Chapter 45 Football 45 Your "Self"
As expected of you, Hyo-hee.
Your taste is still excellent.
Amanominaka's drooping golden pupils were filled with greed, and the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned. His fingertips lightly touched his neck, and he casually gathered his hair up, the glint of the falling strands reflecting in his golden eyes.
I'm so hungry, I feel like throwing up.
His stomach was churning, and his fists clenched involuntarily, yet trembled with weakness.
Unlike Nagi Seishiro's initial bewilderment and excitement, Amano Minaka has a much clearer understanding of himself at this moment.
An indescribable sense of emptiness and longing erupted within him.
I want Jie Shiyi!
Blue flames suddenly ignited in Tennominaka's golden pupils, his gaze like torches, fixed intently on Kiyoshi, who was grabbing Suoh Koki's collar.
Just like a gamer's obsession with collecting all the illustrations, Jie Shi's burning desire to score goals was something he longed for.
Special "gears" should be inlaid in a perfectly fitting "connection".
At this moment, Tenno Minaka had forgotten what was more important; his mind and eyes were filled with his missing desire to score goals.
"Jiejun".
Amano Minaka stepped over the green coat lying on the grass and walked up to Jie Shiyi. "A very beautiful curve."
Jie Shi scratched his head. "Um, thank you?"
Suoh Hyo-ki, who was standing to the side, felt a sudden tightness in his heart. His mind went blank for a moment, and all his thoughts were interrupted.
Despite all precautions, we still couldn't prevent it.
Suoh Hyo-ki felt an unprecedented sense of crisis.
Everything went as he had expected; Amanomichi discovered Kiyoshi.
Tenno Minaka watched as Jessie walked away, not caring whether Suoh Koki had heard or not, and said, "You made the right choice. Maybe Jessie really can beat me."
Of course, that's a lie; the current Jie Shiyi and Suoh Hyoki are far from enough.
This was just his test.
“I have no intention of forming a team with him.” Suoh Koki’s words revealed no sign of being aware of Amano Minaka’s probing.
"I don't know why you always put me and him together."
Amano Minaka's gaze lingered on Suoh Koki for a moment, and his gentle smile gradually faded.
They were so familiar with each other that they could understand each other's thoughts without saying a word.
Just as Suoh Koki sensed that Amanomi's attention would follow the moment he witnessed Kiyoichi score a goal, Amanomi knew that Suoh Koki would leave sooner or later when he saw Suoh Koki using "Synchro" with others.
That person wasn't Jie Shiyi, but could also be Jie Shier. Because body language doesn't lie, Suou Koki's instincts had already led him to leave Amanominaka.
Ten no Michū remained silent.
He understood that once he spoke, something would change forever, and things could never go back to the way they were before.
His gaze passed over Suoh Koki and landed on Kira Ryosuke, who was chatting with Senkiri Hyoma.
...That was all he had left.
Unlike Suoh Koki, Amano Minaka added emotional weight to this match.
The two ends of the balance scale no longer maintain their original equilibrium.
It may seem that the side that pays more is bearing the pressure and is gaining an advantage, but in reality, only the victor can become the ultimate beneficiary of the tipped scales.
Regardless of the final outcome, Tenno Minaka does not want to continue.
Let's leave it at that.
Just as Tian Zhiyu was immersed in these complex thoughts, the crisp and powerful whistle of the electronic referee suddenly rang out, piercing through the noise of the arena and instantly drawing everyone's attention back to the game itself.
Halftime break.
The Z team players rushed into the small and somewhat crowded locker room. Time was running out; they only had fifteen minutes to adjust their strategy and regroup. The air was thick with tension and resentment.
Jie Shiyi sat on a bench in the corner, his forehead slightly sweaty, but his eyes had regained their usual calm and depth, a stark contrast to his appearance on the court in the first half when he was locked in a fierce battle with Suoh Hyo-ki.
He gently wiped the shin guards in his hands, his movements tinged with contemplation.
"We need you, King Sumeru."
Jie Shiyi's voice was not loud, but it was unusually firm.
Suoh Hyo-hee's gaze seemed to lose focus, staring blankly into the distance, his fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of his jersey.
"If you can't beat them, give up early."
Suoh Hyo-ki knew that this decadent state was bad, but he was powerless to stop it.
The game is in progress!
He repeated it to himself again.
But Ten no Michu's words stirred up Suoh Koki's state of mind and emotions. He didn't know how to dispel this worry and inexplicable anxiety.
The method that Amano Minaka used to provoke opponents and induce fouls was used on Suoh Koki, causing him great distress.
So tired.
Having negative emotions during a match is the worst thing to do, especially since Wang Xiaoxi is not very good at dealing with overly negative emotions.
A sense of powerlessness washed over him again.
"So what? You choose not to challenge the opponent because they are strong?" Jie Shiyi noticed Suoh Kōki's absent-mindedness and approached him with undeniable power.
Their eyes clashed intensely at close range, and a tense yet subtle tension filled the air.
“With an attitude like yours, you’ll never become number one in the world.” Jie Shiyi’s words dissected Suoh Hyoki’s mind, while also carrying a hint of provocation. “You should just go home and play house with your soccer ball.”
"You have been deposed by me, [King]!"
Suoh Hyo-hee was so shocked by these words that he swayed, and his deepest vulnerability and resentment were ruthlessly exposed at that moment.
He lowered his head, his eyes flickering uncertainly.
As Jie Shiyi stared at Suoh Hyo-ki's dejected appearance, the anger in his heart burned even more fiercely, like a flame being fanned.
"Where is your own self?" Jie Shiyi's question was heavy with emotion, revealing deep regret and bewilderment. "Is your own self merely a tool to highlight others?"
There seemed to be an insurmountable chasm between the two. Jie Shiyi could not understand what Su Wang Xiaoxi was struggling and suffering in his heart, and Su Wang Xiaoxi could not resonate with Jie Shiyi's desire and persistence to score a goal.
From the moment he stepped into Blue Prison, Jie Shiyi completely abandoned the gentle belief of "I am for everyone, and everyone is for me".
In competitions, one should challenge the strongest; in life, one should strive to be number one. This is the highest interpretation of self-worth by Jieshiyi.
Faced with Jie Shiyi's questioning, Suou Hyo-ki remained silent. He lowered his head helplessly, burying his face deeply in his chest, his voice low and suppressed: "Think what you want."
The air around them seemed to freeze. The other players on Team Z were drawn to Jie Shiyi's sudden outburst of emotion and turned their attention to him.
"Alright, let's get back to the main topic." Kujou Wataru timely interrupted the delicate atmosphere and brought the topic back to the upcoming match. "Let's discuss the second half first."
Kujou signaled the Z team players to gather around and form a tight circle.
"It's already 5-1. Even if we can't win in the second half, we should try our best to score, and a draw would be the best outcome."
"I know about scoring goals! Who doesn't know about scoring goals?" Raichi Jingo gulped down a mouthful of water, as if venting his anxiety and resentment in this way.
He slammed the water bottle down on the table, the crisp sound drawing everyone's attention once again.
"The question is, how did we manage to intercept their passes?"
How can you score if you can't even get the ball?
A heavy, oppressive atmosphere filled the air. Everyone looked at each other, speechless.
Team W's passing was like a precise machine; every touch was perfectly timed, both fast and accurate, making it impossible for Team Z's defenders to find an effective opportunity to intercept.
Team Z could only run around like headless flies, constantly chasing after the seemingly unreachable ball, only to waste a lot of their energy in vain.
At this moment, Iga Maru broke the deadlock by raising his hand, "I have an idea, Raishi, the God of the Nation..." He blinked his eyes, looking around as he spoke, his gaze lingering briefly on Suoh Koki, as if he were making some kind of silent assessment.
Then, he decisively pointed to a corner of the venue that was relatively remote from where Suoh Hyo-ki was, "Let's go over there."
"……Um."
"Huh? Why?"
Imamura Yudai's eyes lit up. "You guys have a plan? Can we join you?"
I, Yawan, said without a hint of doubt, "Let's forget about you. You're too short and too thin. You're no use to our tactics."
His words, though direct, revealed the brutal competitive rules of Blue Prison: self-interest above all else, choosing the path most advantageous to oneself.
“After all, this is a selfish blue prison, isn’t it?” Iga Maru added, as if trying to find a reasonable explanation for his decision.
The three quickly moved to a corner and began to discuss their tactical plan in hushed tones.
The situation thus became more delicate, with the eleven members of Team Z being divided into three distinct groups.
With a plan already in place, Gaigamaru Kunigami Raichi, Chikiri Suoh who is detached from the competition, and the other six who are clueless.
Jie Shi sighed, his blue eyes fixed on the dejected Suoh Hyo-ki.
"We need you, King Sumeru."
His dream will never end here.
We need you, Hyo-hee.
"Next, you'll continue playing as a striker."
The striker position is now yours.
The two different voices gradually overlapped, causing Suoh Hyo-hee to be momentarily stunned.
"And what about you!"
"I call out from the resting place," he said almost out loud, his voice filled with urgency and anticipation.
"I will find the right opportunity to help you."
"Go for it, Hyohyeong!"
The completely different words stunned Suoh Hyo-ki, his eyes reddening slightly. He quickly looked up and saw only a soft expanse of water.
The door was suddenly pulled open by Raishi Jingo, and fresh air, along with the outside light, rushed into the lounge and shone on Jie Shiyi.
"Who is it..." Suoh Hyoki murmured to himself, his vision blurring.
A strange emotion welled up in his heart, a mixture of doubt and anticipation.
yes……
[Heaven's Royal Center]!
Suoh Hyo-ki involuntarily stood up. Just as he was about to touch that ray of light, everything suddenly vanished.
"I refuse. This method is too despicable. Competitions should be fair and square."
Kunishin Rensuke's voice rang out at the opportune moment, his words resounding.
"Who cares about you! Let's go." Raichi Jingo's urging voice came, tinged with impatience.
Only Suoh Hyo-hee remained, standing alone in the empty lounge.
Yes... Now that we're in a competition, we should resolve everything fairly and squarely.
On the court, Tenno Minaka stood in his position and once again posed that question to Suoh Koki: "Have you found it? The tactic to defeat [Maintenance] (me)?"
This sentence is like a spell, carrying an unusual meaning.
This time, Suoh Hyoki finally sensed something was wrong. He frowned and felt a strange sense of unease rising in his heart.
He disliked the feeling of being manipulated by unknown forces, as if everything was out of his control.
Choose to open your heart to Ten no Michū.
then--
"I don't know what you're wallowing in self-pity for." Suoh Koki couldn't figure out what Amano Minaka was thinking, so he could only tell him everything on his mind. "I have no intention of teaming up with anyone else, and I haven't forgotten our promise."
"But now it's a competition, so the inflammatory rhetoric and probing actions can stop here."
"You know what I mean? I don't like this way of playing football."
"A fair and square contest to determine the victor."
I will prove to you with my abilities that I am more valuable than Jie Shiyi.
Without looking back, Suoh Koki turned back to the forward position of Team Z, leaving only a dejected Amano Minaka standing there.
Kira Ryosuke, holding his jacket that had been knocked off by Kiyoshi in the first half of the game, hesitated slightly before saying, "Naka-chan? You..."
"No... I don't need it anymore, I don't need it anymore."
The green jacket was snatched from Kira Ryosuke's hand by Amano Minaka and thrown outside the boundary line of the soccer field.
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Author's Note: Open your heart and you'll get it!
Mutual substitution get√
My ideal cleanliness is achieved!
There will be another chapter tonight. If it's not here by 10 PM, my darlings, come back to read it after you wake up tomorrow.
Self-pity should be interpreted as self-deprecation. Using self-pity is meant to express that Suoh Kōki felt that Amanomi was worrying too much about unnecessary things.
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