The @13 team stood on the field.
Viraj looked at them—
Every player. Every face.
Just by appearance—they all looked dangerous.
Viraj said to himself—
"First, I need to find this team's mastermind. Only then can we win."
---
@13's first raid—
Vinayak.
He stepped into the court.
---
Viraj—
"No. We have to catch him. But… how?"
---
Vinayak moved toward Viraj and Surya—applying pressure—
Surya looked at him—
He made a mistake. Came too close to me.
Surya got ready—
Then—
Shock.
Vinayak's footwork—
One leg up—fully—
Then after a moment, the other—
No pattern at all.
Surya got confused—
"What is this? How do I deal with him?"
---
But Viraj—
Was continuously staring into Vinayak's eyes.
As if he was trying to read him—from the inside.
Vinayak tried to tag Viraj—
Viraj stepped back—
Vinayak cut to the left—toward Shubham and Vedant—
Viraj and Surya gave cover.
---
Roshan—
Was watching Vinayak.
His calculation had already begun—
Here. At this point. He'll come here. This is the chance.
And—
Vinayak actually came there.
But—
Vinayak suddenly turned.
An error in Roshan's calculation.
No—he didn't go where he was supposed to—
But now—
Roshan had already come too close—
Vinayak—
Tagged Roshan.
He was about to turn back—
When—
A grip on his leg.
Vinayak looked down—
Viraj.
Full strength. Both hands. Sitting low on the ground.
"When did he get here…?"
Surya arrived—
Together—
They pinned Vinayak down.
Whistle.
Vinayak — OUT.
---
Vinayak walked out—frustrated.
---
Roshan came to Viraj—
"How did you know I was going to do that?"
Viraj—
"I'd been watching you for a while. I could tell you were planning something. The moment I felt you executed your move, Vinayak's full attention shifted to you."
A pause.
"I also saw that there was a flaw in your calculation—that's why you couldn't reach him in time. So Vinayak tagged you. And I used that moment."
---
Roshan said nothing.
But Viraj—
Inside—
Last time, Vishal kept watching Vedant. That's how he understood—when he would fake an attack on Viran, Vedant would definitely move. And that's exactly what happened.
And this time—I tried the same thing. I observed Roshan. Felt him. Figured out his next step. And used it for myself.
And—it worked.
Something inside Viraj—
Awakened.
"If I can build this kind of connection with others—just by reading their emotions and faces… predicting their next move… and using them—"
A pause. A realization.
"—then I can survive. And I can rise."
---
Far away—
Control Room.
Tane was watching the match on a large screen.
Alone. Silent.
And when he saw that move—Viraj's timing—his grip—
Tane's lips moved slightly.
Softly. To himself.
"Viraj."
A faint smile.
"Welcome… to the world of words and reading."
---
— Chapter 23 End —