Chapter 15 – Breaking the Cage
The whistle echoed across the field.
Silence.
Team Y stood frozen, heads bowed, shadows of despair drawn across their faces.
Their dreams—obliterated by one man.
Yūshin Seiichi.
The players of Team Z didn't cheer. Even those like Mao Li, who started clapping, fell silent when they looked around. The joy faded into confusion.
Was this… really a victory?
Isagi Yoichi clenched his fists. His jaw tightened, teeth grinding.
This isn't it.
If this is what winning means—he didn't want it.
His vision blurred with blue flame. Rage burned. Not at Team Y. But at the one who stood too far ahead.
Yūshin Seiichi.
"I will devour you."
Pieces of his ego broke, reshaped, and hardened again.
Final Minute
The last minute began. Team Y took kickoff.
But there was no fire in their movements anymore. No rhythm. No belief.
Each player scrambled forward selfishly, desperate for a goal—not for victory, but survival.
Okawa Hibiki received the ball with his back to the goal. Raichi Jingo pressed into him from behind, giving him no room.
"Damn it! Let me score just one!" Okawa growled.
"So what? You're still gonna lose!" Raichi snarled.
"You only won because of him! You're no better than us!"
Raichi exploded. "Say that again!"
He shoved Okawa aside and kicked the ball away recklessly.
"Erzi! Grab it!"
But just as Niko Ikki ran to intercept—
—a blur of blue cut in front of him.
Isagi.
"You—!?"
Niko's eyes widened in disbelief. The one who'd been silent all match… suddenly surged.
The Last Attack
Isagi sprinted downfield, flames in his eyes.
20 seconds.
Seiichi saw him and immediately bolted toward the penalty area.
"Pass it here! I'm free!"
But Isagi didn't respond.
He changed direction—away from Seiichi.
"What?!"
Team Y defenders lunged toward Seiichi instinctively.
A diversion.
Seiichi paused. Then chuckled.
You're using me… to draw the defense?
A wide grin stretched across his face.
That's it, Isagi Yoichi. The egoist has arrived.
Isagi passed the ball out wide.
Bachira Meguru caught it on the right, cut past a defender, and sent it curling back toward the center.
"Come on, Isagi!" Bachira shouted.
The ball flew.
Niko stepped in. He saw it—he could intercept this!
But—
He won't stop!
Isagi read it in a split second. If he tried to trap it, Niko would win the duel.
So—
Bang!
He struck the ball in midair.
Direct shot.
The net snapped violently as the ball crashed inside.
Goal.
4–1.
Isagi collapsed to his knees and roared to the sky.
"AAAAHHHH!"
This is my weapon!
The equation that belonged to Isagi Yoichi alone.
The cage of Seiichi shattered in that instant.
A storm of cheers erupted behind him.
But what mattered more was not the score—it was that someone had finally challenged Yūshin Seiichi.
Isagi stood.
He wasn't just a teammate anymore.
He was a rival.
Seiichi walked up calmly, smiling.
"Nice shot, Isagi."
Isagi gently brushed Bachira off his shoulders and looked at Seiichi with steely eyes.
"From now on… you only pass to me."
The words stunned the entire team.
"What do you mean by that?!" Kunigami Rensuke barked.
"Don't get full of yourself," Mao Li growled.
But Seiichi just laughed.
"If you become the world's number one striker… I'd be happy."
Then suddenly—
Raichi stormed in and grabbed Seiichi by the collar.
"Who were you calling trash earlier?!"
"Huh? Me?" Seiichi blinked innocently. "Did I say that?"
"You bastard!" Raichi shoved him away.
Seiichi calmly adjusted his vest, then turned to Isagi again.
"I'll leave the fruit of victory for you to taste, Isagi."
He walked off toward the locker room.
Isagi stood there, confused.
Fruit of victory?
He turned and saw Team Y.
Collapsed. Crying. Broken.
Their dreams were gone.
And his final goal had sealed it.
Even without Seiichi… I can score goals.
This feeling—
The rush of breaking another team's fate—
It was… exhilarating.
A twisted thrill surged through him.
He had devoured someone today.
And it wouldn't be the last.