The ball was in! Team Z had taken the lead!
About thirty minutes had passed since the opening whistle, and it was finally Kira who broke the deadlock. By sniffing out the rebound and finishing with a clinical second-strike, he had put his team ahead. The members of Team Z erupted, their roars of celebration filling the stadium as they huddled together in triumph.
However, Isagi looked dejected. He stared at his feet, his mind spiraling with frustration. That last chance had been his to take—a clear shot on goal—and he had failed to bury it. If Kira hadn't been there to clean up his mess, that golden opportunity would have been wasted. Since arriving at Blue Lock, Isagi felt like he was being constantly battered by reality, and today's failure felt particularly heavy.
"Isagi, don't let it get to you. Next time, just put it in the back of the net."
A warm hand landed on his shoulder. Isagi looked up to see Kira's encouraging smile. The warmth of the gesture reached him, and he felt a surge of resolve. He couldn't afford to sink into self-pity; he couldn't let Kira down.
"Whoa, whoa! Kira! When did you learn that Marseille Turn? I can do that too, but I haven't even had the chance to use it yet!" Bachira chirped, circling Kira like an excited puppy, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Hahaha, it was just a flash of inspiration. My body just moved on its own..." Kira laughed it off, trying to be vague. It was impossible to explain that he was "borrowing" Bachira's own talent via the System.
"Could it be... that you're actually a one-in-a-million genius?" Bachira tilted his head, genuinely wondering.
"The match isn't over yet. Let's keep it up, Team Z. We're sending Team Y home!" Kira quickly changed the subject, rallying the squad back into formation.
Across the pitch, Niko Ikki was reeling from the shock. He had thought the three monsters from Team V were outliers, but here was someone on Team Z who seemed just as capable. Kira's movement was already a nightmare to track; he never expected the boy to have such fluid dribbling skills as well.
In the monitoring room, Teieri Anri had officially become a fan. She gasped and cheered with every move Kira made on the screen. Ego Jinpachi, however, looked like he was developing a headache. He rubbed his temples, annoyed by Anri's shouting, but as he turned his gaze back to Kira's data, his expression turned pensive. Kira's rate of evolution was exceeding even his wildest projections.
The match resumed. Team Y quickly adjusted their strategy. Under Niko's direction, they began double-teaming both Kira and Bachira. Since Kira's "Bachira Trial Card" had expired, he couldn't replicate the explosive multi-man dribbles from earlier. The game devolved into a grueling war of attrition and physical stamina.
At the 42nd minute of the first half, the unexpected happened.
Bachira attempted a forceful breakthrough on the right wing. He beat two men but his shot was smothered by a Team Y defender who threw his body into the line of fire. The ball popped up into the air, but the rebound took an awkward bounce toward the midfield.
Dammit! Kira thought. He saw Niko react first, claiming the ball.
In that instant, Ohkawa Hibiki—who had been virtually invisible the entire half—ignited like a rocket toward Team Z's half. Because he had been "slacking" for so long, Team Z's defenders had grown complacent, their focus entirely on the attack.
Niko Ikki didn't hesitate. He looked up, spotted the run, and unleashed a massive long-ball.
"He's going long?!" Kira froze.
A second later, the ball carved a high arc through the air, crossing nearly the entire length of the pitch with professional-grade precision. It landed perfectly in Ohkawa's stride.
Ohkawa exploded with the pent-up energy of a man who had waited forty minutes for one touch. He was like a wild horse breaking free from its tether, blowing past the frantic, disorganized defenders of Team Z.
It was a clean breakaway.
Facing the makeshift keeper, Iemon, Ohkawa showed exactly why he was the top scorer from Kumamoto. He sold a fake shot so convincing it sent the inexperienced Iemon diving early, then calmly chipped the ball into the net.
Score: 1-1. The game was tied.
Kira watched from a distance, clicking his tongue in realization. This was Team Y's true "One-Kill" strategy—an iron-clad defense waiting for that one second of total lethality. The synergy between Niko's eyes and Ohkawa's feet had produced a perfect "0 to 1" awakening.