After the match, everyone showered and headed toward the cafeteria.
"I'm starving."
"I'm gonna die if I don't eat soon."
"Our final opponent is Team V, the only other undefeated team besides us."
"Doesn't matter who we face. We just need to win."
"Yeah. Let's crush every single obstacle in our way."
Ryan walked at the front, leading Team Z toward the cafeteria like a mafia boss marching his crew into battle.
When they arrived, the cafeteria was mostly empty except for three people sitting together at one table.
One had black hair and glasses.
Another had purple hair.
And the third, a white-haired boy, was lazily sprawled across the table, eating steak with half-lidded eyes.
Ryan's gaze instantly locked onto the purple-haired one and his expression brightened.
"Well, what do you know. I didn't think I'd run into an old acquaintance here. Thought I'd have to wait until the next match."
He waved the rest of Team Z ahead.
"You guys go eat first. I've got someone to say hi to."
He strolled toward the three, a familiar smirk curling his lips.
"Yo! Long time no see, Reo Mikage. What's a rich kid like you doing in prison? Did your family finally get tired of bailing you out?"
Reo looked up, instantly recognizing the voice he hated most.
Tch. Of all people, it had to be him.
He sneered.
"Funny coming from you. What, ran out of girls to flirt with, so you decided to try men instead?"
Ryan grinned.
"Please. I'm here because I love football, obviously. Or did you forget? Half a year ago you challenged me one-on-one, all confident and cocky. Sorry about that, by the way I didn't mean to completely destroy you."
"Cut it out," Reo snapped. "That was before I found my treasure. Things are different now. You're Team Z, right? Guess that means I'll see you next match. Don't expect the same outcome."
At that moment, the white-haired boy beside him spoke without even lifting his head.
"Reo… I don't wanna eat anymore. Carry me back."
Reo sighed.
"Seriously? You said you were hungry."
"Sorry," the boy murmured, still slouched over. "It's just… such a hassle."
Reo groaned but bent down to let him climb on.
Ryan raised an eyebrow as Reo lifted Seishiro Nagi onto his back.
He barely held in a laugh.
Man, he'd love to show Reo's parents a photo of this their precious heir acting as someone else's personal servant.
Meanwhile, the dark-haired teammate, Zantetsu, stared mournfully at the leftover steak.
"What a waste of meat… but eating someone's leftovers makes me look like an idiot. Ugh, what do I do?"
Ryan chuckled and turned to leave, tossing a line over his shoulder.
"Well then, Reo, I guess I'll look forward to seeing what this so-called 'treasure' of yours can do. Let's hope he's not just shiny trash."
Reo froze, then carefully set Nagi down in a chair.
The moment Ryan insulted Nagi, his temper snapped.
He stormed after Ryan and grabbed his shoulder.
"Hey. Watch your mouth. Don't you dare talk bad about Nagi."
Ryan turned, his smile cold, and seized Reo's wrist in return.
"Oh, I'll talk how I want. You better make sure your little treasure doesn't fall apart when I crush him on the field. Wouldn't want you crying when your toy gets broken."
"You bastard " Reo hissed, jerking his hand back. The grip had been painfully strong. He wanted to hit him, but the memory of Ryan's strength of being completely overpowered last time flashed in his mind. He could only grit his teeth and retreat.
Ryan smirked and walked off, tray in hand, like nothing happened.
When he returned to Team Z's table, Isagi couldn't help but ask,
"Those three you were talking to Team V, right? I've never seen them before."
"Yeah," Ryan said, sitting down. "The purple-haired one Reo is an old acquaintance. Our families do business together, so we've met plenty of times. But he's never been able to beat me in anything, grades, sports, looks, personality…"
"Wait, hang on," Isagi interrupted. "Your family runs a company, right? The name 'Hoshino' sounds familiar… don't tell me "
He thought for a moment, then his eyes went wide.
"No way… you mean the Hoshino Group? The biggest conglomerate in Japan?"
Ryan shrugged casually.
"Yeah, that's the one. But don't spread it around. I like keeping things low-key."
"Does your family even approve of you being here?" Isagi asked. "Rich kids like you usually go overseas or inherit the family business."
"My folks are chill," Ryan said, waving a hand. "They told me I can do whatever I want as long as it's not illegal. Dad says he's got at least twenty years left in him, so even if my football career fails, I can always go home and live off the family fortune. The only thing he nags about is grandkids. He wants me to get married soon."
Isagi stared blankly.
Was this guy even human?
Even if he quit football, he could just retire into luxury? If anyone else said that out loud, they'd get murdered by jealous players.
But Isagi didn't envy him. He liked his own life, loving parents, simple happiness. That was enough.
"You know," Isagi muttered, "with your attitude, you're surprisingly grounded. Most people born rich wouldn't even know that murder's illegal until they studied abroad."
Ryan chuckled.
"I told you, I'm the normal one. You wouldn't believe the real monsters among the elites. Like, the police chief's son? Secretly a killer. The grandson of an American tycoon? Jailed here for gang fights. The daughter of the Shigomi Conglomerate? Total romance addict. And that spoiled heir of the Mikage Group acting as someone's personal babysitter. Want more stories? I've got plenty."
Outwardly, Isagi's face stayed calm but inside, he was panicking.
Please stop talking. These are the kinds of secrets people get silenced for.
"Haha… maybe let's just eat before someone overhears," he said quickly. "We still have a strategy meeting after this."
"Oh, right. By the way," Ryan said with a grin, lowering his voice, "you'd better keep all that to yourself. If word gets out, who knows? Maybe an assassin shows up at midnight."
His eyes gleamed darkly.
"Wha ?! I didn't hear anything! Nothing at all!"
Ryan burst out laughing.
"Relax, I'm kidding. Nobody's gonna kill you over gossip."
Isagi sighed, utterly speechless, while Ryan laughed himself breathless. He made Ryan promise several times that it really was a joke before he finally calmed down.
Later, in the strategy room
Kuon stood before the big screen.
"The ninth match ended in a draw. Team Y's Niko scored the equalizer against Team W. That result means Team Z is now ranked first in Building Five. No matter how our final match goes, win or lose, we're guaranteed to advance."
Asahi punched the air.
"We're gonna win anyway! We've come this far, we're taking first place! If I lose and end up second, I'd rather die!"
Kunigami nodded.
"Yeah. Second place is just the first loser. We'll take the top."
Ryan laughed.
"Hahaha! With someone as invincible as me on your side, how could we not win?"
After the laughter died down, Isagi frowned.
"Still… can't believe Team Y managed a draw."
Asahi leaned back. "Guess Niko's more stubborn than he looks."
"More importantly," Kuon continued, "our final opponents Team V have three monsters. Together, they've scored 18 goals in three matches.
Five goals from Zantetsu Kensei.
Six goals from Reo Mikage.
And the top scorer, seven goals from Seishiro Nagi.
If we stop them, we win. Any thoughts?"
Ryan raised his hand.
"I've got one."
He stepped up to the tactical board.
"I'm done with that 3×3 All-Star formation. I've been watching these matches, and honestly, some of our weapons are fine against Y or W but against V? Not enough.
So we'll use my system next match."
He drew quickly on the board.
"I'll be the center forward. Chigiri takes the right wing, Bachira the left. Kunigami, Isagi, and Asahi as midfield. Igarashi in goal. The rest fill the backline we'll adjust positions on the fly."
He turned back to the group.
"Any objections?"
Silence. Everyone nodded.
"Good. Now here's the breakdown:
Asahi use your insane stamina to man-mark Mikage. Stick to him like glue. He's the lifeline that feeds Nagi, their main striker. Cut that connection, and Nagi's just a giant baby.
Chigiri, your matchup is Zantetsu. His first-step acceleration is faster, but your top speed blows him away. Use that same trick from last game: kick the ball forward and outrun him. He won't be able to touch you."
"Got it," Chigiri said firmly.
"The rest of you adapt as needed. Read the flow."
"Yeah!"
"Alright then," Ryan grinned, clapping his hands. "Meeting adjourned."
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