"Hey, where are you looking, Ninja?"
Rin Itoshi appeared closer to the ball, as if he had anticipated its flight all along.
Eita Otoya stared ahead at Rin, his astonishment written clearly across his face.
(He predicted that? I've been watching him since Karasu started moving.)
(He noticed my position too, but I didn't even make a move back then.)
(He figured all that out just from Karasu's actions? Is that even humanly possible?)
(Tch! It's too late to sprint ahead and steal it now, but don't think you'll get it so easily!)
Otoya changed direction and charged at Rin, trying to block him from receiving the ball.
By the time Otoya reached Rin's back, the ball had already arrived. Ignoring Otoya's attempt to block him, Rin flicked the incoming ball sharply backward with his right foot.
The ball soared high, sailing over Otoya, who hadn't even reacted yet.
By the time he turned to intercept behind him, Rin was already there—passing the ball straight to the center of Team V's attacking half.
"Quick! Get that ball—no one's marking that spot!"
"If we can just—"
Before Tabito Karasu could finish, a sharp gust of wind brushed past his ear. His smile froze instantly.
From behind him, Ryūma Banjō shot forward like a bullet, streaking toward the center of Team V's attack.
As Karasu fell back to defend, he sighed inwardly.
(This attack's done for.)
(Otoya didn't start at the same time as that monster, Ryūma Banjō, so he has no chance of reaching the ball.)
(No—even if he had, he's still slower. Unless he started before Ryūma…)
(Otherwise, there's no way he could ever beat him to the ball.)
(Still, that's on me this time. Can't blame Otoya. That level of anticipation… it's pure genius.)
Just as Karasu predicted, Ryūma reached the pass from Rin without fail.
Purple light gleamed in his eyes as he grinned. "Nice pass, Rin. Counterattack time!"
The instant his foot touched the ball, Ryūma burst forward, tearing toward the center of Team X's half.
"Stop him! Stall until Karasu and Otoya get back!"
"Yeah, foul him if you have to!"
"He's coming—close him down!"
Three Team X players braced themselves as Ryūma charged like a cannonball.
Though fear flickered in their eyes, they steeled their nerves and spread out in a fan-shaped formation to block him.
"Out of my way."
Ryūma didn't slow down for a second. With a fierce kick, he sent the ball hurtling to his right.
The ball blazed past the three defenders.
(Huh? Did he lose control of it?)
Before they could even think, Ryūma had already sprinted past them.
The two closest defenders tried to intercept, but in the next instant, Ryūma exploded forward again, forcing his way right through the gap between them.
The pair crashed to the ground, watching helplessly as he sped off into the distance.
(Split dribble? Damn it! We only have one midfielder left!)
(What kind of strength is that? Was this monster a rugby player before?)
The remaining defender, realizing the danger, turned and sprinted after him.
As Ryūma dashed along the right side of Team X's midfield, he noticed the charging defender and frowned slightly.
(Is he seriously going to foul me?)
"Too naive, buddy."
With that, Ryūma burst forward again. Seeing him accelerate, the defender lunged sideways to intercept.
When the two were almost running side by side, Ryūma suddenly executed a Chop Feint, cutting the ball behind the defender.
He came to an instant stop, then exploded forward again toward the ball's path—right at the center of Team X's midfield.
Regaining possession, Ryūma slowed for a brief moment to assess the situation.
(Four defenders around the box, plus the keeper.)
(Hmm...)
(Should I try a direct shot? Tch, seems risky.)
(Is Rin closing in from the left? Wait—got it!)
(Then let's recreate their tactic.)
With his decision made, Ryūma dashed diagonally at full speed toward Team X's right defensive flank.
The defenders near the box, along with the retreating players, couldn't tell what he was planning—but they were glad for the time it bought them to reorganize.
By the time Ryūma reached the right flank, the two defenders he'd previously beaten had already fallen back.
Otoya was also closing in fast from the right, while the defenders near the box were ready and waiting.
Ryūma's face looked tense, but inside, he was grinning.
(Heh, gotta admit, Karasu's tactic really works. Who would've thought—even someone like me could be the bait.)
Ryūma kept shifting and feinting, looking like he might break through, yet never actually doing so.
That gave Team X the illusion that their defense was holding.
"Nice! He's out of options!"
"Yeah! Steal it and counter!"
When Otoya finally reached the right side of Team X's defense, Ryūma's heart leapt with excitement.
He couldn't hide his grin. "Been waiting for you, Ninja."
He took a deep breath to calm himself. He knew one bad pass here could spell trouble for Yo Hiori.
(Alright… with Hiori's speed, he'll reach that spot next.)
(So the pass can't be too fast.)
"Now! Catch it, Hiori!"
[Thud]
The Team X players froze in confusion. A heartbeat later, realization struck—they'd been baited.
The two defenders inside the box looked especially foolish.
They'd assumed Ryūma would take a desperate shot, so instead of pressing, they stayed back to guard the goal.
But in the end, Ryūma hadn't even planned to shoot, nor to dribble past them. He'd been fishing for a reaction the whole time.
Watching the ball curve toward the left side of Team X's defense, Ryūma couldn't help smiling to himself.
(Perfect! That pass was flawless. I bet Hiori's praising me like crazy right now.)
Then he noticed another figure sprinting rapidly toward the ball's landing spot.
Seeing that familiar silhouette, Ryūma sighed inwardly.
(Damn, couldn't fool that sharp-eyed guy Karasu, huh? But the placement's perfect.)
(Hiori will get there first!)
...
(35 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser