Tokyo Dome buzzed with excitement as Vortex's next match approached
Fans filled the stadium early
Everyone wanted to witness the Ghost Playmaker again
But deep inside the stadium tunnels
Reiji stood still
His fingers tracing the wall
Feeling the vibrations of the roaring crowd
This wasn't just another match
Something felt…off
---
Coach Hiroshi walked in with a file
No words
He just handed Reiji the paper
A player profile
New transfer
Vortex's next opponent had recruited someone unexpected
Riku Hazama
Age 17
Former prodigy from Japan
But had disappeared three years ago
Now he returned from Spain
FC Valencia Youth Academy
With a record of zero losses
And one strange quote in every interview:
> "I don't want the ball
I want to break the one who moves it"
---
Reiji narrowed his eyes at the photo
Black hair
Sharp glare
Lean but not muscular
The kind of player who didn't look like a threat until he moved
He muttered
"Why now…"
Coach Hiroshi sighed
"You knew him, didn't you"
Reiji didn't answer
Just walked away
---
Flashback
Three years ago
A dusty practice field in Osaka
Two kids
Reiji and Riku
Playing 1v1 after school every day
They weren't friends
They were puzzles to each other
Two geniuses with opposite philosophies
Reiji created
Riku destroyed
---
Final day before Riku left for Spain
He turned to Reiji
"You'll always be interesting
But you'll never be dangerous
Because you still want to impress people"
Then he left
No goodbye
---
Back to present
Match day
Vortex vs the Madrid Eagles Youth Squad
But everyone knew this wasn't about the teams
It was about two minds
Clashing for the first time in years
---
Kickoff
Reiji played midfield as usual
But something was wrong
Every pass
Every fake
Riku saw through it all
Not reacting
Anticipating
He wasn't following Reiji
He was leading him into traps
Shadows disguised as space
---
20th minute
Vortex tried a build-up
Reiji signaled for a switch
But Riku moved early
Intercepted the pass before it even began
Counter
Goal
0–1
The crowd gasped
---
Reiji clenched his fists
Then smiled
"Ah
So you didn't come back to play football
You came to break mirrors"
---
Halftime
In the locker room
Coach looked concerned
"You okay?"
Reiji was sketching patterns on his wrist tape
"Yes
He wants me to doubt myself
So I won't"
He stood up
Looked in the mirror
And whispered
"Let's play with no reflection"
---
Second half
Reiji changed
No more predictable brilliance
No more safe vision
He started doing weird things
Heel passes to no one
Dragging the ball backwards
Switching roles with defenders mid-run
Chaos returned
But this time
It was intentional
And Riku
For the first time
Hesitated
---
Then it came
A diagonal no-look lob
Straight to Leo
Volley into top corner
1–1
---
Riku stared at Reiji
But Reiji didn't celebrate
He just whispered
"Still think I'm trying to impress?"
---
Final whistle
1–1 draw
But the war wasn't over
Outside the stadium
Riku waited
"You've changed
But remember
I came back for one reason"
Reiji raised an eyebrow
"To play?"
Riku shook his head
"To make sure Japan never forgets who the real ghost is"
He walked off into the dark