Chapter 20: Rin Itoshi's Resolution

Team Z penalty kick...

Standing before Team V’s goal, Shūhō Aoki steadied his breathing. He knew this one shot could decide the fate of the entire match.
He jogged forward and struck the ball as soon as he reached it.

“Thud!”

The ball grazed Team V’s goalkeeper’s arm and slipped into the net!

GOAL!! Team V 1:1 Team Z

“Nice one, Shūhō!!”
“That shot was insane, Shūhō!”

Team Z’s players tackled him to the ground in celebration, shouting praise from all sides.

Meanwhile, Team V’s goalkeeper hung his head, guilt on his face.
“Sorry, everyone... I couldn’t save it.”
“It’s fine. I wouldn’t have stopped it either.”
“You’re not even a pro keeper. Of course we don’t blame you.”

The team reassured him warmly. Ryūma also smiled and said,
“Relax. If Rin and I can break through once, we can do it again—and again. Right, Rin?”

He looked toward Rin Itoshi, who predictably refused to go along.

“Who’d team up with you? I’ll score on my own and break through their defense solo!”
“Yeah, yeah, Mr. Tsundere. You’re just too embarrassed to admit you want to team with me—I get it.”

Ignoring Rin’s frosty glare, Ryūma addressed the others.
“Daiwa, no more sliding tackles. They’ve already figured you out.
Same for the rest of you—don’t risk dangerous moves.
We’ve cracked the principle behind their so-called aerial tactic. Once we’re ready for it, that strategy’s useless.

So trust us—Rin and I will finish this with our attack!
Let’s go, everyone!”

...

Team V kickoff.

Ryūma started from center, Yo Hiori on the right, the triplets on the left, with Rin alone on the left wing.

After kickoff, Ryūma passed to Hiori and immediately surged toward Team Z.

Team Z held their defensive shape. They knew even if they pressed with everyone, they still might not stop Ryūma.
And if he broke through, it was game over—his speed guaranteed they’d never recover in time.

Hiori drove forward with Ryūma, while the triplets pressed on the left.
After slipping past the first defender, Hiori quickly passed to them.

“Go, triplets! Open a gap in their defense!”
“Got it! Leave it to us!”

They spread into a triangular formation and advanced.

“Close them down! Don’t let them pass cleanly!”

From the edge of the box, Shūhō Aoki shouted anxiously.
His teammates there kept watching the midfield—not just the ball, but Ryūma, already storming ahead.

Their expressions worsened when they noticed Hiori right beside him, always ready for a quick pass.
And Rin creeping in from the left only piled on the pressure.

The triplets weren’t on Rin or Ryūma’s level, but their coordination was sharp enough to pierce through. Their passing carried the ball into Team Z’s midfield.

“Nice one, triplets! Now leave it to me.”

Under triple pressure, Ryūma still claimed the ball with ease and exploded forward toward the backline.

Hiori shadowed him, keeping himself available while drawing defenders’ focus.

As Ryūma entered the defensive third, Haiichi Murakami and Akemi Inoue moved in—one in front, one behind—ready to stop him.
Their plan: Murakami’s speed and reflexes would let him recover if beaten, while Inoue would strike with a surprise tackle.

Just as they closed in, Hiori shouted,
“Ryūma, I’m open!”

Both defenders glanced his way—

(Heh. Clever, Hiori.)

Seizing that instant, Ryūma slipped the ball forward at the perfect angle.

When they looked back, they froze. He had already passed Inoue, the ball nutmegging clean through his legs.

(Huh? Two nutmegs in a row?)
(And he pulled it off in the split second we looked away? That decisive?)

Shaken but experienced, Murakami and Inoue sprinted back toward the box.

“Come on, let me smash through you again! Accelerate!”

Ryūma roared, charging at Aoki.

(I know I can’t stop him outright. But if I can buy time for the others to get back, we’ll have a chance!)

As Ryūma neared, he whipped his feet around the ball in rapid stepovers, then dropped his shoulder and burst right.

(Fast stepovers into acceleration? I’ve seen this before—I can block it!)

Thinking that, Aoki lunged to the right.

But Ryūma braked hard, flicking the ball left with a sharp elastico.

(Ha! I knew he wouldn’t fall for something so simple!)
(My weight never shifted—I’ve got this!)

Seeing him cut left, Aoki leapt to intercept.

“Not bad. You held me off for a second. Try harder next time.”

Ryūma trapped the ball with his left foot, spun in a Marseille turn back to the right, then blasted forward into the box.

“Thud!”

Ishikari rushed in, but Ryūma gave him no chance—he shot instantly. The ball curved around his reach.

“Even if you beat me, don’t think you’ll score that easily!”

Murakami had already made it back, heading the shot away.

“Keep the pressure on! Rin, you’re there, right?!”

Just as Ryūma expected, Rin Itoshi was already positioned in front of the ball.

Ryūma braced for another Blitz Shot, but Rin surprised him. Instead of shooting, Rin passed back to Hiori.

Then Rin burst into the box at full speed. Reading his intent, Hiori found the angle and sent the ball inside.

Rin arrived perfectly timed with the descending ball. He struck cleanly.

“Thud!”

As expected from Rin, the shot bent around both Aoki and Ishikari, screaming toward the goal.

“This is my moment!”

Inoue sprinted back desperately, leaping high—the ball clipped his face.

Its path diverted, the ball dropped straight into goalkeeper Furukawa’s arms, who secured it tightly.

Team V’s attack had failed.