Rin Itoshi's running path was unclear—he seemed to be heading toward Eita Otoya, yet it also looked like he was cutting back toward his own penalty area.
Otoya stayed calm, and as he reached Yo Hiori, he curved the ball outward with the outside of his foot, slipping it neatly past him.
The pass found Tabito Karasu sprinting into the center of Team V's midfield.
Karasu, still wearing his confident grin, called out,
"Two seconds too slow, idiot!"
As soon as he began to dribble forward, Team V's back three silently closed in.
It was their first time pressing out from near the penalty area, a coordinated defense they'd practiced countless times.
But Karasu didn't flinch. He used his arms to keep the two defenders on his sides at bay while trapping the ball between his feet, making sure the last defender ahead couldn't get close.
Then, with a feint, he spun his body, subtly pushing outward with his arms to throw off the balance of the defenders flanking him.
The one in front was fooled too.
"Bye-bye."
As the defender lunged, Karasu pulled the ball in with the inside of his right foot, dodging the tackle.
Using the players beside him as leverage, he suddenly exploded forward, breaking free from all three.
"Damn it! I can't even touch the ball!"
"Stealing it's impossible—his arms keep locking us out!"
Racing toward his own midfield, Ryūma watched Karasu already sprinting deep into Team V's half and couldn't help thinking,
(His ball control and protection are maxed out. Even if our three defenders aren't that strong...)
(It's still three guys closing in on him, and he got past them all by himself!)
"Heh, this is getting interesting."
Purple light flashed in Ryūma's eyes as he burst straight down the pitch, aiming to cut across and intercept Karasu before he reached the right side of Team V's backfield.
When Karasu saw Ryūma charging toward him, his smile widened.
"Gotcha, idiot!"
To Ryūma's surprise, Karasu didn't continue forward. Instead, he stopped just short of the backline and, without hesitation, used the inside of his right foot to flick the ball to an X Team midfielder sprinting in from his left rear.
Rather than dribbling, Karasu sent a quick pass toward Team V's left flank.
"Go, Daiwa! That side's wide open—take it and pass it back! We counter now!"
"Daiwa, don't hesitate—just ki—"
"Huh?"
Yo Hiori felt a sudden rush of air behind him. When he turned toward the ball, his eyes widened.
Eita Otoya's ghostlike figure was already closing in on it!
(When did he get here? No time—gotta fall back!)
As Hiori rushed to defend, Otoya had already lifted his foot to shoot.
But then Rin Itoshi's figure appeared in his line of sight.
(He predicted this? What a terrifying opponent.)
(But we're not losing either!)
Otoya's foot came down—but instead of shooting or passing, he started dribbling straight toward the center of Team V's backfield.
"Watch me take you down!"
Putian Daiwa roared, sliding in for the tackle.
Otoya's response was simple. Relying on his extraordinary flexibility, he curved his body outward as he dribbled, twisting away in a smooth arc.
He slipped past Daiwa, who hit the turf, staring in disbelief at Otoya's back.
(Is he even human? He was sprinting at full speed, and the moment I went for the tackle...)
(He bent his whole body into a C shape to get around me!)
While Daiwa was still processing what had happened, Otoya—having reopened a clear shot lane—raised his leg again.
But before he could strike, Rin Itoshi once again appeared right in his path.
(What? I should've lost him! Wait—did he block my path on the left earlier just to pressure me?)
(Was his real target always the center? No... he deliberately made me see him on the left so I'd panic and cut toward the middle!)
(And that led me right into his trap. I knew it—there's no way my acceleration shouldn't have shaken him off.)
(So that's it! When he reached the left side, he didn't slow down—he sped up toward the middle!)
(He calculated exactly where I'd end up shooting! Damn... I can't force a shot now.)
(Huh? Karasu's over there? That hand signal means...)
(Can it work? Whatever. No time left—guess I'll trust that idiot for once!)
There was no time to hesitate. Ryūma was already closing in from behind.
In this position, he couldn't dribble or use a Chop Feint again. If he tried, the next second would undoubtedly see Ryūma Banjō snatch the ball away.
Seizing the moment, Otoya sent a low, fast pass skimming across the ground toward Karasu on the right side of Team V's defense.
Karasu met it perfectly with the outside of his left foot. The ball popped up to his knee, and when he looked toward Team V's goal, Rin and two defenders were already blocking his shooting lane.
(That anticipation of his is terrifying... and that monster Ryūma's athleticism doesn't help either.)
(If I hadn't rewatched the match footage, I'd be screwed right now.)
(But after studying you all night, I've found your weakness!)
(Rin Itoshi—this shot will be beyond your imagination!)
Karasu fixed his eyes on the ball as it descended. When it reached the perfect spot, his gaze flashed.
"Now!"
[Thud!]
The ball streaked forward in a diagonal line toward Team V's goal where Rin and the defenders stood.
But just before reaching Rin, it suddenly curved—shifting sharply toward the left flank!
The first to react were Ryūma and Otoya. Though it looked like Otoya simply reacted fast, he'd actually been waiting for Karasu's pass all along.
In the end, Otoya reached the ball first. Ryūma was slightly faster overall, but Otoya had been closer and moved earlier—it was only natural he got there first.
(Tch! Too late! Forget trying to take the ball—guess I'll just have to rush in and block his shot!)
...