Morning at Vortex's dorm was silent
Too silent
But Reiji's phone wouldn't stop buzzing
He finally checked it
Message after message
Mentions flooding social media
Clips of last night's match somehow leaked
"Who is number 67?"
"Vortex's ghost just broke Arcadia"
"That eyes glow… reminds me of Blue Lock's monsters"
The comments kept spiraling
Some thought it was a prank
Others claimed it was AI
But those who knew street football
They recognized the playstyle
Controlled chaos
Strategic improvisation
Unreal awareness
---
Coach Hiroshi barged into the common room
Eyes bloodshot
"Reiji
Tell me you didn't say your name out there"
Reiji shook his head
"They only know the number"
Coach sighed
"Then change it
Now
Before scouts start digging into your past"
Reiji glanced at the jersey hanging by the window
White
Plain
With a big black 67 on the back
He walked over and touched the number lightly
Then gave a small smile
"No
I want them to wonder
I want them to be haunted by that number
Just like Osaka haunted me"
---
Meanwhile
Somewhere inside a luxury high-rise in Yokohama
A boardroom full of executives stared at a frozen image on a projector screen
It showed Reiji
Hair messy
Backlit by smoke
Just as he scored the final goal
No face
Only the glowing eyes
"Get me his name
Now"
---
Back at Vortex training
Tensions were rising
Coach Hiroshi gathered the players
"We're scheduled to face Phoenix Academy in three days
They're undefeated this season
And they just recruited a new midfielder
Ex-Arcadia"
Reiji looked up
His fingers tensed
"Name?"
Coach hesitated
Then showed a photo
A tall player
Wearing Phoenix red
With silver-dyed hair and piercing yellow eyes
Name: Renji Kurogami
Reiji whispered it back
Like a curse
---
Flashback
Three years ago
Arcadia's trial field
Reiji had just completed his entrance match
He passed
But declined the offer to join
Renji didn't take it lightly
"Walking away from Arcadia means walking into your grave"
He said that with a grin
Back then
Reiji smiled too
"Then I'll learn how to resurrect"
---
Now they were about to face each other again
Not in shadows
Not in cages
But on national broadcast
Phoenix Academy vs Vortex Youth
A clash between two philosophies
Renji's control
Reiji's chaos
---
That night
Reiji couldn't sleep
He sat alone on the rooftop
Staring up at the Tokyo sky
Then his phone buzzed again
Unknown number
Message said:
"Arcadia wants your answer
Before the match
If not
You'll face more than Renji on the field"
Reiji closed the phone
Didn't reply
He stood up
Let the wind hit his face
Then whispered to the stars
"They want a ghost
I'll give them a nightmare"