Chapter 24: The Counterattacking Shield
Goal!
Team Z surged into the lead!
Thirty minutes into the match, Kira shattered the deadlock, his shot igniting the Central Pitch. Team Z erupted in cheers, their voices echoing as they swarmed to celebrate.
But Isagi's face was clouded, his shoulders slumped. That wide-open shot he'd flubbed earlier haunted him. If Kira hadn't pounced on the rebound and buried it, that golden chance would've slipped through his fingers. Blue Lock's relentless pressure was grinding him down, and today's miss hit harder than ever.
"Isagi, don't sweat it," a voice cut through his thoughts. A hand clapped his shoulder. He looked up to see Kira's easy grin. "Next time, you'll rip the net apart."
Isagi's chest warmed. This guy… he's got my back. He couldn't let himself spiral—not when Kira believed in him.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Kira, when'd you pull that move out of your bag?!" Bachira bounced over, circling Kira like an excited puppy. "I can do a Marseille Turn too, y'know, but I haven't even shown it off here yet!"
Kira chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. "Just… hit me out of nowhere, I guess." How could he explain the Trial Card? Better to dodge the question.
Bachira squinted, tilting his head. "Wait a sec… are you secretly a genius or something?"
"Match isn't over, Team Z!" Kira called, pivoting to rally the squad. "Let's keep the fire burning and send Team Y packing!"
…
Across the pitch, Ikki Niko stood frozen, his mind reeling. Team V's three monsters had been bad enough, but Team Z had Kira—a player who matched their menace. His off-the-ball movement was surgical, and now he was pulling off dribbling tricks like that? Niko cursed under his breath. Why's the world gotta be this unfair?
They'd need to double down on marking Kira later. No more slip-ups.
…
Monitoring Room.
"What a gorgeous turn!" Anri Teieri squealed, her eyes glued to the screen. "A Marseille Turn! And Another one! Oh, it didn't go in? Wai—yes, the rebound!" She'd turned into Kira's little fan, her words bubbling with excitement as his plays lit up the monitor.
A vein throbbed on Ego Jinpachi's forehead. "Anri-san," he said through gritted teeth, "could you please tone it down? Your shouting's throwing me off."
Anri flushed, clasping her hands. "Oops, sorry, Ego-san! I just got sucked into the match."
Ego sighed, rubbing his temples. This woman's gonna be the death of me. Working with her for the long haul was already testing his patience.
"What's with the sigh, Ego-san?" Anri tilted her head. "Aren't the players doing great?"
Ego bit back a retort. It's not the players, it's you driving me up the wall. "It's fine," he muttered. "Just get me the files on Ikki Niko and Hibiki Okawa."
"Oh, right!" Anri scrambled, rifling through papers before handing him two dossiers.
Ego scanned them, his sharp eyes narrowing. Team Y was in deep trouble—Niko and Okawa were their only real shots at a comeback. But Kira's dribbling? It was leagues beyond what he'd shown last match. That Rainbow Flick had been a last-second flourish, but now he was unleashing tricks from the jump. If Team Y didn't adapt, they were done for.
…
Back on the Central Pitch.
The match raged on, the first half ticking down to its final minutes. Team Y had recalibrated, zeroing in on Kira and Bachira with suffocating precision. Their earlier tactic—two defenders choking the attacker's lanes, with Niko swooping in for the steal—now targeted both of Team Z's dribbling threats.
Isagi, free to receive and pass, struggled to find openings. Every time he tried feeding Kira or Bachira, Niko was there, a shadow ready to pounce. The playmaker's frustration gnawed at him.
Unbeknownst to Niko, Kira's Bachira Trial Card had expired. His dribbling was back to normal—good enough to shake one defender, maybe, but not the dazzling display from earlier. Still, Niko's wariness kept him glued to Kira, draining his stamina with every tense movement.
Kira, reading the field, felt confident. Barring a disaster, we've got this in the bag.
Then, disaster struck.
In the 42nd minute, Bachira tore down the right wing. He danced past two defenders, reached the byline, and unleashed a shot toward the goal. It was a prime chance—until a Team Y defender lunged, blocking it with an outstretched foot.
Kira misjudged the rebound's landing spot. Niko didn't.
Damn it. Kira's stomach sank. Team Y's counterattack was coming.
Hibiki Okawa, who'd been a ghost in Team Z's half for most of the match, sprang to life. His subtle repositioning had gone unnoticed, and now he was primed.
Niko glanced up, locked onto Okawa's run, and launched a long ball without hesitation. It soared over the pitch, a perfect arc from the backline to the frontline.
Kira's jaw tightened. A pass that far? No way he nails it. Even knowing Niko's passing prowess, this seemed impossible.
But the ball landed—right at Okawa's feet, as if drawn by a laser.
Team Z's defense, lulled by their relentless attacking, was caught flat-footed. The ball's flight had stunned them, their reactions sluggish.
"Counterattack! Stop him!" Isagi shouted, his voice cracking with urgency.
Kira was too far to close the gap. He'd lunged for Niko's pass and missed, leaving him stranded. This is bad.
Okawa took off, the ball glued to his foot. Team Z's backline crumbled like paper. The Kumamoto Prefecture top scorer, caged for nearly the entire half, was unleashed—a wild stallion breaking free.
He blew past the defenders in a blur, leaving them grasping at air. In seconds, it was just him and Iemon, Team Z's goalkeeper.
Iemon had clocked Okawa's movement early, his nerves jangling but his focus sharp. Days of being peppered in practice had honed his instincts. As Okawa lined up his shot, Iemon braced to dive. Left or right?
Okawa fired—right.
Iemon dove, trusting his read. But Okawa grinned, pulling back at the last second. A feint.
Iemon hit the ground, tricked. Okawa chipped the ball delicately, sending it floating over him into the net.
The score was tied, 1-1.
Kira watched from afar, exhaling sharply. What a play. Okawa was no slouch, and Niko's pass? That was pro-level precision, a missile launched across half the pitch. The manga hadn't prepared him for this kind of shock.
Okawa's instant reaction to Niko's steal showed their preparation. This was Team Y's trump card: a counterattack forged in the crucible of their defense, meticulously planned by Niko.
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