Chapter 13 – Weapon of the Field
Inside Team Z's locker room…
"We won our first game—hell yeah!" Igarashi Gurimu shouted, spinning his shirt above his head like a maniac.
"Quiet down. It's not like you even scored," Chigiri Hyoma muttered, slipping into a fresh shirt.
"Hey, I could've if I'd played striker! Let me take center next time and I'll net a hat-trick!" Igarashi snapped back.
"No way! I'm up next," Naruhaya Asahi jumped in, eager for the spotlight.
Across the room, Isagi Yoichi walked over to Yūshin Seiichi, who was changing his shoes.
"Thanks, Seiichi. That last pass of yours was perfect. I wouldn't have scored without it."
"Haha, nah. You just made the right run," Seiichi said with a soft smile.
"But how'd you know I'd be there?" Isagi asked, still genuinely curious.
"Hmmm… I guess you smelled the goal," Seiichi grinned, tapping his chin thoughtfully.
"So, Isagi, maybe your weapon is pretty special after all."
"Weapon?"
"Yeah. Everyone's got one. Like Bachira's dribbling, Yawara's flexibility, Kunigami's power shots…"
"Then what's mine, Seiichi?" Isagi asked eagerly.
Before Seiichi could answer—
Cough… cough…
Ego Jinpachi's face suddenly appeared on the screen at the front of the locker room.
"Listen up, gems-in-the-rough. Match 2 is complete. Team V obliterated Team Y, 8–0."
"EIGHT?! No way!" Igarashi's jaw dropped.
"Tch. So what?" Chigiri rolled his eyes. "We won, didn't we?"
"Bring it on," Bachira said with a wild grin. "The stronger, the better."
"Team V and us both have 3 points," Kunigami noted.
"So if we beat Team Y and Team W, we hit 9 points. Even if we lose to Team V, we all still advance!" Igarashi exclaimed.
"We're not losing. Not to anyone," Chigiri cut in.
"Exactly. No way I'm dropping a game now," Kunigami said firmly.
That night in the dorms…
Isagi rolled away from Igarashi's flailing limbs. "Damn, this guy's a menace in his sleep…"
Too pumped to rest, Isagi sat up, eyes still wide.
He had scored the winning goal. He still couldn't believe it.
But he hadn't gotten his answer from Seiichi yet.
Glancing at the empty bed across the room, Isagi got up. Passing the hallway gym, he heard the rhythmic clank of weights.
Inside, Yūshin Seiichi was grinding through leg presses like a machine.
Isagi watched from the doorway, awe in his eyes.
So even geniuses work this hard…
"Damn it, I didn't even beat Barō today. I've been slacking too much! Zeya would roast me if he knew."
Seiichi muttered aloud, unaware Isagi was behind him.
"Seiichi."
"AH! Ghost!" Seiichi nearly jumped out of his shoes before realizing it was Isagi.
"Jeez, you move like a ninja."
"Sorry. I've just been thinking about… my weapon. I was hoping you could tell me."
"You wanna know?"
Isagi nodded.
"Alright. But I'm starving. Let's eat first."
"But I only have natto…"
"Don't worry. You'll see."
Cafeteria—
"Steak! I want steak!" Seiichi shouted, pointing at the prize board on the wall.
"Wait, we can exchange goals for rewards?!" Isagi gasped, spotting phones, beds, and even day passes on the list.
"You scored, so you're buying," Seiichi grinned.
Later…
"Man, this smells amazing~" Seiichi sniffed the steak with sparkles in his eyes.
"Here, your share," he said, sliding half the meat to Isagi.
"Are you sure? I mean, I owe you—"
"Nonsense. It was your goal. And hey, I even brought barbecue."
After stuffing themselves full—
"So full… ugh…" Isagi groaned, lying across the bench.
"Isagi, your weapon…" Seiichi's voice suddenly became serious. "It's probably your spatial awareness."
"Spatial awareness?"
"It means seeing the field like a map—reading movements, predicting plays, moving like you're watching from above."
Seiichi stood up and headed back toward the dorm, waving a hand behind him.
"You'll get the hang of it soon."
As he walked off, a quiet smile crept onto Seiichi's face.
Yoichi Isagi… all these tricks you're learning now?
They're just the leftovers I left behind.
But if you keep evolving—
Then maybe, just maybe—
You'll be worthy of being devoured by me.