The ball rolled to Kumi's feet, his grip on the game tightening as he faced Kou. The air between them crackled with tension. Without hesitation, Kumi surged forward, his dribbling sharp and precise, weaving through the space like a dancer.
Kou's eyes narrowed. This guy… he's good.
On the flanks, Akane and Iori burst into motion, their speed slicing through the field. Kumi shielded the ball with his body, using his arms to block Kou's reach, then snapped a sudden pass to Iori on the right.
Jin was already there, marking him tightly. "A mispass?" he muttered, but Iori didn't flinch.
The ball came soaring toward him, high and fast.
Iori's eyes lit up. In one smooth, balletic motion, he leapt into the air and trapped the ball mid-air with his heel, spinning his body to bring it down cleanly onto the turf. The move was effortless, beautiful, controlled chaos in motion.
Jin's eyes widened. For real?!
Just as Iori pushed forward, Sosei materialized like a shadow, his timing perfect. With a sweeping tackle, he stole the ball cleanly and cleared it with a powerful kick upfield.
Iori stumbled, stunned. "Eh—?!"
From midfield, Yugen chuckled under his breath. Sosei's good. It's like he used Jin to gauge Iori's ability before going in. Calculated.
---
The throw-in came next.
Yugen hurled the ball toward Iori, who tapped it back instantly. Yugen sprinted down the flank, scanning the field—Akane, Kumi, none were in position. Then, from the corner of his vision, he saw him.
Yuto.
The captain had slipped behind Kaito unnoticed, his movement like a ghost in plain sight. Kaito whirled around. When did he get behind me?!
A chill shot down Yugen's spine. Without thinking, he sent the ball flying.
Yuto met it with ruthless precision, striking it cleanly into the net.
[SCORE: 1–1]
"Nice pass," Yuto said calmly, brushing dust from his jersey.
Yugen stiffened, flustered. "O-oh, okay." His heart pounded. What was that feeling I just got from him? Like he was inevitable…
---
On the sideline, Inyo's laughter rang out, high and mocking. "Haha! They're really strong, right, Kou-kun? Kekeke!"
Kou shot him a glare.
Inyo clutched his chest dramatically. "Wow, so scary~."
Sosei remained silent, his eyes unreadable, while Kaito cracked his knuckles. "Playtime is over."
---
Possession changed hands again. Kou stepped forward, his aura shifting—something about him now felt heavier, sharper.
Yugen's instincts screamed. They're all in on this last play. They're desperate. And dangerous.
A triangle of crisp passes sliced through the midfield, bypassing Kumi and Akane like they weren't there. Jin and Kaito surged down the flanks, stretching the defense thin.
Yugen clenched his jaw. They're moving like a real team now. This is bad.
Iori and Yuto scrambled to block the wings, but the center—his zone—was exposed.
I've got to stop him here.
Kou charged straight at Yugen, his dribbling a blur of feints and stepovers. Kumi, still tracking him, gasped. This guy's control is insane. Is he even human?!
But Kumi stood his ground—until Kou flicked the ball behind him with a cruel ease.
An ominous presence loomed.
"Haha! That's a genius for you, kekekeke!"
Inyo appeared, his grin deranged, eyes gleaming with something deeply wrong.
Kumi's blood ran cold. I thought he was a defense-type player… And what's with his eyes?! Shit—I can't block this!
Just as Inyo reared back to strike—
"How average of you, genius."
Yugen lunged, foot arcing through the air. The contact was perfect. He stole the ball mid-motion, snatching the moment before it bloomed into disaster.
I felt this.
---
The counterattack ignited.
Yugen burst forward, each stride full of clarity. Akane and Iori flanked him like wings, their movements sharp and urgent.
"Not bad, Yugen-san," Akane called, breathing hard.
Yugen, fully immersed, barely responded.
He darted past Kaito, mimicking a move Kumi had just used moments before. It was subtle, but both Kaito and Kumi froze in recognition.
"What?! That's my skill!"
Akane slotted the ball back to Yugen, setting him up for the strike—but Kou was already there, reading the play like a book.
Yugen's expression remained unreadable, relaxed even. Woah. He's quick to recover. As expected of the genius.
Then, in a burst of speed, Yugen closed the distance, shifting his posture. Kou moved in to intercept, hand extended.
But Yugen smirked.
In one fluid motion, he lifted the ball behind himself with a heel flick and kicked it over Kou's head, darting past before the genius could react.
Kou's eyes widened. What?! That's my skill—he copied it after seeing it just once?!
Desperation exploded behind his calm exterior. Kou leapt, intercepting the ball mid-air in a desperate gambit—and without hesitation, launched a shot from an impossible distance.
The ball spun like a missile.
It rocketed into the net.
The entire facility fell silent.
Sosei gaped. "Wowwwww! What was that shot?!"
Akane whistled. "What a beast."
Yugen collapsed onto the grass, chest heaving. A grin crept across his face. He's on a different level… But for a moment, I almost had him.
Kou turned away with a dismissive "Hmph," but not before casting one last glance at Yugen.
Akane jogged over, still grinning. "Wow, I didn't know you were that good."
Yuto said nothing, his silence heavy with unspoken thoughts.
[FINAL SCORE: 2–1]
The whistle blew.
The announcer's voice echoed across the stadium. "The match is now ended. You may now make your way to your living areas."
As the players began to disperse, some laughing, some lost in thought, Yugen stayed on the field a moment longer, the adrenaline still rushing through his veins.
The real battle had only just begun.
---
[Chapter End]