Chapter 80: Kira's Performance
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Loki, looks like that guy actually kept up with you," Cavazos said with a grin, watching Loki return to the white team's half.
"How was it, God Sprinter? It seems the Japanese Supernova isn't as hopeless as we thought," Silva added, curious about Loki's reaction.
Loki's expression remained relaxed as he smiled in response. "He's definitely a solid prospect. You guys can try facing him later."
"Careful now, don't let him dribble past you."
"What did you say?" Silva retorted, annoyed but simultaneously surprised by Loki's evaluation. He hadn't expected Loki to rate that guy so highly.
"Interesting." Luna also dropped his elegant, aristocratic act, focusing his gaze intently on Kira.
***
On the other side.
"That guy's speed is terrifying," Bachira said timidly. "Even Kira couldn't stop him."
"Is he a track sprinter or what?" Aryu's expression was equally grave.
"Is this the strength of the World Select Team?" Isagi's mind was still replaying Loki's breakthrough.
However, the Supernova, Kira's speed, shocked Isagi even more.
'Has Kira been holding back in all the previous matches?' Isagi couldn't help but wonder.
"Don't get discouraged, everyone. Let's just focus on playing our game," Kira said, continuing to encourage the team.
"Hey. Pass the ball to me next!"
Rin suddenly spoke up, causing everyone to look at him. Rin was staring at the opponent's goal, eyes burning with battle spirit.
"I will score the next goal."
"Beep! Match resumes."
Team Blue's ball.
Bachira kicked off, passing directly to Rin.
Rin began to carry the ball forward at a steady pace, his head constantly turning. His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, seemed to be carving the positions of every player on the field into his brain.
This was Rin's rhythm.
Whoosh!
With a roaring sound of wind, Loki flashed into existence right in front of Rin.
Rin, who was observing his surroundings, froze for a split second. His movement stagnated.
Rin was deeply concerned about Loki's high-speed pressing. Previously, Chigiri from Isagi's team had used high pressing to counter Rin's team. Now, facing God Sprinter—whose speed was on an entirely different level—Rin had to be even more cautious.
Rin focused all his attention on Loki's movements, his body suddenly shifting direction to shake off Loki's marking.
"Itoshi Sae's little brother, are you really that afraid of Loki's speed?"
The noble's voice rang out. Luna had appeared at Rin's side without him noticing.
'When?!'
Panic rose in Rin's chest. Clearly, in his memory from just a moment ago, Luna wasn't there.
'Did he sneak up on me in the split second I focused on Loki?'
Thoughts flashed through Rin's mind, but his feet didn't slow down; he hurriedly tried to drag the ball back.
But at that exact moment, Loki lunged forward.
Luna stuck his foot out to intercept.
A pincer attack by two world-class players.
Strong as Rin was, he lost the ball in an instant. Luna cut it off.
"Damn it," Rin cursed under his breath.
"Little Rin, your lack of experience is causing you to have narrow vision, you know."
As soon as the words fell, Luna launched a long pass. The ball traced a perfect half-moon arc in the air, landing squarely at Cavazos's feet.
"What a precise pass," Isagi and Bachira exclaimed in unison.
The pass was incredibly pleasing to the eye, the motion completely devoid of any wasted movement. Smooth as flowing water. A textbook long pass.
"Hey, hey, look over here."
Cavazos's reminder snapped Bachira and Isagi back to the match. Isagi felt his face burn; having the opponent remind him to pay attention was humiliating.
Isagi signaled with his eyes, and Bachira understood instantly.
The two immediately surged forward to press. Isagi and Bachira intended to replicate the press Luna and Loki had used on Rin.
Two against one. Time to get payback!
Cavazos, holding the ball, dribbled at an almost casual pace. Seeing the two approach, he showed no signs of panic. He wasn't tall, overly strong, or particularly fast. But he possessed a unique talent—otherwise, he wouldn't be a national player for Argentina.
Facing the double press, Cavazos executed a relaxed change of direction, using his body to block Isagi's path, setting up a through ball to himself.
Bachira immediately moved to intercept.
Cavazos simply nudged the ball lightly with his left foot, sending it right through Bachira's legs. Simultaneously, Cavazos accelerated slightly, leaving the encirclement behind.
No flashy moves, just incredibly solid fundamentals.
It was seamless.
"So... so fluid. It's one continuous motion," Isagi couldn't imagine how to defend against such a player.
They were all basic moves. The speed was slow. Yet, he managed to find the exact hole in their defense at just the right moment. He passed Isagi effortlessly.
Isagi felt despair rising again. This wasn't a gap that could be filled by puzzle pieces in his brain.
Suddenly, the despair on Isagi's face turned into surprise.
"Hey, baby face, I saw that spot coming."
A gust of wind blew past.
The Supernova, Kira, suddenly appeared in front of Cavazos.
A smile appeared on Cavazos's face. "Knew you'd come."
He slammed his left foot onto the ball, cutting it back. He cleverly neutralized Kira's interception.
"How about that, Japanese genius? You're still too sl—"
Before Cavazos could finish his sentence, he felt a disturbance in the air behind him.
'Someone else?'
Kira grinned. "Baby face, you took the bait."
A figure emerged from behind Cavazos.
It was Rin!
Rin's eyes flickered with a strange light, his expression bordering on savage. He forcefully stole the ball from Cavazos's feet.
"Yo, no way? The Freckled Baby got robbed?" Silva, who had run ahead, turned back, his face full of disbelief.
Beside him, Blake spoke thoughtfully: "It's all because of that white-haired guy."
"He has speed comparable to Loki, forcing Freckled Baby to constantly watch out for his press. It made him ignore the player circling behind him."
Silva nodded, then suddenly punched his palm in realization.
"Yo, isn't that the exact same scenario as Loki and Luna stealing the ball just a few seconds ago?"
"No way... in such a short time, they're already absorbing our experience?"
Silva felt his scalp tingle.
Hearing Silva's words, Blake reacted instantly. That white-haired kid on the other team... he's a genius!
***
"Yo, copying me?" Loki appeared instantly in front of Rin.
"Oh, wait, the one really learning is him," Loki noted as he covered Rin, his peripheral vision glancing at Kira.
Rin attempted to dribble a few times but realized helplessly that as long as Loki stood in front of him, he couldn't advance a single step.
"Tch. Take the pass, Kira!" Rin, unwilling to admit defeat but trapped, crossed the ball to the rushing Kira.
Whoosh.
The moment Kira received the ball, he left an afterimage in his wake. He galloped across the pitch like a cheetah.
"Whoa, so fast." Loki smirked.
"Damn, he's coming at me," Luna looked reluctant. "If I sweat, I'll have to take a shower."
In Kira's ears, there was only the roaring wind. He felt like his stride had never been this large before.
Ahead, the white team's defender appeared.
Kira immediately changed direction.
Luna reluctantly followed.
Cut inside again.
Luna still managed to barely keep up.
'Why is he sticking like glue? I can't shake him,' Kira couldn't understand.
Wait.
Kira suddenly realized it. Luna wasn't reacting to his changes of direction with physical reflexes.
'He's predicting me!'
In that case...
Kira's center of gravity suddenly leaned left.
The corners of Luna's mouth lifted in a slight smile, as if he had seen through Kira's trick. He leisurely shifted laterally to the right.
ZOOM!
But Kira, like a bolt of lightning, broke through directly to the left.
A one-on-one with the keeper.
BOOM!
A volley full of explosive impact.
The ball flew straight into the net.
2-1.
Team Blue leads.
"Alright! That was a super stylish goal!"
Aryu leaped high into the air nearby. He ran over to Kira happily and ruffled Kira's hair vigorously.
"Team World Five… not that impressive, huh?"
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