Raimon was still riding high off their shocking win against Royal Academy. Spirits were up, smiles everywhere—until Nelly Raimon stepped in with a clipboard and a wicked little grin.
"Your next opponent is Okaruto Junior High," she said. "They're... unique."
The team paused. Shourinji blinked. "Like, tactically unique?"
"More like cursed."
A collective shiver passed through the group.
"Cursed?" Kabeyama squeaked, shaking like a vending machine with a loose screw. "Like ghost cursed?!"
Nelly nodded sweetly. "If you win, the school enters you into the Football Frontier. If you lose… the soccer club is disbanded."
"Wait, WHAT?!" Someoka (Kevin) exploded, his eyes wide.
Endou looked stunned but determined. "We won't lose. Not to some ghost stories."
Meanwhile, in the principal's office, Principal Kudou was examining a paper with faded, suspicious stains.
"This letter came from Okaruto. Rumor says those stains are blood. They demand we accept their challenge or face a curse." He looked up, concern etched on his face. "Did you tell the team about this, Nelly?"
She calmly sipped her tea. "Is there really a need to?"
Suguru Fuyukai, Raimon's coach, raised an eyebrow. "Are we seriously entertaining this?"
Nelly just smiled. "Let the kids decide."
Riverbank Practice
Training that evening was tense. Someoka was going full throttle—rough tackles, unnecessary shoulder checks, nearly starting fights. The whole team felt the undercurrent of pressure.
"Kev, chill!" Aki shouted, concern lacing her voice.
"We don't need Goenji(Axel), huh?!" Someoka snapped, irritation radiating off him. "Then prove it!"
His eyes darted toward Sakuragi, who was stretching away from the group, that familiar determination in his stance making Someoka's frustration boil. Sakuragi had failed against Teikoku, and he was battling his own demons.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath. "I can't let this curse get to me."
Sakuragi squared his shoulders, feeling a surge of frustration. "I won't just be the brawn!" he grumbled as the others whispered about curses and losses.
Later that Night – Solo Training Begins
Under the dull orange glow of a streetlamp near the pitch, Sakuragi returned. Alone.
He set up cones across a long diagonal stretch of the field, starting near midfield. No one was watching.
He muttered to himself, defiance fueling his words. "I'm not just muscle. I'll show them."
He took off—sprinting full-speed, dribbling a scuffed old ball like it owed him money. Ten meters. Fifteen. Twenty.
Plant. Pivot. Strike.
He attempted to channel the power he felt within—the black lightning that formed around him as he struck. The initial kick sent the ball flying wide again. Frustration surged as he felt a drop of sweat trickle down his brow. Each failure was like a weight pressing down. He was also feeling glimpses of Frustration of his memories of Barou.
He panted, wiping his face, feeling the surge of energy. He could envision the lion silhouette emerging as he unleashed his new move, Leo Impact. "Not yet... but I'm close."
The Next Morning
At school, the team gathered again. Haruna from the newspaper club ran up to Aki, eyes wide with panic.
"You're facing Okaruto?! Are you all insane?! That team's cursed! Their last opponents got hospitalized!" Her voice trembled with fear.
Kabeyama turned pale, and Handa dropped his lunch in terror.
Endou just grinned, a spark in his eye. "Bring it on."
As the others panicked, Sakuragi walked past them all, calm and quiet for once. His calves were taped, his shirt still damp with sweat. There was something different in his movement—an intensity that radiated even more heat.
Someoka narrowed his eyes, watching him closely. There was something changed in Sakuragi's demeanor now—a determination rising from within him.
After School Training
Later that day, Endou continued to practice at the Steel Plaza, where Kazemaru joined him. "You're pushing hard, Kev," Kazemaru noted, watching him with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, well, Goenji left an impression on us," Someoka replied, frustration lacing his words. "I don't want to lose because we keep relying on him."
Kazemaru nodded. "Let the others step up. You'll see."
Determined to prove himself, Someoka decided to create a new technique. "I'll show them who I am!" With that, he began working on his Dragon Crash, honing it with fervor.
As they practiced, Sakuragi joined, watching Someoka with a mix of admiration and frustration. He wanted to master his own Leo Impact before the game but felt it slipping away.
The Hospital Encounter
The next day, Endou saw Goenji heading toward the hospital and decided to follow him, thoughts racing. Was he hurt? Had that been why he stopped playing soccer?
When he bumped into Goenji, he apologized awkwardly. "I didn't mean to follow you."
Goenji raised an eyebrow as he glanced at the sign reading "Yuka Goenji(Julia Blaze)." "She's my little sister."
Inside the hospital room, Goenji's expression turned somber. "Yuka has been in a coma since last year, after a car accident. I promised I wouldn't play soccer until she wakes up—but I broke that promise against Royals(Teikoku)."
Endou felt regret creep in. "I'm sorry for insisting you should join us. I didn't realize…"
Goenji offered a faint smile, the weight of his responsibility palpable. "It's okay. I get it. But if we lose our next game, our team will be disbanded."
Okaruto's Arrival
The next day, Haruna was introduced to the team by Aki as their new manager. Jealous of Goenji for scoring the only point in their game against Royals(Teikoku), Someoka resumed his special training again, pushing himself harder.
Watching him, Endou took a deep breath. "You have your own style, Someoka. Goenji may be great, but so are you."
Someoka nodded, energy buzzing in him. If Goenji could come back, he'd keep pushing.
Sakuragi stood to the side, watching them. He needed to step up too. "I'll prove my worth!" His determination shone through, fueled by his attempts to nail Leo Impact once and for all.
By the time practice rolled around, Someoka had finally perfected his new technique, the Dragon Crash, embodying the burning desire to win against Okaruto.
Sakuragi, too, was on the brink of completing his Leo Impact, eager to unleash the lion within him.
Nelly drove past, nodding to him, and her words hung in the air. They may have been a team faced with curses and pressure, but with every setback, they would grow stronger together.
As Goenji approached the pitch, determination etched on his face, he announced defiantly, "I'll join the team."
Someoka and Sakuragi exchanged glances, excitement palpable. Maybe this was the push they needed.
Together, they would face whatever haunted the goals ahead.
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Leo Impact
Type: Hissatsu Move (Finishing Technique)
Description:
Leo Impact is a powerful shot that embodies the fierce spirit of a lion, channeling Sakuragi's determination and strength. When initiating the move, Sakuragi dashes forward, building momentum as he sprints toward the ball. His body begins to crackle with energy, evoking imagery of black lightning coursing through him—a symbol of his inner power and resolve.
As he approaches the ball, a ghostly silhouette of a roaring lion materializes behind him, representing his fierce determination and the pride he draws from his teammates. In a swift motion, he strikes the ball with precision and force, unleashing it in a blazing arc toward the goal. The shot travels like a bolt of lightning, making it incredibly difficult for opposing goalkeepers to catch or defend against.
Current Status: Sakuragi is still perfecting Leo Impact. He has yet to fully harness its power, facing frustration as he strives to complete the move .