The towering gates of Teikoku Gakuen loomed like silent sentinels, casting long shadows under the gray afternoon sky. Raimon's team stood before them, a mix of awe and tension hanging in the air. Endou gulped, staring at the massive structure. "This is it. The biggest match we've ever faced."
The others were quieter than usual. Even Someoka wasn't bragging. An uneasy silence had settled over them all. Shishido muttered, "Feels more like entering a fortress than a school," eyeing the pristine iron-wrought buildings behind the gate.
Coach Hibiki stood still, eyes locked on the academy's architecture. Something was off—too perfect, too clean. He turned to the team. "Stay sharp. This isn't just a football match."
"Coach?" Aki asked, blinking.
Hibiki didn't answer. He simply adjusted his hat and stepped forward.
While Raimon was shown to their resting quarters, Kidou Yuuto was nowhere to be seen. He walked the halls of Teikoku silently, barely noticed by his own teammates. His steps were slow, his expression unreadable. Inside, his mind raced as he checked every corridor, every corner — scanning vents, beams, wiring. Nothing could be trusted, not with Kageyama lurking behind the curtain. He knew the man too well.
In the hallway leading to the security wing, he stopped. A presence.
"You seem restless, Kidou," Kageyama said ahead, standing with his gloved hands behind his back, sunglasses reflecting the dim light.
"I'm ensuring fair play," Kidou replied flatly.
Kageyama chuckled. "How noble. But that's not what I taught you, was it?"
Kidou's fingers clenched. He said nothing.
"I gave you brilliance," Kageyama continued. "Tactics that could dominate the nation. I gave you purpose. And still… you bite the hand that fed you?"
Kidou turned his back without a word and walked away. Kageyama didn't stop him—only smiled. "Let's see how far your ideals take you… once the game begins."
Back in the locker room, Raimon settled in, but the atmosphere was heavy. "Where's Kidou?" Someoka asked, frowning.
"He's been gone since we got here," Kurimatsu muttered. "Acting shady."
Otonashi crossed her arms. "He's hiding something."
"He's not the type to betray us," Gouenji said firmly.
"I agree," Sakuragi added. He had been silent until now, leaning against the wall with his arms folded. "Kidou's too smart to waste time on tricks. If he's sneaking around, there's a reason."
Someoka huffed. "Still doesn't feel right."
Endou said nothing, eyes lingering on the floor. Aki noticed. "Endou…?"
He shook his head and stood. "I'll get some air."
Endou found himself near the old practice grounds when he was approached. Kageyama stood behind him.
"Son," he greeted smoothly. "A word?"
Endou turned, instantly tense.
"I thought you might like to know something," Kageyama said. "About Kidou."
Endou frowned.
"You see, Kidou and Otonashi… they're siblings. Orphans, both. Separated and raised by different families," he explained, walking slowly in a circle around Endou. "Kidou was adopted into a wealthy house. But the condition was simple: win three national championships. Then, and only then, would he have the power to adopt his sister into the family."
Endou's breath caught.
"But if he fails…" Kageyama's voice wriggled into a whisper, "he'll be thrown out. Forgotten. You understand now what happens if he loses today?"
He leaned closer, eyes narrowing. "Would you still play your best… knowing you'd be the reason he loses everything?"
Endou stepped back, stunned. Kageyama left without another word.
In the underground security room, Detective Onigawara tapped rapidly on a keyboard.
"Come on… come on…" he muttered.
"We've accessed most of the archived systems, sir," one of his agents reported.
Another agent handed him a flash drive. "Sir, found this in the mainframe. Blueprints for the north stands. It's been tampered with."
Suddenly, a third man burst in, holding a rusted bolt.
"This fell from the ceiling near the warm-up area."
Onigawara's eyes widened. "It's happening now. It's him."
Before he could react, the main server began auto-erasing files—entire directories vanished.
"He's covering his tracks…"
"Sir?"
"Mobilize the team. Now!"
Outside the equipment room, Kidou encountered Otonashi, who glared at him.
"You really came back here. To this place. To him," she hissed.
"You don't understand—"
"You left me behind," she snapped. "You used to be kind. You used to be my brother. And now you're just a tool for that monster!"
Tears welled in her eyes.
"You promised we'd always be together…" she added tearfully.
"I never forgot that," Kidou replied quietly.
"Then why—?!"
He couldn't tell her. Not yet. She ran off, sobbing. From a distance, Aki and Endou had seen it all.
"…She doesn't know," Aki whispered. "She doesn't know he's trying to adopt her…"
Endou said nothing, his hands trembling at his sides.
The team was warming up when a loud clang echoed through the stadium. A bolt slammed into the turf near Kazemaru.
He jumped back. "W-What the hell?!"
Everyone froze, looking to the roof.
"Loose metal?" Shourinji asked.
Sakuragi knelt to examine it. "No. This was unscrewed."
Kidou appeared at the edge of the field. "Get ready. Now."
As the teams moved to the center for kickoff, Endou approached the circle, facing Kidou as captain.
Kidou leaned in close, whispering urgently, "Don't move. Tell everyone. Stay close to the goal. Now."
Endou looked confused, but something in Kidou's tone was different—panicked, desperate. The referee raised his whistle.
Onigawara sprinted through corridors, bolt in hand. "Stop the match!!" he yelled to the guards. "It's a trap!"
The whistle blew. Both teams froze.
Suddenly, a terrible crashing sound filled the air. Massive steel beams came crashing down from the rafters—right where Raimon had been moments before. Dust billowed, screams erupted from the sidelines.
Aki and Haruna ran out, and Coach Hibiki's heart stopped. But when the dust cleared, Raimon was safe—they had all stayed near the post, just as Kidou had warned.
Kidou and Endou exchanged a look. No words were needed.
Kageyama sat calmly in the observation box as Onigawara and his team burst in.
"We've got you," Onigawara announced. "Tampering with school infrastructure. Attempted harm to minors."
Kageyama only smirked.
"You'll never prove anything else," he said.
"You may not today," Onigawara responded, "but this is enough."
As Kageyama was cuffed, he looked toward the field with a sly smile.
"Soccer's just getting interesting."
Back on the field, Endou sat on the grass, breathing heavily.
"That bastard," he muttered.
Kidou stood nearby. "We, Teikoku players, apologize for this misconduct. I am willing to forfeit this game as a way to take responsibility."
Endou slowly stood. "No." He looked at his teammates. "Let's continue the match. We're here because we love soccer."
He turned to his team. "We're going to play this game, and we're going to win."
Gouenji stepped up beside him. "Right."
Sakuragi cracked his knuckles, stepping into the huddle. "Let's burn through them."
The team gathered, a fire igniting in their eyes.
"Let's show them," Endou grinned, pumping his fist. "This is Raimon!"
Everyone cheered loudly in unison: "YEAH!!"