After kickoff, Hisakawa Mii immediately passed to Kobayashi Shima charging into Team V's half.
"Go, Kobayashi! Break through with our teamwork!"
Hisakawa shouted, leading two Team Y midfielders forward.
"Triplets, mark your men! I'll keep Hisakawa in check!"
"Ryūma, watch me closely. They'll probably pass to Hisakawa. I'll find a way to cut it out!"
"Relax, Hiori. As long as I get the ball, there's no way they'll stop me. Just focus on winning it."
Yo Hiori nodded and sprinted toward Hisakawa Mii, certain the pass would go to him. At the same time, he silently vowed:
(I have to win a few balls for Ryūma. Against Team Z, I was useless.)
(If it's the same this time, then I don't deserve to stand beside him!)
As Hiori closed in on Hisakawa, Ryūma also launched forward toward Kobayashi, who was dribbling.
Trapped by the triplets, Kobayashi looked flustered, but his footwork stayed calm. Spotting the moment, he slipped the ball to Matsutani Kageaki, who had quietly slipped into midfield.
Matsutani charged forward, and when he reached Team V's back line, he shaped up for a shot.
[Thud]
Two defenders fell for the feint and went down. It wasn't a shot at all—it was a pass, exactly as Hiori had expected, and it went to Hisakawa.
Inside the box, Hisakawa leapt up, aiming to control it with his chest.
"I've been waiting for this!"
Hiori, lurking nearby, accelerated and leapt first, intercepting before Hisakawa could react.
Hisakawa froze in surprise, but instead of pressing for the ball, he bolted straight toward Team V's penalty area!
(Huh? What's with this guy? He just let me intercept, and now he's running into our box?)
Hiori didn't get it, but he pushed the thought aside. All he wanted now was to pass to Ryūma. He wanted to prove he could keep up, that he could fight alongside him!
But reality was cruel. Just as the ball dropped to his feet and he looked for an angle to feed Ryūma, a shadow appeared from behind, booting it away!
"Wha—when did he—?!"
(That was their right attacking midfielder! I was so focused on Hisakawa, I forgot about the two behind him. Damn!)
He spun to chase the ball, only to see Kobayashi waiting exactly where it was headed.
"It's mine!"
Kobayashi grinned, but before he could say more, Rin Itoshi materialized in front of him and cut it out.
(Huh? Can this guy teleport? How did he get here?!)
(What now? …Alright, I get it.)
Kobayashi snapped out of his hesitation and dashed into Team V's box.
Rin looked faintly puzzled but didn't slow down. He turned sharply with the ball, preparing to drive forward—when two Team Y midfielders pounced from both sides with sliding tackles.
"Tch."
Before Rin could steady himself, the double tackle took the ball.
Matsutani rushed to claim it, but before he could, a voice rang out with a teasing lilt.
"Oh~ Rin, looking a little rough there."
It was Ryūma, smirking as he intercepted the still-airborne ball.
(Five guys blocking my lane… plus whoever else tracks back. This could get messy.)
(Hiori's out wide… and by that look, he's begging me to use him in the play.)
(Alright then. Catch this, Hiori.)
Without hesitation, Ryūma sent the ball left to Hiori, then exploded forward into Team Y's defense.
(This time, I won't let you down, Ryūma!)
Hiori steeled himself as the ball came closer.
He received it cleanly, adjusted, and struck his pass forward.
[Thud]
But his eyes went wide in shock.
The ball had barely traveled two meters before smashing off Team Y's left attacking midfielder's face.
Hiori snapped his head toward the rebound's path—
[Thud]
It landed right at the feet of Team Y's left midfielder, who, without letting it drop, sent a long pass arcing back toward Team V's box. His target: Kobayashi, who was already charging in.
Kobayashi and Rin sprinted for the falling ball at the same time. Knowing he couldn't win once it bounced, Kobayashi launched into a diving header to redirect it.
Rin, however, had read the play, spinning away toward another angle.
The ball Kobayashi had headed flew perfectly to Hisakawa Mii, who was already winding up a shot inside the box!
[Thud!]
But Rin had sprinted straight into his shooting lane. Hisakawa watched him with grudging awe:
(What a monster. Even after I tricked him earlier, he still anticipated and cut my shot off.)
(But still…)
Instead of panicking, Hisakawa looked elsewhere.
For the first time that match, Rin's expression wavered. The ball had been redirected midair—headed across the box by Team Y's right attacking midfielder!
By the time Rin turned, the ball was already being smashed into the net.
[Thud!]
GOAL!! Team V 1–2 Team Y
In that instant, Matsutani Kageaki, already set on the left side, had struck cleanly into the goal!
Team V players watched as Team Y huddled together in celebration. Their faces weren't grim—just stunned.
The entire sequence had unfolded at lightning speed. Pass after pass, no pauses, capped by a sudden finish. To them, Team Y's attack looked every bit as fast and merciless as Ryūma and Rin's 'Blitz Shot.'
As he jogged back to defend, Ryūma frowned.
(The more I play against them, the stranger it feels. Their coordination… it's like they've been teammates forever.)
"I'm useless, Ryūma. I never thought that pass would get intercepted… I just made you waste your run."
"I let you down. If not for me, you would've broken through and scored yourself."
"Don't pass to me again, Ryūma. I can't keep up with your pace. I'll only drag you down…"
Hiori's guilt ate away at him. In his mind, Ryūma had passed him the ball because he trusted him—because he believed the play would connect. Ryūma had even charged forward, expecting the perfect return.
But Hiori had failed him, left him running for nothing. As the thought sank deeper, his face turned pale.
...
(35 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser