Chapter 42 Football 42 The Traitor
Inside the bathroom, the warm, humid air was almost suffocating. Layers of fine steam rose, blurring the boundaries of the surroundings.
Amano Minaka sat in the large bathtub, his fingertips dancing nimbly across the screen.
Despite the screen surface being covered by wisps of steam from time to time, becoming hazy and blurry, it did nothing to slow down the speed at which he tapped the screen.
[The Scent of a Goal (Shido): [Image of individual goal tally], the match is over.]
Click on the image to enlarge it. The player with the most goals in the image is Shido Ryusei, which proves that even if the other W team does not have all its members advance, Shido Ryusei can still enter the next round.
[Chinese: Congratulations.]
[China: I have one more match before the round-robin tournament ends.]
While the conditions at Blue Prison are somewhat harsh, its competition planning demonstrates a high degree of scientific rigor and humanism. Huixin Shiba meticulously planned a series of rigorous and thorough competition arrangements, all to maximize the players' potential and competitive form.
Apart from Ten no Michū's insistence that Team W play two matches in one day, the other teams have ample rest and preparation time to ensure they are in top condition for this important weekly match.
[The Smell of a Goal (Shido): I finished all my matches last week.]
[Goal Temperature (Shido): Why so slow? Did you really get torn to pieces by some low-level beast?]
[The Smell of a Goal (Shido): Reply to me!]
End all matches...
The reflection of Ten no Michū's eyes on the phone screen appeared empty and unfocused.
He leaned gently against the edge of the bathtub, tilting his head back slightly, letting a clean white towel gently cover his eyes that shimmered with golden light. Then he slowly placed his phone aside, ignoring the incessantly vibrating notification sound.
The water in the bath began to ripple gently, and the ripples spread slowly, bringing a subtle tactile sensation that made one feel a tingling and pleasant sensation.
Someone has come in.
As soon as Kujo stepped into the bath, he immediately sensed the subtle atmosphere in the air and the strange looks he was receiving.
He couldn't help but feel a pang of regret; perhaps this wasn't the right occasion for casual conversation or relaxation.
The people in the bathtub were none other than Team W, Z's next opponent.
In other words, the entire bathroom was filled with members of Team W.
Through his strong performance and admonition during the V team's matches, Ten no Michu not only won the games, but also established an unshakeable authoritative position within the W team, gaining the highest authority in the W team.
The players' daily training schedules, lifestyles, and even team atmosphere have gradually aligned with Ten no Yu's personal habits.
Training starts at 5 AM and ends at 4 PM. Meals, showers, and more training all conclude at 6 PM. Furthermore, due to escalating rumors of internal bullying within Team W, the team virtually never has any individual contact with other teams.
The time pattern was discovered by Jiuyuanshe after a long period of observation.
He intended to discuss it privately with Amano Minaka, but instead ran into the entire W team.
His expression was a little awkward.
"Kuon-kun, what's wrong?" Kira Ryosuke keenly noticed the hesitation and doubt on Kuon Wataru's face and asked directly and kindly.
Kira Ryosuke frequently visits Suoh Koki and has memorized all the players on Team Z, so it's not surprising that he can call out his name.
"Actually... it's nothing serious."
Kuwon paused slightly, seemingly struggling internally, but ultimately decided to speak, "I just want to discuss a trade with your Team W."
The members of Team W were still busy in the pool, some lost in their own thoughts, others enjoying the soothing water, and they didn't pay much attention to Jiu Yuanshe's suggestion.
Kira Ryosuke, however, sensed something unusual in Kuon Wataru's tone. He stood up, walked slowly forward, his eyes filled with sincerity and curiosity.
"What exactly is the transaction? Kuon-kun, please speak frankly." Kira Ryosuke's voice was gentle yet firm.
Warm water dampened Kira Ryosuke's milky-white hair, and coupled with his usual cheerful smile, it gave Kujo Wataru the motivation to continue speaking.
"I'll reveal Team Z's tactics to you, and in exchange, you'll make me Team Z's top scorer."
Jiuyuanshe's words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples.
All eyes instantly focused on him, including the usually composed Tenno Minaka, who couldn't help but glance at him slightly, his golden eyes gleaming with complex light beneath the towel.
"What?"
Tenno Minaka slowly removed the towel covering his eyes, staring sharply at Kujo Wataru, his tone tinged with surprise.
Kira Ryosuke looked stunned, clearly still reeling from Kuon Wataru's suggestion. He stood there blankly, his mind racing but unable to make sense of what was going on.
"Haha? Are you kidding me?" Team W's number 7 couldn't help but laugh, his tone full of disdain. "Does Team W need you to reveal our tactics?"
The three victories mean that even if Team W loses the next match, all members will advance to the next round of selections.
"Don't joke around. We can easily win even without your help."
"Exactly, we don't need that little bit more."
The other W team players echoed this sentiment, and discussions arose one after another.
"Could it be that we could win so easily..." Kujo Wataru said somewhat hastily, but was interrupted by Kira Ryosuke.
"Is it really okay for you to betray your teammates like this?" Kira Ryosuke finally snapped out of his daze, staring intently at Kujo Wataru, his eyes filled with anger. "What do you take football for?"
traitor!
Upon hearing this, Tenno Minaka gripped the towel in his hand tightly, as if trying to concentrate all his emotions into this soft object.
His golden eyes shimmered, yet they could not conceal the complex emotions within them.
Anger, disappointment, and resentment intertwined, like the sky before a storm, gloomy and heavy.
...Suoh Hyo-ki.
Team Z's guys are all the same kind of scum, none of them are good people.
Amano Minaka suddenly pushed off the edge of the bathtub, splashing water everywhere, and leaped up, sitting steadily beside the tub.
"What do you take this game for?" Kira Ryosuke questioned sternly, his eyes revealing a deep respect and love for the sport of football.
His voice was powerful and resonant, each word striking Jiu Yuanshe's heart like a heavy hammer, moving everyone present.
Kira Ryosuke's angry voice abruptly pulled Amano Minaka back to reality. His brows furrowed, and the corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily as he struggled to control the turmoil within him.
Tsk...why am I thinking about him...
Amano Minaka raised his hand to his forehead, his golden eyes straining through his fingers to focus on the figure that was gradually distorting in the hazy steam before him.
Through layers of mist, the face of the long-lost traveler became blurred and distant, and a familiar face appeared before Ten no Michū.
That guy is...
Suoh Hyoki
His golden eyes momentarily lost focus as an image of Suoh Koki using "Synchro" flashed through his mind.
His expression gradually stiffened.
Kira Ryosuke continued speaking.
"Football is a team sport, not a battlefield for personal desires, much less a cold tool for fighting."
"If you want to win, you should do it fair and square!"
Kira Ryosuke's words were resounding.
Victory is the glory earned through relentless effort, teamwork, and respect for opponents, not a false one obtained through unfair means or betrayal of teammates.
Kira Ryosuke had always held this view. Therefore, he expressed his dissatisfaction with Hisamoto Wataru's extremely selfish behavior.
"Splash—"
The soft sound of water broke the surrounding silence and seemed to foreshadow the surging of some emotion.
Kuwata's gaze swept through the crowd and settled on Tenno Minaka, his eyes flashing with complex emotions.
"Let's go back, and pretend today's events never happened."
Tenno Minaka gently brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, her golden eyes seemingly swallowed by the deep night, transforming into dark, mysterious circles.
"In the next match, we will defeat you fair and square."
Wisps of black energy were faintly swirling around him, like a long snake lurking in the night, silently coiling around his neck. "Please tell Hyo-hee that I hope he will like the score of 10:1."
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Author's Note: Sorry everyone, I missed the deadline. Waaah, I'll punish myself with a McDonald's meal and update twice tonight at 11 PM.
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