The atmosphere was strangely light. Too light.
Kuon stood in front of the whiteboard, acting like the team mom.
"Okay guys!" Kuon clapped his hands. "So, for the match against Team W tomorrow, we're going with the '3-3-3' Rotation Strategy! Everyone agreed, right?"
"Yeah!" Igarashi cheered. "I finally get to play forward! I'm gonna score and become a hero!"
Raichi grunted. "As long as I get my 30 minutes, I don't care."
Gagamaru nodded silently.
Isagi sat in the back, leaning his chair against the wall. He was observing.
Look at them, Isagi thought. Sheep led by a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Isagi had spent the last 24 hours watching tape on Team W.
The Wanima Brothers—Junichi and Keisuke.
They were a duo. They used non-verbal communication. Eye contact. Grunts. They had played together since birth. Their chemistry was 100%.
Against a team like that, a "rotation strategy" where players constantly switched positions was suicide. It would ruin Team Z's chemistry.
Kuon knows this, Isagi deduced. He's smart. He knows this formation is weak defensively. So why suggest it?
The answer was simple.
Sabotage.
"Isagi-kun?" Kuon called out. "You're quiet. You okay with starting as a Right Wing in the first half?"
The room turned to look at Isagi. The Ace. The Monster.
If Isagi said no, the plan died.
Isagi looked at Kuon. He saw the sweat on Kuon's temple. He saw the slight twitch in his left index finger.
He's nervous. He needs me to agree.
"Sure," Isagi said lazily. "I don't care where I play. I'll score regardless."
Kuon let out a breath he was holding. "Great! Then it's settled! Team Z, let's fight!"
"Ooh!" The team cheered.
That Night. Cafeteria.
Isagi was eating alone. Steak. He had spent his points.
Bachira slid into the seat opposite him.
"You're eating fancy," Bachira grinned. "Can I have a bite?"
"Get your own," Isagi said, slicing the meat.
"You know..." Bachira rested his chin on his hands. "Something smells funny about this game."
Isagi paused. He looked at Bachira.
The eccentric dribbler had good instincts. Animal instincts.
"What do you mean?" Isagi asked.
"Kuon," Bachira whispered. "He smells like... sour milk. He's smiling too much. It's creepy."
Isagi smirked. He cut a piece of steak and put it in his mouth.
"So you noticed too."
"You knew?" Bachira's eyes widened. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because," Isagi chewed slowly. "If you catch a rat before it steals the cheese, you just have a scared rat. But if you wait until it thinks it's safe... you can stomp on it and kill it."
Isagi's eyes glowed with a faint blue aura.
"Let him play his little game, Bachira. Whatever he's planning, I'll see it coming. And when he exposes his neck... I'll bite it off."
Match Day. Team Z vs. Team W.
The teams walked onto the pitch.
Team W looked intimidating. The Wanima brothers had crocodile faces and weird eyebrows. They were sneering at Team Z.
"Keh keh keh," the older brother laughed.
"Simpletons," the younger one grunted.
Isagi walked onto the field. He looked at Kuon, who was starting as the Center Forward.
Kuon gave Isagi a thumbs up. "Let's do this, Isagi!"
Isagi didn't return the gesture. He just stared.
Show me, Kuon, Isagi thought as the whistle blew. Show me how you plan to sell us out.
KICKOFF.
The game began.
Team Z started well. Or so it seemed.
Kuon was active. He was running hard.
"Pass to me!" Kuon yelled.
Bachira dribbled through the midfield and sent a through ball to Kuon.
Kuon trapped it beautifully. He was one-on-one with the keeper.
He's going to score, Isagi analyzed. Wait... if he wants to lose, why score?
Kuon smashed the ball into the net.
GOAL.
Team Z: 1 - Team W: 0
"YEAH!" Kuon screamed, running back to high-five everyone. "Great pass, Bachira! We're unstoppable!"
Isagi frowned.
He scored? Maybe I was wrong?
No. Isagi shook his head. Metavision doesn't lie. Look closer.
Isagi replayed the goal in his head.
The Team W defenders... they didn't tackle Kuon. They slid around him. It looked like a failed defense, but the spacing was too deliberate. They let him through.
Isagi looked at the Wanima brothers. They weren't angry about conceding a goal. They were smirking at Kuon.
A silent communication. A nod.
Isagi's blood ran cold. The puzzle pieces clicked into place.
It's not just sabotage, Isagi realized, freezing in the middle of the pitch. It's a deal. He's trading our defeat for his own survival. He's going to become the top scorer of our team by scoring 3 goals, and then he's going to let them win 4-3.
Isagi looked at Kuon's back.
You piece of trash.
"Hey Isagi! Wake up!" Raichi yelled. "Game's restarting!"
Isagi looked up. The Wanima brothers were kicking off.
Isagi didn't move into his defensive position. He stood still, a predator waiting in the tall grass.
Fine, Isagi thought. You want to play 12 vs 10? You want to sell us out?
I'll turn your script into a suicide note.