Chapter 5: Rise of the Three Eagles
Morning light filtered through the curtains of the Bastard München dormitory, rousing Joshua, Isagi, and Kaiser from a night of hard-earned celebration. The victory over Celtic Park still buzzed in their veins, but there was no time to linger on past glories. Ahead lay preparations for the next great test: a midseason tournament in Barcelona that would pit Bastard München against Europe's finest youth teams.
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I. A New Horizon
The team bus pulled away from the Säbener Straße complex as Isagi reviewed the notebook he'd filled with tactical notes from the Celtic match. Every angle of Joshua's runs, every shift in Dortmund's formation, and Kaiser's last-ditch tackles were mapped in meticulous detail. He folded the page and slipped it into his jacket pocket—his personal playbook for the battles ahead.
Joshua sat beside him, lacing up fresh cleats emblazoned with the Bastard eagle. He glanced at his brother's focused face. "Any weaknesses we need to shore up for Barcelona?" he asked, voice low.
Isagi tapped the page. "We'll face teams that press in triangles, not waves. Your transitional speed will be key. We must train counter-press patterns tighter; reuse the overloads but with quicker recycle."
Joshua nodded. "Let's do it."
Kaiser joined them, stretching his limbs. "I heard our first opponent is the Azul Saints from Lisbon. They play a 4-2-3-1 with a star winger who clocks 37 km/h in sprints. I've seen his reels."
"Then we match his pace and outthink his runs," Isagi said. "I'll show you the heat maps tonight."
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II. Barcelona Bound
Arrival and Impressions
When they landed in Barcelona, the city greeted them with warm breezes and sunlit streets. The tournament hub was nestled near the iconic Camp Nou, and from the window of their hotel room, Joshua could see the colossal stadium's seats gleaming in the afternoon sun.
Over dinner in the team dining hall, the trio exchanged observations. Kaiser had already scouted the Saints' online footage; Joshua had felt the Mediterranean breeze at training; Isagi had prepared a three-page dossier on each group-stage opponent. Their teamwork extended beyond the pitch—each bringing insight and energy to the others' strengths.
That night, as the city bustled below, they huddled around a tablet in their room, plotting patterns and rehearsing set-play routines. The walls echoed with whispered diagrams and laughter—proof that even in unfamiliar surroundings, they remained anchored by each other.
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III. First Match: Bastard vs. Azul Saints
Opening Salvo
The opening match took place on a synthetic turf bathed in floodlights that mimicked the Barcelona twilight. Bastard München, wearing their white and black third kit, faced the Azul Saints in a packed training ground stand. The Saints began with fierce intensity: their winger, Dinis Costa, exploded down the right flank, sending low crosses into the box.
Joshua, positioned on the left, tracked Costa's runs. With Kaiser patrolling centrally, they funneled attacks toward the flanks where they could neutralize the São's penetration. Isagi's pre-match tweak—to have Joshua tuck slightly inside when Costa inverted—paid dividends: Costa's crosses flew harmlessly over the box.
When Bastard won possession, they transitioned swiftly. In the 28th minute, Joshua received the ball at the halfway line, dribbled past two midfielders, and clipped a diagonal to Kaiser charging into the space Costa had vacated. Kaiser's crisp first touch set up a low drive that kissed the post and rattled in.
1–0. Bastard München had broken the deadlock.
Defensive Vigilance
The Saints responded with desperation, but Bastard's defensive block held firm. Kaiser intercepted a threaded pass and turned provider—sending a swift ball to Joshua making a blindside run. Joshua's first touch was perfect; his shot curled just wide, a reminder of his growing confidence.
Late in the half, the Saints managed a set-play equalizer—a towering header from a near-post corner. The game hung in the balance as the whistle sounded for halftime at 1–1.
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IV. Tactical Turnaround
In the cool of the locker room, Isagi laid out the second-half plan: "Push our midfield higher. Disrupt their pivot at the source. And Josh, when you draw Costa into the center, release the ball to the overlapping full-back. Space widens."
Coach Richter keyed in nods as Joshua and Kaiser soaked in the adjustments. Minds sharpened by Isagi's analysis, they returned to the field.
Within minutes of the restart, the new tactic paid off. Costa charged at Joshua, who baited him inside and slipped a pass to the onrushing full-back. The ball was swung back into the box, where Kaiser arrived to slot home his second goal.
2–1. Bastard München took the lead.
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V. Late Drama and Triumph
The Saints threw everything forward in the final ten minutes, but Bastard's disciplined shape and Joshua's relentless pressing broke up attacks before they matured. In the 87th minute, Joshua latched onto a loose pass, raced sixty meters unchallenged, and squared to Kaiser for a tap-in finish.
3–1. The match sealed.
As the final whistle sounded, the three embraced on the touchline—a triumphant trio whose bond had grown even stronger under pressure. Their first group match was a success, but the real challenges lay ahead.
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VI. Brotherhood in the Midst of Competition
That evening, the three retreated to a rooftop terrace overlooking Barcelona's skyline. Between sips of chilled juice, they spoke of home and dreams.
"I miss the rain in Tenkai," Joshua admitted, eyes on the horizon.
Isagi smiled softly. "But now we have Spanish sunsets. Every pitch is our home if we stand together."
Kaiser raised his glass. "To the Yoichi brothers—and me, the honorary brother."
They laughed, the city lights winking around them. As stars emerged overhead, they knew this tournament was more than a series of matches—it was a proving ground for their unity, a testament that light and shadow, angel and demon, could soar in harmony.
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VII. Next Foes and Unwritten Pages
Tomorrow, they would face Juventus-inspired Vecchio Bianco, then the Parisian Rouge Phénix. Each opponent presented new styles and threats. But with Isagi's mind, Joshua's skill, and Kaiser's grit, they were ready.
Their story continued—another chapter in a saga that had begun in a rain-soaked Japanese apartment and now spanned Europe's grandest stages. Together, they would write the next pages, forging legends not of single stars, but of brothers united by dream, duty, and unbreakable bond.
End of Chapter 5