(I had it all planned out—once he charged to the right, I'd lock my arm around him right away.)
(I might not be able to steal the ball, but he wouldn't be able to carry it either!)
(But who could've expected it? He must've read my mind. He didn't even use a Chop Feint—he just broke through even farther left.)
While Tabito Karasu was lost in thought, Rin Itoshi was already dribbling into Team X's left midfield.
As expected, three Team X players quickly closed in on him.
Rin pulled the ball back with his right foot, and just as the trio closed to press, he passed sharply to Yo Hiori positioned at the center of Team X's midfield.
Receiving the ball, Yo Hiori frowned slightly.
(Does he want me to play it back to him?)
(But Ryūma's right there too. In this situation, I'd only pass to Ryūma!)
After a brief hesitation, Hiori adjusted his angle and struck. The ball curved cleanly past the defenders and flew toward Ryūma's position on Team X's right midfield.
(Haha, I still don't know what Rin's planning, but when given a choice…)
(Hiori always passes to me!)
Ryūma watched the ball speeding toward him, catching Eita Otoya's charge out of the corner of his eye.
(Oh? So he's coming too.)
"Careful, don't get knocked flying by me."
With that, he burst forward toward the ball. Both jumped almost simultaneously.
In the end, neither of them touched it—Otoya hadn't gone for the ball at all. He'd gone straight for Ryūma.
Though not as strong, Otoya's flexibility was unreal. In an awkward twist midair, he blocked Ryūma's leap, stopping him from reaching the ball and knocking him off balance.
When they landed, Otoya crashed hard onto the turf while Ryūma dropped to one knee.
A nearby Team X player trapped the ball, steadied himself, and looked up to pass—
"Hey, don't get too full of yourself."
The player turned in shock just as Ryūma appeared beside him, snatching the ball away.
The instant he gained control, Ryūma accelerated again, sprinting straight toward the center of Team X's backfield.
By the time he got there, Tabito Karasu was already waiting.
"So it's you after all."
"The same Tabito Karasu who got beaten one-on-one by Rin Itoshi~"
"Didn't take long for you to lose your edge, huh?"
Karasu's eye twitched at the taunt, though he forced a confident smile.
"You sure talk a lot."
He extended his arm to block Ryūma again.
Ryūma grinned and mimicked Rin's earlier move, suddenly throwing his own arm upward.
But Karasu, remembering Rin's trick, had been ready for it. Ryūma's timing was off, and Karasu's arm pressed firmly against his chest.
Ryūma's arm sliced through empty air. As his plan failed, he thought irritably:
(Damn it, I'd love to drive my elbow down and dislocate this guy's arm!)
(Let's see if he dares touch my chest again after that!)
Even while fuming inside, Ryūma didn't stop moving.
His left foot flicked the ball toward his right; his right foot feigned a push outward as his body followed through.
The moment Karasu shifted to block, Ryūma's right foot snapped inward in an Okocha feint, sending the ball flying left.
(Upper-body feints paired with an Okocha—this monster's making it his signature.)
(Like I wouldn't see that coming!)
"I told you—I've already figured you out!"
Karasu still wore his usual confident grin as he moved in.
(Hmph, I know that. This is just the appetizer.)
Ryūma shifted left, his eyes flashing a vivid purple. He stopped sharply, using the sole of his left foot to nudge the ball forward, baiting Karasu to intercept.
As Karasu lunged, Ryūma pulled the ball back, spun, and struck with his right foot, carrying it farther to the right.
(Tsk. Only someone with his physique could pull off such a drastic turn.)
(Huh? He's dribbling like that...)
(This is my perfect chance to slide tackle him!)
(Wait—that opening looks too obvious. Is he luring me in?)
(No time to think—he's about to pass me!)
Karasu, desperate, slid in for the tackle.
"Gotcha, Karasu~"
Ryūma stepped his right foot over the ball, leaning forward slightly as he flicked it onto his left calf with his right instep.
Then, tilting forward again, he popped the ball up with his left heel.
The ball arced high over Karasu's sliding challenge.
(Rainbow Flick? He knows that too?)
(So he baited me in just to hit me with a rainbow flick in open space.)
Even after getting past Karasu, Ryūma didn't relax. His eyes locked onto the faint, ghostlike figure of Eita Otoya charging from the right side of Team X's backfield.
Two more Team X players rushed in from the center, determined to block Ryūma's advance.
(You've gotta be kidding me—this ninja again?)
(No joke, that guy's like a shadow following me dT-Tb)
Just as Ryūma wondered what to do, his peripheral vision caught Yo Hiori moving into position on the left side of Team X's backfield.
(Crying T﹏T, every time I'm about to pass, Hiori's always right where I need him.)
Scanning the field quickly, Ryūma thought with a grin:
(Karasu's behind me, Otoya's on the right, and the rest of X's players...)
(They're either marking Rin or tangled up with the triplets.)
(Hiori's basically one-on-one with the keeper!)
(Come to think of it, hasn't Hiori scored yet?)
(Hmph. Since Karasu "greeted" Hiori with a goal...)
(I'll make sure Hiori returns the favor—can't have him seeming impolite!)