Team V:
#210 – Keiji Mikage (The Chameleon, master of copying techniques, Team V's Ace)
#211 – Naoki Fujimoto (The Tactician, the team's playmaker and Keiji's pet assister)
#212 – Riku Haneda (The Wall, Team V's defensive anchor)
#213 – Soma Nagai (The Shadow, an unpredictable winger with great agility)
#214 – Kenji Okabe (The Sniper, Team V's long-range shooter)
#215 – Daiki Kusuo (The Enforcer, a physical midfielder who controls the pace)
#216 – Yoichi Sakamoto (The Maestro, Team V's secondary playmaker who assists Naoki)
#217 – Haruto Shiba (The Speedster, the fastest player on the team, terrorizing defenses)
#218 – Masato Ryuga (The Phantom, a striker who disappears into defenses unnoticed)
#219 – Yuta Saionji (The Keeper, a reaction-based goalkeeper with fast reflexes). #220-#229 no distinguishable Traits
The dust had barely settled from Team Z's hard-fought victory over Team Q, but there was no time to rest.
Their next match was against Team V, a squad that had already made a name for itself as one of the most feared teams in the competition.
Unlike their past opponents, Team V didn't rely on a single superstar carrying them to victory. They were an unbreakable unit, playing with perfect synchronization. Their coordinated movements and pinpoint passing made them almost unstoppable.
Their last game had been a 4-3 win over Team Y, which had been led by the powerhouse Akari Kunigami. If even someone like Kunigami had been taken down, what chance did Team Z have?
But what scared them the most was Team V's Ace.
#210 – Keiji Mikage (The Chameleon, son of Reo Mikage)
Standing confidently at the center of his team, Keiji Mikage was no ordinary player.
He was the son of Reo Mikage, the legendary Charmeleon, a player who had made a name for himself by adapting to any role on the field. His father had been a master at copying techniques, molding himself into whatever his team needed.
And Keiji had inherited that same ability.
But unlike his father, Keiji didn't just copy techniques.
He perfected them.
"Your win against Team Q was interesting," Keiji said as he stood before Team Z, his piercing gaze sweeping over them. "But a team like yours… a bunch of selfish egos barely stitched together… won't last against us."
Then he turned toward Kaito Isagi, a smirk forming on his lips.
"I heard you've got a strong Direct Shot now," he said. "I think I'll take that for myself."
Kaito clenched his fists.
After everything, he was still being treated like a stepping stone for others.
First, it had been Sora Himekawa, who had reduced him to a mere pawn in the last game, telling him to just pass to Kuroka.
Then it had been Kuroka Bachira, who stole all the glory with his relentless domination.
And now Keiji Mikage stood in front of him, acting as if Kaito's evolution was just another trick to be stolen.
No more.
This match was going to be different.
Kaito wasn't just going to fight.
He was going to win.
Kickoff – Kaito Strikes First
From the moment the whistle blew, Team V's cohesion was terrifying.
They moved as one, passing the ball between each other effortlessly, making Team Z look disorganized and sluggish in comparison.
Kaito watched their movements closely. Spatial Awareness was his strength now, and he was determined to find the cracks in their system.
And then he saw it—
A gap in Team V's defensive line.
Kaito broke forward, weaving between defenders.
Toma Iguchi saw the opening and delivered a perfect pass.
Kaito's instincts took over. He positioned himself just right, his foot connecting with the ball
BOOM!
A perfect Direct Shot, aimed with precision and power.
GOAL!
Team Z – 1 | Team V – 0
Kaito felt the rush—he had done it.
He had scored before Kuroka. Before Sora.
This was his goal.
But then—
He turned to see Keiji Mikage smiling.
"Interesting," Keiji mused. "So that's how it feels to use a Direct Shot."
Kaito's stomach twisted.
He knew what was coming.
Keiji positioned himself exactly like Kaito had.
A pass from Naoki Fujimoto put him in the same scoring position Kaito had used earlier.
BOOM!
GOAL!
Team Z – 1 | Team V – 1
Kaito felt his entire body freeze.
Keiji had just perfectly replicated his Direct Shot.
And worse… it looked even sharper than his own.
"You should be proud, Kaito," Keiji said with a smirk. "Your shot is strong. But now it's mine."
Kaito gritted his teeth.
He stole it.
But something felt different.
Unlike Sora, who had used Kaito as a mere tool… unlike Kuroka, who crushed everything in his path…
Keiji wasn't belittling Kaito.
He was acknowledging him.
And that meant only one thing—
Kaito had truly become a threat.
But while Kaito battled his own frustration, Kuroka Bachira saw an opportunity.
For the entire first half, Kuroka had watched in silence, letting Kaito have his moment.
But now, it was time for him to remind everyone who the real King was.
Kuroka's playstyle was simple—if someone got in his way, he destroyed them.
And Keiji Mikage?
He had just challenged the King.
Final Minutes – Kuroka and Sora Dominate
Sora intercepted a pass, using his vision to create space.
He saw Kuroka making a run.
Sora sent a perfectly placed assist—a ball curving through the defense like a bullet.
Kuroka soared through the air, twisting his body
CURVED BICYCLE KICK!
GOAL!
Team Z – 2 | Team V – 1
Kaito could only watch as Kuroka took the goal once again.
Even though Kaito had scored first, it was Kuroka's name that echoed in the stadium.
Kuroka Bachira – The Tyrant King
And Sora Himekawa, the Puppet, had once again been the one pulling the strings.
As the game ended, Kaito stood still, watching Kuroka and Sora get all the attention.
He had scored.
He had fought.
He had evolved.
But he still wasn't enough.
Keiji Mikage had copied him.
Sora had outplayed him.
And Kuroka had ended the game with a goal worthy of a King.
Kaito clenched his fists.
Not again.
He wasn't going to be a pawn anymore.
He was going to fight until the spotlight belonged to him.
No matter what it took.