That goal had only gone in because of the chemistry between Chigiri, Ryan, and Kunigami.
Rin stared at the scoreboard on the big screen: 3–0.
A wave of helplessness crashed into him.
He couldn't stop Ryan.
He couldn't dribble past him.
He couldn't predict him.
He had assumed Ryan would shoot himself
since Ryan never passed; he always finished on his own.
So Rin had charged toward him, planning to steal the ball the moment Tokimitsu blocked him.
But instead, Ryan let the ball slip through his legs perfectly
and that open muscle-head smashed it in.
Rin looked at Tokimitsu nervously biting his fingers, and Aryu playing with his hair.
This wasn't the time for solo play.
He had to make use of both teammates.
On Ryan's side
" Ryan, how did you even see me earlier? I didn't think you'd let it pass."
"Ahh, I just caught you in my peripheral vision~
Plus, you were wide open, so I fed you."
"At this rate… we can win."
Rin kicked off and passed the ball ahead toward Tokimitsu.
Tokimitsu ran forward anxiously.
"W-wait, you passed to me?!
There's a terrifying gorilla in front of me
please move!!"
"You must've mispassed. I'll get to that ball first."
Tokimitsu was lined up against Kunigami.
Suddenly, the ball hit the ground and spun sharply
bouncing right back toward Tokimitsu.
"Huh?! I-I can get it…!"
He leaned his back into Kunigami, shielding the ball.
Kunigami tensed all his muscles to meet the collision
and immediately realized he couldn't overpower Tokimitsu at all.
"Tch…"
Kunigami felt the strength from Tokimitsu's body.
This guy's muscles are this strong?!
I work out every day, and yet…
Tokimitsu paused for a moment
he saw Rin running past his side.
Tokimitsu quickly laid off the ball.
Rin received it and immediately crossed into the box.
Aryu and Chigiri sprinted in simultaneously.
"This pass is testing my ultra high-pressure receiving ability…
Only one choice…
I ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE!"
Aryu leapt high and trapped the ball with his chest.
As he landed, Chigiri blocked him.
"Not bad…
but I caught up to you."
Aryu glanced sideways.
Tch.
You're standing right there at the perfect moment, huh?
I have no choice but to pass to you… Itoshi Rin.
Aryu sent a cross to Rin.
Rin appeared behind the ball
Ryan immediately rushed in front to block.
"Got you."
Rin raised his leg as if to shoot.
Ryan thought quickly
Shoot? Fake? Which is it?
Rin didn't shoot.
His swinging foot planted on top of the ball instead.
Ryan stuck his leg out to steal it
but Rin spun sharply
A Marseille turn straight past him.
"Knew it!"
Just kidding.
I didn't know at all.
My reflexes are just stupidly fast.
Ryan slammed his feet into the turf, reversing his direction instantly
catching up to Rin in a flash
and rammed his shoulder at him.
Rin anticipated it.
He knew he couldn't win in strength
so he slowed just slightly, creating space.
Ryan's shoulder hit nothing but air.
A normal player would stumble or fall from missing the hit
but Ryan wasn't normal.
He used his absurd body control to stop himself mid-motion,
recovering balance instantly.
Rin's eyes widened.
He… he can even recover from THAT?
How much control does he have over his body?!
Ryan cut in front of him again.
Rin decided not to force it.
He spotted Tokimitsu running in
completely unmarked.
Rin passed.
Tokimitsu received and shot immediately
And scored.
GOAL!!
Kunigami walked up to Ryan and Chigiri, rubbing his head apologetically.
"Sorry.
I didn't keep track of him… he found space."
Ryan clapped Kunigami's shoulder.
"No worries, no worries. Don't stress it.
That introvert dude's actually kinda tough.
His muscles aren't that different from yours.
Just be careful next time."
"…Thank you, Ryan."
"Hahaha bro, what's with the thanks?
If you really wanna thank me, just treat me to dinner later."
Rin had finally found a way to beat them.
He admitted it
he couldn't deal with Ryan.
But Ryan's teammates were easy targets.
Chigiri and Kunigami, compared to Ryan's monstrous level
were weaknesses.
If Rin targeted those weaknesses again and again
they could score.
Ryan stepped on the ball and said to Rin:
"Rin
I admit you see the field well.
Once you learn everyone's abilities,
you guide them to maximize it.
You drag everyone into your high-level game.
You sketch an elegant battlefield…"
"…but none of that works on me.
Because my super-genius brain just told me
to use my super strength
and tear you to pieces."
Rin's pupils shrank.
He didn't expect Ryan to instantly find his weakness.
Rin could manipulate matches against equals or those slightly weaker.
But someone overwhelmingly stronger
like Ryan
made his entire "puppet master" style meaningless.
"Let me finish this game already.
I'm getting hungry."
Rin stared at Ryan's casual expression
the tiny spark of hope he'd gained
vanished instantly.
What followed wasn't a match
it was a massacre.
Ryan descended like a god of destruction,
obliterating them without mercy.
Rin collapsed to his knees, panting heavily,
gazing up at the frozen scoreboard:
5–1
Damn it…
Again…
Just like before…
Why can't I do it?
At this rate…
can he really destroy Sae Itoshi's dream?
The announcement echoed:
"Third Stage: 3v3 Rival Battle.
Final score: 5–1.
White Team wins."
Chigiri and Kunigami looked toward Ryan.
"Who should we steal?"
"Should we take Rin Itoshi?"
Ryan didn't answer.
He'd already made his choice.
"…I choose you.
Aryu Jinben."
Aryu froze
he thought for sure Ryan would pick Rin after that performance.
But he quickly accepted it and walked over.
Then he shouted:
"Don't call me by that outdated name!
It sounds like some ancient warlord!
It's… the only regret of my life!!"
Aryu immediately leaned close to Chigiri, stroking his hair.
"What conditioner do you use…?"
"Huh?
The one everyone uses.
From the big communal bath."
"Your hair quality is unbelievably exquisite…
No way you were born this stylish…"
Chigiri slapped his hand away.
"Don't touch my hair."
"Forgive me
your hair is too beautiful.
My hands moved on their own.
As a man who lives for fashion…
it's an honor to team up with someone as stylish as you."
"Hey… Aryu, didn't you also think Chigiri was a girl when you first saw him?
I nearly jumped."
"Yes, I thought so as well.
Even real girls probably don't have hair that beautiful."
"You two idiots
I'm a guy!!"
"Fufu~
I thought I was the only one who thought that.
Turns out you two did as well~"
"Kunigami?!
You too?!"
Rin watched the four of them leave, laughing together,
while he was left alone to swallow the bitterness of defeat.
Then
Ryan suddenly turned around.
"Oh yeah, Rin
see you next time.
I'll be waiting ahead."
Rin didn't respond.
He silently walked into the elimination passage.
"W-wait for me!
Don't leave me alone!"
Tokimitsu chased after him.
Aryu, curious, asked Ryan:
"So… why didn't you choose Rin?
I mean… I hate to admit it,
but he's clearly stronger than me."
"Yeah, I was wondering that too."
"Same here."
Ryan shrugged.
"Because I don't like Rin's personality.
He barely talks.
Whenever I start a conversation, he just ignores me.
And I don't pick teammates based on strength anyway.
As long as they're not total idiots, it's fine.
My strength already covers everything.
If I really cared that much about power,
I wouldn't have teamed with Kunigami
I would've joined top players from the start."
"I judge people by personality.
Aryu, yeah, you're weird
but compared to those two,
you're practically normal."
Aryu nodded seriously.
"I see…
Your reasoning is so stylish."
Kunigami blinked.
"Hey wait.
Are you saying I'm not as strong as Chigiri…?"
"What do you think?"
"…W-well…
yeah…"
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