6. Team Z and Team V’s Locker Rooms

In Team Z’s locker room, the atmosphere was filled with joy and praise for Kunigami’s long-range goal. Kunigami admitted that during the shot, he felt more focused than during mid-range attempts and began to grasp the nuances of an entirely new shooting sense.

Meanwhile, Isagi reflected on his own weapon and how he could develop a successful formula to deliver new sensations with his goals. He realized that unless he elevated his current abilities, his ego wouldn’t evolve. However, he was still unsure of the path to take.

He possessed “spatial awareness” and the ability to navigate the field effectively, but how could he turn these into scoring opportunities? If this match against Team V marked the end of his soccer career, he was determined to discover a new version of himself.

Lemon, Team Z’s strategist, emphasized the importance of sticking to a five-defender formation and playing with full strength in the second half. Igaguri motivated his teammates to give their all in the remaining 45 minutes, regardless of whether the outcome would bring laughter or tears. Raichi rallied the team with a passionate call for a comeback, determined to equalize and overturn the score. The players of Team Z responded with a resounding “Yes!” filled with optimism.

In Team V’s locker room, Reo reaffirmed that they were the team destined to win. He pointed out that Team Z relied heavily on counterattacks to close the gap, prompting Reo to suggest adapting their tactics accordingly. Reo then turned to Nagi and asked, “Will we win?” Nagi calmly replied, “Yes.”

7. Nagi Seishiro’s Curiosity About Isagi Yoichi

The second half began with Isagi immediately passing the ball to Kunigami. However, Team V’s players had already anticipated Kunigami’s movements, preventing him from attempting any long-range shots. Consequently, Kunigami decided to pass the ball to Bachira.

Wasting no time, Bachira sent a long pass to Gagamaru, who was positioned in Team V’s penalty area. In a dramatic moment, Gagamaru attempted a scorpion kick that seemed destined to score, as Team V’s goalkeeper couldn’t reach the ball. Yet, Zantetsu made an extraordinary defensive effort, heading the ball away just in time.

The rebound fell perfectly at Isagi’s feet. Standing 23 meters from the goal and capable of delivering a decent long-range shot, Isagi hesitated. Two of Team V’s central defenders quickly closed in and dispossessed him of the ball. Frustrated, Isagi blamed himself for failing to capitalize on the opportunity. He doubted his dribbling ability, felt his physique wasn’t strong enough to shield the ball, and questioned his potential as a player.

Meanwhile, Nagi was puzzled by Isagi’s failure to take the shot. He couldn’t understand why Isagi hesitated so long before acting, calling it inefficient.

Nagi also wondered why Isagi remained so determined to stay on the field—whether it was due to a lack of self-awareness or sheer foolishness. Nagi even remarked that if he possessed abilities similar to Isagi or Team Z’s other players, he would have chosen to quit soccer altogether.

Curiosity consumed Nagi as he tried to uncover what drove Isagi to keep pushing forward despite his struggles. Nagi’s remarks angered Isagi, prompting him to retort with frustration, “Shut up, you genius!”