Cheers filled Team Z's locker room.
"Yosh! That's three wins straight! We're crushing everyone!"
Kuon stood before the tactics board while the rest of the team sprawled out, exhausted but glowing with victory.
"Listen up," Kuon said, tapping the board. "The first selection uses a round-robin system five teams, each playing four matches. Only the top two on points survive.
If everyone's strength is roughly equal, that means two wins and two losses across the board. So, six points would be the average cutoff. To advance safely, we should aim for at least seven points."
Iemon rubbed his chin.
"So basically, losing two matches means we're sitting under a yellow light one step from elimination?"
Before Kuon could respond, Ryan leaned back with a grin.
"Daijoubu, daijoubu. We're gonna win anyway."
Confidence radiated off him like sunlight.
Bachira, fresh from the showers and completely naked, bounded out cheerfully.
"Yeah! As long as Ryan's here, we'll never lose! Right, Ryan? Right?"
Ryan covered his eyes in mock despair.
"Can you please put some clothes on before you talk?"
"Ehh~ but it feels so free~," Bachira replied with a goofy grin.
Before the situation got even weirder, Isagi stood and spoke with sudden conviction.
"Everyone, I think… I understand what 'zero' means in football.
At the start, neither side has scored that's zero. That zero gets broken by someone's individual brilliance.
In our match, Ryan did that. Because of his spark, we figured out how to score. He turned our zero into one.
And under his lead, our team started multiplying that one into ten, into a hundred.
I think that's what we need: a forward whose individuality and talent can create that first goal, that 'one.'"
Ryan scratched the back of his head, smirking.
"Heh, flattery suits you. But hey, since you said such nice things, I'll toss you a few passes next match. You can bag, what, three or four goals?"
Kuon folded his arms, mulling over Isagi's words.
"A forward turns zero into one… and everyone else turns that one into ten or even a hundred."
Naruhaya nodded thoughtfully.
"So that's why Ego made the rule about the top scorer staying even if the team loses. He wanted to force us to face our own selfishness.
Ryan came out on top in that battle of egos, and because of that, we all naturally followed him. He united us.
So, true teamwork starts from the dominance of an exceptional striker. That must be Ego's message."
Isagi nodded. "Yeah."
At that moment, the big screen flickered on.
Jinpachi Ego's mushroom-shaped head filled the display.
"Hmm. Not bad. You're thinking in the right direction, my little diamonds.
The second match in Building Five just ended Team V demolished Team Y, eight to zero."
If anyone wondered, "Wait, Ryan scored four in our match does that mean Team V's stronger?"
The answer was no. Team V had three offensive aces, while Team Z's entire game plan revolved around Ryan. Every ball went through him; no one else even got a shot.
And besides, Team Y was a pushover compared to Team X's Barou and company.
Ego continued, pacing as he lectured:
"You're right about zero and one.
But here's the problem aside from Ryan, the rest of you are only playing roles assigned by others.
Let's talk about Japan.
Japanese people excel at fulfilling defined roles. Take baseball, our most globally competitive sport.
It's turn-based, attack and defense are clear, minimal physical contact, and everyone has a specific job. It suits the Japanese mindset perfectly.
But football isn't like that. The field is open. Offense and defense switch in a heartbeat. There's contact, chaos.
In football, simply doing your job isn't enough to win.
To win, you need individual strength."
He pointed straight at the camera.
"Rewrite your mindset.
A striker isn't just a scorer he's a destroyer.
Scoring a goal is revolution. It shatters the enemy's order.
You must never let 'roles' limit you.
To create from zero, you'll need weapons dribbling, headers, speed, technique, free kicks.
Pick up your arms, strikers!
See through the situation, mock your opponents, break them down.
Think with your bodies, think with your minds.
The revolution of football begins only through your personal weapon.
Victory exists after the revolution."
The screen went dark.
Silence hung for a moment as everyone processed Ego's words.
Then the room buzzed again.
Each player began discussing their "weapon," while Kuon jotted them down.
Raichi: "My weapon? Sexy football. My shots are beautiful."
Naruhaya: "Sprinting into space."
Gagamaru: "Physical battles."
Iemon: "Being all-round."
Ryan nearly choked laughing.
"All-round? You're that confident? Even I wouldn't say that out loud."
Kunigami: "My left-foot power shot."
Imamura: "Speed and technique."
Bachira: "Dribbling, obviously."
Kuon nodded, writing them down.
"Okay, my weapon is… jumping ability. Alright, next Isagi?"
Isagi froze.
"My weapon? Hmm… what is it…"
Then he remembered what Ryan had said earlier that day:
"I can smell a goal."
Raichi burst out laughing.
"What are you, a dog?"
Before Isagi could reply, Ryan stepped in, smirking like a proud teacher.
"No. To be precise it's spatial awareness."
"Spatial awareness? What's that supposed to mean?"
"Isagi, didn't you feel it today? Like you could see everyone's positions on the field at once?"
Isagi nodded slowly.
"Yeah… Now that you mention it, I did. I just knew if I passed into the box, we'd score. It wasn't logic, it was instinct."
Raichi frowned, refusing to believe it.
"Oh come on, you're bluffing. You probably just guessed!"
"I wasn't guessing!" Isagi shot back.
Ryan sighed.
"Enough, you two. Quiet down."
"Yes."
"Got it…"
Kuon smiled, scribbling notes.
"Alright then, Isagi I'll put down Spatial Awareness for you.
Last one… Chigiri?"
Chigiri crossed his arms.
"I'd rather not say."
Raichi groaned.
"Hey, come on! We're all sharing, Princess!"
"I know," Chigiri replied coolly. "But I don't feel like it."
Kuon waved it off.
"Alright, alright. Let him keep it secret. Finally Ryan?"
The room fell silent. Everyone turned toward their leader.
Ryan grinned, stretching his arms behind his head.
"Me? Let's see… speed, strength, dribbling, long shots, headers, technique… ugh, too many to choose. Having too many weapons is such a pain.
So, I'll keep it simple "
He smirked.
"My weapon is… the Offensive Kaleidoscope."
Everyone stared at him, speechless.
Raichi muttered, "...Show-off."
But no one could actually argue because, annoyingly, it was true.