The next morning, they all woke up to a buzzing notification on their phones.
It read: "After lunch, there will be practice for the match."
Ayaan stretched and said, "Alright, team. Let's get ready."
Affan nodded, "Breakfast first, then practice."
They all quickly got ready, ate a hearty breakfast, and took out the two Activas.
Engines roaring, they sped toward school, excitement and determination in the air.
When they entered their classroom, they noticed five bullies cornering a student, pushing and taunting him.
Anshuman stepped forward, fists clenched, "Hey! Why are you beating our classmate?"
The bullies turned, sneering.
"Don't interfere with us," one said, stepping closer. "We will kill you."
They laughed and walked away, leaving the student shaken but unharmed.
Ayaan's team huddled together.
"Who were they?" Affan asked quietly.
From behind, Borou appeared, calm as ever.
"They're players from another school," he said.
"Hey, Borou!" Anshuman called.
"There's no time for this," Borou replied. "We have to focus on beating the other schools."
"You're also in the team?" Aditya asked.
Borou smirked, "Any doubts?"
They all shook their heads, "No."
Soon, the teacher arrived and announced the competition.
Eight schools would participate, including theirs.
The students whispered among themselves, "What's our school name, by the way?"
A girl spoke up, "Harmony."
The team grinned, impressed. "Stylish name," Ayaan said.
When the lunch break came, they all ate quickly, talking excitedly about the upcoming practice.
Once finished, they headed straight to the football ground.
Since they reached first, the field was empty and quiet.
They spread out, took a lot of space, and began intense exercises—sprints, stretches, and drills, each move sharp and focused.
From behind, Borou appeared, calm and powerful.
Without a word, he dropped straight to the ground and began push-ups and pull-ups, his form flawless.
The team glanced at him, impressed but unfazed, continuing their own exercises.
Suddenly, six players from another school arrived, stopping a few meters away.
They stared at Ayaan's team, whispering among themselves.
"Oh… so today's practice match is with this… Loser Team," one of them said, a mix of surprise and disrespect in his voice.
The other players smirked, clearly underestimating them.
Ayaan and his friends exchanged determined glances, ready to prove themselves despite the insult.
Ayaan's team's other five players arrived, joining them on the field.
Soon after, the other school's five players also came, standing opposite them.
One of the opposing players called out, "Alright, 15 minutes warm-up, then the match!"
Ayaan nodded, "Got it. Let's make it count."
Both teams spread out, starting their warm-up drills, stretching, and running, preparing for the intense practice match ahead.
When the countdown hit 3, they all stood up, ready, taking their positions, eyes fixed on the ball, hearts racing, every muscle tense.
As soon as their team kicked off from the front, a lightning-fast dribbler zoomed past, weaving through defenders like a shadow, and with a perfect pass to his teammate, straight from midfield, the ball flew into the net—goal!
Everyone's mouths dropped open in shock, eyes wide, unable to believe it.
Just then, from behind, their coach stormed in, shaking his head, shouting, "You can't beat them!"
But from the other side, our coach appeared, calm yet fierce, crossing his arms and saying with a steely gaze, "We'll see about that."
The kickoff was made by Ayaan's team, but Borou quickly snatched the ball from his teammate.
Everyone shouted, "Borou! Why are you taking the ball from us?!"
Borou smirked, "Relax, I got this."
Ayaan's eyes narrowed, and his ego flared, a cold aura surrounding him. He whispered under his breath, "Let me show you what's coming…"
The opposing blocker rushed and took the ball from Borou, immediately passing it to their best player, Fuji.
Fuji charged forward, thinking he had the advantage, but before he could react, Ayaan called out, "I already know that the ball will come to you."
Fuji froze for a split second, and then—on top of his head—Ayaan unleashed a deadly, lightning-fast shot.
The ball soared like a missile, unstoppable, and Fuji could only stare in disbelief as it slammed into the net.
Everyone around gasped. "How… how did he do that?!"
Ayaan smirked, stepping back, aura still blazing. "Did you really think you could surprise me?"
When the other team did the kickoff, Ayaan closed his eyes for a split second, seeing the entire stadium in his mind, every player, every move, every possible path of the ball.
He predicted immediately: Fuji was going to pass the ball to someone.
Before the pass could happen, Ayaan dashed in front of him, blocking the way.
Fuji smirked, "You think you can stop me?" and outran Ayaan with a sudden burst of speed.
Just as Fuji lined up for the shot, Borou leapt in front to block him.
Fuji didn't panic. With a quick fake shot, he tricked both Ayaan and Borou perfectly.
The ball curved into the net.
The crowd went wild.
The scoreboard now read:
Ayaan's Team: 1
Opponents: 2
A tense silence fell over Ayaan's team. Borou looked frustrated, Ayaan's eyes narrowed—he could feel the match getting even more intense.
As Ayaan's team did the kickoff, the ball rolled to Anshuman, ready to make a play.
But suddenly, Borou dashed in and snatched the ball.
"Only I will score!" Borou shouted, sprinting forward with blazing speed.
Just as he was about to make his move, Fuji and two others closed in.
With perfect coordination, they stole the ball from Borou, pushing forward at full speed.
Before anyone could react, they fired the ball straight into the net.
The crowd erupted.
The scoreboard now read:
Ayaan's Team: 1
Opponents: 3
Ayaan's jaw tightened. "They're stronger than I thought… time to step it up."
Borou muttered under his breath, "I can't let this happen again…"
Ayaan turned to Borou, eyes blazing, and said, "Hey Borou, if you try that again next time… I will beat you."
For the first time, Borou felt a flicker of fear. His smirk faltered, and he took a step back.
Ayaan didn't waste a second. He predicted the next move from the opposing team instantly.
"Anshuman, speed up! Affan, get ready for the header!" Ayaan commanded.
With Anshuman's lightning-fast run, he broke past the defenders, drawing them in perfectly.
Affan jumped, timing the ball flawlessly, and with a smooth, powerful header, the ball sailed into the net.
The crowd cheered wildly.
The scoreboard now read:
Ayaan's Team: 2
Opponents: 3
Ayaan smirked, aura still glowing faintly. "See? That's how it's done."
Borou clenched his fists, still shaken. "Next time… next time, I won't let this happen."
When the other team did the kickoff, Anshuman immediately rushed in front, intercepting the ball mid-air with perfect timing.
The ball soared, spinning through the air, and Affan jumped up, connecting with a clean header, sending the ball straight toward the goal.
Aditya was ready at the perfect spot. Without hesitation, he struck the ball with a precise shot, and it hit the net perfectly.
The crowd went wild again.
The scoreboard now read:
Ayaan's Team: 3
Opponents: 3
Ayaan grinned, clenching his fists. "That's how we do it. Let's take control now."
Borou's eyes widened, realizing the match was far from over—and that Ayaan's team wasn't backing down.
The referee blew the final whistle—time was up.
The scoreboard froze:
Ayaan's Team: 4
Opponents: 3
The stadium shook with cheers, the crowd roaring Ayaan's team's name.
Borou dropped to his knees, still in shock, while Anshuman, Affan, and Aditya raised their arms in victory.
Ayaan stood tall in the center of the field, eyes glowing with pride, his ego blazing silently.
They had done it.
Ayaan's team had won.
As Ayaan's team was walking back, celebrating their hard-fought victory, another group stepped forward—the same boys who had been bullying his classmate earlier.
They smirked, blocking the path.
One of them laughed and said, "So this is the team everyone was talking about? Hah, you all are way too easy for us."
Another added, "Enjoy your little win today, because when you face us… you won't even touch the ball."
Ayaan's teammates paused, glaring at them, the atmosphere turning heavy.
Ayaan stepped forward slowly, his voice calm but sharp, "Easy? We'll see if you can still laugh when you're standing in front of me."
The bullies exchanged smirks, but deep inside, they felt the pressure of Ayaan's words.
When they all reached home, tired but happy, they sat down together and ate the food laid out on the table.
Between bites, the talk turned serious—about their abilities.
Ayaan leaned back, arms crossed, "I can see the whole field in my mind and predict what's going to happen. That's my edge."
Anshuman grinned, tapping his legs, "And I've got the speed. Plus, I can dribble past anyone if I focus."
Aditya smirked, rolling his shoulders, "Forget dribbling—I'm the shooter. Long shots, close shots, any shots. If the ball comes to me, it's a goal."
Affan laughed, "And I'll be the wall. I can defend, and my headers will crush anyone in front of me."
Anant smiled quietly, "I may not be the fastest or strongest, but my passes… they'll connect us all together."
They all looked at each other, a sense of unity forming.
Ayaan raised his glass of water and said, "Together, no team can stop us."
The next day came, bright and loud with whispers already spreading through the school.
When Ayaan and his team entered the class, every girl's eyes turned toward them. Smiles, giggles, and little waves followed them to their seats. Some girls whispered, "That's Ayaan… did you see his shot yesterday?" Another one said, "Anshuman is so fast, it's amazing!" Others kept staring at Aditya, Affan, and Anant, blushing and whispering.
By the time lunch break came, the situation only grew bigger.
All the girls gathered near their table, smiling shyly. One of them spoke up, "Can we… can we all sit with you?"
The classroom went silent. The boys from other groups looked jealous, some even muttering under their breath.
Ayaan's teammates stared at each other, half shocked, half proud.
Ayaan, calm as ever, smirked slightly and said, "If you can keep up with us… then sure."
The girls cheered, quickly sitting down, filling the table with laughter and chatter.
From across the room, some boys clenched their fists, glaring—jealousy rising.
Some boys came and said hey you 5 what do you all think who you are
They all try to punch them
Ayaan caught the punch and twisted the boy's arm
Aditya blocked the hit on his shoulder and pushed the boy back
Anshuman dodged the strike with his speed and the boy stumbled
Affan grabbed one boy's wrist and shoved him down
Anant kicked the last one back
The bullies fell to the ground groaning while the whole class stared in silence
After 5 days that competition came
and when Ayaan and his team with Borou reached the field
they saw a very serious team in front of them
they all were standing in one line
their eyes sharp their faces cold
they looked like they had come for war and not just a match
Ayaan and his team also stood strong without showing fear
Borou crossed his arms and smirked
Aditya cracked his knuckles
Anant adjusted his shoes
Anshuman stretched his arms
Ayaan just kept staring at the other team without blinking
the crowd around started shouting and cheering both sides
the atmosphere grew heavy
the referee came in the middle and raised his hand saying
this is the match you all were waiting for
today two strongest teams will fight for glory
both teams walked forward step by step
the ground almost shaking with their presence
their eyes locked like predators waiting to strike
After some time the score stood at 4–4
and the tension on the field was sharp as a blade
the ball came to Borou's feet
our voices rose together crying Borou pass the ball
yet he ignored every call and chose his own path
he struck with power but his aim betrayed him
the ball slipped away and fell to the rival's finest player
with flawless unity their team surged forward like a storm
their passes cut through us swift and merciless
and with one thunderous strike they shattered our goal
the crowd roared the air heavy with finality
we five stood silent hearts sinking as if all was lost
and so in quiet defeat we turned back
and walked home with the weight of that moment upon us
Affan said so now we can't go back home
and then all of them fell into heavy tension
their minds clouded with worry and doubt
and then suddenly all their phones buzzed at once
a single notification flashing on every screen
where it was written you 5 are selected for The Ego League
they all stared at it in silence hearts pounding
then voices broke out this is the only chance I think
but soon the question rose what will we do there
the air was thick with uncertainty
until Ayaan lifted his head and spoke firmly
let's go tomorrow and find out