Chapter 57

Kunigami, Reo, and Chigiri rehearse their passing until Chigiri finishes a move with a goal. Chigiri wonders whether Isagi has survived to the next stage, and Kunigami urges patience, framing a win over Nagi, Bachira, and Isagi as the path to advancing and gathering stronger allies. Reo says he only cares about forcing Nagi to admit he needs him again, and when Chigiri mistakes it for affection, Reo corrects him: it is revenge. Elsewhere, Isagi recalls Naruhaya calling him a genius of adaptation and decides Baro is the next player he must adapt to.

Isagi joins Baro at a dining table and asks about his ideal game. Baro answers selfishly, wanting rivals to move purely to serve his scoring, and Isagi pushes back, arguing that cooperation is essential to finishing in football and that pairing up would make Baro's gifts shine even brighter. Baro half-listens before reverting to his king's posture, telling Isagi to simply follow his lead as he strolls off. Isagi judges him a wasted genius for hoarding his talent from teammates.

Soaking in the third stage's public bath, where his firmer muscles reflect Baro's regimen, Isagi is splashed by Kunigami, and the two reunite. Chigiri reveals he is Kunigami's partner, and Nagi surfaces claiming he was merely relaxing. Baro storms in to scold Nagi for swimming in the tub, then checks everyone's hygiene, startling Kunigami and Chigiri. When Chigiri asks about the next opponent, Reo appears and confesses he allied with Kunigami and Chigiri specifically to face Isagi, Nagi, and Baro, and the two trios agree to settle it in the coming round.

Kunigami, Reo, and Chigiri drill their teamwork ahead of the next stage. Isagi tries to steer Baro toward cooperative play, with little success. A bathhouse reunion leads Reo's trio to challenge Isagi, Nagi, and Baro to a match.

The chapter is titled Chance Encounter (Kaikō), the 57th overall and the eighth of Volume 7 in the Second Selection Arc. Its events are adapted in Episode 16 of the anime.