The roar of Team Zeta's celebration faded into the stillness of the pitch — no crowd, no cheers — just the heavy breathing of players pushing themselves to the limit.
2-1.
But no one on Team Zeta believed this game was over. Least of all Renji Kurogami.
As Kaede Arata jogged back toward the halfway line after his goal, Renji's eyes never left Yuto Kisaragi. The Delta captain stood tall, calm, and focused — not a trace of frustration on his face.
"He's not shaken," Renji muttered. "He's planning something."
Kaede came up beside him. "We finally broke their defense, and you're still this tense?"
"Because I know their counter's coming." Renji's voice was low, his muscles coiled like a spring. "And we're not ready."
The whistle blew, and Delta kicked off.
As expected, they wasted no time. The ball moved with surgical precision between their players, Kisaragi orchestrating their attack like a conductor.
"Here they come!" Riku Saionji shouted, dropping back to defend.
But even knowing it didn't make it any easier to stop.
Kisaragi's perfect passing pulled Team Zeta's formation apart piece by piece. Every time they tried to close the gap, he switched the point of attack — and then it happened.
A single long pass cut through their entire midfield.
"Shunpei's making a run!" Sora Amagi called out.
Takeda sprinted toward the ball, his speed terrifying — but Jin Kazama was already moving.
As Takeda struck the ball low and hard toward the bottom corner, Jin dove.
Not this time.
His fingertips grazed the ball — just enough to send it inches wide of the post.
The players froze for a second before Jin pushed himself up, his eyes blazing.
"That's two saves, Kazama!" Yamada Goro clapped him on the back. "You're keeping us alive out here!"
But Jin's voice was tight. "Not for long. If we keep letting them through like this… they'll score eventually."
The corner kick came in fast and tight. The ball flew into a crowd of players — and in the chaos, someone rose highest.
Kisaragi.
But just as his forehead made contact —
"Not happening!" Yamada Goro smashed into him, sending both of them crashing to the ground.
The ball skidded clear — right to Kaede Arata.
"Go!" Renji shouted.
Kaede took off down the left wing, his speed stretching Delta's defense. Sora matched him on the right, and Renji charged through the center.
Kaede's cross came in perfectly — low, fast, and dangerous.
Renji went for it — but this time, Delta's keeper reacted first, punching the ball away.
The rebound fell at Itsuki Maeda's feet.
"Take the shot!" Riku called out.
But Maeda didn't shoot.
Instead, he flicked the ball sideways — right into Riku's path.
Without hesitation, Riku struck it first-time — a blistering shot aimed for the top corner.
The net rippled.
3-1, Team Zeta.
Delta's defense was finally starting to crack — but the game was far from over.
As they reset, Renji glanced at his teammates.
They were evolving. He could feel it.
Kaede's vision and speed were sharper than ever. Sora's movements were becoming more unpredictable. Riku's timing and instinct were on point.
But Renji's hunger was growing, too.
I need more.
He wanted to devour them — to surpass them all.
And then he saw Kisaragi's face.
The calm was gone.
For the first time, there was fire in the Delta captain's eyes.
"Get ready," Renji warned. "He's done playing it safe."
The whistle blew — and the storm hit.
Delta's attack became relentless. Kisaragi pushed higher up the pitch, his passing sharper, his vision even more dangerous.
In the 83rd minute, the pressure paid off.
A quick one-two broke Zeta's defense, and Shunpei Takeda finally got his goal.
3-2.
The match was slipping through their fingers.
"We need to end this," Renji growled. "Now."
Sora grinned. "Then let's take them apart."
The final minutes were chaos.
Renji pushed forward with everything he had, his Spatial Awareness mapping every movement around him. He saw it all — the gaps, the pressure points, the opportunities.
But Kisaragi saw them too.
Every time Renji tried to break through, the Delta captain was there, shutting him down.
And then, in the 89th minute, Renji made his move.
He feinted left — and when Kisaragi followed, he cut right with Sora's Phantom Step.
But instead of shooting, he passed — a no-look flick into open space.
Kaede Arata was already there.
He didn't miss.
4-2.
The whistle blew moments later.
Team Zeta had won.
But as Renji met Kisaragi's burning gaze, he knew this wasn't the end.
It was only the beginning.
To be continued…
You said: