Cap 8

"This... how interesting. So it's only after that that the opponents become paralyzed." My eyes were glued to the television as I analyzed the matches of Okaruto School.

"Is it really a curse… or something else? Is there a way to stop it?"

"Mare, mare, mare, tomare? Wait… that's it!" A wide smile spread across my face.

"But to truly understand how this technique works, I need to see it with my own eyes. Fascinating... this is so fascinating." My eyes glowed bright orange as I absorbed every detail from the videos.

The next morning, in the classroom...

"Good morning, Aki‑chan." I greeted her with a yawn still on my lips.

"Endou, you stayed up late again, didn't you?" She looked at me with mild reproach, and I just smiled, trying to avoid a scolding. Aki sighed in resignation.

As we were chatting, I felt someone's presence behind me.

"Gouenji‑san?" Aki asked in surprise.

I turned around and saw Gouenji standing right behind me.

"Ohh, good morning, Gouenji!" I greeted him enthusiastically, giving him a light tap on the shoulder.

"Good morning, Endou." He replied, clearly rattled by my excitement.

"Endou..." I noticed tension in his expression—something was bothering him.

"Hm? Is something wrong, Gouenji?"

"I... would like to join the soccer club." He handed me a paper.

Aki stepped forward, curious, peeking at what he had given me.

We exchanged a look, then turned our attention to the paper.

It was a registration form filled out with Gouenji's information.

"WHAT?!?!?!"

In the club room...

"So that's it, everyone. Let's welcome our new teammate! Let's all get along!" I announced with enthusiastic applause in the Raimon soccer club room.

A chorus of excited voices filled the room. Not surprising—everyone knew Gouenji's talent.

"Hold on, everyone. Before we celebrate, I found something important in the videos I watched." I interrupted the excitement, especially noticing Someoka's discomfort with the new teammate.

"Take a look at this." I turned on the monitor and played one of the videos I watched late into the night.

"Captain, what do you want us to notice?" Kurimatsu asked, confused—it was actually a video we had already seen.

"Just wait..." I smiled and switched to the next one.

I played four in total—three were never-before-seen clips sent by Haruna‑chan.

"Did you notice any similarities across the videos?" I asked after they ended.

"Okaruto's curse appeared in all of them." Shishido replied, while Kurimatsu, Kageyama, and Shourinji visibly shivered at the thought.

I nodded. "Anyone else catch anything?"

"Their coach... every time the curse happened, he did something strange." Haruna noted, serious.

"As expected from our expert manager. Thank you, Haruna‑chan." She gave a shy smile as everyone admired her.

"I analyzed multiple Okaruto matches. Only these four videos show the coach, but one thing is clear: whenever opponents froze, he repeated a phrase just before." I crossed my arms, serious.

"What he says is simple: 'Mare, mare, mare, tomare.' Only after that do the opponents freeze. That's the source of Okaruto School's so‑called 'curse.'"

The room turned tense. This info could change everything.

"So the curse is activated by the word 'Stop'... but how can we break it?" Aki‑chan asked, confused—everyone nodded in agreement.

"I've heard of Okaruto School, but I've never played against them." Gouenji spoke for the first time since the video, shaking his head, unsure.

"I haven't found a solid way to block the technique yet. But since I haven't witnessed it myself, the most important thing now is to stay alert. The unknown is scary... but the more we know, the less dangerous it becomes."

"Now, let's talk strategy." I grabbed the clipboard. "With Someoka's Hissatsu and Gouenji on our side, our offense is much stronger. But it's likely Okaruto watched our match against Teikoku."

"Which means they already know about 'Fire Tornado.' They'll crowd Gouenji. In that scenario, our main striker has to be Someoka."

We spent the rest of the day reviewing tactics, debating scenarios, and figuring out how to handle Okaruto's "curse."

Match Day

"Natsumi‑chan." I greeted the student council president as the teachers from both schools gathered for the match start.

"I see you're very confident, Endou‑kun." Natsumi waved with a slight smile.

"Well, the motivation you gave our team fired us up. We're looking forward to the reward you promised." I replied confidently—after all, Natsumi's father runs this school. Her promise carries weight.

"Let's see if your team can actually win, Endou‑kun." Natsumi said with poise before walking away.

Soon after, I spotted the captain of Okaruto: Yuukoku. A strange boy wearing a headband with one eye. It was unsettling—but fitting, considering Okaruto's reputation for "curses."

Unfortunately, the kick-off was theirs.

From the first seconds, the difference was clear—Okaruto's ball control easily broke through Raimon's defense. They dribbled past Kageyama and created their first scoring opportunity.

"Phantom Shoot!" One player launched the ball skyward, which split into six purple spheres that shot forward before merging again into one powerful strike.

My eyes flashed—I recognized a new Hissatsu. But I didn't hesitate.

"Heavenly Hand!" I focused my energy and blocked the shot solidly. Their strength was less than Teikoku's, so I defended with relative ease.

"Incredible! Endou Mamoru saves the shot from Okaruto!"

"Stay focused! Time for a counterattack!" I launched the ball to Kazemaru, who sprinted up, crossed midfield, and passed to Shourinji.

As expected, Gouenji was heavily marked—surrounded by three opponents. But Shourinji moved quickly and tapped it to Someoka, free at the edge of the box.

"Dragon Crash!" Someoka unleashed his special shot. The blue dragon burst forth from the ball and raced toward the goal.

Okaruto's goalkeeper was caught off guard—he couldn't react.

"Gooooal for Raimon!"

Because Megane was on the bench, we let him name Someoka's technique. He called it Dragon Crash.

Even in the thrill, we knew the real challenge lay ahead.

We kept up the pressure as planned. We took advantage of the fact that Okaruto didn't have enough information about Raimon. After regaining possession of the ball, despite Gouenji still being marked, Someoka took advantage of the chance again, scoring Raimon's second goal.

Raimon 2–0 Okaruto

But right after Okaruto's restart, the atmosphere shifted.

"So… it's started." I glanced toward the sideline—Okaruto's coach had changed his demeanor.

"Let's see how strong this so‑called curse is." Instead of fear, I felt excitement—after all, curses are supernatural too. I had never witnessed one firsthand in my past life.

"Mare, mare, mare, tomare! Mare, mare, mare, tomare!" The chant began.

Then the expected happened—our defense grew confused, players got mixed up, and unbelievably started marking each other. Okaruto seized the opening.

Near the box, their captain executed another Hissatsu.

"Ghost Lock!" "Mare, tomare!"

And there it was... the curse took effect.

My teammates froze. I felt my legs lock partially. The technique's energy barely affected me—but I was hit by vertigo. Dizziness clouded my focus.

"Phantom Shoot!" Okaruto didn't wait—they unleashed their Hissatsu again.

Even dazed, I focused. There was no time for Heavenly Hand, so I leaped with all my strength.

My hand glowed golden-orange as I punched the ball with full force.

"It's a save! Endou Mamoru denies Okaruto again! Throw‑in for Okaruto!"

Thanks to my rapid reaction, I prevented disaster.

The opposing team looked shocked. They didn't expect someone to withstand the technique.

From the throw‑in, they launched another attack. But Raimon wasn't just defenders.

Kurimatsu, using his small build, snuck in and executed a precise sliding tackle to steal the ball.

Max received it and crossed from the left to Someoka, perfectly positioned.

"Dragon Crash!" Someoka didn't hesitate.

But this time… the result was different.

"Mare, Tomare!" "Yuugamu Kuukan!"

"He saves it! Nata Juuzou stops Someoka's shot!"

Okaruto quickly launched a deadly counterattack.

"Ghost Lock!" "Mare, Tomare!"

This time, I clearly felt the technique's power. The "curse" was stronger—the coach's chant was more potent.

I was completely frozen. My legs simply... wouldn't move.

"Phantom Shoot!" The shot split again into six spheres and reformed into an even more powerful strike.

Unable to respond, I had no defense.

Raimon 2–1 Okaruto

The referee blew the whistle. Halftime.