"Out?"
Ryu tilted his head slightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips—amused by the very idea.
"Didn't the game say… you're only out when time runs out?"
He stepped forward.
Not to chase.
But to remind them:
The game isn't over.
Igarashi Gurimu's pupils trembled. His chest tightened.
Why… why isn't he throwing it? Why hasn't he passed?!
Anyone else would've panicked. Scrambled to get rid of the ball.
But this guy—
He chose to be "it."
Voluntarily.
Willingly.
Was he insane?
No.
He was something worse.
A monster…?
No.
Something ancient.
Something primal.
Something terrifying.
An oni in human form.
Gurimu swallowed hard.
An Oni…?
Yeah… that fits. That's exactly what he is.
An Oni.
He didn't wait to see what happened next.
He turned and sprinted—limbs flailing like a rabbit fleeing a hawk.
Across the field, tension gripped every spine. The timer ticked down.
[1:00]
Ryu still hadn't moved.
One foot rested lazily on the ball.
Crimson eyes, half-lidded.
Silent.
What the hell is he doing…?
From afar, Isagi Yoichi squinted. His heart pounded.
He's not giving up…
A guy like that wouldn't.
Above them, in the control room, Jinpachi Ego leaned forward—eyes sharpening behind the glass.
[0:59]
Ryu's voice sliced through the silence like a blade.
"Only the shooter matters."
Bang.
The ball exploded from under his foot, whistling through the air toward a random player.
It missed—barely.
The player flinched.
But before they could react—
Ryu vanished.
A blur. A shadow.
Now behind them.
Ball at his feet. Again.
What the hell?!
He's not trying to tag someone.
He's playing with them.
["OniHunter" has triggered combo reaction: FEAR × EXCITEMENT. +1200]
["YoichiKinnie97" is shaking: "Villain or main character?" +850]
[Total Emotional Value: 105,500]
Sweat-drenched foreheads.
Bodies scattered.
No one made eye contact.
They were prey.
But Ryu?
He wasn't chasing.
He was hunting.
Slow.
Precise.
Dragging it out.
The pressure wasn't on him.
It was on them.
The Oni doesn't panic.
The Oni waits.
The Oni watches.
Suddenly—
"There's still someone sleeping!!"
All heads snapped toward the corner.
Bachira Meguru.
Curled up like a cat.
Breathing softly.
Ryu's eyes narrowed.
Tch. Forgot about him.
Probably watched too many replays at my place again…
He glanced at the clock.
[0:30]
And smiled.
Bang.
Another cannonball.
Straight at Bachira.
No scream.
No panic.
Tap.
The ball stopped at Bachira's feet.
Still half-asleep, he blinked, rubbed his eyes, and looked up with a grin.
"Huh? Aki? You're in my room?"
Ryu chuckled.
"Isn't it better to be together?"
"Now you get to chase me."
Bachira stood.
That wild, toothy smile creeping across his face.
"Aki… You're talking too early."
"Are you sure I'm not going to be the one chasing you?"
The others watched in disbelief.
They're joking… ?
With thirty seconds left?!
Before anyone could speak
"Bachi."
Ryu pointed at the timer.
[0:19]
"If you don't shoot, you're out."
Bachira's grin widened, sharp as ever.
"The end?"
"No, no, no."
"The ball hasn't been shot… so the game's not over."
He sprinted.
Straight at Ryu.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Targeting.
Eyes glinting with madness.
His dribbling was erratic. Musical. Hypnotic.
The ball didn't follow him—it danced with him.
The ground beneath him bent.
And for the first time,
Ryu felt his pulse rise.
That's right… This is the Bachira I know.
A monster born to chase the stronger.
"Aki!"
"I'm going to devour you!!"
Ryu smiled.
"Good."
"Then let me show you why I'm the one you need to chase."
The ball came flying.
Ryu leapt.
Time slowed.
Muscles snapped like cords.
Volley.
BANG.
It echoed like a gunshot.
No reaction.
No time.
The ball slammed into Yuuda Imamura's face.
Blood burst.
He dropped like a ragdoll.
Silence.
[0:03]
[0:02]
[0:01]
[0:00]
[ELIMINATED: YUUDA IMAMURA – RANK Z290]
Ryu landed.
Posture perfect.
Eyes calm.
Like he'd always known what would happen.
Because he had.
Isagi stood frozen.
Mind screaming: Move. React. Do something.
But all he could do was stare.
He didn't even try to stop it.
He just saw it coming—
And hit it with that kind of accuracy?
Ryu turned slowly.
And locked eyes with him.