Eita Otoya sprinted toward the ball, fully aware that if he stopped to adjust his shooting angle, Ryūma Banjō would snatch it away in an instant. That left him with only one option—he couldn't afford even a moment of hesitation!
(Rin Itoshi and that guy Yo Hiori are both closing in… Guess I'll just force the shot!)
(Huh? Calm as ever, Karasu!)
Charging straight at the ball, Eita Otoya swung his leg without hesitation—
[Thud]
But instead of a shot, the ball curved toward the right flank of Team V's backfield, where Tabito Karasu was waiting.
Immediately after the pass, Otoya burst forward toward Team V's penalty area, two Team X players racing alongside him.
Karasu showed no sign of stopping the ball. As it reached him, he dropped his center of gravity and launched a fierce strike toward Team V's goal.
Yo Hiori thought he had intercepted it—until a sudden figure leapt in front of him.
Using Hiori's shoulder as a foothold, the player soared over him and slammed the ball into the net with a header.
GOAL!! Team V 1 : 1 Team X
(Sigh… that guy Karasu must've used me as bait. My teammates slowed down, thinking I'd blocked it.)
(And those two—what insane chemistry! Their quick passes and shots are impossible to predict.)
(They're not like Team Y, where you can't tell who'll shoot next.)
(These two rely purely on speed—you can't even react. That's their fast-break style.)
"Not bad, but you could've been faster, idiot!"
"Shut up. I've got my own rhythm!"
Karasu and Otoya's constant bickering almost seemed like their way of celebrating a goal.
As Karasu started to jog back, he suddenly turned toward Yo Hiori.
"Oh right, I never said hi, Hiori. You won't greet me if I don't, huh?"
"Fine—consider that goal my greeting to you and your team!"
Karasu's usual confident grin never left his face as he spoke.
Yo Hiori sighed, glancing at Ryūma Banjō beside him.
"I think I was used as a decoy for their shot."
"He knows my habits too well. And I bet he stayed up all night watching replays."
"Sigh… those two's fast breaks are practically unbeatable."
Ryūma patted his shoulder.
"Don't sweat it, Hiori. No matter how fast they are, can they beat Rin and me with our Blitz Shot?"
"But that Karasu guy…"
Ryūma rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment.
"Is he always like that? Listening to him talk, it feels like I'm hearing a cheerful version of Rin Itoshi."
Hiori couldn't hold back a laugh.
"Pfft—haha! You're not wrong, Ryūma. He really does sound like him!"
"You two slackers, back to position. I'm taking the kickoff."
Hearing Rin's cold voice, both of them immediately shut up. Trying to hold back their laughter, they hurried back to their spots to wait for the restart.
Team V's ball—Rin Itoshi to kick off!
After the whistle, Rin carried the ball forward into Team X's left wing, where Tabito Karasu stepped up to defend.
This was their first one-on-one of the match.
Watching from the right flank, Ryūma thought to himself:
(Oh? The top and third seeds clashing already? Why do I feel like I'm watching a live drama?)
(Man, I wish I had some watermelon for this!)
While Ryūma was busy joking in his head, Rin and Karasu had already begun their duel.
Rin tapped the ball forward with the tip of his right foot, baiting Karasu's reaction. Then, the moment Karasu moved, Rin stepped on the ball and flicked it behind him, twisting his body to send it left with the inside of his left foot.
(Damn, what a feint! He barely used solo tricks in the replays I watched. Usually that monster Ryūma was the one doing them. Damn it! I thought Rin Itoshi wasn't good at one-on-ones!)
As those thoughts flashed through his mind, Karasu rushed to block Rin's left side, raising his arm to hold him off.
Catching the motion in his peripheral vision, Rin lifted his own arm sharply—
"Hah!?"
With a sharp smack, Rin knocked Karasu's arm aside, breaking the trap.
But Karasu wasn't done yet—he still managed to cut off Rin's path to the left, grinning as he said,
"You're a tough one, genius!"
"Then get out of my way, Karasu."
Rin stopped the ball with his left foot, passed it to his right, and pushed it outward. His body shifted as if to dash right.
Karasu didn't hesitate—he moved to intercept on Rin's right. It was exactly what Rin wanted.
Even knowing it might be a feint, Karasu couldn't risk ignoring it. If Rin really broke through and he didn't even try to block, he'd be the fool.
As Karasu stretched his right leg to intercept, Rin struck the ball with the inside of his right foot—changing direction again.
(A nutmeg dribble? I'm ready for that! Even if you try a split dribble like Ryūma just did, I've got you covered!)
Karasu drew his left foot in to block.
"Too slow, Karasu."
Rin's voice was cold as he redirected the ball again with his right foot toward the left.
"I saw that coming too, genius!"
He had predicted Rin wouldn't be stopped so easily and moved to block his left—
"You're a step too slow."
A glint flashed in Rin's eyes. His movements didn't falter at all, as if every one of Karasu's reactions had been perfectly calculated.
Then, as the ball reached his left foot, Rin swiftly dragged it back with the sole of his foot, spinning on the spot.
With his right foot, he pulled the ball forward again—further to the left. The motion flowed perfectly in one seamless turn.
He slipped past the momentarily stunned Eita Otoya and surged toward Team X's left midfield.
(A Magic Turn!? I didn't expect that move… I knew he had more, but damn! I thought he'd break right again!)
...
(35 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser