The walk to the field felt different.
No jokes.
No noise.
Just footsteps.
Southside United moved together.
All eleven of them.
Focused.
Locked in.
The field came into view.
Wide.
Clean.
Ready.
And then
they saw them.
The other team was already there.
Standing across the pitch.
Not warming up.
Not talking.
Just… waiting.
"…That's them?" Yuma muttered.
"…Yeah," Hiroto replied.
"…Looks like it."
Yusuke's eyes narrowed slightly.
Riku didn't say anything.
They stepped onto the field.
Closer now.
Clearer.
One by one
their opponents came into focus.
Akka Virel
Age: 17
Position: Forward
Team: Nocturne Eleven
Appearance: Lean build, tall. Long, neat black hair flowing all the way down his back. Bright red eyes that stood out immediately. Pale skin. Slight smile that never fully disappeared. Sharp fangs visible when he spoke.
Expression: Calm. Almost amused.
Presence: Unnatural. Like he didn't belong on the field, yet controlled it anyway.
"…That guy again," Riku muttered.
Akka didn't respond.
Just stared at Yusuke.
Réservoir Delacroix
Age: 17
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Team: Nocturne Eleven
Appearance: Slim, slightly tall. Messy brown hair that fell over his forehead. Sharp brown eyes. Long, slightly crooked nose that gave him a distinct look. Pale skin tone.
Expression: Confident. Slight smirk.
Presence: Calculated. Watching everything.
"…Réservoir…" Hiroto repeated quietly.
"…Weird name."
Lucien Moreau
Age: 18
Position: Central Midfielder
Team: Nocturne Eleven
Appearance: Short black hair, clean cut. Dark eyes. Athletic build.
Expression: Serious, no emotion.
Theo Armand
Age: 17
Position: Winger
Team: Nocturne Eleven
Appearance: Blonde hair, slightly messy. Sharp jawline.
Expression: Focused, impatient.
Jules Caron
Age: 18
Position: Striker
Team: Nocturne Eleven
Appearance: Tall, muscular. Buzz cut black hair.
Expression: Aggressive.
Marc Pelletier
Age: 17
Position: Defensive Midfielder
Team: Nocturne Eleven
Appearance: Brown short hair. Stocky build.
Expression: Calm, unreadable.
Étienne Roche
Age: 18
Position: Center Back
Team: Nocturne Eleven
Appearance: Tall. Dark brown hair, slicked back.
Expression: Cold.
Bastien Fournier
Age: 17
Position: Center Back
Team: Nocturne Eleven
Appearance: Broad build. Short black hair.
Expression: Confident.
Noah Garnier
Age: 16
Position: Right Back
Team: Nocturne Eleven
Appearance: Light brown hair. Slim.
Expression: Alert.
Clément Dubois
Age: 17
Position: Left Back
Team: Nocturne Eleven
Appearance: Dark hair. Slightly long fringe.
Expression: Relaxed.
Adrien Lefevre
Age: 18
Position: Goalkeeper
Team: Nocturne Eleven
Appearance: Tall. Short blonde hair. Gloves already on.
Expression: Calm.
Silence hung between both teams.
"…They look serious," Sora muttered.
"…They are," Takumi replied.
Réservoir stepped forward slightly.
Hands in his pockets.
Eyes scanning.
"…So you're the ones making noise," he said calmly.
His gaze landed on Yusuke.
Then shifted.
To Riku.
Just for a second.
"…Interesting."
Akka finally spoke.
"…Yusuke."
His voice was quiet.
But clear.
"…Don't disappoint me."
Riku clicked his tongue.
"…He's talking like he owns the field."
Yusuke didn't respond.
Just stared forward.
The referee stepped in.
"Teams ready?"
No answer.
They didn't need one.
Both sides moved into position.
Southside United.
Nocturne Eleven.
The ball sat at the center.
Still.
Waiting.
Riku stepped forward.
Yusuke beside him.
Akka across from them.
Réservoir just behind.
Watching.
The whistle hadn't blown yet.
But the tension
was already there.
"…This is it," Hiroto said quietly.
Riku exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
His eyes sharpened.
"…Now they'll see."
The referee raised the whistle.
A sharp breath.
The sound cut through the field.
Kickoff.