for today..." Another gang member adds.

Mari spun around, her eyes wide and bloodshot, a strand of hair clinging to her damp forehead. "I didn't ask for the time! I asked for him to admit it! Look at him! He’s pathetic! He’s just lying there like a piece of garbage!"

"He's had enough," a gang member in the back muttered. "He looks like he’s checking out. It's Spark, remember?Let’s just go."

"I’LL DECIDE WHEN HE’S HAD ENOUGH!" Mari roared, her voice cracking with the strain. She turned back to Mansaku, her foot trembling as she drew it back. "THIS ISN'T OUR SPARK!!! HE DESERVES ALL OF THIS!!!"

The gang members step back, their eyes narrowing as they watched Mari crash out.

Mansaku stared at a small patch of moss growing in a crack in the pavement. *Let it happen,* he thought, his eyelids heavy. *If It happens, I don't have to face them. I don't have to tell them. I'm sorry, Hiyori... I'm sorry, Captain. I'm...sorry everyone... I'm just... tired.*

"YOU TRAITOR!!!" Mari let out a guttural scream of pure, unbridled rage and swung her leg with everything she had left. 

But the strike never came.

A high-pitched *whir* cut through the damp air of the alley, followed by a blur of white and pink that moved faster than the human eye could track. A soccer ball, launched with the surgical precision of a professional, tore through the shadows. It passed so close to Mansaku’s ear that he felt the rush of wind, and then-

*POW!*

The ball connected square with the side of Mari’s head. The force was enough to knock her clean off her feet. "Grhaaaaa!!!" She shouts.

She spun sideways, her arms flailing as she crashed into a stack of empty wooden pallets. The pallets collapsed with a deafening splintering sound, burying her under a pile of debris.

The gang members stood frozen. Their mouths hung open, their eyes darting toward the entrance of the alley.

There, silhouetted against the brilliant, golden light of the morning, stood Sally. Her maid uniform’s lace pristine, her apron white as new snow. She held her designer bag in one hand, while the other hung loosely at her side, having just delivered a world-class shot.

"I believe," Sally said, her voice dropping into a register of cold, terrifying calm, "this is enough."

"What...was...that..." Mari groaned, pushing a broken piece of wood off her chest as she struggled to sit up. Her temple was already swelling into a deep, angry welt. "Who... who did that? I'll kill you!"

Sally walked forward. Her heels clicked on the pavement with a rhythmic, lethal sound. Each step seemed to push the shadows back. She stopped a few feet from Mansaku, her eyes sweeping over his battered form.

"Mansaku," she said.

Mansaku blinked, his vision slowly clearing. He looked up at the lace and the ribbons, his mind struggling to bridge the gap between the alley and the cafe. "Sally... sama?"

"Get up," she said.

Mansaku stared her face, his eyes wide open.

"Get up," she said again.

"...I... I can't," he whispered, his voice a hoarse rasp. He tried to move his arm, but a spike of pain in his ribs forced him back down. "I have to stay here... It's the only way..."

Sally’s eyes narrowed until they were nothing more than slits. "Only way? You think lying in the dirt while a group of thugs use you for target practice, every single day."

"I can't... I... I just can't..." Mansaku hisses, his eyes facing the ground.

"Your body won't be able to make all of this, I can always do first aids but if you keep getting hitted...." Sally says.

"You don't know what I've done..." Mansaku whispers, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the ground. "I'm a traitor... I don't deserve them... I don't deserve to be with Inakuni... I don't deserve anything... If I stay here... if she keeps hitting me... maybe the noise in my head will stop... maybe she will forgive me..."

"You are being incredibly, spectacularly naive," Sally replied.

Mansaku froze, his eyes wide open.

"You heard me," Sally snapped, her voice echoing. "You are wallowing in your own misery because it's easier than facing your friends. While you sit here in the dark, enjoying your little drama of self-loathing, your team is out there on the pitch. And they are doing it all while wondering where one of their players is."

"The... the game?" Mansaku’s eyes widened. For the first time in hours, the fog lifted. The memory of the stadium, the roar of the crowd, and the promise he had made to his teammates came rushing back like a tidal wave. "The game against Minodouzan... is it today?"

"It’s happening *now*, you idiot," Sally said, her voice softening just a fraction, though the edge remained. "And they are losing. Not because they aren't good, but because they are missing a piece of the team."

"YOU STUPID WITCH!" Mari screamed, finally scrambling to her feet. She was shaking, her face a mask of purple bruises and tears of frustration.

"M-Mari!" The gang members try to push her back but she ignored them, pushing herself forward.

"You... witch..." She hisses, her voice dangerous.

"Chief! Don't get closer to her!" A gang member shouts while stepping back.

She ignored the warnings of her gang members, her gaze focused on Sally "You think you can just come in here and take him? He’s ours! He belongs to the trash! You’re just a pathetic waitress in a costume! Go back to your tea sets before I break your face!"

She turns to Mansaku, her eyes wide open as she shouts. "YOU ARE A COWARD SPARK! YOU ARE A PIECE OF SHIT! NOBODY WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE YOU OUT OF THIS! NOBODY!!!"

Mansaku stared at the ground, he grinted his tooths with pain, he felt those words, slicing though his heart.

The gang members gasped. One of them actually reached out to grab Mari’s arm again. "Mari, stop! That’s Sally-sama! She practically runs this district! Don't be stupid!"

Mari ripped her arm away, her eyes wild. "I don't care! She hit me! She's nothing! You hear me, you old hag? You're a nobody!"

Sally didn't raise her voice. She didn't changed her expression. She simply reached into her bag, pulled out a silk handkerchief, and wiped a speck of the dirt from her shoe. Then, with a movement so fluid and fast it looked like a blur, she stepped forward.

*SLAP!*

The sound was like a thunderclap in the narrow space. Mari’s head snapped to the side, her entire body reeling from the impact. She fell back against the brick wall, her hand flying to her cheek, her eyes wide with a shock that transcended physical pain. 

"First," Sally said, leaning in until she was inches from Mari’s face, "I am a mother who has raised a daughter far more courageous than you will ever be. Second, I am a businesswoman who does not tolerate disruptions in this neighborhood. And third... I am very, very tired of listening to children who think a loud voice makes up for a hollow heart."

Mari stared at her. The fire that had been driving her was extinguished by the sheer, unyielding weight of Sally’s authority. Mari’s lip began to tremble, and she sank to her knees, clutching her face and sobbing like the child she actually was.

The other gang members just stood there frozen in fear, their eyes wide open.

Sally turned her back on her, dismissing her existence entirely. She looked down at Mansaku and offered her hand.

Sally said firmly. "Whatever 'traitor' thing you’re hiding with this people... that’s a battle for another day. But today? Today you are an Raimon Island player. And your family is waiting for you in the light."

Mansaku looked at her hand. He looked at the exit of the alley, where the sun was shining so brightly it hurt his eyes. He thought of Hiyori's smile, the others voices calling for him, and the fire he had forgotten began to flicker in the pit of his stomach.

"I... I have to go," Mansaku whispered. He reached up and took Sally’s hand. 

With her help, he hauled himself up. His ribs screamed, his legs felt like lead, and his head throbbed, but he stood tall. He wiped the grime from his face with the back of his hand, his eyes finally clearing of the sorrow that had nearly drowned him.

"Good," Sally said, a small, proud smile touching her lips. 

She turned to the gang members, who were huddled together in fear. "As for the rest of you... I want this alley empty in ten seconds. If I ever see any of you near this cafe or near Mansaku again, I will not be using a soccer ball. I will be using my lawyers. And they are far more painful."

"YES, MA'AM! SORRY, MA'AM!" the gang scrambled, picking up Mari and sprinting out the back of the alley as if the devil himself were chasing them.

Sally turned back to Mansaku, who was swaying slightly. She stepped in and let him lean his weight on her shoulder. 

"Come on," she said, her voice returning to its warm, maternal hum. "My car is parked just outside. We’re going to make sure the second half belongs to Inakuni."

"Sally-sama..." Mansaku whispered as they walked toward the light. "Thank you for finding me."

"I didn't find you, Mansaku," Sally replied, her eyes glinting as they stepped out into the warmth of the morning. "I just reminded you where you were supposed to be."

Mansaku nods, his gaze falling upon into the sky.

Mako and the other kids let out a deafening cheer as they saw Mansaku emerge. "MANSAKU-SAMAAAA!" 

Mansaku stared at where the gang was sprinting, his gaze in Mari as they dragged her away, the guilt in his heart was still there, waiting for him in the future, but as he climbed into the car, Mansaku knew that he was going to fix everything, somehow, but he knew he would but for now he was going back to the field. He was going back to his team.

...

Back into the stadium, The scoreboard loomed over the pitch, a pair of frozen zeros signaling a rough first half.

"Raimon Island VS Midoukozan Boulders ends its first half with a score of 0-0!" the commentator roared, his voice crackling through the PA system and echoing off the concrete stands. "Despite Raimon’s desperate efforts to break through, Midoukozan’s stronghold seems to be one step ahead of them! What will happen in this second half?! Can the islanders find a crack in the stone, or will the Boulders grind them down to dust?!"

The Inakuni players trudged toward their bench, their cleats clicking dully on the turf. Physically tired and mentally drained from throwing themselves against a literal mountain for forty-five minutes. 

"Man... what a game..." Hanta sighed, collapsing onto the bench and letting his head fall back. He stared up at the stadium lights, his chest heaving.

"I haven't felt this drained since the game against Seishou Academy..." Hiro added, his fingers trembling slightly as he adjusted his glasses, which were fogged with steam and sweat. "And they ran us over."

"Guys! Come on, drink some water! You deserve it!" Ootani said, her voice a beacon of forced cheerfulness. She scurried between the players, her arms full of chilled water bottles. 

"Thanks, Ootani-chan," Asuto said, taking a bottle with a weary smile.

"Yeah, thanks," Michinari muttered, already unscrewing the cap.

"Great timing, Ootani-chan." Hiura added. 

"Th-thank you..." Hanta groaned as he grabbed one. "I'm fried."

"Much appreciated," Hiro nodded as he adjusted his glasses.

"Water... life-blood..." Hiyori panted.

"Thanks, Ootani!" Golem boomed, nearly crushing the bottle in his massive hand. 

"Yeah, yeah, thanks," Goujin grunted, "Now I'm slightly less annoyed.

Kozoumaru gave a silent, curt nod as he snatched a bottle. 

"Kozoumaru!" Goujin suddenly shouted, pointing a finger at the striker.

"Shut up..." Kozoumaru hissed, looking away and taking a long, aggressive gulp of water. He seemed to be staring at something invisible on the horizon.

"Why you little-!" Goujin started to lunge forward, his face turning an angry shade of red.

"Let him be, Goujin," Asuto says while taking a sip of his own water.

Goujin hissed, turning his ire toward the center of the bench. "Hey, fatty!" he shouted at Coach Zhao. "When are you gonna let us do some offense?! Stop fooling around!!!"

Coach Zhao didn't even look up. He sat with his legs crossed, a mischievous, almost cat-like smile playing on his lips.

Hiro pushed his glasses up his nose. "In the best-case scenario, we’ll end up with a draw at this rate. And honestly, a draw doesn't help us in the standings."

"But then we’ll be finished, Coach!" Hanta shouted, throwing her hands up. "Let us attack already! Pleaseeee!~"

Michinari, the captain, stepped forward, his expression solemn. "Coach... we’ve managed to take football back. That’s why we want to see how far we can go in the Football Frontier. We want to play with all our might. Please... let us play properly."

The team nods in unison.

"Oh!" Coach Zhao finally looked up, his smirk widening into a calm, infuriating grin. "In that case, go right ahead and play defense with all your might."

"YOU...!" Goujin’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"If you attack now, it will only be a waste of time and energy," Coach Zhao added, closing his eyes as if he were about to take a nap.

"Waste of time and energy..." the sub-coach, Kameda, whispered to himself, thinking a little bit.

"We are already wasting energy, Coach," Norika said, wiping sweat from her brow.

"That’s your choice," Zhao chuckled. "I told you to play defense. Fufufufufu~"

Goujin was in his face now, shouting loud enough to rattle the water bottles. "Do you even want to win?! Everything you’ve said to us so far has been the opposite of winning!"

Kozoumaru’s eyes narrowed with something. Kozoumaru turned to the Coach. Seeing the flicker of something in his eyes too, the answer to their questions. Coach Zhao caught his gaze and gave a tiny, knowing smirk.

"Guys!" 

The team froze. A voice had cut through the tension, a familiar, steady voice. They all turned toward the edge of the pitch.

Sprinting toward them, his face pale but determined, was Mansaku. He was breathing hard, his cap pulled low over his eyes.

"M-A-N-S-A-K-U-KUN!" Hiyori shouted, his jaw dropping.

"Mansaku!" the whole team roared in unison, their weariness momentarily forgotten.

"Hey guys," Mansaku said, slowing to a stop and adjusting his cap. He looked like he’d been through a war, but his eyes were clear.

"Mansaku, you’re here," Asuto said, his voice thick with relief. "Thank God... we were really worried."

"Dude! You’re back!" Goujin shouted, slapping him on the back with enough force to make Mansaku wince. "You scared you for a sec!"

"I called you like forty times since early this morning, Mansaku-kun!" Ootani cried, holding up her phone like a piece of evidence. "I thought something happened back at the mansion!"

"We thought that too." Michinari adds.

The team nods in unison.

"Sorry, Ootani-chan, sorry everyone. My mind was... somewhere else this morning," Mansaku said, giving a small, weary smile. He looked down at his shoes. "I came late. Sorry for keeping you guys waiting."

"Don't worry," Asuto smiled, stepping forward to meet his gaze. "The important thing is that you’re back with us. We’re a team again."

The team nodded and smiled in unison, the atmosphere on the bench shifting from desperate to hopeful.

"Thanks, guys..." Mansaku adjusted his cap, hiding his eyes. *I forgot about you all for a sec, but you didn't forget me... thanks, guys...* he whispered under his breath, a lump forming in his throat.

"You look more sick than before, Mansaku!" Hanta noted, leaning in.

"Yeah, you look really pallid," Norika added, her brow furrowing with concern.

"M-a-n-s-a-k-u-kun okay?" Hiyori asked, hovering over him like a worried bird.

"I'm okay now, little guy," Mansaku smiled, reaching up to pet Hiyori’s arm. "I already feel better just from being here with you all."

"Glad to have you back, Mansaku," Michinari said, his voice regaining its captain’s authority. "Can you keep up?"

"Bring it on!" Mansaku said, his voice ringing with a new resolve.

The team smiled softly, though the exhaustion was still visible in the dark circles under their eyes.

Mansaku looked at them, his smile faltering. "What’s with the faces? You guys look worse than me."

"Check it out," Hiura said, pointing a thumb at the scoreboard.

"Nobody scored yet, huh? I see we’re using that defense strategy," Mansaku noted, his eyes scanning the pitch.

"Unfortunately," Hiro sighed.

"So, what’s the plan now?" Mansaku asked, looking at the Coach.

"More defense...?" Golem suggested, scratching the back of his head.

"I see..." Mansaku thought for a moment. "Well, let’s just do whatever we’re told to do. The Coach usually has a reason, even if it’s crazy."

"It’s not like we’ve got much of a choice," Asuto sighed, looking up at the vast blue sky.

"Hey, but on the good side, we’ve got them cheering for us! Look!" Mansaku smiled, pointing up toward the stands.

The team turned, and their eyes widened. 

"YEAHHHHHHHH! GO RAIMON! GO FOR IT!!!!"

The Inazuma Kids were there, packed into a section of the front row. They were jumping, waving their arms, and screaming at the top of their lungs. Mako was at the front, her face red from effort.

"Asuto-chan!" Mako shouted, cupping her hands around her mouth.

Asuto felt a wave of warmth wash over him, feeling more light than before.

"GO RAIMON! GO RAIMON! GO RAIMON!"

The kids’ voices were high and piercing, cutting through the adult roar of the stadium.

Goujin pumped a fist in the air. "Yeah! We’ll show 'em!"

"YEAHHH!!!"

The Inakuni players stared at each other and then laughed waving back at the kids, despite the huge pressure they just faced in the first half, they were not sure that everything was going to be ok.

"Awww! They are so cute, aren't they, Anna-san?" Ootani said, waving vigorously.

"The Inazuma Kids... cheering for them...?" Anna blinked, her usual stoicism flickering. She looked at the team, seeing the genuine smiles return to their faces. 

While the others were distracted, Mansaku stepped back, rubbing his bruised arm. He hissed as the fabric of his jersey scraped against a particularly nasty scrape. "Mari..." he whispered, his eyes darkening for a split second. "One day... one day I'll be brave enough to stand up to you without needing a rescue."

In the stands, Sally stood among the kids, She caught Mansaku’s eye and gave a single, slow nod. Her gaze was knowing, a silent promise that his secret was safe, but his growth was mandatory.

On the opposite side of the field, the atmosphere was much heavier. The Midoukozan players sat like statues of granite.

Miko hissed, staring across the field at the Raimon bench. "Looks like the eleventh member of their team just showed up."

"It doesn't matter how many players they add," Iwagaki said, his voice like grinding stones. "At the end, they will lose. The wall does not move."

"Little pebbles," the Midoukozan coach said, standing in front of his players. "I’m enjoying your performance so far. Despite Raimon’s efforts, you all remained determined and stood by each other."

"They stood by each other, sir!" the sub-coach, Hosoi, added with a frantic nod.

"YES!" the team shouted in unison.

"But," the coach said, his voice dropping into a low, dangerous rumble. "The stronghold has a crack."

The players looked at each other, their eyes narrowing. Ryuuki stood apart from the rest, his head bowed, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles were white. He was grinding his teeth, the sound audible in the sudden silence of the bench.

"Because of this crack, we can't call our stronghold unpenetrated anymore," the coach sighed. "After years of trying to perfect our defense and thinking we had done so... we weren't even close."

"W... we weren't even close, sir..." Hosoi looked at the ground, devastated.

The team fell silent. The pride they had carried was shattered. 

"I've ruined it..." Ryuuki whispered to himself. "I... I ruined the stronghold they perfected for years... It’s all my fault. I'm the weak link."

Kabeyama, who had been watching silently from the side, narrowed his eyes at Ryuuki. He knew that look. He wasn't ready yet.

"This is..." Kizoku didn't know what to say.

"We can't give up yet!" Iwagaki suddenly hissed, his eyes snapping to Ryuuki and then back to the coach. "It doesn't matter if our stronghold has cracks! We’ll just move it along the way!"

Miko’s eyes went wide. "M-move the walls?"

"Move the walls?" the whole team gasped, the concept sounding like heresy.

"Move the walls?" Ryuuki whispered, looking up.

"Exactly!" Iwagaki shouted, his voice rising with a new kind of passion. "We have to give it everything to cover our flaws! We are a family, and a family stands together even when one of them is sick... even when one of them is hurting... even when one of them wants to leave!"

Ryuuki’s eyes widened. He felt the weight of Iwagaki’s words.

"We can't give up yet! LET’S GO BOULDERS!!!" Iwagaki roared.

"LET’S GO!!!" the whole team roared back, the sound vibrating in the very air of the bench.

Kabeyama smiled, his gaze turning calm. This was the spirit he remembered. Kizoku sighed in relief, the tension in her shoulders finally evaporating.

"C-coach, move the walls?" Hosoi whispered to the head coach. "We’ve never practiced that..."

"Let them be, Hosoi," the coach whispered back, a faint glint of respect in his eyes. "They are about to reinvent the way Midoukozan plays football."

The whistle blew, and the teams returned to their positions.

"The second half is starting!" the announcer shouted. "Both teams looking more motivated than ever! Who will cut open the path to victory? Raimon or Minodouzan?!"

Midoukozan started with the ball, but the moment Ishikabe tried to advance, Asuto was there like a flash of lightning.

"I got it!" Asuto shouted, intercepting the pass and immediately kicking it back to Goujin.

Ishikabe simply smirked and retreated into his defensive shell.

Goujin passed to Michinari, who passed back to Asuto. The ball moved in a repetitive, rhythmic cycle within Raimon's own half.

"Heh, so this is how we play today, huh..." Mansaku said, watching the ball zip past him.

"Yep," Hiura nodded, his eyes scanning the sky as if looking for rain.

"Raimon passes the ball around! They show no sign of attacking for now!" the announcer noted, sounding slightly bored.

"Pressure! Go!" Iwagaki commanded.

"YES!" The Midoukozan players charged forward, their heavy footfalls thumping against the turf.

"Oh!!! Midoukozan is finally moving! Raimon is now in danger!" 

"Looks like they had enough playing the wall," Asuto whispered, his eyes darting between the oncoming defenders.

"Keep the ball away from them, guys!" Michinari shouted.

"YES!"

Ugon dashed in front of Asuto, putting massive pressure on him. Asuto used his agility, dribbling in tight circles while Ugon mirrored his every move like a shadow. Asuto saw an opening, rolled the ball to the side, and sent a crisp pass to Michinari.

Michinari caught it and pivoted as Maeno closed in. He found Hiro, who was already positioned for the next pass. Hiro sent it to Kozoumaru just as Hirata lunged.

Kozoumaru trapped the ball. For a split second, his eyes locked onto the goal. He saw the path, the distance, the angle. But then Miko stomped into his line of sight with a mocking smile. Kozoumaru hissed and, sticking to the plan, passed the ball to Goujin.

"Just do it, Goujin. Keep the ball..." Goujin whispered to himself, his fingers twitching.

Suddenly, a series of sharp *beeps* erupted from everyone's wrists. The Eleven Bands were glowing.

"What now?" Goujin hissed, looking down.

"A warning for y'all ———————>" the text scrolled across the screen in bright orange letters.

"Huh?" Goujin’s eyebrows shot up. Kozoumaru stared at his band, his eye twitching.

"Don't defend, and you're off the team for good <3 ^w^" the message finished, complete with a tiny, pixelated cat face.

Goujin exploded. "Asuto, I swear to God that I'm going to disobey this fatty! He is playing with us! He’s threatening us now?!"

"Don't get tricked, Goujin," Asuto said, his voice low and focused.

"I just can't take it! Darn it!" Goujin shouted, nearly losing the ball as he kicked it toward Kozoumaru.

Kozoumaru trapped the ball with a heavy thud. "Don't do it yet," he said, his voice surprisingly calm. "This isn't the right time to attack."

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Goujin demanded.

Kozoumaru didn't answer. He was back in a memory, the image of Gouenji standing on a sunset-drenched riverbank.

*If you can’t see where you’re supposed to go ahead of you, then look the opposite way.*

"The opposite way..." Kozoumaru whispered.

"Hey! Care to explain?!" Goujin shouted.

"Just shut up..." Kozoumaru said, his gaze fixed on the Midoukozan goal.

In the Raimon Bench, Anna watched the game in silence. She saw the way the Raimon players were moving with a strange, forced discipline. She looked at Coach Zhao on the bench, then back to the field. "The opposite way..." she whispered rubbing her chin.

High in the stands, Nosaka leaned forward, his chin resting on his hand. "Hmm... Raimon’s No. 11 is using his head."

"What do you mean?" Nishikage asked, his eyes never leaving the pitch.

"He’s realized what that coach is after," Nosaka said, a hint of a smile on his face.

"Hm..." Nishikage kept his eyes on the field, absorbing the information.

Meanwhile, in a separate lounge, the Seishou Academy's coach watched through narrowed eyes. "Zhao Jinyun... I see now."

"Tsk..." Haizaki scofeed from the corner, his arms crossed. "Ridiculous."

The afternoon sun hung like a polished brass coin over the stadium, casting long, dramatic shadows across the emerald turf of the pitch. The game was still 0-0. Every breath taken by the players felt heavy, laden with the scent of crushed grass and the metallic tang of sweat. 

On the sidelines, the Inazuma Kids were a riot of color and noise, their small hands gripping the cold metal of the guardrails. Mako was leaning so far forward she was nearly horizontal, her voice already hoarse from screaming. Beside her, the rest of the kids were jumping in a synchronized rhythm that made the front row of the stands vibrate.

The whistle is blown and the game continues.

"Mansaku!" Goujin roared, his face a mask of exertion. He was covered in a film of dust from his previous tumble, but he didn't care. He swung his leg with a desperate, sweeping motion, sending the ball whistling through the air toward the center circle.

"Got it," Mansaku whispered. His voice was barely audible over the roar of the crowd, but his focus was absolute. As the ball reached him, he trapped it with the instep of his cleat, the impact vibrating up his leg and through his bruised ribs, a reminder of the alley, of Mari, and the weight he was still carrying.

"Focus..." Mansaku takes a deep breath.

Immediately, the shadows of two giants loomed over him. Bukoru and Kouguro, converged like closing iron gates. Their shoulders were broad, their expressions grim and unwavering.

"You’re not going anywhere, islander!" Bukoru grunted, his shadow completely swallowing Mansaku’s smaller frame.

Mansaku doesn't back down. He felt a bead of sweat roll down his temple, stinging his eye, but he kept his gaze fixed on the ball. He began a rapid-fire dribble, the ball clicking against his cleats in a staccato rhythm. The Midoukozan duo followed his every move, their heavy footsteps thumping like a heartbeat against the earth. They moved in perfect synchronization, narrowing the space until Mansaku was squeezed between them.

With a sudden, explosive burst of speed, Mansaku flickered to the left. His body weight shifted entirely, his shoulder dipping low. 

"Too slow!" Bokuru shouted, lunging to his left to intercept.

But in that same heartbeat, Mansaku’s foot snapped back in a feint high-speed flicker that defied the momentum of his own body. He pivoted on his right heel and lunged to the opposite side. 

"What?!" Kouguro gasped, his own momentum carrying him a step too far in the wrong direction as he tried to adjust.

The two giants were momentarily tangled, their coordination breaking for a fraction of a second. It was all the opening Mansaku needed.

"There!" Mansaku shouted, and with a precision-guided strike, he passed the ball through the narrow gap between their legs. The ball zipped across the grass, a blur of white and black, finding its way perfectly to where Kozoumaru was waiting.

"AMAZING!" the commentator’s voice exploded through the speakers. "Mansaku was able to pass the ball through Midoukozan's suffocating pressure! He is unstoppable!!!"

On the Midoukozan bench, the head coach sat with his arms crossed, He didn't look worried at all, he looked challenged.

"If they want a path ahead," the coach rumbled, his voice like deep-sea thunder, "they will have to break through the very foundation of the earth."

"B-break through it, sir?" Sub-coach Hosoi stammered, his eyes going wide behind his glasses. He began to scribble so fast his pen nearly tore the paper of his clipboard. "But we've never authorized an offensive charge of that magnitude!"

The coach didn't answer. He simply tapped a command into his tablet.

A sharp, digital *beep* echoed from the Eleven Bands of every Midoukozan player.

 

Iwagaki, skidded to a halt, his chest heaving as he looked down at the glowing screen on his wrist.

The message was scrolled in jagged, aggressive lettering: BREAK THROUGH LITTLE PEBBLES!!!

A slow, predatory grin spread across Iwagaki’s face. He looked at his teammates, his eyes burning with a sudden, fierce light. "You heard the coach! The walls are moving! Let's go with everything we have!"

"YES!!!" the Midoukozan team roared in a unified chorus that seemed to momentarily silence the entire stadium.

The formation shifted instantly. The Midoukozan players abandoned their spread-out positions, sprinting toward the center of the field and locking shoulders. They formed a human wall, dense, impenetrable mass of muscle and grit. 

Ryuuki stood at the back of this formation, his eyes narrowing as he felt the collective energy of his team surging.

"Hm..." Asuto watched the transformation, his brow furrowed. He could feel the air pressure changing.

"What...?" Goujin blinked, his mouth hanging open.

"What are they up to now?" Hanta asked, her eyes darting between the giants. She shifted her weight, sensing danger.

"CHARGE!!!" Iwagaki screamed.

"YEAHHHHHH!!!!!"

The Midoukozan team moved as one, sprinting forward. The sheer power of their synchronized movements made the ground shake, a low-frequency vibration that rattled the shin guards of the Raimon players. They were a moving precipice, a wall of stone that had decided to become a tidal wave.

"Get back! Get back, everyone!" Asuto shouted, his voice high with alarm. He turned to run, his heart hammering against his ribs.

But the stronghold was too fast. Kozoumaru tried to skip to the side, but the sheer wind displacement from the charging giants caught him. He was clipped by Iwagaki’s shoulder and sent spinning into the air.

"Gaaaaah!!!!" Kozoumaru hissed, his body arching as he tumbled through the sky before hitting the turf with a heavy thud.

Goujin was next. He stood his ground, his eyes wide open. "THIS IS NUTS!!!" he yelled. But he didn't even have time to blink before the collective force of three defenders slammed into him. 

"Waaaaa!!!!" Goujin’s shout was cut short as he was blown away like a leaf in a hurricane, landing several yards back in a heap of tangled limbs.

Asuto sprinted as hard as he could, his lungs burning, his eyes fixed on the ball. He tried to intercept, to slide-tackle the momentum, but as he reached for the ball, the sheer physical pressure of the Midoukozan charge simply shoved him aside. Launching him to the air.

"A...argh..." Asuto hissed, skidding across the grass on his side, watching helplessly as the ball was swallowed by the moving wall.

"Guys! Embrace yourself!" Michinari shouted, his voice cracking with the strain of leadership. He planted his feet, trying to form a counter-line, but he was blown away a second later. "Ghaaah!"

Hiura and Hanta were the next to go. Hanta tried to use her agility to jump over the charge, but the wind of their movement knocked her off balance mid-air.

"Ahhh!" Hanta hissed as she hit the ground hard.

Hiura managed a desperate backflip, trying to dissipate the energy of the impact, but he still stumbled, his hands scraping against the turf as he struggled to stay upright. "Da...rn it..."

"Han-chan! Hiura-san!!!" Golem shouted, his voice booming with a mix of fear and protective fury.

"Stay back, Golem!" Hiro shouted, trying to push Golem out of the way, only to be caught in the wake of the charge himself. "Aaaah!"

"Hira-san!!!" Goujin shouts, his eyes wide open.

Mansaku dove to the left, his heart in his throat. The moving wall passed so close he could feel the heat radiating from the Midoukozan players. He barely avoided being crushed, his jersey fluttering in the gale-force wind they generated.

"MINODOUZAN’S STRONGHOLD DEFENSE MOVES UP THE FIELD!" the announcer screamed, leaning so far out of his booth he was almost falling. "It looks like a moving precipice! The Raimon players are being tossed aside like toys!"

The wall of Midoukozan reached the final third of the field. Ugou broke from the formation, the ball at his feet. He looked back and saw Ryuuki standing alone on the other side of the field, a solitary figure in a sea of green. Ugou’s eyes narrowed. Ugou quickly turns his gaze forward, his eyes filled with determination.

"This one is mine!" Ugou roared.

Norika’s gaze sharpened. She stood in the center of the goal, her knees bent, her hands hovering near the ground. 

She saw the entire Midoukozan team looming in front of her. If Ugou shot and the ball took a deflection to one of the charging gigants to shoot it back, she wouldn't have a prayer of catching it. The goal line felt like the edge of a cliff.

Ugou drew his leg back, the air around his foot beginning to glow with a dull, earthy brown light. "Aaaaahhh!"

But before he could strike, a massive shadow fell over him.

Golem stepped forward. He looked at Hanta, who was still clutching her shoulder on the grass, and then at the rest of his fallen friends. He closed his eyes for a heartbeat, drawing a deep, shuddering breath that seemed to fill his entire massive frame.

"This is for Han-chan and the whole team!!!!" Golem whispered, his voice trembling with a rare, quiet intensity.

He closed his eyes. They were glowing with a fierce, golden light. Golem extended each of his arms forward, moving them simultaneously in a wide, circular arc. The air around him began to hum, the very atoms of the stadium vibrating in resonance with his spirit.

"VIVA!!!"

He thrust both of his massive arms into the air. The earth beneath him erupting. A massive, jagged slab of golden-brown rock tore through the turf, rising up with a sound like a mountain splitting in two. 

"LA WALL!!!!"

The wall reaches its full height towering over Ugou, it tilted forward and with a thunderous *CRACK*, the massive slab fell directly onto him.

The impact was cataclysmic. The ball hit the falling wall and bounced back with twice the velocity toward Ugou, while the shockwave of the wall hitting the ground sent the Midoukozan players reeling.

"Gaaargh!" Ugon hissed as the wall slammed into him, knocking the wind out of him and sending him stumbling backward.

"UGON!" the Midoukozan team shouted, their unstoppable momentum finally broken.

"Ugou-san..." Ryuuki whispered from across the field, his eyes wide with disbelief.

The Inakuni team, slowly picking themselves up from the dirt, stared at Golem in stunned silence.

"INCREDIBLE!" the announcer’s voice was a jagged shriek of excitement. "Golem was able to stop Midoukozan's moving stronghold single-handedly! Raimon has its own wall now! A mini-stronghold in their very midst!"

On the Midoukozan's bench, Kabeyama stood frozen. His mouth was slightly open, his hand still resting on the clutches. At the same time, the Midoukozan coach eyes wide into genuine shock.

"A new variation of The Wall...?" they both whispered in unison.

They looked at each each, and then snapped their heads back to the pitch.

"Unbelievable..." the Midoukozan coach whispered, his voice devoid of its usual iron.

"Unbelievable, indeed, sir..." Sub-coach Hosoi added, his pen frozen over his clipboard.

"This Raimon..." Kabeyama whispered, a slow, proud smile spreading across his face. "This Raimon is really something else."

The Midoukozan players stood scattered across the field, Bokuru blinked, rubbing his sore shoulder as he looked at the massive, fading golden aura of Golem’s wall. 

"That was..." Bokuru started, then shouted at the top of his lungs, "That was the sickest The Wall I've ever seen in my life!!!"

"A new wall..." Miko whispered, her competitive fire momentarily replaced by pure awe.

Iwagaki’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the Inakuni players. Despite the bruises, despite being blown away, they were standing up. They were smiling. He felt a strange sensation in his chest, a flutter of something he hadn't felt since he first picked up a ball. It wasn't fear. It was the thrill of meeting an equal.

Ryuuki stared at the Raimon team, his fists slowly unclenching. "They are... they are really strong..." he whispered to himself.

The referee blew his whistle, signaling a momentary pause as the ball had gone out of bounds after Golem’s block. The stadium vibrating with the energy of the crowd. 

"The second half is truly beginning now!" the commentator yelled. "Raimon has shown they have the iron to match the Boulders! Who will be the first to draw blood?!"

"Golem! You did it!" Hanta's voice pierced the silence, her eyes wide and shimmering with a mixture of shock and overwhelming pride. She was still on one knee, but she looked like she wanted to fly. "You actually stopped them!"

Golem stood at the center of the crater left by his Hissatsu, blinking like a confused giant. He looked at his large, trembling hands, then back at the spot where the Midoukozan charge had crumbled. "I... I did it?" he whispered, his voice cracking. A slow, goofy grin began to spread across his face, lighting up his features. "I really did it!"

Suddenly, a synchronized *chirp-chirp* erupted from every wrist on the field. The Eleven Bands glowed with a fresh, neon intensity.

"U can attack now <3" the screen read.

"We can attack...?" Golem’s eyes went wide, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks. The confusion vanished, replaced by a surge of adrenaline so powerful it felt like a physical weight lifting off his shoulders. 

The entire Inakuni team stared at their bands in stunned silence for exactly one second. Then, the realization hit. The spring that Coach Zhao had been compressing for the entire game was finally released.

"NOW!" Asuto screamed, his voice carrying across the entire stadium. He ignited, his cleats tearing up the turf as he sprinted forward.

"GO, GO, GO!" Golem roared. He didn't hesitate. He wound up his massive leg and sent a long, high-arching pass soaring across the field. The ball cut through the air with a whistling sound, a white blur against the deep blue of the afternoon sky.

"Go for it, guys!" Michinari shouted, his captain’s spirit finally allowed to boil over. "This is our chance!"

"YES!" the team roared in a single, thunderous unison that seemed to shake the very foundations of the stands.

"THERE’S THE LONG PASS FROM IWATO!" the announcer shrieked, his voice reaching a pitch that threatened to blow out the stadium speakers. "RAIMON IS ABOLISHING THE DEFENSE! THE ISLANDERS ARE INVADING THE STRONGHOLD!"

"Fall back!" Iwagaki screamed, his face contorting with desperation. He had been so sure of their momentum, but now he felt the tide turning with terrifying speed. "Don't let them get through! Rebuild the wall!"

"YES!" the Midoukozan team shouted, their heavy frames pivoting with surprising agility as they scrambled to cover the gaps.

Goujin caught Golem’s pass mid-air with his chest, the impact sounding like a drum. He dropped the ball to his feet and immediately went into a high-speed dribble. Ugou lunged at him, but Goujin was leaning into his momentum. 

"Out of the way!" Goujin grunted, flicking the ball between Ugou’s legs with a cheeky grin. Miko stepped in next, her shadow looming over him, but Goujin didn't slow down. He saw a flash of yellow out of the corner of his eye. "Asuto! Take it!"

He sent a needle-threading pass to Asuto, who had already bypassed the midfield line. Asuto caught the ball in stride, his movements fluid and electric. Bokuru and Kouguro converged on him like two closing tectonic plates, their shoulders squared to crush his advance.

"Not today!" Asuto chirped. He didn't try to outmuscle them. He waited until the very last millisecond, then chipped the ball over their heads. "Kozoumaru! It's all yours!"

Kozoumaru received the ball with a clinical touch. His face a mask of cold, sharp focus. He dribbled around Ishikabe with a series of lightning-fast step-overs that left the defender stumbling over his own feet. Kozoumaru sprinted toward the goal, the white line of the penalty area drawing closer with every heartbeat.

But Midoukozan wasn't done. Maeno slid into position directly in front of him, and Iwagaki appeared a second later, planting himself behind Maeno like a second layer of armor.

"End of the line!" Iwagaki roared. Miko flanked them, cutting off Kozoumaru’s angle to the left. He was boxed in, a lone wolf surrounded by a mountain range.

"Tsk..." Kozoumaru hissed, his eyes darting. He saw Asuto and Goujin being marked tightly by the remaining Midoukozan players. There was no clear lane.

"LOOKS LIKE KOZOUMARU IS TRAPPED!" the commentator shouted. "MIDOUKOZAN HAS RECOVERED! WILL THEY SNUFF OUT RAIMON'S ONLY HOPE?!"

Suddenly, a blur of movement ignited on the right wing. Mansaku was sprinting.

"Kozoumaru!" He shouted, Every step he took felt like he was shedding a layer of the fear he’d carried since the morning. He wasn't thinking about the alley. He wasn't thinking about the bruises under his jersey. He was thinking about the wind in his face and the team that had waited for him.

The Midoukozan players' eyes went wide..

"STOP HIM!" Iwagaki shouted, his focus momentarily wavering as he realized the danger.

"Heh." Kozoumaru’s lips curled into the faintest of smirks. Without looking, he flicked the ball with his heel, sending it spinning into the path of the charging Mansaku.

"Darn it!" Miko gasped, her hands flying up in shock. "Get them, guys!"

"INCREDIBLE!" the announcer yelled. "MANSAKU IS APPROACHING THE GOAL WITH VELOCITY WE HAVEN'T SEEN ALL GAME! HE’S LIKE A BOLT OF LIGHTNING!"

"MANSAKU-SAMAAAA!" the Inazuma Kids screamed from the front row, their high-pitched voices cutting through the roar like a silver bell.

"MANSAKU!!!" the Inakuni team cheered, their voices a surge of pure energy.

Mansaku felt the electricity. He dribbled around Bokuru, using a tight, technical turn that left the giant grasping at air. Then he faced Maeno. 

"YOU’RE NOT GOING THROUGH!" Maeno shouted, his eyes burning with a desperate determination. He lowered his center of gravity, preparing for a collision.

"Get him, Maeno!" Ugon shouted from behind.

*A lot has changed since we got here...* Mansaku whispered to himself, the world around him beginning to blur into streaks of green and gold. *Despite leaving our home behind, this city taught me more than I could even imagine. It taught me that the dark is only scary if you stay in it.*

He looked toward the stands, seeing the kids, seeing Sally’s nod and behind his team cheering for him, and finally, in his mind’s eye, he saw the face of his fear. 

"Mari... watch me go... WATCH ME SCORE!" 

Mansaku’s roar was primal, silencing the nearby defenders. He reached the edge of the box. Maeno was right in front of him, blocking the way.

"MANSAKU REACHES THE GOAL!" the commentator shouted. "WILL THEY CRASH, OR WILL MANSAKU FIND THE LIGHT?!"

Mansaku flickers the ball high into the air. Time seemed to slow to a crawl. He dashed, catching the ball perfectly on his chest. As it touched his jersey, a faint, rhythmic humming sound filled the air, like a high-voltage wire vibrating in the wind.

The ball fell toward his feet. As his cleat met the ball, a spark of pure, white light erupted. The stadium lights seemed to dim.

He tapped the mid-run. The spark grew into a crackling aura of electricity. The shadows on the field stretched and deepened, the emerald grass turning into a void of obsidian.

And with the final tap, the world went pitch black. The fans, the stands, the players, all disappeared. There was only Mansaku, the ball, and the goal.

"SPARKLE ROADOOO!!"

Mansaku swung his leg with every ounce of strength he possessed. The impact was deafening, a crack like a lightning strike. The ball tore through the darkness, leaving a trail of brilliant, sparkling stardust in its wake, illuminating the road he had built with his own resolve.

Maeno’s eyes were dinner plates as the ball screamed past him. The sheer air pressure of the shot caught him in the chest, sending him tumbling backward into the turf.

In the goal, Jousai hissed, his teeth bared. "It's not going in! Not on my watch! HAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Jousai dropped to one knee, his left leg bending upward in a ritualistic stance that looked like he was carved from the earth itself. 

He slammed his right hand on the grass, leaning forward until his forehead nearly touched the soil. Then, he exploded upward, spinning toward the sky like a massive, drills-shaped tectonic shift.

"FENCE OF GAIAAA!!!"

As he fell back to earth, he thrust both arms downward. His fingers clawed towards the turf, and with a sound like a mountain breaking, a massive, jagged palisade of stone teeth erupted from the goal line. The stones were ancient, covered in moss and radiating a heavy, gravitational force.

The sparking ball slammed into the stone fence. 

*BOOM!*

The collision sent a shockwave through the stadium, rattling the windows of the VIP lounge. The ball hummed and hissed, drilling into the center of the stone fence, sending chips of rock flying in every direction.

"Ghraa..." Jousai hissed, his muscles bulging, his face turning purple as he forced the earth to hold. "I... won't... let go!"

"GO IN!!!!" Mansaku screamed from the edge of the box, his arm outstretched.

Jousai’s eyes went wide. He felt it, a hairline fracture in the center of the stone fence. The sparkle of Mansaku’s shot was a piercing, focused energy. With a final, crystalline *SHATTER*, the stone fence disintegrated into dust. The ball tore through the wreckage and slammed into the back of the net, bulging the mesh until it nearly snapped.

The stadium was silent for a heartbeat. Then, the referee pointed to the center circle.

"GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!!!"

The crowd went absolutely wild. The sound was a physical force, a tidal wave of cheers that drowned out everything else.

"GOAAAAAAAAAL!!!!!!" The Inazuma Kids were jumping so high they looked like they were on trampolines, their voices booming across the pitch as they hugged each other.

"YEAH!!!!" The Inakuni team exploded.

Mansaku stood at the edge of the box, chest heaving, sweat dripping from his chin. He looked at the net, then at his hands. A slow, proud smile spread across his face. He nodded to himself, a quiet acknowledgment of the boy who had walked out of the alley and onto the Sparkle Road.

"M-A-N-S-A-K-U-KUN did it! Gaoooo!!!" Hiyori launched himself into Mansaku up in a bone-crushing hug, spinning him around in the air.

"Eheheheh," Mansaku laughed, finally letting go of the tension. He hugged Hiyori back, patting his massive shoulder. "We did it, Gao-san! We did it!"

The rest of the Inakuni team swarmed them, each celebrating in their own chaotic way:

Asuto takes a deep breath and sits on the grass moving his head up.

"He did it! Mansaku just scored! Hell yeahhhhhhhhh!!!" Goujin shouted, pumping his fists up on front of Asuto.

Kozoumaru walked over, a rare, genuine smirk on his face. "Tsk..."

Michinari was laughing, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Way to lead the charge, Mansaku."

"Thanks, Captain... It really means a lot to me..." Mansaku smiles adjusting his hat.

Norika waved her gloves wildly. "I can finally breathe! Amazing job, Mansaku!"

Hiura smiles looking up to the scoreboard. "Our first goal..." He whispered.

Hanta and Golem were high-fiving so hard their hands were turning red.

 "The Sparkle Road! What a name!" Hanta cheered. "It's amazing, right Golem!?"

Golem was just sobbing loudly with joy, wiping his nose on his sleeve. "It was soooo cool!"

Hiro was frantically cleaning his glasses, his hands shaking. "You just saved our skin, Mansaku-kun..."

Mansaku sighs staring at his team, he rubbed his arm slightly, despite the pain he was feeling, he was able to help them get close to victory, that made him proud of himself.

"MANSAKU HAS OPENED THE SCORE WITH HIS NEW HISSATSU!" the commentator roared over the jubilant chaos. "RAIMON ISLAND TAKES THE LEAD! THE CRACK IN THE STRONGHOLD HAS BECOME A CANYON!"

On the sidelines, Coach Zhao simply leaned back, his mischievous smile wider than ever. He fanned himself with his hand, looking like a man whose plan had just come together perfectly. 

High in the stands, Sally watched Mansaku through the sea of cheering fans. She simply closed her eyes and let out a long, slow breath of relief. 

The scoreboard flickered, the numbers 1-0 glowing like a beacon of hope for the islanders.

"Raimon wins the lead just before the final stretch of the match! What a surprising development!" the commentator shouted, "The Midoukozan stronghold has been breached!"

On the pitch, the Inakuni players were swarming Golem, who still looked like he had seen a ghost.

"Golem! That was seriously amazing!" Hanta cried, bouncing on the balls of her feet. Her eyes were wide with genuine awe. "You have your own Hissatsu now too!"

"Right?" Golem blinked, his massive hands twitching. "It just... it kind of just came out."

"You caught us all by surprise, seriously," Hiro said, a rare, genuine smile breaking through his analytical exterior as he adjusted his glasses.

"Yes," Michinari added, crossing his arms with a stern but proud look. "You should have told us you were developing something like that, Golem. We could have integrated it into the strategy sooner!"

"Yep, thanks to you I was able to score, way to go big guy." Mansaku smiles adjusting the brim of this cap.

"Eh... I mean..." Golem stared at his hands, He unconsciously began to move them in a rhythmic, circular motion, as if he were polishing an invisible surface

"Ah!" Hanta pointed a finger, her face lighting up. "Isn't that the same move you were making when you were scrubbing that wall?"

"Oh..." Golem stood frozen, his jaw dropping.

On the sidelines, Coach Zhao let out a series of high-pitched, melodic chuckles. "Hohohohoho!"

"So... this was all your plan..." Sub-coach Kameda whispered, his pen hovering over his clipboard as he looked at the Coach with a mixture of terror and respect.

"It’s amazing!" Ootani chirped, "They just suddenly scored a point like that! It was like a rush of energy or a tidal wave!"

"Hehehe, did you know that this is actually a very ancient and powerful kung-fu technique?" Coach Zhao said, his eyes glinting with mischief as he leaned toward Ootani.

"Is that so?! What is it called?" Ootani asked, leaning in with her eyes sparkling.

"Hohohoho." The coach suddenly spun around like a ballerina and stopped, pointing a dramatic finger at Ootani. "The technique... is called Kaontao."

"Wow..." Ootani’s eyes went wide. "Kaontao..."

"Counter..." Anna muttered from the side, her face flat.

"Nop! It’s Kaontao!" the Coach shouted, lunging into a dramatic martial arts pose.

"Kaontao!" Ootani shouted back, mimicking his pose with zero hesitation.

Anna’s eye twitched as she looked at her. "You are just as dumb as him, aren't you?"

"Non non," the Coach smirked, wagging a finger. "It’s Kaontao. Now, say it with me, kids!"

"Kaontao!" both Ootani and a mysterious figure shouted in unison. 

Anna sighs in annoyance, she turned away and then blinked. Standing next to Ootani was a strange masked figure, As soon as Anna made eye contact, the masked figure squeaked and bolted behind the bench, disappearing into the shadows.

"Who was that?" Anna asked, looking around.

"There is a condition when you want to defeat something bigger than you," the Coach said with a smirk, turning back. "And that is using the opponent's own power against them."

"By adding the force of the opponent's offense onto your own," Kameda added, rubbing his chin as the gears turned. "The rebound becomes twice as powerful. Since we were constantly defending, we conserved energy while they exhausted themselves trying to break us. It agitated them... it made them reckless."

"Bingo!" Coach Zhao smirked. "But they are smart and willing to take risks. The team better not get too comfortable! Hohohohoho!"

The Midoukozan Boulders gathered around their bench, the air between them thick with a heavy, rocky silence. Iwagaki stared at Ryuuki, who was trembling slightly, his eyes fixed on the grass.

"This Raimon is putting up a good fight..." Ugon sighed, wiping sweat from his eyes.

"Yep," Bokuru added, his voice low. "They’re pretty good."

"So what now?" Jousai asked, looking at his captain. "With a hole in our stronghold, we can't defend consistently. And if we charge, there's a chance they’ll just get around that."

"What do we do, Captain?" Miko asked, her expression fierce.

Iwagaki closed his eyes. He felt the pulse of the stadium, the rhythm of the game. Something had shifted in him. He realized that their way to play was slowly changing.

"Unpredictability," Iwagaki said, his voice ringing with a new authority. "That’s what we’re going to use."

"Unpredictability?" the team repeated, their eyes wide.

"Yes. It’s the solution to the cracks in our wall and the pressure we're facing," Iwagaki said, his gaze softening as he looked at Ryuuki.

Ryuuki’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Iwagaki. "Captain..."

Iwagaki turned to the Midoukozan coach. "Father... give us permission to use that technique."

The coach’s said. "Little pebbles... our main technique is linked to the stronghold, with a crack in the formation, you can't do any mistakes."

"Any mistakes, sir," Sub-coach Hosoi squeaked. "Kabeyama-sama, what should we do?"

Kabeyama sat there, a gentle smile on his face as he looked at the young defenders. "I say go for it. But as the coach says... you have to be careful."

The team looked at each other. The fear was there, but beneath it was a spark of something new.

"We’ll make it work," Iwagaki said. He slammed a fist into his palm. "Let's cover the cracks and go for it! Raimon is playing with all their might we must do the same! LET’S GO!!!"

"YES!!!"

The whistle blew, cutting through the humid air. 

"The game resumes! Raimon Island VS Midoukozan Boulders!" the commentator roared.

Iwagaki quickly moved. He passed to Ugon, and the entire Midoukozan team surged forward in a chaotic, staggered line.

"Ohhh! Midoukozan is abandoning the defense! They’re going all-in!"

Asuto smirked, his eyes darting across the field. "Interesting..."

"Let's go, guys! Keep moving forward!" Michinari shouted.

The two teams collided in the midfield. Goujin stepped in front of Miko, his teeth bared. "It’s mine!"

"You want the ball?" Miko smirks, her eyes glinting with a dark, mischievous light. "Then have it!" 

She intentionally kicked the ball right to Goujin’s feet.

"What?" Goujin blinked, his momentum stalling.

"Miko just passed the ball to Goujin! Are they giving up?!" the commentator screamed.

The entire Midoukozan team ignored Goujin, sprinting past him toward the Raimon goal. 

"Pass it!" Kozoumaru shouted, dashing into space.

"On it!" Goujin drew his leg back to launch a long pass.

"Oh no, you won't!" Miko’s voice dropped into a chilling, melodic register. She slammed her foot into the grass. CRACK.

A sickly, swamp-colored green-and-blue aura erupted from the fissure in the earth. 

Behind her, the air distorted and chilled. A terrifying, spectral image of a stitched, towering bride emerged from the ground. Her dress was tattered, her hollow eyes glowing with an eerie, ghostly light that seemed to suck the warmth out of the stadium.

"THE BRIDOOO!!!"

The spectral giant reached out with massive fingers, slamming them into the turf directly beneath Goujin. The earth buckled and groaned. Goujin was sent soaring into the air, his body spinning helplessly.

"BRUTAL SLAM!!!"

"Argh!" Goujin hissed as he hit the ground.

Miko caught the ball and sprinted forward. "Heh..."

"Unbelievable!" the commentator yelled. "Miko used her defensive Hissatsu as a bypass to dribble forward! What a terrifying talent!"

"Guys! Stop her!" Michinari shouted.

Asuto moved with a blur of speed, stopping in front of Miko. He mirrored her movements, his eyes focused. As she tried to pivot, Asuto went for a precision slide tackle, his cleat hooking the ball and popping it loose.

"Kozoumaru!" Asuto shouted, flicking the ball toward his fellow striker.

But out of nowhere, Iwagaki intercepted the pass in mid-air and headed it to Ugon. 

Mansaku stepped in front of Ugon, He stayed low, tracking Ugon’s every twitch.

"Overlap!" Miko screamed, charging past Mansaku’s blind side.

Ugon didn't hesitate, he quickly flicked a no-look pass to Miko.

"Gao-san!" Mansaku shouted.

"Gao!" Hiyori roared, He executed a thunderous slide tackle and he poked the ball toward Hiro.

"It’s a back-and-forth! Both teams are stealing the ball over and over! The intensity is off the charts!"

Ishikabe intercepted Hiro’s pass and sent it screaming back to Iwagaki.

"They’re good," Asuto said, his face covered in sweat but a calm smile on his lips.

"They are, but we won't give up either!" Michinari shouted. "Mark everyone! Tighten the net!"

"YES!!!"

The Inakuni players locked onto their targets, creating a suffocating web of pressure. Iwagaki hissed as he sprinted forward, the ball glued to his feet. Ryuuki was right behind him, his eyes darting around the field, his breathing shallow.

"Iwagaki is reaching Raimon's side! Will they even the score?!"

"Golem! He’s all yours!" Hanta screamed.

"Hum!" Golem stepped forward, his shadow engulfing Iwagaki. He began the circular motion with his arms, the air beginning to vibrate.

"VIVA!!!"

Golem thrust his arms into the air. The earth shook, and the jagged, golden-brown slab of rock tore through the turf, rising to its full, towering height.

"LA WALL!!!!"

The wall tilted forward falling toward the Midoukozan captain.

"Ghraaa!" Iwagaki gets blown away.

"Iwagaki gets blown back! He's going to lose the ball!" the commentator shouted.

"RYUUKI!" Iwagaki roared from mid-air. With a painful, straining effort, he headbutted the ball downward with everything he had left.

The ball slammed into Ryuuki’s chest, the air leaving his lungs with a sharp *whoosh*. It dropped to his feet.

Ryuuki stood there. The world seemed to go silent. The roar of the crowd faded into a dull hum. He looked down at the ball, the same ball that had felt like a lead weight all morning.

Hiro and Hanta were already closing in from both sides, their eyes determined.

"RYUUKI!!!" Miko screamed.

"RYUUKI!!!" the whole Midoukozan team roared.

The boy’s eyes flickered. He looked up and saw Iwagaki hitting the turf hard, sliding on his side.

"LITTLE BROTHER!!!!" Iwagaki shouted, his voice cracking with a raw, desperate hope.

Ryuuki’s eyes went wide. He stumbled, his heart hammering against his ribs. The pressure, the guilt, the crack, everything narrowed down to this single moment.

The game continues.

"We got it!" Hanta screamed, her face contorted with a mix of desperation and predatory focus. She launched herself into a low, scissoring slide tackle, her cleats kicking up a spray of dirt and grass that looked like a mini-explosion.

But Ryuuki’s gaze sharpen. The hesitant, stuttering boy who had spent the entire match paralyzed vanished. I'm a flash, he kicked the ball straight up into the air, the white sphere catching the dying sunlight, and then his feet left the ground.

"SKY WALK!!!"

As if stepping onto invisible, marble stairs, Ryuuki performed a series of gravity-defying aerial skips. With every rhythmic pop of his feet against the air, a fleeting, puffy white cloud blossomed beneath his sole, He ascended higher and higher, his silhouette framed against the darkening sky, leaving a trail of soft, dissipating vapor behind him.

Below, Hanta’s slide carried her harmlessly through empty space. She skidded several feet on her side, her eyes bulging out of her head as she looked up. "What the... he's walking on air!"

Ryuuki crested the peak of his ascent and plummeted back toward the field, landing with the grace of a cat. He didn't lose a beat of momentum, the ball falling perfectly onto his instep as he surged forward, leaving a dumbfounded Hanta in the dust.

The Midoukozan bench was a riot of frozen expressions. Ugon eyes wide open. "Did he... did he just bypass their entire defense by himself?"

"RYUUKI DID IT!!! GO FOR IT, RYUUKI!!!!" Miko shrieked, her voice cracking with a manic, joyous energy.

"GO FOR IT, RYUUKI!!!!" the rest of the Boulders roared in a unified thunderclap of sound.

"FANTASTIC!!!" the commentator’s voice was a jagged, ecstatic roar that rattled the stadium’s VIP glass. "Ryuuki Tsukaushi, who was a ghost for the entire match, has finally awakened! The smallest Boulder is now an avalanche, dashing toward the Raimon box with the speed of a comet!"

Ryuuki’s lungs burned, the cold air of the evening stinging his throat, but it felt wonderful. He felt light. For the first time, he wasn't thinking about being the cracks in the wall but he was thinking about the path ahead. *I... I'm playing offense...* he whispered to himself, his heart hammering a frantic, happy rhythm against his ribs. *I'm really doing it...*

"Haaaa!" Hiro charged in, his glasses glinting with a calculated intensity. He moved to block the lane, his body positioned to funnel Ryuuki toward the sidelines. 

Ryuuki didn't slow down. With a lightning-fast feint that made his ankles look like they were made of rubber, he rolled the ball under Hiro’s outstretched leg and spun around the defender’s blind side. Hiro’s eyes went wide behind his lenses as he grasped at thin air, his analytical mind failing to account for the raw passion of Ryuuki’s movement.

In the Raimon goal, Norika sank into a deep crouch. She wiped a smudge of dirt from her cheek, her gaze narrowing until she was seeing nothing but Ryuuki and the ball. 

The pressure was immense, the weight of their 1-0 lead was resting entirely on her shoulders. "Alright..." she sighed, a puff of visible breath escaping into the cooling air. "Bring it on."

Ryuuki reached the edge of the penalty area. He looked back for a fleeting second, seeing Iwagaki standing tall, his arms raised in encouragement. He saw Miko’s face red from cheering. He saw the family that had never truly given up on him. He shut his eyes for a heartbeat, a serene smile touching his lips. *I got it... I see the goal.*

Suddenly, the stadium lights seemed to fail. A localized, supernatural darkness swallowed the pitch, plunging the penalty area into an artificial nighttime. The crowd went silent as the world transformed. Ryuuki leaped high into the air, his body glowing with a faint, ghostly luminescence.

He leaned his upper body forward, his arms swept back like wings, as fleeting swirls of dust and air began to howl around him. He sprang into the sky once more, and as he reached the apex, a terrifying, rusty-brown skeletal dinosaur emerged from the ground beneath him, its hollow ribs glowing with blue energy as it let out a roar that shook the very air.

"DINOSAUR...."

The ball began to vibrate, covering itself in a roiling, crackling shroud of energy. Ryuuki twisted in mid-air, his right foot cocked back like a loaded spring. With a cry of pure, unadulterated resolve, he dived onto the ball.

"BREAK!!!!!"

The impact was a physical shockwave. The ball became a beam of pure blue light, The skeletal dinosaur roared again, its ghostly form propelling the shot forward with a blast of sonic energy that flattened the grass in its wake.

"Norika! Get it!" Michinari screamed.

"NORIKA!!!" the Inakuni team shouted, their hands over their mouths in terror.

"Haaaaah!!!" Norika didn't hesitate. She launched herself toward the blue beam, her hands outstretched, The ball slammed into her gloves with the sound of a cannon blast. 

She hissed as the sheer, drilling force of the shot began to drag her backward. Her cleats tore long, ugly furrows into the turf as she fought for every inch of ground. She gritted her teeth, her facial muscles straining as she poured everything she had into her arms. "I... won't... let... it...!"

But the power was too much. The blue energy flared with a final, blinding pulse. The ball slipped through her fingers like water through a sieve, spinning violently as it slammed into the back of the net. The mesh bulged so hard the supports groaned, the ball continuing to spin until it finally came to a rest, smoking slightly.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!" the commentator shrieked, his voice breaking from the sheer volume. "HE’S DONE IT! THE PEBBLE HAS BROKEN THE FORTRESS!"

"GOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!" the Midoukozan team roared in unison, a wall of sound that seemed to push back the encroaching evening. 

On the sidelines, the Midoukozan coach, tightened his fists until they trembled. "Goal! Nice goal..." 

"Nice goal, indeed, sir!" the sub-coach shouted, nearly dropping his clipboard.

Kabeyama leaned back with a nostalgic smile on his face. "He did it," he whispered, his voice thick with pride.

Kizoku, standing nearby, felt a lump in her throat. Her eyes narrowed as they welled with tears she refused to let fall. "Ryuuki... you finally showed them."

The darkness dissipated, the stadium lights returning to their normal, golden hue. Ryuuki stood in the center of the box, his chest heaving, his hands trembling at his sides. He looked at the scoreboard, seeing the 1-1 glaring back at him. The roar of twenty thousand fans was a physical weight, but it didn't feel heavy anymore. It felt good.

*I did it...* he whispered, a tear finally escaping and tracing a path through the dirt on his cheek. *I... I scored a goal for everyone.*

The Midoukozan players swarmed him, a landslide of orange jerseys that threatened to bury him in a celebratory heap, as the match entered its final, most intense stage.

The Midoukozan Bouldersformed a tight, silent circle around Ryuuki. The boy’s chest was heaving, his jersey stained with grass and the golden dust of the field.

"Guys..." Ryuuki whispered, his voice trembling as he looked up at the towering figures of his teammates.

Miko stared at the ground, her fingers twitching at her sides. "Ryuuki... we..." She couldn't finish. The words felt too heavy, like the very rocks they modeled their playstyle after.

Iwagaki stood there, his massive frame casting a shadow over his little brother. He opened his mouth, but only a sharp, pained breath came out. "We..."

The silence stood there in silence. Thousands of fans were screaming, but for the Midoukozan players, it was as if they were under ten feet of water. No one could look Ryuuki in the eye.

"I'm sorry..." Ryuuki’s voice cracked, and he bowed his head until his chin touched his collarbone. "I was lying to you guys. All this time."

"We already know you’re leaving us, Ryuuki!" Ugon shouted suddenly, his voice exploding before quickly retreating into a hollow whisper. "We know that you went from team to team. We know you’re thinking about moving to a better team. We... we’re the ones who should be sorry."

Ryuuki’s eyes snapped wide, his gaze sharp and stinging.

"We were afraid," Miko whispered, finally looking up with tears shimmering in her eyes. "We were so afraid of you going through with that decision. We tried to do everything, we tried to be a stronghold for you, to cheer you up, to protect you... but it just... it made you push us away, didn't it?"

"I’m sorry, Ryuuki," Iwagaki said, turning his face away to hide the grit in his expression. "We weren’t able to make you feel at home. We’ve been holding onto this secret, trying to pretend it wasn't happening... we can’t hold it anymore. Sorry if we’re making you mad right now, right before the end."

The team stood in a funeral silence, their gazes fixed on the chewed-up turf. Ryuuki watched them, his breath hitching.

Ryuuki took a breath so deep it seemed to pull the very air out of the stadium. 

"Is there something wrong?" Miko asked, startled by the intensity of his posture.

"I HATE THIS TEAM'S STRATEGY!!!" Ryuuki’s voice roared, a sound so high and piercing it cut through the crowd.

"Eh...?" The Midoukozan players froze, their eyes nearly popping out of their skulls.

"I hate playing defense! I hate holding back! I hate staying in the stronghold!" Ryuuki shouted, his face turning a bright, frustrated red. He began to stomp his foot on the grass with every word. "There is more to football than just defending! I hate it! I hate it! I hate it! I HATE IT!"

He squeezed his eyes shut, hot tears finally spilling over and carving tracks through the dirt on his cheeks. "I didn't want to make you guys mad! You treat me like family! You protect me! You accepted me for exactly who I am! I couldn't say it! I couldn't hurt you! I'm... I'm so sorry..."

The Boulders looked at each other, the sadness in their eyes being replaced by a slow, dawning realization.

"We... we didn't know," Moriagari said, his voice soft with shock.

"So this is the truth..." Boruku whispered, rubbing the back of his neck.

They stared at the little striker, their pebble admitted that he wanted to be more than a pebble. For a moment, the tension held and then, Miko broke it with a radiant, watery smile.

"It’s okay, Ryuuki."

Ryuuki blinked, wiping his nose with his sleeve. "It’s... okay?"

"You should have told us, little guy," Ugon said, his massive hand coming down to ruffle Ryuuki’s hair so hard it nearly knocked him over. 

"I... I should?"

"Of course you should!" Kouguro laughed, his white teeth gleaming. "You’re our brother! If you aren't comfortable with something, you tell us! That’s what family does!"

The whole team began to nod, their faces lighting up with a warmth that had nothing to do with the sun.

"I..." Ryuuki’s gaze softened.

"You’re right, Ryuuki," Iwagaki whispered, staring up at the sky where the first stars were beginning to blink. "There is more to football than just defending. Your goal... it showed us a world we were too afraid to look at."

"Captain..."

"Whatever happens, we will always be here for you," Miko said, stepping forward and pulling him into a side-hug. "You’re our little brother. Forever."

Ryuuki’s eyes sparked like live wires. "Guys..." He didn't wait. He lunged forward, burying his face in Iwagaki’s massive chest, his small arms barely making it halfway around the captain’s waist.

"Oh! Hehe... Easy there, little guy." Iwagaki smiles.

"GROUP HUG!!!!" Kakoi screamed.

"YEAH!!!" 

The entire Midoukozan team joined inward, a mountain of orange jerseys and laughter, crushing Ryuuki in the center of a chaotic, happy pile.

On the sidelines, Kabeyama let out a long, shaky breath, a tear finally escaping his eye. He adjusted his clutches, his heart feeling lighter now.

"It’s... it’s finally over," Kizoku sighed, leaning back against the bench with a look of pure relief.

Across the field, Asuto watched the embrace. He felt a familiar warmth in his chest, a tether to the memory of his mother. *Football really unites people, doesn't it, Mom...* he whispered, his eyes fixed on the horizon.

Norika smiled, her gloves tucked under her arm. "Aww, look at them. I'm so glad they were able to come back together."

"Yes," Michinari agreed, standing with his hands on his waist, his captain’s band glowing in the light. "I couldn't feel that something was going on."

"Urgh," Goujin hissed, crossing his arms and pouting. "I’m glad for them or whatever, but they just evened the score! We should be annoyed! We’re losing our lead!"

"Why?" Mansaku smirked, reaching up to adjust the brim of his hat. "Aren't you having fun, Goujin?"

"Well... yeah... I guess," Goujin muttered, his foot tapping the turf. "Better now that we can actually play properly without all that moping."

"I feel light now," Hiro said, adjusting his glasses. "It's as if both teams were holding back their true calculations. Now everything is back to normal."

Kozoumaru’s eyes were cold and focused. "Enough talking!" He stared at the Midoukozan goal like a wolf eyeing its prey. "We have a game to finish... And I’m not leaving here with a draw."

"Yeah!" Goujin smirked, his competitive fire reigniting. "Let’s win this thing!"

The Inakuni team shared a single, determined look. The bond they felt was a mirror to the one across the field.

"Alright guys! Let’s go! Give it your all!" Michinari shouted.

"YES!" 

*TWEEEEEET!*

The whistle was a silver needle piercing the air. 

"There they go! The game resumes with both Raimon Island and Midoukozan Boulders on a tie! Which team will have the grit to claim the victory?!" the commentator roared.

Asuto quickly flicked the ball to Goujin, who took off like he had been shot from a cannon. 

"We’ve got this!" Goujin shouted, his face set in a grimace of pure effort. Asuto and Kozoumaru fanned out beside him, forming a attack arrow that sliced through the midfield.

"Stop them! Don't let them through!" Iwagaki roared.

"YEAH!" 

The Boulders swarmed across the field. Miko stepped in front of Goujin, her movements fluid and rhythmic. Goujin tried a series of clumsy but fast step-overs, his eyes darting for an opening.

"Here!" Asuto screamed, already sprinting into the open space.

"Asuto!" Goujin centered the ball with a powerful kick.

"Hirata! Cover Asuto Inamori!" Miko commanded.

"You won't pass!" Hirata slammed his foot down, blocking Asuto’s path like a stone pillar.

"Wrong target," Asuto smirked. 

Hirata’s eyes went wide. The ball wasn't with Asuto. It was a decoy. Michinari had ghosted into the play from the midfield, taking the pass and forming a secondary arrow with Goujin and Kozoumaru.

"Heh." Michinari’s smirks.

"Hirata fell for the bait! Raimon Island is heading into Midoukozan territory at full speed!"

"Get back! Fall back!" Iwagaki shouted, his team scrambling to cover the holes in their formation.

Michinari flicked the ball to Kozoumaru. 

"Haaaa!!!" Maeno launched into a desperate slide tackle, his body a blur of green. 

Kozoumaru doesn't exitate. He chipped the ball into the air and jumped, his silhouette momentarily eclipsing the stadium lights as he sailed over Maeno’s head.

"Bokuru! Go for it!" Maeno screamed from the dirt.

"The ball is ours!" Bokuru roared, charging at Kozoumaru with his shoulder lowered. 

Kozoumaru flicked a back-heel pass to Goujin and then dodged to the side.

"Raimon is unstoppable! They are carving through the Boulders like a hot knife through butter!"

Jousai stood in the goal, slamming his gloved fists together with a sound like a hammer hitting an anvil. "Come on, then! Give me your best!"

"It’s my time to score! Haaaaah!" Goujin roared. He drew his leg back, the air around his foot beginning to ripple with heat. He struck the ball with a thunderous *CRACK*, sending it screaming toward the top corner.

But out of the shadows, a streak of green lightning intervened. Ryuuki dived across the path of the ball, using his own momentum to redirect it toward Iwagaki. 

"I got it!" Ryuuki smiles.

"Nice one, Ryuuki!" Iwagaki shouted, killing the ball on his chest and immediately spinning to face the Raimon goal. 

"Let's go guys! CHARGE!" Miko screamed.

"YES!!!"

"Ohh! Midoukozan has recovered the ball! The counter-attack is on!"

"Argh!" Goujin hissed, skidding to a halt. "Let me shoot, you little...!"

Ryuuki flashed a bright, cheeky smile as he sprinted past. "Sorry~!"

"You weren't going to score anyway." Jousai teased from the distance, his smirk visible even from the goal line.

"Oh, you! I’m going to take that smile off your face!" Goujin roared, shaking his fist.

"Go back, you idiot!" Kozoumaru hissed, already sprinting toward their own half. 

"Wait for me!" Goujin scrambled after him.

Iwagaki passed to Miko, who performed a elegant spin around Hiro. She sent a long ball to Ugon.

"Go for it, Ugon!"

"Ishikabe!" Ugon shouted, heading the ball down to Ishikabe.

"Got it!" Ishikabe leaped into the air, dodging a slide tackle from Golem. He landed, his right leg glowing with a faint brown energy. "Take this!"

He unleashed a powerful drive. The ball whistled through the air, but Norika was ready. She stayed focused, her eyes tracking the rotation of the ball. She leaped and slammed her palms into it, the force vibrating up her arms. 

"It’s not going in!" she shouted, parrying it back into the air.

"Ghraa!" Iwagaki jumped, meeting the rebound with a ferocious volley that sent the ball screaming back toward the net.

Norika hit the ground, rolled, and sprang back up with the agility of a gymnast. She lunged, wrapping her arms around the ball and hugging it to her chest as she tumbled into the netting.

"Norika defends the goal! She’s not playing around."

"Nice try, guys! The next one’s going in!" Ryuuki shouted, encouraging his team.

"YEAH!" 

Norika stood up, wiping sweat from her brow and grinning. 

"Good job, Norika!" Michinari called out.

"Golem! You're our only wall!" Mansaku warned, his chest heaving. "Don't go too far up!"

"Roger!" Golem nodded, his massive frame shifting back into position.

"Guys! Go for it!!!" Norika roared, launching a massive drop-kick that sent the ball spiraling into the center of the pitch.

"There it goes! Raimon starts their final assault!"

Asuto trapped the ball, his eyes scanning the field. He danced around Miko, his movements like water. 

"Goujin! To me!" Asuto passed, received a quick one-two from Goujin, and surged forward. 

Bokuru stepped in his path, his face set in a grimace of concentration. "Haaa! THE WAL-"

Before he could finish the Hissatsu, Asuto flicked the ball to Kozoumaru, who used his sheer physical force to shoulder past Bokuru, sending the larger boy stumbling.

"Ghraa!" Bokuru hissed.

"Bokuru-san!" Ryuuki cried out.

"Keep going, Ryuuki! Don't look back!" Bokuru roared.

"Hm!" Ryuuki nodded, his legs pumping as he tracked back to defend.

"Raimon is unstoppable! They’re moving through Midoukozan like a storm!"

Kozoumaru drew the defense toward him. "Move your ass!" he hissed as Moriagari and Miko converged on him. At the last possible second, he slipped the ball to Goujin.

"This time, nobody will stop me!" Goujin roared, his eyes wide with a manic determination.

"Hirata! Go!" Iwagaki screamed.

Hirata lunged forward, but Asuto was already there, blocking his path and mirroring his every move.

"Where did you come from!?" Hirata gasped.

"Sup," Asuto smirked, his shadow staying glued to the defender.

"Score, Goujin!" Michinari screamed.

"TAKE THIS!!!" Goujin launched a shot that looked like a meteor, the ball glowing with an intense, golden heat.

But Jousai simply stepped forward and punched the ball away with a grunt of effort, sending it spiraling out of bounds. "Heh. Too slow."

"Argh!" Goujin pulled at his hair in frustration.

"I told you... you wouldn't make it... Hehehe," Jousai teased, his eyes glinting.

"Shut up!" 

"Nice one, Jousai-san!" Ryuuki cheered, giving a thumbs up.

"Keep playing like this, guys! The game is almost over!" Iwagaki shouted, his voice echoing through the stadium.

"YEAH!"

On the Raimon side, Hiro adjusted his glasses, his expression grim. "It looks like Midoukozan is satisfied with a draw... they’re playing for the clock."

"Gao! H-i-y-o-r-i has a bad feeling!" Hiyori said, his eyes darting around.

"Yes," Hiura added, his brow furrowed. "They might be planning something. We have to be careful."

"Keep your eyes open, guys!" Michinari shouted. "The game isn't over until the whistle blows!"

"YES!"

The game roared back into life with the sharp, shrill blast of the whistle. Mansaku stepped up to the corner, his face a mask of concentration. With a rhythmic swing, he sent the ball spiraling toward the box. Goujin lunged forward, his eyes locked on the white sphere, but before he could make contact, a green blur cut through the lane.

Ishikabe intercepts, flicking the ball with his heel toward Ryuuki.

"Guys! Mark everyone! Tighten the net!" Michinari screamed, his voice rasping from the effort of commanding the field.

As Ryuuki turned to accelerate, a wall of yellow and blue blocked his path. Asuto was there, his breathing steady, his eyes tracking Ryuuki’s hips.

"I'm stuck!" Ryuuki hissed, his cleats grinding into the turf as he performed a quick stutter-step. 

"Ryuuki! Here!" Miko shouted, breaking away from her marker.

But Michinari was a step ahead. He slid into the passing lane, his arms out for balance. "Dead end!" he smirked, the competitive fire in his eyes burning bright.

"Ryuuki! Here!" Iwagaki roared, his massive frame looming near the center circle. 

Ryuuki flicked a desperate pass toward his captain, but Asuto’s reflexes were peerless. "Got it!" He intercepted the ball in mid-air, a quick touch of his chest settling it before he sent a long, whistling pass toward Kozoumaru.

"Let's go!" Michinari shouted.

"YES!" the Inakuni team shouted in unison, a wave of yellow shirts surging forward like a rising tide.

On the other side of the pitch, Iwagaki, Miko, and Ryuuki stood for a fleeting second, their chests heaving as they watched the Raimon counter-attack. 

"Darn it, they’re getting too good at putting pressure," Miko hissed, wiping sweat from her brow.

"What do we do, Captain?" Ryuuki asked, his eyes darting between the encroaching strikers.

Iwagaki looked at his team. He saw the fatigue, but more importantly, he saw the spark Ryuuki had ignited. "Do you have enough energy for another shot?"

"I do, but they’re marking me like I’m the only player on the field," Ryuuki admitted. "How do we stop them from taking the ball back?"

"There’s only one way," Iwagaki whispered, his voice dropping into a register of pure stone.

Miko’s eyes widened. "Is it time?"

"Time for what?" Ryuuki blinked, confused.

"Our most powerful technique," Iwagaki shouted, his voice echoing off the stadium walls. "It’s time to unleash it!"

Raimon’s trident of Asuto, Goujin, and Kozoumaru teared through the midfield. Moving with a telepathic rhythm, Bokuru lunged for a tackle, but Goujin simply danced around him. Hoeno tried to close the gap, but the Raimon passing was too surgical.

"Get the ball back at all costs!" Iwagaki commanded.

Goujin reached the edge of the box. Kouguro charged him, a desperate scowl on his face. "Haaa!" 

Goujin flicked the ball to Asuto. Hirata dived in with a sliding tackle, his cleats catching nothing but air. "Ghraaaa!" 

Asuto centered it quickly for Kozoumaru. "Kozoumaru!"

The stadium held its breath. But just as Kozoumaru prepared to strike, Ryuuki appeared out of nowhere, his small frame throwing itself into the path of the ball. He intercepted, but the impact sent him stumbling. 

Kozoumaru snarled, charging through the contact and reclaiming the ball with a savage flick. But as he took his next step, Iwagaki had arrived, his slide tackle so powerful it sent a shockwave through the turf, knocking the ball loose.

"UNBELIEVABLE!!!" the commentator roared. "Raimon falls under the crushing pressure of the Boulders! Time is bleeding away, and Midoukozan is ready to strike back!"

"Go back!" Michinari screamed. "Defensive positions, now!"

"We got it!" Ryuuki smiled, his face covered in dirt but his spirit soaring.

"It’s time to go!" Miko said, her eyes flashing.

"Ready, guys!?" Iwagaki asked.

"READY!" the team shouted.

The Midoukozan players suddenly fell into a perfect, straight line, sprinting forward in a formation that looked like a moving mountain range.

"The Midoukozan players are lining up! Are they going back to the stronghold?!"

Iwagaki passed to Miko, who flicked it to Ugou. They were moving with a synchronized, mechanical precision. Kozoumaru tried to disrupt the flow with a slide tackle, successfully poking the ball away from Ugou, but he stopped dead in his tracks. 

The Midoukozan team didn't chase him. They stayed behind, their eyes glowing with a strange, golden aura.

"DO IT, LITTLE PEBBLES!" the Midoukozan Coach shouted from the sidelines, his arms crossed.

"Go, little pebbles!" Hosoi squeaked.

"LET'S GO!" Iwagaki roared.

"YEAH!" 

"Haaaaaaaaahhhh!" The entire Midoukozan team was engulfed in a blinding yellow light. The ground groaned as massive, solid stone slabs tore through the grass, erupting with the sound of a mountain crumbling. Kozoumaru froze, the ball at his feet, as the air grew heavy with the smell of dry earth.

The players crossed their arms over their chests and then snapped them outward.

"OVERRIDE!" Miko screamed.

The slabs began to lock together, magnetic and ancient. Iwagaki summoned a second tier of rocks, stacking them high into the air. The entire team shouted in a voice that shook the sky:

"RENSA THE WALL!!!!"

"Oh no!" the commentator shrieked. "It’s their trump card! A chain-reaction fortress!"

"What the-" Goujin’s jaw dropped.

"They're coming! Move!" Asuto shouted, his instincts screaming at him to retreat.

"Hraaaahhh!" 

The Boulders charged. A literal mountain of stone was now sprinting across the field at full speed. Kozoumaru tried to dodge, but the massive stone facade caught him, launching him twenty feet into the air like a ragdoll. 

"Ghraaaa!!!"

"This is a combined technique," the Coach explained on the sidelines, a smug grin on his face. "By bringing the power of a collective use of The Wall in succession and overriding them... this is Rensa The Wall."

"Midoukozan’s pride..." Kizoku whispered.

Michinari and Hanta stood their ground, but as the wall loomed over them, Hanta’s face went pale. "I'm going to get blown away again..." She tried to step back, but the momentum of the moving mountain was too great.

"Hold it! Hanta!!!" Michinari shouts.

*CRASH.*

Michinari and Hanta were tossed aside like autumn leaves in a hurricane. Golem roared, charging forward to protect his teammates. "Han-chan!!!! Captain!!!!" But even his massive frame was no match for the Override. He was sent skidding across the grass, leaving deep gouges in the earth.

"Midoukozan has reached the goal! Is this the end for Raimon?!"

"Ryuuki!" Iwagaki passed the ball through a small gap in the stone slabs.

Ryuuki caught it, his eyes fixed on the net. He bypassed a dazed Hiro with a quick flick. "One more... just one more and we win!" 

"GO!!!!" the Midoukozan team roared.

Ryuuki reached the box. He leaned back, his energy swirling. "DINOSAU-"

"Gao-san! Go for it!!!" Mansaku’s voice pierced the chaos.

"Gaoooo!" Hiyori launched himself forward. As Ryuuki began his kick, Hiyori performed a desperate, soaring headbutt, connecting with the ball just inches before Ryuuki’s foot could make contact. The ball was sent spiraling away.

"Gah!" Ryuuki gasps.

"NOOOOOOOOO!!!!" the Midoukozan team cried out in a unified wail of frustration.

"HIYORI INTERCEPTS!!! THE DANGER IS OVER... OR IS IT?!"

The Midoukozan players crashed into Hiro, Mansaku, and Hiyori, sending the remaining defenders flying into the air. 

Ootani gasped, covering her mouth. "Guys...!"

Anna stood perfectly still, her knuckles white as she gripped her skirt, her heart hammering against her ribs.

The ball rolled, innocent and slow, until it stopped right at the feet of Hiura.

The Midoukozan wall turned. Their gazes were predatory, focused entirely on the small, calm figure of the Raimon midfielder.

"The ball rolls to Hiura! He stands alone against the coming avalanche!" the commentator yelled.

Hiura’s eyes narrow, He stepped back as the Boulders began their final charge, the stone slabs grinding against the turf.

"If Hiura doesn't act, Raimon is finished!!!"

Kozoumaru was struggling to his feet, his teeth bared in a snarl. He stared at the goal. He was waiting. "Come on..."

Hiura’s eyes flickered across the pitch. He saw the wall, he saw the gaps, and then, he saw the opening. A path that no one else could see, a trajectory that defied the brute force of the stone.

"Can... i..." Hiura whispered. He took one more step back, a small, confident smile touching his lips. "I can."

He tapped the ball into the air with the side of his right foot. 

The moment his foot touched the ground, he spun with the elegance of a figure skater. He swung his right arm wide, and suddenly, the temperature in the stadium plummeted. A thick, sparkling mist of frost erupted from the grass, freezing the moisture in the air.

The ball encased in a jagged, crystalline block of ice. Hiura met it with a devastating left-foot volley. The ice shattered into a diamond-like shard, and the ball streaked forward, a piercing blue arrow that soared the skies.

"ICE.... ARROW!"

The ball curved around the wall with a impossible grace, dancing through the air with a trail of diamond dust that shimmered under the floodlights. It soared over the heads of the stunned Midoukozan players, falling perfectly toward the other side of the field.

"IT PASSES!!!!" the commentator screamed, his voice reaching a fever pitch. "Hiura’s new hissatsu has cleared the fortress! THE CROWD IS GOING WILD!"

"It’s... beautiful..." Hanta whispered from the ground, her eyes tracking the glittering trail.

Iwagaki froze. Miko and Ugou watched the ball sail over them, their expressions crumbling into shock. 

"What... is... that?" Ugou stammered.

Ryuuki stood there, mesmerized. He had never seen something so delicate and powerful at the same time. "Wow...."

Kozoumaru was already running. He sprinted with everything he had, his eyes burning with a dark, concentrated fury. 

*This time... you won't hold me down!!!*

"IT’S A PASS TO KOZOUMARU!!!"

"KOZOUMARU-SAMA!!!" the Inazuma Kids shrieked, their eyes wide open.

"KOZOUMARU!!!!" The Inakuni team shouts in unison.

The ball descended toward him. Kozoumaru’s mind raced. He thought of the night he met Gouenji Shuuya. He thought of the silhouette of the man who had defined him, who had changed the way he plays football, his hero.

*I'll make this goal with that technique of his...* Kozoumaru thought. *Since that day, I wanted to kick just like him.*

He pushed his legs to the breaking point. *I trained. Day after day. Every hour. Every minute. I burned his image into my soul. I didn't want to copy him... I wanted to become the fire.*

He remembered Gouenji’s voice, calm and steady amidst the chaos: “Never let them tell you who you are. The path is ahead of you. Go forth and never look back.”

Kozoumaru’s eyes snapped open, glowing with a fierce, orange light. "I’ll go further and beyond!!!!"

He leaped. Launching himself into the sky. A stream of swirling, molten fire erupted around him, turning the air into a furnace. He spun clockwise with violent speed, his legs becoming a blur of friction and flame.

As he reached the ball, his body went horizontal, his left foot gathering every ounce of his resolve.

"FAIYAAA TORNADOOUU GREATO TWOOOOOO!!!!"

The ball became a core of sun-bright lava. He struck it, and the ball roared toward the goal, leaving a wake of burning grass and a hum so deep it vibrated in the spectators' teeth.

Jousai stepped back, his eyes wide with genuine terror. The sheer heat of the shot made him flinch. He gulped, his hands shaking as he tried to summon his strength. "STORM RAI-"

He never finished. The ball slammed into his gut, the force so great it dragged him right into the net. The mesh screamed as it stretched to its limit, the ball spinning with a violent, orange hiss.

Kozoumaru landed silently on the charred turf, a small cloud of steam rising from his boots.

The stadium went silent. The commentator’s microphone hummed in the stillness. Then, the scoreboard flickered.

RAIMON ISLAND: 2

MIDOUKOZAN BOULDERS: 1

The whistle blew three times. The match was over.

"GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The commentator’s voice shattered, vibrating through the stadium’s massive speakers until the very air seemed to hum with the electricity of the moment. 

The digital scoreboard flickered, the numbers shifting with click to 2-1. For a heartbeat, the world stood still and then the stadium exploded.

"GOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!" The Inazuma Kids shouted with tears in their eyes and laughter, jumping so high their small sneakers made a rhythmic drumming sound against the concrete. They hugged each other with a joyful strength, as the crowd around them roared. Sally clapped her hands, a serene, proud smile spreading across her face. They had really done it.

"GOAAAAAALLLL!!!!" the Inakuni players screamed in unison, a raw, primal sound that tore from their lungs.

"It ends!!! The match is over with a result of 2-1!!!" The commentator’s voice was a jagged roar of disbelief. "Raimon wins with an abrupt, legendary jump in points just seconds before the final whistle! This is the upset of the decade! This is Raimon Island's first glorious step into the Football Frontier! What a game, everyone! What a miracle!"

On the sidelines, Ootani grabbed Anna by the shoulders, shaking her with enough force to make her hair whip back and forth. "They did it! They really did it, Anna! They did it!"

"Stop... shaking me..." Anna sighed, though her voice lacked its usual bite. She turned her gaze fixed on the field. Her eyes narrowed, reflecting a complex mixture of relief and a little bit of respect she wasn't quite ready to voice. 

Beside them, Sub-coach Kameda squeezed his eyes shut, his chest heaving as he took a deep, shuddering breath. Coach Zhao, however, simply stood with his arms crossed, a mysterious, knowing smirk playing on his lips.

Hanta pumped her fists into the air, her face glowing with a frantic energy. "We won! We actually won!"

Golem sobs. Wiping his eyes as tears slowly fall down. "We did it... we really did it..." he blubbered.

"We did it!!!!" Goujin took a running start and launched into a magnificent, thirty-foot grass slide, his laughter booming across the field. "Hell yeahhhhhh!"

"Thank goodness..." Norika sighs, resting on the ground.

"Urgh..." Mansaku whispered to himself, clutching his arm and leaning over to catch his breath. "You really exceeded yourself there." He let out a dry, exhausted chuckle, his eyes bright with triumph. "I’m gonna need a much longer break after this. Hehehe." 

"Gaooooo!" Hiyori sprinted in wide, dizzying circles around the center circle, his energy seemingly infinite.

Hiro adjusted his glasses, which were smudged with dust. He took a long breath, feeling the frantic rhythm of his heart finally begin to stabilize. "It's finally over..."

Hiura sat down where he stood, He leaned his head back, closing his eyes as he felt the cool evening breeze finally cutting through the heat of the stadium. "We did it..." 

Asuto stood in the center of it all, his gaze fixed on the scoreboard glowing against the darkening sky. The amber light of the setting sun caught the moisture in his eyes. *Thank you, Mom...* he whispered, his voice a soft thread of sound lost in the roar of the crowd. "*You showed me the path." A wide, radiant smile broke across his face.

"Our first win," Michinari said, walking up to Asuto’s side and clapping a heavy, supportive hand on his shoulder. "We’re really doing it, Asuto. We're going to make it to the tournament."

"Yeah," Asuto nodded, his voice thick with emotion. The two shared a silent, firm nod. A pact sealed in the dirt and sweat of the Midoukozan pitch.

Nearby, Kozoumaru stood apart from the group, his hands on his hips as he rubbed the back of his neck. His expression was stoic, but the slight rise and fall of his shoulders betrayed his exhaustion.

"Hey, dork..." 

Kozoumaru raised an eyebrow as Goujin stomped over, stopping directly in front of him. Goujin looked everywhere but at Kozoumaru’s face, his face turning a shade of pink that rivaled the sunset.

"You... you stopped me from attacking back there," Goujin muttered, his voice uncharacteristically low. "And that opening you made... that’s why we won. So... thank you. Or whatever." 

Kozoumaru let out a short, sharp huff that might have been a laugh. He smirked, looking away toward the stands. "You're right. It was definitely thanks to me."

"HUH?!" Goujin’s head snapped back, his eyes bulging. "You arrogant little-!" He stopped, seeing the slight twitch of a smile on Kozoumaru’s lips. He sighed, a grin of his own breaking through. "Whatever. You’re still a dork."

"Hey, Hiura!" Goujin shouted, pivoting toward the midfielder. "That long pass you did? That was pretty lit, man!"

"It was so pretty!" Hanta added, bouncing over with stars in her eyes. "A line of ice soaring through the skies and dropping little sprinkles everywhere! It totally suits you, Hiura-kun!"

"Thanks, guys. It means a lot," Hiura said, standing up and brushing the grass from his shorts.

"Hiura-san," Hiro said, his analytical mind already whirring. "I haven't seen a passing Hissatsu before."

"This might be a new discovery, Hiura" Michinari added, joining the circle. "Be proud of yourself."

"Hehe, thanks," Hiura said, scratching the back of his head. "But you guys want to know the crazy thing?"

"Hm?" The team tilted their heads in unison, looking like a flock of confused birds.

"What is it, Hiura?" Norika asked, wiping her gloves.

"I don't know why... but the whole time I was doing it, I felt like the trajectory was exactly the same as when I was watering," Hiura said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Curious, right?"

Asuto’s eyes narrowed, and he turned to look toward the bench where Coach Zhao, a knowing smile spread across Asuto’s face. "So it was him..."

"Yep," Hiura laughed. "I guess I learned a Hissatsu because I won that lottery."

On the other side of the pitch, the Midoukozan players stood like statues. They looked at the scoreboard, then at the cheering Raimon players. They wanted to feel the crushing weight of defeat, they should have felt bitter but looking at each other, they realized the air between them had changed.

"What a game, huh..." Miko sighed, her ponytail drooping.

"The most intense game we’ve had in years," Ugou added, his voice gravelly with fatigue.

"We really were toe-to-toe with them," Ishikabe said, looking at his bruised shins. "They didn't give an inch."

"But it wasn't enough," Iwagaki said, his voice heavy. He looked at his hands, the hands that had failed to hold the everything together at the very end.

"Cheer up, guys," Ryuuki said calmly. He reached up and adjusted his bone mask. "You guys were amazing out there. You guys are the best."

"You were the most amazing one, little brother," Jousai said, stepping forward with a calm, genuine smile. "You showed us what we were missing."

"Thanks to you, Ryuuki, we were able to experience this game in ways we never have before," Iwagaki said, his voice softening as he placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. "The score doesn't matter as much as... this. You’re the best thing that ever happened to this team."

The rest of the Boulders nodded, their faces warming with a quiet, familial love. Ryuuki’s eyes narrowed as he felt a lump form in his throat. His heart felt lighter than it had in months. 

"Guys..."

"Ryuuki... Ryuuki... Ryuuki..." Miko started to chant, her voice rising in a rhythmic cheer. "Let's go, guys! For our MVP!"

The team looked at each other, and then, with one voice, they began to roar. "RYUUKI! RYUUKI! RYUUKI! RYUUKI! RYUUKI!"

Ryuuki stood in the center of the circle, sobbing openly now, but they were happy tears. He was finally home.

"RYUUKI!!! RYUUKI!!! RYUUKI!!!" The Boulders’ cheers echoed through the stadium, drowning out the lingering disappointment of the loss. They had lost a game, but they had won back their brother.

In the Midoukozan dugout, the head coach smiled, a rare expression of softness crossing his rugged features. "They’re good boys, Hosoi."

"T-they are... sir... they really are..." Hosoi sniffled, wiping his eyes with a silk handkerchief.

Ryuuki looked toward the stands and saw Kabeyama and Kizoku. He waved frantically, and the two gave him a slow, encouraging thumbs-up. Kizoku waved back, her face beaming. 

Both shared a brief, knowing laugh. It was the perfect ending to a grueling day.

High above the field, in the shadows of the VIP boxes, the atmosphere was different.

"Zhao Jinyun..." the Seishou Academy's coach whispered, "It seems I’ll need to investigate him more thoroughly."

Nearby, Nosaka and Nishikage remained motionless, their eyes tracking the Raimon players as they began to clear the field.

"Who is that coach of theirs?" Nosaka asked, his voice smooth and cold as polished marble.

"There is no record of him in the past Japanese football registers," Nishikage replied, his tone monotone and professional.

"Hm..." Nosaka tapped a finger against his chin. "Then perhaps he is simply making a name for himself starting now. An ambitious entrance."

"Too skilled for that," Nishikage countered.

Nosaka smirked, a sharp, dangerous look. "So you figured it out as well."

"But..." Nishikage turned his gaze toward Nosaka. "There is no reason for you to be interested in the likes of him."

Nosaka didn't answer immediately. He watched Asuto laugh with his teammates, the joy of the win radiating from the boy like a sun. 

"No matter who they may be," Nishikage continued, his voice dropping an octave, "they will fall into ruin when they stand before them... and before you, the tyrant Tactical Emperor."

"I’ll be the one to decide that, Nishikage," Nosaka said, his voice flat and calm.

As the final rays of the sun disappeared, a lone figure moved toward the exit gates.

Haizaki walked with a slouch, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. Hanging from a loop on his pants, a small, worn teddy bear pin swayed with every step. His eyes remained fixed on the path ahead as the day went away.

                                     To Be Continued...