VIII.

                                    

                                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
~~~
"Well, I guess we'll just have to do 'rock, paper, scissors' to decide who plays forward. It's the only fair way," Kuon stated thoughtfully. "Come on then." The players of Team Z gathered into a circle, silent out of concentration. "Ready? Ok, rock, paper, scissors, SHOOT!"
Groans filled the room and I glared down at my own hand. Fuck. Scissors, I thought darkly, watching as Isagi's expression morphed from one of surprise to elation at being the only one to have picked rock. 
"You've got to be kidding me," Gagamaru's voice sounded from beside me as he stared sadly down at his own hand.
"Right, well since we agreed," Kuon started, doing his best to concealing his own dismay. "What position do you want, Isagi?"
I watched as determination settled over Isagi's features. "Striker."
~~~
Somehow I'd ended up on the left wing at midfield. Though I wasn't thrilled about my position, I embraced it readily. Beats playing defense. Or goalkeeper... I shivered at the thought, grateful for Iemon's valiant acceptance of his role. 
"Let's do this, guys," Kuon said, before leading us down the halls to the pitch. 
Just as we finished getting into position, Team X came strutting out of the opposite entrance. Damn, that number 10 dude is pretty intimidating, I thought, watching them casually make their way onto the field, a brooding guy with spiky black hair in the lead.
There was a whistle and at last, the game kicked off. Isagi set off into enemy territory, Bachira off to his right to support. 
I was making a run down the left side, ready for a cross if it came, when all of a sudden, the ball was stolen from Isagi from someone coming up behind him. 
I stopped dead in my tracks, eyes widening with surprise before narrowing in anger. What the fuck was that?
Raichi, who had snatched the ball right out from under Isagi, was on a break away. "Screw the team!" he called back to Isagi who yelled angrily after him. "I'll win this playing my way!"
"Not if I can help it." Kunigami swooped in with a powerful stride, cleanly taking the ball into his own possession. 
There were shouts from behind me as the rest of Team Z hurtled after Kunigami. I watched as one of Team X's players stole the ball before his own teammate stepped to pressure him. 
It was like watching five year olds play. This is insane, I thought, still rooted in my spot across the field. I'd lost sight of the ball in the fray of bodies which continued to shove one another in an attempt to get their foot in. 
"So our football will begin from that starting point. And from there, fix your knowledge of football from scratch."
"That sick bastard," I growled under my breath. Ego gave us all the right hints to make us think we needed to play as individuals in this match in order to win. But this goes beyond playing from scratch. This isn't even football anymore! What the hell are we supposed to get from this?!