Second Half
Score: 1-1
The first half ended in a draw, with both teams showing incredible skill and determination. As the players gathered during the break, the Freshman Team regrouped, preparing for the battle ahead.
Taira stood in front of the team, his voice steady and commanding.
"You all did great in the first half. Now, listen up. In the second half, Midorima and Murasakibara, I need you two to step up and support our center-backs. Press their midfield hard and don't give them space."
He turned toward Higuchi.
"Higuchi, you're marking Hyuga. Do not let him roam free. Stay on him like a shadow—I trust you can handle this."
Higuchi nodded, clenching his fists. "Leave it to me."
"Izawa, Sawada, play a little more defensively. Help our backline when needed, but be ready to explode forward on the counterattack."
He then smirked.
"As for Taro… I'll mark him myself. If we cut off their best playmaker, we shut down their attack. Understood?"
"Yeah!!!" the team shouted in unison, their energy igniting.
As the players moved to take their positions, Taira approached Masaki.
There was a rare seriousness in his eyes.
"Masaki… I don't know what to say to you. You're always good at everything, especially football. The first time you beat me, I realized something—'There's always someone better than you, and there's always someone worse.'* But do you know what my greatest victory over you is?"*
Masaki, caught off guard by Taira's unusual tone, raised an eyebrow.
Taira took a deep breath.
"Every time I step on the field with you, I give it everything I have. I leave everything out there. That… is my victory."
For the first time in a while, Masaki was stunned. But then, a smirk tugged at his lips, and he chuckled softly before replying.
"Football is a game. A sport. At the end of the day, that's all it is—a game. Winning doesn't make you better than anyone, and losing doesn't make you worse. That's why I respect you, Taira."
He then placed a hand on Taira's shoulder, his smirk widening.
"But don't misunderstand—I don't plan on losing. We're taking this match."
Taira's surprise quickly turned into laughter.
"Hah! That's what I wanted to hear. Now, let's go make history."
(A/N : i think i overdid it..it feel like final championship)
————-
Masaki nodded and walked toward his position, the fire in his eyes burning brighter than ever.
The Second Half
The referee blew the whistle—the second half had begun.
Taira sent a crisp pass to Masaki, who was immediately pressured by two defenders. But Masaki stayed calm, using the instep of his foot to control the ball, spinning to shield it from his markers.
Then—he exploded forward.
With a burst of speed, Masaki broke past the two defenders, but another was waiting ahead.
A normal player would have stopped—Masaki didn't.
He used the outside of his left foot to feint, making the defender commit to one side—
Then, in the blink of an eye, he used the instep of the same foot to push the ball in the opposite direction, completely shaking off his marker.
"Damn it! He tricked me!" the defender cursed as Masaki darted past him.
The ball rolled slightly ahead of Masaki due to the force of his touch—Taro Misaki lunged forward to steal it.
But Masaki, reacting instantly, poked the ball forward at the last second, nutmegging Taro cleanly.
"Tch—! Damn you, Masaki!" Taro growled, watching him slip through.
Jito, the defensive wall, charged forward to stop him.
Masaki slowed down slightly, pulling his left leg back.
Jito tensed, expecting a powerful shot—
But it was a fake.
Masaki pushed the ball forward at the last moment, creating just enough space for a real shot.
Then—
BOOM!
Masaki launched a devastating left-footed strike from outside the penalty box.
The ball soared with ridiculous power and speed, swerving toward the top left corner of the goal.
"Unreal! That shot is insane!"
"The keeper's got no chance!"
The goalkeeper jumped, barely managing to get his fingertips on the ball.
PING!
The shot struck the crossbar with immense force and it go out of play.
"Masaki's shot was off!!!"
"The goalkeeper barely touched it… but it was an incredible shot!"
"That curve… that power… that was insane!"
"He just weaved through five players like it was nothing!"
Taira exhaled, shaking his head in disbelief.
"He's on a whole different level right now."
(A/N:Messi skill huh…terrifying really tearrifying)
————-
Corner Kick
The Freshman Team was awarded a corner kick.
Taira stepped up to take it, sending a perfect pass to the back of the penalty box—toward Masaki.
Masaki adjusted his position, but a defender rushed toward him.
Without hesitation—Masaki lobbed the ball over him.
The defender barely turned around when he saw Masaki—
Already mid-air.
Bicycle kick.
"He's completely surrounded!"
"There's no angle! He can't shoot from there!"
The crowd erupted with noise, but Masaki's voice cut through the chaos like a blade.
"There's no angle? Who decided that? I can't shooting? And who decided that? The only one who gets to decide such thing is me!" Masaki said, loud enough for the defenders to hear.
(A/N: Hurm-hurm…i really waiting for this moment)
He executed the bicycle kick with perfect technique, striking the ball with unbelievable precision.
The goalkeeper reacted late—
Because he never saw it coming.
The ball soared through the air—going between the goalkeeper's legs before smashing into the net.
GOAL!!!
2-1 – Freshman Team Takes the Lead!
The bench exploded in cheers.
"WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?!"
"THAT WAS A BICYCLE KICK?!"
"HE SHOT FROM THAT ANGLE? HOW?!"
"THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!"
Taira stood frozen for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"That bastard… he actually did it."
Even Hyuga, watching from afar, smirked.
"Damn, Masaki… You just don't stop, do you?"
The referee blew his whistle—the second half was now in full swing, and the game had changed.
Masaki turned back toward the Senior Team, his eyes burning with excitement.
"Now then… show me what you've got."