The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over Raimon Junior High as Endou led a small group of Raimon Eleven members—Domon, Tori, and Kuruma—walking home from school. On a whim, they decided to stop by Rairaiken for a quick bite before heading home. Laughter echoed around the table as they shared stories about their practice and the upcoming match.
Meanwhile, the sun dipped low over Raimon Junior High, casting long shadows over the buildings. Endou, Domon, and a few others from Raimon walked home after another long day of practice. Their steps were light, and banter flowed casually as they headed toward Rairaiken, their usual hangout spot.
Sakuragi didn't join them.
While the others laughed over ramen and soda, Sakuragi was at the Inabikari Training Facility, drenched in sweat, darting between cones to push himself past his limit.
"Goenji and Someoka are both finishers," he muttered, practicing close-control turns and bursts of acceleration. "If we face a wall like Teikoku, we'll need someone to break through before they even get the chance to shoot…"
Each drill was precise—tight control, rapid cuts, no wasted movement. He collapsed onto the turf for a moment, breathing hard.
"I can't just be a forward anymore… CAM, second striker, whatever you call it—I gotta move smarter."
His eyes momentarily glazed with distant memories—not of Raimon, but of dimly lit alleys, the slap of sneakers on pavement, and friends who used to watch his back in fights. They weren't here, not in this world. But the raw, edgy vibe… it lingered.
He smirked to himself.
"Heh… would've been real nice if the old crew could help us tackle Teikoku,like they helped me to learn to shoot 3 pointers" he murmured softly.
Elsewhere , Domon was hesitant .. His expression grew tense. "I… I need to go home now," he muttered, fidgeting with his phone.
Without waiting for a reply, he excused himself and turned into a narrow alley. His footsteps slowed as he pulled out his phone and muttered into it. His voice was hushed, yet urgent—clipped, secretive.
After finishing the call, a wave of guilt washed over him. His face turned pale, and his eyes unfocused. He started to sway, losing his balance. Just then, a loud honk tore through the air. A truck sped past—just in time for Domon to stumble back onto the street, narrowly avoiding disaster.
He pushed himself upright, trembling. A flicker of fear and remorse crossed his face.
On his way back home, he crossed paths with Aki, who was strolling nearby. She noticed his distracted state and gently asked, "Domon, is everything okay?"
He hesitated before replying, "It's… nothing. Just tired." Her eyes lingered, sensing the subtle tension within him.
Later that evening, Domon quietly headed to Raimon's soccer club, intending to retrieve the team's training results from the Inabikari Training Facility. His hand hovered over the files—images of progress that he felt unworthy to take. Guilt gnawed at him, and finally, he turned away, unable to bear the weight of his deception.
As he made his way back toward his classroom, something caught his eye: Fuyukai, near the garage where Raimon's buses were parked, with buckets and gear. Suspicious, Domon approached and confronted him.
"Fuyukai," Domon demanded, voice tense. "What are you doing?"
Fuyukai smirked, casually loading equipment. "Just preparing," he replied cryptically. Then, with a sinister tone, he added, "You might want to reconsider. Don't go on the bus that day," he said, eyes cold and calculating.
Domon's eyes widened. That small phrase, so innocuous on the surface, suddenly weighed heavily on him. His stomach clenched with suspicion and dread.
Without hesitation, he dialed Kidou's number and asked to meet.
Arriving at Kidou's house, Domon's expression was grim.
"I don't have the training results," he admitted. "I hesitated. I couldn't take them. But I found out something… Kageyama ordered Fuyukai to set a trap on the bus for the match against Teikoku. He knew about it… and I think he tried to warn us."
Kidou's eyes widened in shock. "You're saying Kageyama's involved?"
"Yeah," Domon nodded. "He's using Fuyukai to sabotage us. And I didn't even know until now."
Just then, Otonashi appeared, having been looking for Domon. She saw Kidou and quietly revealed a secret—she was his biological sister. The air between them grew tense with unspoken pasts and hidden truths.
Later, the team gathered at Natsumi's father's office, where she held a letter of confession from Domon. The letter detailed everything—the betrayal, Fuyukai's treachery, and Domon's role as a spy for Teikoku Gakuen.
Rushing to the garage, they confronted Fuyukai. Natsumi, furious, dismissed him outright, telling him he was no longer welcome as the team's teacher.
But then Fuyukai revealed a chilling truth: "This letter? It's from Domon… but I forged it. He's been working for Teikoku all along." His smile was cold.
The words hit everyone like a punch. Domon's face flooded with shock and pain. The realization dawned—he'd been betrayed, manipulated by the very school he once fought to protect.
Overwhelmed, Domon ran from the scene, heading straight to the riverbank, seeking solitude. Aki followed, gentle but firm.
"Domon," she said softly, catching up to him. "It's still not too late. We can fight this… together."
As they exchanged words, Endou approached, inviting Domon to join a practice session. "It's okay. We forgive you," Endou said sincerely, extending his hand of friendship.
Domon hesitated for a moment, then nodded slowly. Despite everything, he was still one of them.
Meanwhile, Natsumi gathered the team again and revealed a heavy truth: Raimon has no coach. Without one, they might not be able to participate in the upcoming Football Frontier Kanto Regionals.
A daunting challenge loomed: would they be able to find a new coach in time? Or would their dreams of victory be lost before they even began?
As evening fell, Sakuragi remained on the field long after everyone else had gone. Dribbling under the flickering lights, each movement sharpened by rage and determination.
"Coach or not," he whispered to himself, "I'll be ready."