Chapter 13 Football 13 - Eliminate You.

"Amano Minaka, a student at Matsukaze Kuroo High School, is currently the first and only first-year captain of a national soccer club. He led Matsukaze Kuroo High School to two national championships and is known as the 'Child of God' on the soccer field."

"Kira Ryosuke, a student at Matsukaze Kuroo High School, is known as the 'Treasure of Japan' for his superb skills."

Anri Teishi stood behind Shichika Eishin, holding the numerical display in her hands.

"They are U-18 team members, will that conflict with our upcoming plans?"

"You only remembered now?"

Hui Xin Shiba covered his mouth with his hands crossed, his eyes covered with dark circles, staring intently at the game between Team Y and Team W on the screen.

"Huh?"

Anri Tei panicked, mentally comparing the one million euros with the future of the Blue Prison, and said with deep regret, "I shouldn't have been so greedy!"

Eishin Jūhachi's gaze followed Amanomichi, and she perfunctorily comforted Teijin Anri, saying, "But we're not at a loss either. We need to create some tension for them. Putting in a few catfish will make those sardines more active. Isn't this a wise choice to maximize our benefits?"

Among them, who are the catfish stirring up the water, and who are the sardines roused to action...?

That's hard to say.

...

Ice-woven Sheep faced off against Ten no Mika again, choosing to pull the ball behind her and quickly pushing it behind her other foot with the inside of her foot. Just as she was about to stop the ball, she tried to do it again in the opposite direction.

"here."

The moment he controlled the ball, Tenno Minaka forcefully kicked it away from his feet, "the movement was too obvious." Then he took a shot.

The football, like a dazzling shooting star, streaked across the sky and flew towards Team Y's goal with lightning speed.

The ball's trajectory spanned the entire distance of the field, carrying unparalleled speed and power, becoming the focus of everyone's attention at that moment.

Team Y's goalkeeper was equally determined, reacting swiftly and diving to make a save like lightning.

If it were a specially trained goalkeeper, they might be able to successfully intercept Amano Minaka's shot under these conditions, but unfortunately, this is a blue prison composed of 300 forwards, and there is no dedicated goalkeeper at all.

The football slipped lightly from the fingertips of the Y team goalkeeper and went into the net.

As the broadcast sounded again, Team W scored another point.

7:0

"You seem unmotivated."

Ten no Minaka glanced at Bing Zhi Yang indifferently. His golden eyes seemed to have lost their usual brilliance at this moment, appearing somewhat dim. "If you continue like this, you will likely be eliminated."

A hint of confusion and weariness was revealed in Iceweave Sheep's blue eyes. She blinked a few times, as if trying to dispel the fog in front of her.

He turned his head slightly, as if trying to hide his discomfort, and said in a low voice, "Ah...it's okay, I'm the top scorer for Team Y."

After listening, Ten no Minaka nodded thoughtfully, as if pondering the deeper meaning behind Hyoori's words.

"...I see."

So the competition rules don't mean that an entire team is eliminated directly?

Not only can the number of goals scored be used to redeem items, but it can also be used as a guarantee for advancing to the second round?

Tenno Minaka, who had completely ignored the rules, suddenly realized the truth.

Ice-Weaving Sheep's gaze fell on Amano Minaka again. He slightly raised his chin, pointed to Amano Minaka's coat, and looked puzzled.

"But are you sure it's okay to wear this jacket during the match? Won't it affect your performance?"

After hearing this, Tenno Minaka smiled faintly, without directly answering Hyōriyō's question. She gently tugged at her coat, her tone carrying a hint of mockery.

"Let's just consider it an excuse for the losers to vent their incompetence."

"Um?"

Bingzhi Yang frowned in confusion.

Amano Minaka continued to explain: "For example, 'It's all because that number 2 jacket affected my vision, otherwise I would have scored a goal already,' and so on."

"Ah! I see." Ice-Weaving Sheep nodded.

Ten no Minaka looked at the Ice-Woven Sheep, a slight smile playing on his lips, his golden eyes unfathomable. "Even so, I still hope someone can make my coat float to the ground."

"Want to give it a try?"

"Amano Minaka extended an invitation to Hyōri, her eyes gleaming with anticipation for the challenge, 'I believe you have the ability.'"

This was not a friendly compliment, but Tenno Minaka's true feelings.

In the previous half of the match, although Iceweave Sheep seemed a bit lacking in motivation, in terms of strength, he was arguably the best player he had played since entering Blue Prison.

"Huh?"

Ice-Weaving Sheep paused slightly, its deep blue eyes widening instantly before quickly returning to normal, as if struggling to suppress some emotion. Its eyelashes trembled slightly, a fleeting, almost imperceptible look of disgust crossing its face.

Ice-woven sheep stared directly at Ten no Minaka, its tall body standing upright, blocking out all the surrounding lights, leaving only mottled shadows intertwining and spreading between the two.

"Don't place your hopes on others."

Every word Bingzhi Yang uttered seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with undeniable power. He turned around, his back to Tenno Minaka, and walked back to Team Y step by step.

Team Y kicks off again.

Y team's number 9 player stood at the center line, his eyes fixed on the front. He kicked the ball forward with a sudden burst of speed, sending it flying through the air in a perfect arc toward Y team's number 11, Bingzhiyang.

When the football landed at Bingzhiyang's feet, he didn't hesitate to gently flick it with his toe, firmly controlling the ball under his feet.

Facing Team W's defenses, they prepared to launch an attack.

The Y team members also began to move, cooperating with each other to create attacking opportunities for Iceweave Sheep. The Y team's number 10 player's gaze inadvertently swept over the head-down sprinting Iceweave Sheep number 11, and finally fixed his eyes on the W team's goal.

At that very moment, Team Y's number 10 tackled towards Iceweave Sheep's ankle, and Iceweave Sheep instantly sensed this subtle threat.

Ice-Weaving Sheep bent its legs slightly and turned its body to one side, attempting to avoid the sudden impact with minimal cost.

Player number 10's speed was beyond imagination; even though Iceweave Sheep tried her best to dodge, she still couldn't completely escape that decisive blow. A dull thud followed.

Ice-Weaving Sheep was thrown heavily to the ground by this irresistible force, and he trembled slightly from the impact.

"!?"

The other players on the ball also looked on in shock, staring at the scene in disbelief.

Amano Minaka rushed forward almost instinctively and quickly separated the two.

He crouched down, his eyes filled with concern and anxiety, and softly inquired about Bingzhiyang's condition: "Are you alright? How are you feeling? Can you stand up?"

The ice-woven sheep lying on the ground seemed to have taken his form, groaning in pain.

Excessive self-identification and excessive self-pity prevented Tenno Minaka from distinguishing whether it was herself or Hyōri Yo who was injured.

"You bastard!"

He turned around and shouted at Y team's number 10.

With the help of Ten no Michū, Hyouchi slowly got up. Although his face was slightly pale, his eyes remained resolute. He gently shook his head to indicate that he was fine: "I'm okay, I just fell and didn't get hurt."

"Is this your tactic? Fighting amongst yourselves on the field?"

Amano Minaka shook his head, turning to the number 10 player with a cold smile, "You were aiming for your teammate's ankle, weren't you? You resort to such underhanded tactics just because you can't be a goalscorer?"

In the depths of Bingzhiyang's eyes, a complex and elusive emotion flashed by like a shooting star.

It was both a strange longing for physical pain and an infinite yearning for some deep-seated need in the soul.

A sudden thought flashed through his mind—if he were really tackled hard by his opponent on the field, would that excruciating pain become a reason for him to stay in the Blue Prison, this special refuge?

This thought flashed by in an instant, yet it stirred up quite a ripple in Bingzhiyang's heart, like an undercurrent surging beneath a calm surface.

For Iceweave Sheep, Blue Prison is not just a football training camp, but also a safe haven where he can temporarily escape reality.

His family was extremely strict, and his parents' expectations were as heavy as mountains, making it almost impossible for him to breathe. Only in the Blue Prison could he find a moment of peace and freedom.

Amano Minaka keenly noticed this subtle change and asked incredulously, "Your expression... are you really thinking, 'It would be great if I really got shoveled'?"

The unforgettable treatment process he experienced made Ten no Yu unconsciously associate himself with anyone who suffered physical damage; he despised those who did not cherish themselves.

Rapid breathing.

Swallowing suffering.

Muscle atrophy.

They can't even stand on their own.

He could hear his mother's cries, saw his silent father, faced his teammates who had fought alongside him for victory, and behind him lay the betrayal of his friends. His obituary was in the newspaper, and familiar faces came and went in his hospital room.

Falling down again and again, getting up again and again.

No one understands the importance of health better than Minakata Amano.

"They don't even care about their own health? That's truly incomprehensible."

Before the words were even finished, news of Team W scoring again rang out over the loudspeaker, bringing this intense match to a close.

A cold smile curled at the corner of Ten no Michū's mouth. "With your attitude, elimination is only a matter of time."

"It doesn't matter if you're the top scorer, we still have another round. I will choose you again and again and eliminate you."

"...This has nothing to do with you, right?"

After a long silence, Hyōge Yoko spoke to Ten no Michū.

Amano Minaka walked away without looking back, saying, "I was just a little annoyed with you."

Ice-Weaving Sheep's blue eyes dimmed further. "Perhaps, I'm the one who should eliminate you."

"Really? I'll be waiting."

A note from the author:

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