Chapter 36: Analysis Progress 75%

(That’s it, Ryūma—let’s rip open their defense!)

Yo Hiori felt his blood boiling with passion, a sensation he had never experienced before. Only when playing alongside Ryūma did he ever feel this alive.

He knew this pass had to evade the Y-team defenders rushing in. Blue light flared in his eyes as he locked onto the perfect angle.

His left foot planted forward, lining up with the back of the ball. His right leg swung back, ankle bent sharply at ninety degrees. Timing it perfectly, he struck!

The ball curved at a strange angle, bypassing the Y-team defender lunging at him, and shot toward the left side of the penalty area.

“He messed up the pass! Ryūma’s not even there—grab the ball!”
“Counterattack, now!”

Matsutani Kageaki and Kobayashi Shima had already sprinted back to defend, shouting at the top of their lungs.

The Y-team defenders inside the box all chased the ball—until suddenly it bent back diagonally in the opposite direction.

Right into Ryūma’s position!

Ryūma’s eyes lit up at the sight. Even he had thought for a second that Hiori had botched the pass.
But unlike the Y defenders, he didn’t chase blindly—his instincts told him Hiori wouldn’t make such a mistake.

The ball reached his feet. Ryūma wound up for a shot—only for a figure to suddenly appear in front of him.

Startled, he pulled back. If he had kicked, that figure would’ve blocked it cleanly.

(Hisakawa Mii? When did he get back on defense?)

That brief hesitation cost him the perfect chance. Two more Y defenders closed in, while the four he’d beaten earlier had already recovered. Kobayashi Shima and Hisakawa Mii swarmed back to his side.

At least the triplet brothers had hustled back too, tangling with those four defenders to ease the pressure on him.

Seeing no clear shot, Ryūma quickly improvised.

He feinted left with his shoulder but kicked the ball right, planning to shake the defenders, stop, and cut across for an opening.

But then—

[BOOM!!]

GOAL!! Team V 5–4 Team Y

Ryūma froze, staring at Rin Itoshi, utterly speechless.

(That bastard Rin... pulling strings again? I thought he was just being nice, passing to Hiori—but he planned this all along.)
(He knew that if Hiori had the chance, he’d only ever pass to me.)
(Once the ball came to me, every defender’s focus would lock onto me. Rin could slip into the shadows, waiting for the kill.)
(Hah. Only I could draw that much attention. Anyone watching our matches knows—Rin and I are the team’s absolute scoring core.)
(But damn... he really trusted me to carry the ball into the box.)
(In the front or midfield, opponents might split their attention. But once I enter the penalty area, all eyes are glued to me—no one sees anything else.)

“Hey, Rin—you’re such a jerk! Using me like bait and stealing my goal too!”
“Are you even listening? Stop standing there pretending to be all high and mighty!”

Ryūma stormed up to him, waiting for a reply. Rin said nothing.

“You even listening—”
“Shut up, idiot. I’m thinking. Don’t distract me.”

Rin walked straight back to his spot, leaving Ryūma glaring after him in disbelief.

“You little shit, you’ve got a death wish!”
“Easy, Ryūma. He did score. Let’s just let it go this time.”

Yo Hiori came over with a smile, holding Ryūma back before he could lash out.

“I’m sparing him only because of you, Hiori. Otherwise, Rin would be flying right now!”
“Ha ha, come on, Ryūma. They’re about to kick off. Let’s get back.”

...

Team Y possession. Matsutani Kageaki at the center circle.

Same strategy as always—two central players in a front-back setup.
Kobayashi Shima pushes left with two teammates, Hisakawa Mii pushes right with two. Two defenders stay back in their penalty box.

Matsutani carried forward briefly, then passed to Kobayashi Shima on the left.

The triplet brothers charged in fast. But Shima calmly controlled the ball, as if deliberately waiting for them.

“Don’t think you can get past us every time.”

Each triplet locked onto one opponent, cutting off the passing lanes.

Just as one was about to poke the ball away, Shima spun and sent it back to Matsutani behind him.

At that split second, while the triplets’ eyes followed the ball, the three Y attackers split off in different directions, slipping free from their markers.

Ryūma skidded to a halt, abandoning his chase of Shima, and turned to pursue Matsutani.

(This damn Y-team... ten forwards and all they do is pass!)

His frustration deepened. Before Matsutani even received it, he sent the ball diagonally forward to Hisakawa Mii.

Without stopping, Hisakawa immediately volleyed it across to the left midfield.

Kobayashi Shima was already there, waiting for the drop—unfortunately, so was Ryūma charging in.

Though Shima’s face looked tense, his actions were crisp. He dove forward, heading the ball back.

The return went to Y’s left midfielder, who instantly relayed it to Matsutani in the center.

No time for Team V to adjust. Matsutani stepped up and drilled the ball to the right midfield!

With that, all Y players in the center and left pushed toward Team V’s defensive third.

On the right, Hiori and Rin were both in position—but their decisions differed.

Hiori closed in on the falling ball, ready to claim it. Rin, however, turned and sprinted straight back toward their penalty box.

Ryūma stayed still. He didn’t know if Hiori could win it—but if he did?

Watching the ball plummet, Ryūma’s thoughts raced:

(Even if Hiori misses, I can recover on defense—and Rin’s already covering.)
(What worries me is if Hiori actually takes it, while I’m too far back.)
(I’ll never let Hiori end up stranded with no one to pass to!)