The winning Goal

The dog-masked man sat on his brown velvet chair, his eyes transfixed on the large screen before him. His posture was peculiar—sitting with his legs folded on the chair, almost as though he were crouched down rather than seated properly. His intense focus on the match was evident; he was completely absorbed, his breathing steady but his fingers twitching slightly in anticipation.

"This is so awesome... So much desperation in Team Red. However..." His voice trailed off, a sinister chuckle escaping his lips. "It's already been decided for either team."

Meanwhile, on the field, both Team Red and Team Blue were at a standstill, rearranging themselves into formation. The tension in the air was palpable, sweat dripping from the players' brows as they took their positions.

Possession now belonged to Team Blue. The ball rested at John's feet, and his eyes remained locked onto Miya with an unwavering intensity.

Unlike before, Miya did not simply stand there and watch. This time, he took a step forward and questioned John directly.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Are you planning something? Whatever it is, it won't work."

John shook his head, an expression of utter disinterest on his face. "Nothing. It's just... when I see you play, I see nothing. Your football is empty. Your motivations? Worthless. Compared to mine, they amount to nothing. That's why this match was lost from the very beginning."

Miya's hands clenched into fists, his jaw tightening at John's words. His instincts screamed at him to lash out, but he held himself back. Losing his temper wouldn't help—if fouls were being counted, then an outburst could cost him more than just his pride.

'This is probably his plan,' Miya thought, taking a deep breath to steady himself.

"Why would you say that?" he finally asked, voice restrained.

John's lips curled into a smirk. "Because when I look into your eyes, I see hesitation. Uncertainty. True football isn't just about joy—it's about determination. The teammates who allowed that goal earlier? They had it. That's why they scored. They converted their passion into resolve and found a way to succeed."

John took a step closer, his voice growing colder. "You contributed nothing. Despite it being your plan, you were useless. You hesitated, and in that hesitation, you lost. I believe you are the most worthless player on this field."

Miya's entire body tensed.

'That's it. That was the crossing line.'

He took a step forward, fury igniting in his veins. "You jerk! Just because you played against us once, don't think I'll fall into your petty provocations! You can't even score a goal yourself, so don't act like you're any better than I am."

John tilted his head slightly, as if pondering something. Then, he murmured the words as though repeating them to himself. "Score a goal...?"

At that exact moment, the referee blew the whistle. The game resumed.

All of Team Blue, except their defender and John, surged forward in unison.

Miya's eyes darted across the field. 'They're targeting Mikey and Eri...'

John, however, remained still, maintaining possession of the ball. His eyes stayed fixed on Miya.

"Come on! You want a one-on-one? Here I am!" Miya spread his stance wide, lowering his center of gravity as he prepared to intercept.

If he could steal the ball from John, he could drive forward, break their formation, and set up a counterattack for another goal. This was his chance. This was the way.

John exhaled through his nose, unimpressed. "You think I, Kashimoto John, am just a simple opponent for you to face one-on-one? You're mistaken."

Miya's focus sharpened. He saw John shift his left foot back.

'He's going to pass!' Miya readied himself to intercept, preparing to sprint toward Nathan—the defender who had just darted into open space in Team Red's defense.

Then—

BANG!

John struck the ball with all his might. It wasn't a pass. It wasn't a feint.

It was a shot.

The ball rocketed through the air with shocking velocity, curving unpredictably.

Team Red's players froze in disbelief. Even John's own teammates were taken aback by his decision.

The only one who reacted was the goalkeeper—a towering, silent giant who had been steadfast in his defense the entire match. His instincts kicked in, and he leapt into the air, aiming to intercept the shot with a powerful header.

And then—

SWOOSH!

Just as the ball neared him, it made an impossible curve, swerving around his outstretched frame before slamming straight into the net with a thunderous collision.

A stunned silence fell over the field.

The dog-masked man jumped from his seat, fists clenched in exhilaration. "GOAAAAAAL!" he screamed, his voice filled with glee.

But on the field, no one moved. No one spoke. Everyone stood motionless, their minds struggling to process what had just happened.

Miya's mouth fell open. 'A shot that well-calculated… This guy… He's a monster…'

John exhaled sharply, almost annoyed. "Hey. Didn't you say I couldn't score?" He cracked his neck and let out a sigh. "I hate it when weaklings take too much pride in themselves."

Miya felt his legs buckle beneath him. He collapsed to his knees, his head hanging low, the weight of his defeat crashing down upon him. He had lost. He had lost completely.

From afar, even Eri and Mikey were overcome with anguish.

Mikey fell onto his back, both hands covering his face, unable to bear the reality of their defeat. Eri sat with his legs crossed, his gaze locked onto the ground, his fingers trembling slightly.

Then came the final announcement.

"Team Red has lost! Team Blue wins and advances to the next round."

Miya let out a scream, his voice filled with frustration and agony. "ARRRRRRGGGHH!"

He slammed both hands onto the field, his emotions boiling over.

Even the air around them felt heavier.

"Now, please leave the field. The winning team will be led to the Winners' Lounge, while the losing team will be taken to the Crappy Lounge, where they will await their punishment."

A mechanical voice echoed through the stadium.

"One star has been deducted from the losers. Two more losses, and it's over."