Megane discovered that their next opponent was Shuuyou Gakuen. Apparently, they had beaten Occult Gakuen to qualify. Megane did some digging and found out where this team hung out.
The city sparkled with neon buzz and late-afternoon chatter as Raimon gathered at the café Megane had dragged them to—a maid café.
"This is the hangout spot of Shuuyou Meito Gakuen," Megane adjusted his glasses with a serious nod. "According to my intel, their captain and star player are the authors of Magical Princess Silky Nana! It's the most legendary moe manga ever written!"
Sakuragi raised an eyebrow. "You dragged us to a frilly café because of a comic?"
"A manga masterpiece!" Megane shot back. "And this is tactical reconnaissance!"
Endou shrugged, awkwardly sipping from a parfait cup, while Aki and Haruna beamed in maid outfits, blending right in. Natsumi, however, looked like she wanted to set something on fire.
Just then, a hush fell over the café.
In walked two eccentric figures—one with sparkling glasses and a rose-swirled notebook (Raito "Novel" Noberu), and the other in twin tails with an artist's satchel (Moe "Mangaka" Manga).
"Ah, our rivals," Raito greeted. "Welcome to our world of kawaii justice."
Megane was already bowing deeply. "It's an honor to meet you, sensei-tachi!"
Sakuragi whispered to Endou, "Are we seriously playing soccer against these guys?"
Match Day – Raimon vs Shuuyou Meito Gakuen
The stadium shimmered under the sun. Raimon lined up, visibly puzzled by their opponents, who dressed in cosplay-style uniforms. Their coach stood smugly on the sidelines, with a crate of watermelons—reasons unknown.
The whistle blew. The first half began.
It was... strange.
Shuuyou Meito barely advanced. Their defense looked clumsy—players making exaggerated manga-like moves, slow reactions, dramatic pauses.
"They're stalling," Sakuragi muttered.
Someoka broke through, firing a Dragon Crash.
"Let's go—!!"
But at the last second, the ball was intercepted by what appeared to be a sudden sandstorm.
"Did they just create a sandstorm by running in circles?!" Kazemaru shielded his eyes.
As the sand settled, the ball was nowhere to be found.
"They swapped the ball with a watermelon?!" Kurimatsu cried.
"Their coach had a crate! They planned this all along!" Megane shouted.
Referee didn't see it. The goal was disallowed. The game stayed tied at 0-0 into halftime.
Shuuyou Meito changed tactics.
They rushed forward in synchronized moe poses.
"MOE FORMATION: SPARKLE CHARGE!"
They launched a coordinated attack, bypassing Raimon's dazed midfield. Raito struck with a ballet kick—straight into the net.
Goal: 0-1.
"Their keeper literally moved the posts?!" Sakuragi shouted as he noticed the goalpost shift mid-shot during defense.
Aki, on the bench, stared in disbelief. "Is that even allowed…?"
Someoka fired another Dragon Crash, but the players ran around to create another sandstorm while the keeper moved the goalpost to avoid the shot.
Endou gritted his teeth. "They're turning soccer into some bizarre stage show."
Megane adjusted his glasses. "Enough. I've seen enough cringe." He ran up to Endou.
"Captain, I need to be subbed in. Now."
Megane took his position.
As Shuuyou Meito set up their next moe tactic, he darted between them.
"Chapter 34 of Silky Nana was objectively your weakest arc!"
"W-What?! That was a metaphorical dream sequence!"
"You recycled tropes!" Megane challenged, causing them to falter. He poked through their stunned formation and called out to Someoka.
"Let's do this! Dragon Crash!!"
Someoka's shot flew—Megane leapt with a surprisingly clean header. His glasses broke when the shot hit his face, but he scored into the goal.
"MEGANE CRASH!!"
Goal: 1-1.
"Did... did he just score?" Sakuragi was speechless.
Even the referee clapped in surprise.
Shuuyou Meito tried again, but their rhythm was off.
Someoka found an opening.
"DRAGON CRASH!!"
Goal: 2-1.
Raimon huddled, celebrating.
Sakuragi slung an arm around Megane. "Hey, Otaku King. You earned that today."
Megane pushed up his glasses, proud. "Silky Nana taught me to never give up on my passions."
Natsumi groaned. "This better not become a regular thing."
Gouenji rested his leg in the infirmary, enjoying a quiet moment at last.
"Tch… No match for a Dragon-Megane combo, huh?" Sakuragi smirked, visiting with juice boxes.
From down the hall came giggles.
A pair of nurses passed by—one blushing. "That Sakuragi boy was sooo cool..."
Gouenji chuckled. "Fanclub already?"
Sakuragi blushed. "Shut up, it's the uniform. They like uniforms… right?"
"Sure, buddy. Definitely the uniform."
Someoka barged in. "Oi, Megane's signing manga in the lobby! Come before he charges!"
Sakuragi groaned. "This team gets weirder every day."