The moment the words left my mouth, two Team Y players slammed into me from both sides.
Ryūma exploded again, throwing both of them to the ground.
(Just waiting for that pass!)
Sure enough, the instant I broke free of the double-team, Team Y's left attacking midfielder sent the ball forward.
Ryūma had already anticipated this. He immediately shifted his run, charging toward the ball's path.
Seeing this, the Y midfielder sprinted alongside Ryūma, cutting sideways toward the right where the ball was headed. He knew he couldn't match Ryūma's strength, but even slowing him down was better than doing nothing.
"So annoying!"
Ryūma didn't hold back, slamming into him with full force.
The outcome was obvious—the midfielder staggered, nearly falling before regaining balance. He had only been able to keep pace by starting several steps ahead, and now that small delay left him trailing hopelessly behind.
(Damn it! This monster's going to steal the ball, isn't he?)
What saved the Y midfielder from despair was Mii Hisakawa suddenly appearing on the right wing.
[Thud!]
As soon as the ball reached his feet, Hisakawa didn't hesitate. He launched a long pass, lofting it toward Team V's left front.
(Damn it! He even anticipated that?)
(Huh? Kudo Tōya's right behind me on the left… so it wasn't just prediction—he actually saw my movement.)
As Ryūma turned to dash into his frontcourt, his peripheral vision caught Kudo closing in just behind him.
"This time, the three of us won't be boxed in so easily!"
The triplets appeared on the left flank of Team V's frontcourt, waiting for the descending ball.
This time, they'd gotten smarter. They didn't spread out wide but stood just a body's length apart, convinced that this tight spacing would prevent them from being cut off.
Watching from midfield, Ryūma cursed to himself.
(Those three idiots! Sure, this way they won't get trapped—but they've completely sacrificed their defensive coverage!)
(And if they thought of it, then that bastard Kudo definitely already accounted for it.)
(He's probably figured the triplets out completely. No matter what they try, he'll have a way to beat them.)
As Ryūma expected, once the Y left midfielder gained possession, two more players came running in from the opposite side of the triplets.
The result was inevitable: the Y trio cut through all three brothers in one clean triangle play.
After bypassing the triplets, the Y midfielder once again charged into Team V's midfield!
Fortunately, Yo Hiori had tracked back, cutting him off on the left side.
But Hiori's situation was far from ideal. For some reason, Rin Itoshi had retreated from the right flank and was only now reaching his own attacking third. The triplets hadn't recovered yet, and Ryūma had pushed up the middle, leaving space between him and Hiori.
The rest of Team V's players were still near the penalty area, leaving only Hiori to defend the midfield.
(Don't panic, Hiori. Even if you can't take the ball, just buy time for Ryūma to get back!)
Hiori fixed his gaze on the Y midfielder charging toward him, watching every hint of where the ball might go.
"Kudo was right. Aside from those monsters Rin Itoshi and Ryūma, you're the one we need to watch most!"
The words came with a smirk—and Hiori's eyes widened in shock.
Because the Y midfielder had suddenly dribbled past him.
First, he drew Hiori's attention to a passing option on the right. Then he feinted a pass in that direction—only to stop the ball with the sole of his foot, spin, and slip past Hiori as he lunged to intercept.
(Damn it, I fell for it! How long has Kudo been setting this up?)
(He planted the impression that these guys couldn't dribble past defenders… and I forgot one thing.)
(Any forward has at least some dribbling ability—especially ones chosen by Jinpachi Ego!)
(Damn… was I being misled by Kudo from the very start?)
Driving into the left side of the backfield, the Y midfielder wouldn't be so lucky this time.
Team V's back four had their eyes locked on the ball, and both Rin and Ryūma had already sprinted back.
Ryūma entered from the left, two steps behind, positioning himself centrally, while Rin reached the right side at the same time.
The Y midfielder trapped the ball, glanced at the field, then wound up for a shot!
Putian Daiwa had been edging closer. Seeing the shot about to be taken, he could no longer hold back. He slid in, tackling hard at the ball.
"You're way too easy to fool."
With mocking words, the midfielder shifted his stance and swung a pass toward Team V's right side.
As the ball dropped into the center of the defense, both Ryūma and Shima Kobayashi leapt for it at the same moment.
They collided midair, but Ryūma still got his head to the ball. Even though Kobayashi missed, the impact disrupted Ryūma's header.
And with aerial battles never being Ryūma's strong suit—and little practice in heading—the ball flew off in an unpredictable direction.
[Thud!]
The sound of a kick rang out behind him as soon as he landed. He didn't even need to turn around to know what had happened.
(Tch… Anticipated again?)
"You nobodies…"
"Don't piss me off!!"
Ryūma's muscles tightened, his violet eyes blazing as he burst forward toward the ball being pushed to the right wing.
"Quick! Change the plan!"
According to Kudo's calculations, that ball should have gone to Hisakawa on Team V's right side.
But Ryūma had reappeared right behind it, less than a stride away from taking it.
With no other choice, Kudo forced himself in front and flicked the ball with his heel, accelerating it toward Hisakawa on the right.
(Damn it! That monster ruined everything! I never should've gone for that flick!)
(Rin should be reaching that right side soon. Even though I set players to cover Hisakawa's pass…)
(It backfired! Three defenders are tied up marking Rin, leaving almost no one at the edge of the box to finish.)
(And now with me pulled out, there's zero chance of them scoring…)
(Sigh… so it's back to the part I hate most. Time to leave it to luck.)
Kudo's eyes flickered red as he watched the ball sail to the right. Even he no longer knew what would happen next.
The game had already spiraled beyond his calculations.
...
(35 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser