The sun hovered high over Raimon Junior High, glaring down on a pitch that had seen better days. Patches of grass clung desperately to dry soil. The goalposts rusted slightly at the edges, and yet, for all its flaws, this field was sacred ground to Endou Mamoru.
Too bad the rest of the team didn't see it that way.
Kabeyama was shaking so hard his shin guards were rattling. Kurimatsu kept fumbling the ball during warm-ups. Handa looked like he wanted to disappear. Shourinji was doing stretches that looked more like surrender.
Only Sakuragi Hanamichi looked remotely unfazed. The former basketball bruiser stood tall, spinning a soccer ball on his finger like it was a street trick. No nerves. Just mild curiosity.
"Okay, okay, team!" Endou clapped his gloves. "Focus up! We're facing Teikoku Gakuen today, and yeah—they're good. But we've trained for this!"
"We trained for like… two weeks," muttered Kurimatsu.
"That's practically a montage!" Sakuragi grinned.
From across the pitch, Teikoku Gakuen arrived in perfect formation—clean uniforms, icy glares, and enough pressure radiating from their presence to make the air itself heavier. Their captain, Kidou Yuuto, adjusted his goggles and scanned the Raimon squad like a predator sizing up its prey.
"Is this really worth our time?" Sakiyama Haruya asked, cracking his knuckles.
Kidou gave a small nod toward the sidelines. "He'll show. Just wait."
First Half: Baptism By Fire
From the kickoff, it was a massacre.
Teikoku's passes sliced through Raimon like knives through tissue paper. Their movements were so fluid, so effortless, it was like watching pros play against children.
First goal: A clean volley from Sakiyama.
Second: A one-two combo finished by Sakuma Jirou, who didn't even look tired.
Third: A brutal long shot from Kazemaru Ichirouta—who wasn't even known for offense.
"4-0 already!?" Kabeyama shrieked.
"Oi, someone do something!" Someoka Ryuuji barked.
Sakuragi cracked his neck and stepped forward. "Guess I'm up."
He intercepted a midfield pass and launched into a breakaway. One defender—he sidestepped. Another—he pulled off a strange chopping feint, almost like a basketball eurostep fused with Barou's faint chop.
"Not bad," Kidou murmured.
But just as Sakuragi approached the box—
"Killer Slide!"
A hissatsu tackle.
Teikoku's defender slammed into him with shocking force, throwing Sakuragi off his feet and sending him tumbling across the turf.
"SAKURAGI!" Endou shouted.
Everyone froze.
The dust settled… and Sakuragi stood up. Bruised. Bleeding slightly from the elbow. Grinning.
"That the best you got, punk?" he spat, brushing grass from his hair.
Someoka let out a low whistle. "Guy's nuts."
Teikoku wasn't impressed. They turned up the heat.
Raimon tried to hold out. Kabeyama even managed a lucky block. Shourinji got a clean interception. Endou, fueled by nothing but heart, threw himself in front of every shot.
But Teikoku was relentless.
5-0. 6-0. 7-0.
By halftime, the score stood at 10-0.
They hadn't even used their hissatsu shots yet. Not the real ones.
Halftime: Cracks Appear
The team sat slumped under the shade. Kabeyama had tears in his eyes. Kurimatsu looked pale. Handa was holding his ankle.
"I-I think I pulled something…"
"Endou," Shourinji said softly, "We're not a team. We're just kids."
But Endou's eyes were fierce. "We're not quitting."
"Yeah," Sakuragi grunted. "I haven't even scored yet."
Someoka gave him a look. "You think we can?"
"Dunno," Sakuragi shrugged. "But I didn't come here to bend over and cry."
Endou stood up, fists clenched. "Right! Second half, we hold our ground! Even if it's one point, one save—we fight!"
The whistle blew.
Second Half: Fight or Fall
Teikoku didn't waste time.
They really didnt care about winning or scoring any longer they wanted to bring out Goenji so they injured Raimons players .
Sakuragi was getting pisssed while watching all this and decided to go on a solo run he stole the pass of Teikoku and went towards the goal , a teikoku defender tried to Killer Slide him again but Sakuragi jumped and avoided it all together using his Genius IQ
"Not this time Punk " Sakuragi said and went to towards the goal and shot with all his strength , the keeper Koujiro used a Hissatsu technique Power Shield to block the attack stone cold but he felt the ball heating a bit and was surprised that regular shot had quite some power he then passed to to Kidou who had enough of this antics he signaled his teammates.
"Death Zone!"
Kidou and his forwards activated a devastating hissatsu play. The field darkened metaphorically as three players weaved through Raimon like grim reapers. The ball slammed into the net before Endou could blink.
Kabeyama panicked.
Willy (Megane) dropped to his knees. "I-I can't… I can't do this!"
He ripped off his jersey and ran.
"MEGANE!" Endou shouted.
But the nerdy boy had already vanished behind the bleachers.
And then…
From the shadows near the school building, a lone figure stepped forward.
White scarf. Burnt-orange hair. Calm, narrow eyes.
Goenji Shuuya.
Everyone noticed.
Even Kidou froze. "He's here."
The game stopped.
Goenji walked slowly to the sideline. Megane had dropped the jersey near his feet.
He picked it up.
"Put me in."
Endou's eyes widened with joy. "Goenji!"
"Step out," Handa muttered, limping.
Sakuragi stared at the newcomer. "You the fire guy?"
Goenji nodded once. "And you?"
"Sakuragi. You're late."
Goenji gave the faintest smirk. "Better now than never."
Endou's voice rose. "We've got our ace striker now! This isn't over!"
Teikoku's bench buzzed with interest. Kidou whispered something to Sakuma. The match resumed.
Goenji's first touch was lightning. He passed back to Sakuragi.
"Let's give 'em hell," Sakuragi said.
The two of them launched forward. Sakuragi's fury met Goenji's finesse. They passed, feinted, sprinted Goenji asked Sakuragi to pass the ball in an overward direction , Sakuragi was confused but did it nonetheless and Goenji jumped and spun like a drill to the air —
"Fire Tornado!"
Goenji twisted into the air and launched his signature hissatsu.
Teikoku's keeper reacted fast—"Power !"—but the shot shattered through the edge.
GOAL.
10-1.
Raimon's bench erupted.
They weren't dead yet.
Teikoku wasn't laughing anymore.
Kidou got a signal from Ray Dark(Kageyama Reiji)
Kidou raised a hand.
"Teikoku. Withdraw."
"What!?" Sakiyama gaped.
"We've seen what we needed to." Kidou's eyes locked on Goenji. "We'll meet again."
The final whistle blew.
Final score: 11-1.
Raimon had been humiliated.
But something had changed.
They stood. Not all, but most. Still breathing. Still fighting.
Endou looked at the team.
"Today we fell. But next time—we rise."
Sakuragi grinned. "Next time i will score to finish it ."