, titled " The Crossroads of Losers " (敗北者の岐路), captures the psychological turning point for Shoei Baro as he faces the prospect of losing his "King" persona to Yoichi Isagi's overwhelming presence on the field. Chapter Overview
: His rational mind tells him that passing to Isagi or Nagi will result in a goal and a team victory. However, his deep-seated ego warns that making such a pass would mean his "death" as a striker. , titled " The Crossroads of Losers "
: Refusing to submit to Isagi’s "light," Baro rejects the idea of being a supporting player. He chooses to "devour" himself, finding a new way to shine by utilizing his own failure as bait. Series Context Arc : Second Selection Arc. : Refusing to submit to Isagi’s "light," Baro
The 3-on-3 match in the Second Selection reaches a fever pitch with the score tied at 4–4. Baro, in possession of the ball, is paralyzed by the realization that he is no longer the "main character" of the match. He sees both Isagi and Nagi as the ones dictating the game, and for the first time, he considers passing the ball to secure a win. The 3-on-3 match in the Second Selection reaches
: Baro experiences a haunting vision of a future where he is a mediocre "former genius" sitting at home, watching Isagi lead Japan to victory on TV.
: Team White (Isagi, Nagi, Baro) vs. Team Red ( Chigiri , Kunigami, Reo).