Chapter 36: "A Goal's Formula!"
The cafeteria hummed with life.
As Isagi, Kira, and Bachira sat at their usual table
Trays of half-eaten food in front of them.
"So you're telling me…"
Kira began.
His fork pausing mid-air as he gawked at Isagi.
"That the only person we really have to worry about is Mikage Reo?"
Isagi nodded.
The corners of his mouth tugging into a confident smile.
"That's right. I've recently found out about this."
"Every single goal they've scored… it all centers around him."
Bachira leaned back.
His trademark grin curling on his lips.
"Hm~ okay… but how can you be so sure Genius won't pull something crazy~?♪"
"That's where you come in, Bachira."
Isagi said.
Pointing a finger at him.
Bachira blinked.
Tilting his head like a curious puppy.
"Huh?"
Kira chimed in.
His tone matter-of-fact.
"It's because, in terms of technique, you're the only one who can match him in dribbling."
"Exactly."
Isagi agreed.
"There's nobody else but you who can keep up with him."
Bachira's confusion melted into a grin.
"Oh, I see~!♪"
Isagi shifted gears.
His tone turning serious.
"And we've already got Tsurugi covered by Chigiri. So that leaves us with Reo…"
Bachira picked up the thread instantly.
"Who without a doubt will be handled by…"
Kira pointed directly at Isagi.
"You, Isagi."
"Right."
Isagi replied with a smile.
"In terms of fitness, technique, and intelligence, Reo and I are evenly matched."
"But you're better~!"
Bachira sang.
His playful tone cutting through the seriousness.
Isagi chuckled.
Nodding his head.
"That's right. I've got the edge in analyzing the field and reading the players…"
"Whatever Reo plans? It's not getting past me."
Before anyone could respond.
A cold voice suddenly cut in.
"Oh, you really think so?"
Their heads snapped toward the source.
Standing there was Mikage Reo, arms crossed.
Beside him stood Nagi.
Looking completely uninterested.
Fiddling with his phone.
Flashback
A few minutes earlier…
Reo lounged on his bed in Team V's shared room.
Going through match statistics.
When Nagi muttered.
"I'm hungry..."
Reo barely glanced up.
"Then let's go to the cafeteria."
Nagi groaned.
Slumping further into his own bed.
"Too much effort..."
Reo shook his head.
Standing up and grabbing Nagi's arm.
"No buts! You're eating, and that's final."
Despite his resistance.
Nagi eventually allowed himself to be dragged out of the room.
As they neared the cafeteria.
Reo's sharp ears caught fragments of a familiar voice.
Recognizing Isagi.
He slowed his pace.
Gesturing for Nagi to follow quietly.
They hovered near the doorway, unnoticed.
Listening intently to the conversation.
Hearing Isagi's strategic breakdown.
Reo's lips curled into a smug smile.
Present
"You guys have no clue what you're talking about."
Reo stepped closer.
His eyes unwavering.
"Oh really?"
Isagi replied evenly.
Locking eyes with Reo.
The two stood there.
Staring each other down.
The tension crackling in the air like static.
Finally, Nagi broke the silence.
"Can we go already? Standing is a drag…"
Reo's demeanor shifted instantly.
Glancing at Nagi.
"Right, right."
But as he turned to leave.
He threw a parting shot over his shoulder.
"Don't come crying when you find out how wrong you were."
The duo sauntered off.
The words hung in the air.
Sharp and deliberate.
"Well… that was awkward!"
Bachira laughed.
Breaking the silence.
Kira then chuckled.
Shaking his head.
"What are the odds?"
He turned to Isagi.
"What do you think?"
Isagi's confident smile returned.
Sharper than before.
"I think things just got a little more interesting."
…
Located over at the indoor training field.
Team Z stood in a line.
Sweat dripping from their brows.
One by one.
They took their shots at the goal where Gagamaru stood.
His sharp eyes scanning each player's movements.
"Again!"
Gagamaru bellowed.
Slamming his gloves together after each attempt.
His voice echoing across the field.
This relentless drill was part of his special training.
A regimen designed to sharpen his reflexes and instinct.
As the team's last line of defense.
The players cycled through the line.
Each striving to outwit their keeper.
As the ball rolled back to Gagamaru after another save.
The massive monitor by the field suddenly flickered to life.
The familiar face of Jinpachi Ego appeared.
"You've finally made it, Team Z."
He began.
His tone as cold as ever.
"Up until now, you've been dominating at the Fifth Stratum."
The players turned to face the monitor.
Their breaths still heavy from the intense training.
"Each match won with a method different from the other."
Ego continued.
His voice dripping with analysis.
He paused dramatically.
"Which leads us to our next topic."
The screen shifted to show Ego in a ridiculous kamehameha stance.
A soccer ball hovering between his hands.
"The 'repeat' ability of a goal."
He announced.
The team exchanged confused glances.
But Ego pressed on.
"It's what the best striker requires the most."
"Goals made under the reliance of cunning and deceit, among many other despicable traits…"
The ball in Ego's hands transformed into an AI player.
Its stats flashing on the screen as it expertly struck the ball.
"The 'formula' to produce and create as many goals as it takes."
Ego continued.
The screen showed the AI player battling another, outmaneuvering it, and scoring.
"Understand the formula that allows your best skills to thrive."
Ego narrated.
The AI player's every movement meticulously displayed.
"And then make use of it!"
As the ball hit the back of the net.
The screen erupted in a virtual explosion.
Scattering into dozens of AI players.
"A world-class striker."
Ego declared.
"Is one who possesses their own unique formula to score goals! Matches are riddled with irregularities, with adversaries standing in your way."
"But in that single second on the chaotic battlefield, those who devise their formula carve the path to victory."
The screen showed the scattered pieces of the ball merging back into one.
Ego gripping it with both hands.
His voice lowered.
Becoming almost menacing.
"Abolish the idea of winning by 'chance.' Claim victory as a logical consequence."
The screen began to glitch, flickering wildly.
A shadowy figure replaced Ego.
Its voice a distorted echo of his.
"The answer to your 'formula' lies dormant on the field."
"Those who don't seek it… can fuck off."
With that, the screen reset.
To display a timer counting down.
23:59:59
The bold title "The Last Match" looming over it.
The field was silent.
Each player stood frozen.
Trying to process Ego's cryptic yet provocative words.
Isagi, standing alone at the end of the line.
Was next to strike.
His gaze locked onto the ball.
But his mind raced with thoughts.
"The repeatability of a goal…"
He mused.
"A weapon that relies on statistical logic, adaptive enough for anywhere, whenever…"
He stepped forward.
Positioning himself for the strike.
His stance was deliberate.
His focus absolute.
With a sharp exhale.
Isagi drove his foot into the ball.
Sending it soaring toward the net.
Gagamaru, momentarily distracted by Ego's words.
Reacted too late.
The ball zipped past him.
Slamming into the back of the net with an audible thud.
Gagamaru blinked, startled.
"What the—"
Isagi stood there.
Watching the ball roll to a stop.
His lips curled into a small smile.
"That sounds about right."
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
stone