Chapter 33: An Uncanny Synergy

“Ryūma! I... um...”
“Thank you, Ryūma, for still trusting me.”

Yo Hiori ran excitedly to Ryūma’s side. He had so many things he wanted to say,
but having never experienced something like this before, he fumbled for words and, in the end, could only thank Ryūma—for still believing in him.

Ryūma looked at Hiori with a hint of exasperation. He stepped forward, slung an arm around his shoulder, and said with a grin,
“Oh, Hiori, what do you mean ‘still willing to trust you’?”
“Remember what I said, Hiori. You’re the first friend I made here in Blue Lock, and you’re a friend I, Ryūma, truly acknowledge.”
“I’m not going to follow everything Ego Jinpachi says to the letter.”
“Whenever I choose to pass to you, I’ll trust you unconditionally. I’ll always believe you can send the ball exactly where I want it!”

“Alright! Enough with the sentimental stuff, you two! Get back to your positions, Hiori—the other team’s about to kick off!”
“Got it, Ryūma. I’ll head back now.”

Hiori watched Ryūma’s figure walk away, then slowly returned to his position. Tears shimmered in his eyes.
Don’t mistake them—these weren’t tears of sadness, but of being moved by such trust.

Team Y’s possession! Kobayashi Shima kicks off from the center circle!

As he watched Kobayashi prepare to start play, Ryūma’s thoughts lingered on Hiori.
(Is Hiori really this sentimental? Or have I been too strict with him?)
(Always pushing him for more precise passes... maybe I’ve been putting too much pressure on him. Something’s been off with him this match.)

Ryūma shook his head, casting the thought aside, just as Kobayashi Shima surged forward with the ball.

Team Y stuck to their formation: Hisakawa Mii advancing on the left with two markers, Matsutani Kageaki on the right with two more.
Their attacking midfielder shadowed Kobayashi Shima, leaving the fullbacks in the box.

Seeing Ryūma rush up, Kobayashi suddenly launched a long pass—straight toward Yo Hiori on Team V’s right flank.

Hiori froze as the ball flew toward him. Just as he was about to call it a mistake and prepare to receive it,
three figures sprinted in. Two blocked Hiori’s leap, while the third calmly intercepted the ball.

The moment the interception was made, the two who had been blocking Hiori broke off to reposition.
They were none other than Matsutani Kageaki, along with Team Y’s right attacking midfielder and right central midfielder.

Matsutani carried the ball quickly down the right, charging toward Team V’s midfield.
Hiori immediately turned and chased.

But Rin Itoshi stepped in calmly to intercept.
As soon as Matsutani reached Rin, without checking behind him, he flicked the ball with his heel diagonally back to the left.

Team Y’s right attacking midfielder, as if he’d been waiting all along, met the ball. Hiori sprinted laterally, accelerating to cut it off.
But there was no chance. Before the ball even reached him, Team Y’s midfielder passed it forward to their central attacking midfielder.

The ball’s target wasn’t just him—Ryūma was already arriving at the same spot!

Facing Ryūma’s charge, Team Y’s attacking midfielder didn’t flinch. He instantly knocked the ball back.

The moment the ball was returned, Rin seemed to grasp their plan and broke toward another spot.

[Thud!!]

The return was met by Team Y’s right midfielder, who had anticipated it. He struck a long pass across to Team V’s left defensive side.
The ball accelerated once more, racing to its mark.

The danger was clear—Ryūma, Hiori, and Rin were all caught on the right.
Only the triplets and Putian Daiwa remained on the left near the box.

Ryūma grit his teeth as he ran.
(Damn, these guys are ruthless. They pulled all of us to the right, building momentum with continuous passes, then switched it left.)
(That leaves their three players free to press into our box. The triplets alone won’t be enough...)

Just as he thought, Team Y’s trio swept past the triplets with seamless passing.
Their left attacking midfielder played it to Kobayashi in the center, who immediately struck for goal.

The ball barely touched his foot before he shot, but Rin wasn’t about to let it through—he blocked it clean.

The deflection spun straight toward Hisakawa Mii.
Ryūma arrived at the same time, ready to block Hisakawa’s shot—
but instead, Hisakawa let the ball roll cleanly between his legs. No shot, no pass, no stop.

It was all just to lure Ryūma in!

(What the hell? I got baited again? Damn it! Times like this, I really envy Rin’s eyes.)
(If my Anticipation skill were maxed out, would I keep getting tricked like this?)

Furious, Ryūma turned and sprinted after the ball again.
But just as he looked back, the ball was already gone—fired first-time by Team Y’s left midfielder toward Team V’s right side!

Matsutani received it on the right, passing it to the right attacking midfielder just behind him.
Then he burst into the box himself.

The right attacking midfielder carried it forward slightly, then lofted a precise ball into the penalty area.

Inside, Rin locked onto the ball’s descent, while the other four V defenders either marked opponents or cut off shooting lanes.

At that instant, Kobayashi Shima dove in with a powerful header toward goal!
Rin leapt to block him—
but, just like before, another figure cut in, redirecting the ball toward the right.

Along that line, Hisakawa Mii pivoted on his left foot, right leg swinging back in a textbook shot motion.

Rin spun instantly, sprinting to cut him off.
Ryūma had already reached him, ready to intercept.

But just as Hisakawa swung down, he shifted—using the inside of his foot to flick the ball behind him, toward the left flank!

Ryūma and Rin reacted immediately, but it was too late.
On the left, Matsutani Kageaki slid in with a stunning volley, smashing the ball into the net!

GOAL!! Team V 3:4 Team Y