CHAPTER 88 — THE GAME
The next morning, Zayn was already regretting getting out of bed.
— I can't do this anymore…
He was lying on the floor.
Arms and legs spread out.
As if he had just survived a natural disaster.
Above him, the ceiling of the training room didn't move.
Unfortunately.
— You fell thirty seconds ago, Yojuro said.
— I need to recover.
— You didn't do anything.
Zayn slowly raised one finger.
— Exactly. That's the problem.
Silence.
Then Akamaru burst out laughing.
— HAHAHA! He's already done for!
— Shut up!
Zayn suddenly sat up.
His black hair was completely messy. His training uniform was slightly covered in dust.
In front of him, Rodrigue was calmly controlling a ball with his foot.
Zayn looked at him.
Then at the ball.
Then back at Rodrigue.
— Wait.
Rodrigue kept juggling.
— What?
— Why are we doing this again?
The ball came down.
Rodrigue controlled it perfectly.
— Because we're training.
— No, I mean the ball.
— Football?
— Yeah.
Zayn frowned.
— I still don't get it.
Akamaru turned toward him.
— What do you mean, you don't get it?
— I don't understand anything!
Zayn stood up.
— Rodrigue has been making us run after a ball this whole time! And every time I grab it, he starts yelling that I'm not allowed to use my hands!
— Because you're not allowed to, Rodrigue replied.
— BUT THE WHOLE POINT OF AN OBJECT IS TO PICK IT UP!
— With your feet.
— That's stupid.
— You think it's stupid because you're bad.
Zayn froze.
— …
Yojuro slightly looked away.
Akamaru bit his lip to stop himself from laughing.
Zayn looked at Rodrigue.
— Do you want to die?
— No.
Rodrigue took the ball back.
— But do you want to learn or not?
Zayn crossed his arms.
— I'm just curious.
— You're bad.
— I'M CURIOUS!
Akamaru burst out laughing.
Even Yojuro had a slight smile.
Zayn looked at both of them.
— Why are you laughing?!
— Because you've been yelling for five minutes, Yojuro replied.
— You shut up too.
The large training room was almost empty.
The other students hadn't arrived yet.
After the events of the tournament and the recent battles, the Academy had returned to its usual rhythm.
Well…
As much as possible.
Ever since meeting Nefaria the day before, Zayn had been unable to stop thinking about her.
That girl was strange.
Calm.
Too calm.
And most importantly…
She had been created in a laboratory.
Zayn still had trouble understanding what that really meant.
But for now…
Rodrigue had just kicked a ball into his face.
POC!
— OW!
Zayn stepped back.
— ARE YOU CRAZY?!
— Focus.
— I'M THINKING!
— You can think later.
Rodrigue placed his foot on the ball.
— Come on.
Zayn sighed.
— Fine…
He stood in front of him.
Yojuro was sitting a little farther away against a wall, his arms crossed.
Akamaru immediately positioned himself behind Rodrigue.
— Now, Rodrigue explained, the goal is simple.
— Ah!
Zayn raised his hand.
— Finally, something simple.
— You have to take the ball.
— Okay.
— Without using your hands.
Zayn slowly lowered his hand.
— Here we go again.
— And without hitting Rodrigue.
— Why?
— Because that's not the point.
— It would work, though.
— Zayn.
— Okay, okay.
Rodrigue rolled the ball forward.
Zayn moved.
Fast.
Much faster than Rodrigue.
In one second, he was right in front of him.
— Too easy.
Rodrigue simply pushed the ball to the side.
Zayn ran past him.
— What?
Rodrigue recovered the ball behind him.
— You're going too fast.
Zayn turned around.
— Is that criticism?
— Yes.
— Being fast is criticism?
— If you can't control anything, yes.
Zayn charged again.
Rodrigue made a feint.
Zayn went left.
The ball went right.
— …
Akamaru nearly fell to the ground laughing.
— He got you again!
— I SAW IT!
— No.
Yojuro raised his eyes.
— You didn't see anything.
— Do you really want to start this early in the morning?
Rodrigue stopped.
Then he looked at Zayn.
— Do you really want to understand football?
Zayn hesitated.
— Yeah.
— Why?
Zayn shrugged.
— Because you talk about it all the time.
Rodrigue blinked.
— All the time?
— Literally all the time.
— That's not true.
Yojuro immediately replied.
— It is.
Akamaru raised his hand.
— Very true.
Rodrigue looked at the three of them.
— …
— Yesterday, Zayn continued, after the tournament, you talked about one player for ten minutes.
— It was an important moment.
— You talked about his left foot.
— It was important.
— HIS LEFT FOOT!
Rodrigue sighed.
Then he smiled slightly.
— You'll never understand.
— Then explain.
This time, Rodrigue stayed silent.
Zayn waited.
Yojuro looked at Rodrigue.
Akamaru stepped closer.
— Yeah, explain.
Rodrigue looked down at the ball.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he gently kicked it.
The ball slowly rolled in front of him.
— Football…
He stopped.
— Is simple.
Zayn immediately raised an eyebrow.
— Really?
— Very simple.
Rodrigue recovered the ball.
— Two teams.
— I know that.
— Eleven players on each team.
— Why eleven?
— Because that's how it is.
— Great explanation.
— Do you want me to continue or not?
— Continue.
Rodrigue sighed.
— Each team tries to score in the opponent's goal.
— So…
Zayn looked around the field.
— The thing with the net?
— Yes.
— And whoever scores the most wins?
— Exactly.
Zayn stayed silent.
— Wait.
— What?
— That's it?
Rodrigue looked at him.
— …
— You just said it was simple.
— The rules are simple.
— Oh.
— The game itself…
Rodrigue looked at the ball.
— Is different.
This time, Zayn didn't reply.
Rodrigue continued.
— Field players aren't allowed to use their hands.
— Why?
— Because otherwise it would be too easy.
Zayn thought about it.
— That's true.
— Only the goalkeeper can use his hands.
— The goalkeeper?
— The player who protects the goal.
Akamaru opened his eyes.
— Ah!
— What? Rodrigue asked.
— So he can hit people with his hands?
Silence.
Zayn turned toward Akamaru.
— …
Yojuro closed his eyes.
— No.
Rodrigue sighed deeply.
— No.
— Oh.
— The goalkeeper stops the ball.
— With his hands?
— Yes.
— And can he do that everywhere?
— No.
— Why?
— Because there's an area.
— Another rule.
— There are a lot of them.
Zayn stepped closer.
— So…
He pointed at the field.
— There are eleven players.
— Yes.
— One goalkeeper.
— Yes.
— And the others?
Rodrigue started drawing on the ground with his foot.
— There are defenders.
— They defend.
— Congratulations.
— I'm smart.
— No.
Rodrigue continued.
— Then there are midfielders.
— What do they do?
— They connect the defense and the attack.
— So they run everywhere?
— Often.
— Poor guys.
Akamaru nodded.
— I'd rather attack.
— Of course, Yojuro replied.
— Why did you say it like that?
— Because you never want to come back and defend.
Akamaru went silent.
— …
— Am I wrong?
— Maybe.
Rodrigue smiled.
— And up front, there are the attackers.
Zayn became more interested.
— The ones who score?
— Yes.
— I like that.
— Of course you do.
— So I'd be an attacker.
Rodrigue looked at Zayn.
— You lose the ball every five seconds.
— That was before.
Rodrigue passed him the ball.
— Go ahead.
Zayn tried to control it.
The ball bounced off his foot.
Then rolled behind him.
Silence.
Akamaru burst out laughing.
Yojuro looked somewhere else.
Rodrigue recovered the ball.
— Defender.
— SHUT UP!
This time, even Rodrigue laughed.
Zayn crossed his arms.
— Fine.
He thought for a moment.
— But why do you like it so much?
Rodrigue stopped.
The question was different.
Calmer.
Akamaru became quiet.
Even Zayn seemed genuinely interested in the answer.
Rodrigue looked at the ball.
— Because football…
He searched for his words.
— It isn't just eleven people running after a ball.
Zayn didn't move.
— Then what is it?
Rodrigue raised his eyes.
— It's a team.
Yojuro watched him carefully.
— Eleven different people.
Rodrigue continued.
— Some are fast. Others are strong. Some are intelligent. Others are incredibly technical.
He kicked the ball.
— But no team wins with only one player.
Zayn slightly lowered his eyes.
Rodrigue continued.
— Even the best player in the world needs the others.
Akamaru smiled.
— Like us?
Rodrigue looked at the three boys.
— Exactly.
Zayn didn't answer.
Rodrigue kept rolling the ball between his feet.
— And then there are the matches.
— The matches?
— Sometimes, you watch two teams that barely even know each other…
He smiled.
— And yet, for ninety minutes, anything can happen.
— Ninety minutes? Zayn repeated.
— Yes.
— That's long.
— No.
Rodrigue smiled.
— Not when the match is good.
He continued.
— A team can be losing.
— Losing?
— Yeah.
— Oh.
— They can be behind for almost the entire match.
Rodrigue held the ball lightly under his foot.
— Then change everything in just a few minutes.
Zayn looked at Rodrigue.
— Really?
— Yes.
— Even against a stronger team?
— Especially against a stronger team.
Akamaru smiled.
— I like that.
— And sometimes…
Rodrigue looked ahead.
— An unknown player becomes a legend in a single match.
Silence filled the room.
Zayn eventually smiled.
— That sounds a little like fighting.
— Exactly.
Rodrigue pointed at Zayn.
— Except you're not allowed to destroy the stadium.
Zayn lowered his hand.
— I was actually going to ask.
— No.
— Even a little?
— No.
— What about Borealis?
— Zayn.
— Okay!
Yojuro finally pushed himself away from the wall.
— Explain the competitions.
Rodrigue turned toward him.
— You're interested?
— I want to understand what you're talking about.
Zayn looked at Yojuro in surprise.
— You?
— Yes.
— You want to watch football?
— Maybe.
— Incredible.
— Shut up.
Rodrigue smiled.
— There are a lot of competitions.
— Ah.
Zayn immediately sat on the floor.
— Is this going to take long?
— Yes.
— Perfect.
Akamaru sat beside him.
Yojuro stayed standing for a few seconds before finally leaning against the wall again.
Rodrigue picked up the ball.
— Every country has its own league.
— Like what? Akamaru asked.
— In England, for example, there's the Premier League.
— Premier what?
— League.
— Oh.
— In Spain, there's La Liga.
— I've heard of that one.
— In Germany, the Bundesliga.
Zayn raised his hand.
— That one sounds weird.
— In Italy, Serie A.
— And France?
— Ligue 1.
Zayn thought about it.
— So every country has its own league.
— Yes.
— And the clubs play against each other?
— Throughout the entire season.
— And the best one wins?
— Basically, yes.
— Why don't they just make one huge tournament?
Rodrigue smiled.
— Because there are also competitions between clubs.
Zayn's eyes widened.
— Oh.
— The best European clubs can play in the Champions League.
This time, Akamaru sat up.
— That sounds important.
— It is.
— Why?
Rodrigue smiled.
— Because that's where many of the best clubs on the continent meet.
— Clubs from different countries?
— Yes.
Zayn moved closer.
— So an Italian team can fight an English team?
— Yes.
— A German team can play against a French team?
— Yes.
— And they all want to win?
Rodrigue looked at him.
— More than anything.
Zayn smiled.
— Okay, now I'm starting to understand.
Rodrigue nodded.
— And that's not all.
— There's more?
— A lot more.
— …
— There are also international competitions.
Yojuro slightly raised his eyes.
— National teams.
Rodrigue looked at him.
— You know about that?
— A little.
Zayn immediately turned toward him.
— You already know about this?
— I read.
— Of course you did.
Rodrigue continued.
— Clubs are different from national teams.
— Why?
— Because a club can have players from several countries.
— Oh.
— But in a national team, the players represent their country.
Akamaru thought for a moment.
— So Senegal against Italy?
— Exactly.
— Japan against France?
— Yes.
— And…
Zayn smiled.
— It's like one huge tournament between countries?
— Exactly.
— So what's the biggest one?
Rodrigue didn't answer immediately.
Then he smiled.
— The World Cup.
Even Akamaru seemed to understand that the name was important.
— The World Cup…
— The best nations fight to become world champions.
Zayn looked at the ceiling.
— Not bad.
— Not bad? Rodrigue repeated.
— Yeah.
— Zayn.
— What?
— It's the World Cup.
— Yeah.
— THE WORLD CUP.
— I GOT IT!
Akamaru raised one finger.
— So who are the best?
Rodrigue thought for a moment.
— That depends on the era.
— But for you?
Rodrigue smiled.
— You really want to know?
— Yes.
— Then get ready.
Zayn looked at Yojuro.
— Oh no.
Yojuro sighed.
— Here we go again.
And for the next several minutes…
Rodrigue talked.
A lot.
Too much.
He talked about the great clubs.
Their rivalries.
Their players.
The supporters.
The stadiums.
The finals.
The matches impossible to forget.
Zayn and Akamaru asked questions every thirty seconds.
Yojuro occasionally corrected Rodrigue whenever he gave an explanation that was too vague.
— Wait, Zayn interrupted. So a player can change clubs?
— Yes.
— Like us with Paladin clubs?
— More or less.
— And what if someone leaves their team to join their rival?
Rodrigue smiled.
— The supporters can go completely crazy.
— Why?
— Because some rivalries are historic.
Akamaru opened his eyes.
— Like if a Paladin from PC Vulcano joined an enemy team?
— Exactly.
Zayn looked at his uniform.
— I understand.
— There are also numbers, Rodrigue continued.
— Numbers?
— Each player usually wears a number.
— I'd take number one.
— You're not a goalkeeper.
— I don't care.
— You can't just take a number because you like it.
— Why?
— Because…
Rodrigue stopped.
Then sighed.
— Actually, you can.
Zayn smiled.
— There you go.
— But some people associate certain numbers with certain positions.
Yojuro asked:
— What about number ten?
Rodrigue immediately turned toward him.
— Ah.
He smiled.
— Number ten…
Zayn sighed.
— Here we go again.
— It's a special number.
— Why?
— Because it's often associated with creative players. The ones who can change a match with a single action.
Zayn thought about it.
— So…
He smiled.
— Me.
— No.
— WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP SAYING NO?!
Akamaru raised his hand.
— I want number nine.
— Why? Rodrigue asked.
— I don't know.
Silence.
— Okay, Rodrigue replied.
Yojuro looked at Zayn.
— Are you ever going to try playing properly?
— Yeah.
— Show us.
Zayn stood up.
— Watch carefully.
Rodrigue passed him the ball.
Zayn placed his foot on top of it.
He looked forward.
— This time…
He took a breath.
— I'm going to become a legend.
Rodrigue crossed his arms.
— Go ahead.
Zayn started moving.
One step.
Two steps.
He tried to make a feint.
The ball rolled behind him.
POC.
Silence.
Zayn froze.
Akamaru fell to the floor.
— AHAHAHAHA!
— I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!
— YOU CAN'T! WE'RE PLAYING FOOTBALL!
— THAT'S NOT A RULE!
Even Yojuro couldn't hold back a small laugh.
Zayn turned toward him.
— You too?
— Sorry.
— You're lying.
— Yes.
Rodrigue recovered the ball.
— Alright.
He looked at the three of them.
— Now we're going to do a real exercise.
Zayn turned around.
— What now?
— Two against two.
Akamaru immediately smiled.
— YES!
— Zayn is with me, Yojuro said.
Zayn turned his head.
— Why?
— Because if I leave you with Akamaru, both of you are going to run toward the ball at the same time.
Akamaru frowned.
— I can play as a team!
— No.
— Yes!
— No.
Rodrigue took his position.
— I'm with Akamaru.
— Perfect! Akamaru shouted.
Zayn looked at Yojuro.
— We're going to win.
— Maybe.
— Why do you say maybe?
— Because you still can't control the ball.
— I'll get better.
— I hope so.
— I also hope you'll stop being annoying.
— Impossible.
The match began.
And it was…
A disaster.
Zayn ran too fast.
Akamaru kicked way too hard.
Rodrigue tried to play normally.
Yojuro desperately tried to organize his team.
— ZAYN!
— WHAT?!
— NOT THAT WAY!
— TOO LATE!
POC!
The ball hit the wall.
— …
— Were you aiming for the goal? Yojuro asked.
— Yes.
— The goal is on the other side.
— I knew that.
— No.
A few minutes later…
— AKAMARU!
— YES?!
— NOT WITH YOUR HEAD!
— WHY?!
POC!
— OW!
— THAT'S WHY!
Then…
— RODRIGUE!
— WHAT?!
— WHY ARE YOU RUNNING SO FAST WITH THE BALL?!
— BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TAKE IT FROM ME!
— I CAN TAKE IT!
Zayn accelerated.
Yojuro opened his eyes.
— Zayn, wait—
Too late.
Zayn passed Rodrigue.
He tried to stop.
Slipped.
And almost crossed the entire room.
SCRRRRRRRRCH!
Silence.
Zayn was lying against a wall.
— …
Akamaru looked at Rodrigue.
— Is he alive?
— Unfortunately.
— I HEARD THAT!
For more than an hour…
The four continued.
They talked.
They played.
They argued.
Rodrigue explained even more things about football.
Zayn probably asked too many questions.
Akamaru invented several rules that absolutely didn't exist.
And Yojuro remained the only one actually capable of understanding the game.
In the end…
The four of them were sitting on the floor.
Tired.
Zayn looked at the ceiling.
— I hate this sport.
Rodrigue smiled.
— You'll come back tomorrow.
— Maybe.
— You'll come back.
— Maybe.
Akamaru was lying beside him.
— I like it.
— Because you get to kick something.
— Exactly.
Yojuro was sitting a little farther away.
— You still haven't understood the offside rule.
Zayn slowly turned his head.
— Don't start.
— I'm just saying.
— DON'T START.
Rodrigue checked the time.
Then his expression changed.
— Wait.
Akamaru sat up.
— What?
— Did you forget?
Zayn frowned.
— Forget what?
Rodrigue looked at them.
— The next fight.
Silence.
Zayn opened his eyes.
Then immediately stood up.
— Oh.
Yojuro turned his head.
— Kai.
Akamaru jumped to his feet.
— AGAINST MURATA!
Zayn stood up too.
— Wait.
He looked at the other three.
— The fight starts today?
Rodrigue looked at him.
— In a few minutes.
— A FEW MINUTES?!
Zayn started running.
— WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME?!
— WE TOLD YOU YESTERDAY!
— I WAS TIRED!
— YOU WERE EATING!
— SAME THING!
The four left the room.
⸻
The Academy's hallways were already filled with students.
Everyone was heading in the same direction.
The arena.
Conversations echoed everywhere.
— Kai is going to win.
— Murata is much more dangerous than you think.
— Did you see his last fight?
— I'm telling you, Kai is going to destroy him.
— Nobody really knows how far Kai can go.
Zayn slowed down slightly.
That last sentence stayed in his mind.
Nobody really knew how far Kai could go.
Kai.
The Paladin who fought with his bare hands.
No weapon.
No special protection.
Just his body.
Monstrous physical strength.
And most importantly…
That ability.
He could absorb any kind of energy.
Store it.
Then release it.
Zayn had already seen Kai absorb an attack that could have destroyed part of the arena.
As if the energy was nothing.
As if he could simply…
Take it.
Then send it back.
Zayn smiled slightly.
— This is going to be interesting.
— You say that before every fight, Yojuro replied.
— Because fights are interesting.
— Not all of them.
— You've really become annoying since yesterday.
— Since yesterday?
— Even more than before.
Akamaru ran ahead of them.
— HURRY UP!
— WE'RE COMING!
They went down the stairs.
Then entered the massive hallway leading toward the arena.
This time…
The atmosphere was different.
Heavier.
The students talked less.
Even Rodrigue seemed focused.
Zayn noticed.
— What?
— Nothing.
— You make that face when something's wrong.
— Kai is strong.
Zayn smiled.
— Yeah, I know.
— No.
Rodrigue looked at him.
— You don't understand.
Zayn stopped.
Yojuro stopped too.
Rodrigue continued.
— Kai is different.
Akamaru turned around.
— Different how?
Rodrigue thought for a few seconds.
— He doesn't fight like everyone else.
Zayn crossed his arms.
— What does that mean?
— He doesn't need to prove that he's strong.
Silence filled the hallway.
— He already knows.
Zayn looked at Rodrigue.
Then smiled.
— Even better.
The arena doors were in front of them.
Massive.
Already open.
A powerful light came from inside.
The four entered.
⸻
The stands were almost full.
Thousands of voices echoed through the enormous hall.
At the center…
The arena had been repaired after the previous fights.
The ground was intact.
For now.
Zayn, Yojuro, Rodrigue, and Akamaru quickly found seats.
Zayn sat in front.
— We can see well from here.
— Yeah, Yojuro replied.
Akamaru leaned against the railing.
— I want to see Murata up close.
— Sit down, Rodrigue said.
— Why?
— Because you're going to fall.
— I'm not going to—
Akamaru slightly lost his balance.
Rodrigue grabbed his uniform.
— …
— Thanks.
— Sit down.
— Okay.
Zayn looked toward the arena.
— So…
His voice became calmer.
— That's Murata.
On the other side of the arena…
A silhouette had appeared.
The conversations in the stands slowly began to fade.
Then…
Another silence.
Heavier.
The massive doors on the opposite side opened.
BOOOOOOM.
Zayn raised his eyes.
A silhouette entered.
Simply.
Without running.
Without making a gesture.
Kai.
His hands were free.
No weapon.
His expression was calm.
He walked toward the center of the arena.
Every step seemed to draw the attention of the entire stadium.
Zayn smiled.
— Finally.
Yojuro watched silently.
Rodrigue crossed his arms.
Akamaru leaned forward.
The referee stepped forward.
The two fighters stood face to face.
Nobody spoke anymore.
Zayn stared at Kai.
Kai slowly opened his hand.
Then closed his fist.
A faint vibration passed through the air around him.
Not an aura.
Not an explosion.
Just…
Something.
As if energy itself was waiting.
The referee raised his arm.
— FIGHT!
Kai disappeared.
Zayn's eyes widened.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
An explosion shook the entire arena.
— …
— Now this is getting interesting.