The atmosphere on the pitch changed — no, it erupted.
Amagi's goal didn't just equalize the score. It lit a fire. A fire that spread through every player on the field.
No one wanted to be left behind. No one wanted to be overshadowed.
They all wanted to be the center of the game.
The whistle blew, and the match resumed — but this wasn't a game of teams anymore. It was a battlefield of individual egos.
Team 1's Possession.
Yuto Kisaragi received the ball — but instead of looking for a pass, he pushed forward.
"If I'm not the one controlling the game, I'm nothing."
He cut through midfield with his signature precision, scanning for an opening — but before he could make his move, Kazuki Shindo called for the ball.
"Yuto! Send it here!"
Yuto ignored him.
He wanted the goal himself.
But Shindo wasn't having it. He sprinted into position, closing the distance between them.
"Pass it!"
"No!"
Yuto kept going — until Shindo cut him off.
"Then I'll take it myself!"
Shindo's pressure forced Yuto into a mistake. His touch went long — and in an instant, Kazuya Mori pounced.
Mori seized the ball with effortless grace and broke forward.
But even Mori wasn't immune to the fire.
He wanted to be the one to score.
Aikawa and Shindo surged forward alongside him — but Mori kept the ball, refusing to pass.
The defenders closed in. Ryota Minami and Riku Saionji moved to cut off his options.
But Mori… smiled.
He didn't need to pass.
He needed to use them.
"Shindo — Aikawa — move!"
Shindo broke right. Aikawa cut left. The defenders hesitated for a split second — and that's all Mori needed.
With their attention split, Mori threaded the gap between them.
He accelerated into the box, his eyes locked on the goal.
Kaede Arata rushed in, but Mori stayed calm — and then, with a flick of his foot —
"Rabona Fake!"
Kaede fell for the feint, lunging the wrong way — and Mori was through.
The goal loomed ahead. Takuma Ogawa prepared himself, eyes locked on the ball.
But Mori was already a step ahead.
"Checkmate."
Void Strike.
The shot was like a cannon blast. The ball rocketed past Ogawa before he could react — slamming into the back of the net with a thunderous BOOM.
3-2.
Mori stood there, arms spread wide, the king of the moment.
But this was far from over.
Because on the other side of the pitch… every other ego was ready to devour.
To be continued…