Kickoff.
Again.
But this time—
Southside moved slower.
Not physically.
Mentally.
That second goal had done damage.
Real damage.
The kind that settled into your chest and stayed there.
The ball rolled back to Hiroto.
He controlled.
Looked up.
No movement.
Everyone was still shaken.
"...MOVE!" Hiroto shouted.
The team snapped back into motion late.
Too late.
Nocturne pressed immediately.
Aka jogged forward calmly.
Theo cut off the right side.
Marc blocked the middle lane.
Réservoir drifted behind them all like a shadow controlling the shape itself.
The pressure closed instantly.
Hiroto forced a pass.
Intercepted.
The crowd roared.
"No, no, no—"
Réservoir collected the ball cleanly.
No panic.
No rush.
"...You're spiraling now."
The words weren't even mocking.
That was the worst part.
He passed immediately.
Aka received near the center.
Yusuke sprinted toward him.
Again.
Aka noticed.
And smiled slightly.
"You really don't stop."
Yusuke got low defensively.
"...Neither do you."
For half a second—
they just stared at each other.
Then Aka moved.
Fast.
Yusuke followed.
The crowd leaned forward.
Again.
Again.
Again.
The duel continued across the field like its own separate battle.
Aka cut inward.
Yusuke blocked.
Aka spun.
Yusuke stayed attached.
The smile disappeared.
Again.
Aka accelerated harder.
Yusuke's legs screamed trying to match him.
Then suddenly—
Aka stopped entirely.
Yusuke nearly stumbled.
Aka flicked the ball backward.
Réservoir.
Of course.
The midfielder already knew where the space would open.
One touch.
Theo sprinted down the wing immediately.
Ren chased desperately.
Theo crossed low.
Fast.
Dangerous.
Marc slid toward it.
Daichi intercepted at the last second.
The clearance flew upward.
Not far enough.
Noah collected outside the box.
Shot.
BLOCKED.
Another rebound.
Another scramble.
Another wave.
Southside couldn't breathe.
Every clearance came back.
Every recovery turned into another attack.
It felt endless.
Yuma finally blasted the ball downfield as hard as possible.
"GET OUT!"
The crowd reacted loudly.
Not cheering.
Relieved.
For the first time in minutes—
Nocturne retreated slightly.
Southside stood bent over.
Hands on knees.
Heavy breathing everywhere.
Pambara's chest burned.
He looked around frantically.
Trying to reorganize everyone.
Trying to think.
Trying to keep up.
Then Aka walked past him slowly.
"...You're close to breaking."
Pambara froze slightly.
"...W-what?"
Aka's eyes stayed ahead.
"The way you think changes when you're tired."
A pause.
"You start guessing instead of knowing."
Then he kept walking.
Pambara's stomach tightened immediately.
Because he was right.
The match restarted again.
Southside tried pushing forward this time.
Desperately.
Takumi forced a risky pass through the middle.
Cut out.
Sora tried dribbling through two defenders.
Lost possession.
Yuma attempted a long shot from impossible range.
Blocked instantly.
Everything felt rushed now.
Messy.
Desperate.
Exactly what Nocturne wanted.
Réservoir received another interception near midfield.
Looked around calmly.
Then sighed.
"...This is the part where teams usually die."
The pass came instantly.
Straight to Aka.
The crowd erupted again.
Aka turned.
Yusuke moved.
Again.
But this time—
his legs reacted a fraction slower.
Just a fraction.
Aka noticed immediately.
And punished it.
One touch past him.
Gone.
The crowd exploded.
Yusuke turned desperately.
Chasing.
But now the gap was growing.
Fast.
Aka accelerated toward the box.
Daichi stepped up.
Aka nutmegged him.
Ren collapsed inward.
Aka flicked the ball over his foot.
The entire stadium was on its feet now.
Tsubasa rushed off his line.
Aka entered the box.
Everyone knew.
This time—
he was shooting.
His smile was completely gone now.
Serious.
Focused.
Deadly.
He struck.
BOOM.
The shot screamed toward the top corner.
Tsubasa launched himself.
Full extension.
Everything he had.
Fingertips touched it.
Not enough.
GOAL.
3–0.
Silence.
Not from the Nocturne side.
They erupted instantly.
Theo screamed in celebration.
Marc punched the air.
Réservoir closed his eyes briefly like he'd expected it all along.
But Southside's side of the stadium—
went quiet.
The dangerous kind of quiet.
Aka landed from his shot slowly.
Breathing steady.
Then finally—
he smiled again.
And somehow—
that hurt more than the goal itself.