Chapter 76 Football 76 One day ago
Jie Shiyi sprinted with the ball, his blue hair and white jersey fluttering slightly in the wind, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
The stadium lights shone on him, illuminating his slightly thin yet explosive figure.
"I won't let you pass."
Nagi Seishiro arrived like a storm, his eyes cold and his pupils seemingly filled with black smoke, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.
"I must win this match."
He uttered words he would never have said.
Nagi Seishiro lowered his center of gravity slightly, spread his arms, and charged towards Jie Shiyi like a beast poised to pounce, as if he wanted to crush Jie Shiyi and the ball together.
He performed actions that were completely inconsistent with pacifism.
"I'm sorry, Jie."
"You're in high spirits, Nagi."
Her blue pupils contracted slightly, and Jie Shiyi slammed her right foot onto the edge of the soccer ball with just the right amount of force.
The football was instantly lifted, cleverly avoiding Nagi Seishiro's outstretched interception.
Despite his robust physique, Nagi Seishiro's movements were anything but clumsy. Seeing the ball about to hit the ground, he reached out without hesitation, attempting to intercept it with his arm.
But Jie Shi was prepared. With a precise cross from his right foot, the ball flew like an arrow towards Ten no Michū, who was not far away.
"Well done, Jie." Ten no Yuchu stood on the other side of the field, his green jacket particularly dazzling under the lights.
Just as the football was flying towards him, a dark figure suddenly appeared behind him.
"Well done, Jie."
Kiyokazu appeared from behind Amano Minaka with a gloomy expression, repeating Amano Minaka's words. He was thin, but his movements were exceptionally agile, like a hawk that had been lying in wait for a long time.
His handsome face remained calm, clearly indicating that he had been lying in wait for some time.
His goal was clear—to steal the ball and turn the tide.
Qingluo Ren instantly closed in on Ten no Michu, attempting to snatch the soccer ball the moment it hit the ground.
"Too slow, Qingluo."
"..."
Amano Minaka felt the pressure approaching from behind and quickly lowered his center of gravity. Just as Kiyotaka's toes were about to touch the ball, Amano Minaka suddenly turned around and used his shoulder to push away Kiyotaka's pressing.
Qingluoren fell to the ground, and the ball also slipped out of their control.
In the distance, Kiyoshi and Nagi Seishiro suddenly rushed over, while Kurono Ranse sat on a bench watching the match from the sidelines.
Ten no Michū wanted to stop the ball and change its trajectory.
Qing Luoren's eyes were as sharp as a blade as he stared intently at the rolling football in front of him.
His breathing was rapid, his chest heaving violently, but his steps remained steady.
Just as Tennominaka was about to touch the ball, Kiyorojin suddenly leaned forward. He braced himself with his hands on the ground, bent his elbows, and used the reaction force from the ground to spring into the air like a spring.
His legs drew a sharp arc in the air, and the moment he was upside down, his core strength exploded, and his feet spun like a whirlwind, bringing with them a whistling sound.
This series of movements flowed smoothly, like dancing.
His toe swept precisely at the football, producing a dull "thump—", and the football flew towards Nagi Seishiro like an arrow.
Nagi Seishiro was already poised to make his move.
"Thanks, Qingluo."
He stopped the ball firmly with his toes, quickly adjusted his footwork, and then unleashed a powerful shot.
The football sliced through the air, whistling as it flew straight into the corner of the goal.
The match ended as the football went into the net.
"Great, we can rest now."
This is not an official match.
The Blue Team's original opponent had to postpone the game due to food poisoning.
As for why Jie Shiyi and Nagi Seishiro are here to play this impromptu practice match with the Blue Team, we have to go back to yesterday—Amanomi witnessed a "good show" yesterday.
One day ago.
The metal door opened and closed silently and automatically, emitting a faint mechanical sound.
Three figures appeared one after another at the doorway, increasing in height from left to right. On the far left was Nagi Seishiro, in the middle was Senki Hyoma, and on the right was Kiyoichi.
The three of them stared at each other, dumbfounded, in this incredibly familiar hall.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Unable to bear the oppressive silence any longer, Qianqie Baoma gripped his collar, which was soaked with sweat and clung tightly to his body, and said, "You guys keep watching, I'm leaving now."
After saying that, he turned and left quickly without looking back.
This team is the White Team, consisting of Kiyoshi, Hyoma Senkiri, and Seishiro Nagi.
They had just returned from a four-on-four match when, inexplicably, Kiyoshi was drawn to the skills of the players on the other white team (Uruto, Yukimiya Kenyu, Otoya Eita, and Nanahoshi Nijiro) and proposed a match against them.
However, the result of the competition was not satisfactory. They lost the competition, and the opponent chose their fourth member - Hibiki.
Nagi Seishiro looked at the familiar hall, a hint of impatience flashing in his light brown eyes.
He's back, in this place filled with memories of failure.
She gripped her hair tightly with both hands, her knuckles turning white from the force. She somewhat regretted being paired with Jie Shi.
I thought teaming up with Jie Shi would make me stronger, but in reality, I kept losing.
Winning one game and losing another is like playing a multiplayer game controlled by the matchmaking system; you can never control your own destiny.
Jie Shiyi, on the other hand, was in high spirits and showed no signs of losing. She seemed to be still immersed in the duel she had just had.
Who do you think we should go find next?
Nagi Seishiro reached up and touched his neck, turned around and left, saying irritably, "Who cares about you? I'm going to find Rei."
"What we need are players who can pass the ball."
“Anyone can pass the ball. What we need more are teammates like Wu (who defends or blocks),” Jie Shiyi said, having a different idea. She followed his lead and blocked his path.
Nagi Seishiro didn't stop walking, his brows furrowed, and he didn't even glance at Kiyoshi, as if he hadn't listened to what the other person was saying.
“I’m not as heartless as you.” Nagi Seishiro pushed Kiyoichi away forcefully.
Jie Shiyi suddenly reached out and grabbed Nagi Seishiro's collar, pulling him down forcefully. "If you care so much, then why did you abandon him and team up with me?"
"Are you trying to play the peacemaker with me now?"
The collar was pulled down tighter and tighter, almost making it hard for Nagi Seishiro to breathe.
"You're the one who's completely forgotten about Bee Joy when you see someone stronger." Nagi Seishiro was furious and, taking advantage of Kiyoshi's momentary lapse in attention, suddenly threw a punch at his face.
The two immediately began to wrestle, and the fight escalated rapidly.
They were shoving and verbally abusing each other, their movements becoming increasingly violent, threatening to bump into those around them at any moment. But the others in the hall merely glanced at them indifferently before continuing with their own business, and no one stepped forward to stop them.
This has happened many times before; they are not the first team to have a conflict in this hall.
Just as the two were locked in a fierce struggle, a clear voice suddenly rang out.
"You two, stop."
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that Tenno Minaka had somehow become standing steadily in front of them.
"You should know that fighting is punishable, right?"
Amano Minaka was simply passing through the lobby; he needed to get to the stadium on the other side of the building, which required crossing the lobby. Unexpectedly, he was quite lucky and happened to witness this exciting event.
"Heavenly Guard!"
Jie Shiyi was the first to shout out, her tone tinged with surprise.
"...It's you."
Nagi Seishiro also spoke up, his face still showing lingering anger and a hint of embarrassment.
The two entangled individuals seemed to be frozen in place, instantly stopping their movements.
Jie Shiyi's hair was disheveled, with a few strands sticking to his flushed cheeks with sweat. His chest heaved violently as he gasped for breath. Nagi Seishiro's clothes were also torn and wrinkled, and a bruise from the fight clung to the corner of his mouth.
Before Amano Minaka could speak again, Kiyoshi, like a powder keg that had been lit, said impatiently, "Do you want to compete with us?"
His eyes sparkled with excitement, his blue pupils seemed to hold boundless enthusiasm, and his whole being radiated an irrepressible excitement.
He was clearly still deeply immersed in the afterglow of the match, the lingering excitement making his normally rational mind rust. Under normal circumstances, he would never have so readily proposed a match to Amanominaka, given their formidable strength and the high probability of their defeat.
But it's not entirely impossible, after all, he challenged No. 1 Jie Shiyi right from the start.
Upon hearing Kiyoshi's words, Nagi Seishiro's gaze involuntarily drifted over.
A tense yet subtle atmosphere filled the hall. People around continued with their own tasks, occasionally casting curious glances before quickly looking away.
"Um?"
Amano Minaka was slightly taken aback, his eyebrows twitched, and a faint look of surprise appeared on his face. Then, he showed a hint of apology, his lips drooping slightly, and he said sincerely, "I already have an opponent for the match, and I'm going to the match now."
As he spoke, he subconsciously adjusted the green coat draped over his shoulders, his fingers gently smoothing out non-existent wrinkles on the garment.
"Perhaps you could consider Hyo-hee?"
Amano Minaka tilted her head slightly and made the suggestion.
This suggestion was like a ray of light, instantly illuminating Jie Shiyi's eyes.
A player so strong that he doesn't need to defend.
His eyes widened instantly, sparkling with excitement. His previously disheveled hair swayed slightly with his excited movements, and a few strands stuck together with sweat also trembled.
"Does Tian Zhiyu know where he is?" Jie Shiyi asked impatiently, leaning forward slightly with an anxious expression on her face.
"Medical room," Tenno Minaka replied succinctly.
Jie Shi was taken aback. "The medical room?"
He was just about to ask Suoh Hyo-hee why she was in the medical room.
"Heavenly Guard!"
Just then, Ranze Kurona's voice came from afar. He wasn't tall, and wore an inconspicuous blue jersey. Standing not far away, he slightly raised his arm, gently waving his hand in the air, signaling Amano Minaka to hurry up and catch up.
"Don't you two plan to do something about this?"
Amano Minaka frowned slightly, his gaze falling on Kiyoshi and Nagi Seishiro. He gently tapped the wounds on their bodies from the fight, saying, "If you're going, please bring some things for Koki and Ryosuke as well."
As he spoke, he handed two bottles of mineral water to Jie Shiyi.
"I'm leaving now."
After finishing speaking, Tenno Minaka turned and walked towards Kurona Ranse.
"The Red Team's Cheng Zaochao got food poisoning, so the match was postponed."
When Kurono Ranse saw Amano Minaka approaching, he quickly went to greet him.
He repeated, "The match has been postponed."
"?!"
A look of disbelief crossed Amano Minaka's face, which he found somewhat amusing. His mouth opened slightly as if he wanted to say something, but he hesitated for a moment, finally managing to utter a few words: "Did you eat something bad?"
“He might have been on Team Z before,” Qing Luoren said, tilting his head slightly.
"What does this have to do with the team?" Tenno Minaka asked, his face full of confusion.
“That’s right, that’s right,” Kurono Ranse chimed in, crossing her arms and leaning back slightly.
Seeing the strange expressions on their faces, Qingluoren added unhurriedly, "The food assigned to Team Z is terrible. I heard that the 300th place finisher is natto."
"ah?"
The top player of Team W, Ten no Michu, who rarely ate in the cafeteria, and the top player of Team V, Kurono Ranse, were both shocked.
Qingluoren's face remained calm and composed, his blue eyes as still as water as he looked towards Tenno Minaka without any ripples.
"If the match is postponed, shall we go practice together now? You haven't practiced with us for the past few days, so we're not familiar with your playing style."
Qing Luoren spoke slowly.
Ranse Kurona nodded in agreement, her movements swift and decisive, a hint of approval on her face.
He also wanted to see the strength of Tenno Minaka.
"OK."
Amano Minaka nodded.
Upon arriving at the stadium, they found that the field that originally belonged to them was now occupied by others.
"What are you doing here, Tenno Miyabi?"
Kiyoshi rushed over to greet them, while Nagi Seishiro, standing next to him, merely glanced at the three of them before continuing the game.
"This is our stadium... Weren't you going to find Hyo-hee?"
Amano Minaka looked at the two of them with a somewhat blank expression.
"They're preparing for the Rei-ou tournament. They say they want to choose Shido." Jie Shiyi helplessly tugged at his collar. "And what about you guys? Shouldn't you be competing?"
Amano Minaka paused for a moment when he heard Shido's name, but quickly regained his composure. "The match has been postponed. One of their members got an upset stomach."
"That's perfect, your match has been postponed, so we can't find an opponent."
Looking at the two bruised and battered individuals, Seishi and Nagi Seishiro, Kurona Ranse felt that they were more like delinquent teenagers who would fight than players.
"..." No way.
Just as she was about to refuse, she was startled by the frightening eyes of Kiyoshi and Nagi Seishiro.
"It's just been postponed, not canceled," Kurono Ranse repeated. "It hasn't been canceled."
"It's okay, practice matches are fine too."
They've been targeted.
To be precise, she was relentlessly clung to by Kiyoshi and Nagi Seishiro.
"Let's put the competition aside for now."
"But what about you two?" Tenno Minaka sized them up. "Weren't you treated when you went to the infirmary?"
"I forgot."
“I think you two should go and deal with this first,” Kurono Ranse said hesitantly. “You two look more like guys with violent tendencies.”
"A guy with violent tendencies."
Hei Minglan pointed at the two bruised and swollen guys and repeated.
"Then let's deal with it first. Tomorrow, they must compete against the two of us."
The recollection ends.
Amano Minaka reached out his hand to Kiyoro Ren, recalling Kiyoro Ren's passing motion just now.
"Your movement is quite unique."
Kiyoka grabbed the hand that Tenno Minaka reached out to him and used it to get up.
"These are basic breakdancing moves."
"Ah, incorporating dance into a football match? That's quite unexpected."
Amano Minaka's eyes flickered, and he nodded thoughtfully.
"A good idea."
Then, Amanomi looked towards them and saw Seiichi, Seishiro, and Ranse walking towards them.
"So, the next one to be blacklisted?"
"Yay!" Nagi Seishiro let out a long sigh of relief, his voice clearly showing exhaustion.
He dragged his heavy steps slowly toward the benches on the sidelines, as if all his strength had been drained away.
The rules of this practice match were simple—the four players would be drawn by lot. Whoever scored first would be substituted off the court and wait until the next player scored in the next set.
Kuro-Nami Ranse was very lucky, getting a bye. So the match just now was between Amano Minaka and Kiyoshiichi vs. Nagi Seishiro and Kiyora Jin.
Hei Minglan Shi rubbed his hands together, "I'm ready, I'm ready."
Just as Hei Minglan Shi walked between the three of them, a clear voice came from the doorway, instantly attracting everyone's attention.
-----------------------
Author's note: *The 300 people didn't eat natto, but pickled radishes.
The teams selected in the first round of the blacklist selection were not found, so the inclusion of them in the V team is a personal setting.
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