Chapter 39: The Trap

As Team Y’s right midfielder sent the pass forward, Ryūma suddenly appeared at the spot!

But at the same moment, two Y-team players charged in—one from the left, one from the right—locking him down.

Ryūma wasn’t afraid of them, but his speed was still slowed.

【Thud】

Then another Y-team player burst in from his front right, booting the ball back to Kobayashi Shima in defense.

After trapping the ball, Kobayashi Shima initiated another wave of movement. He launched a long pass to Hisakawa Mii on the right edge of the backfield.

Without hesitation, Hisakawa struck it—looking like he was going for goal!

Yo Hiori and three V-team defenders immediately closed in to block his shot.

【Thud】
【Thud!】
【Thud!!】

Three sharp impacts rang out almost at the same time.

The moment Hisakawa received the ball, he’d already shifted it right. Positioned along that line were three more Y-team players.

Four players in a perfect horizontal chain. In just seconds, three rapid-fire passes cranked the ball’s speed to the limit—until the fourth player wound up for the finish.

That fourth man was Matsutani Kageaki!

But just as he prepared to shoot, his eyes widened—Rin Itoshi had suddenly stepped right into his shooting lane!

(Wh… what? He read a shot after passes this fast? Damn it, what do I do—give up?)
(...No. I get it now.)

Matsutani’s face calmed. He wound up like he was shooting—only to pass instead!

【Thud!】

Rin froze. His calculations told him no one should be there.

Yet, defying him, Y-team’s attacking midfielder materialized at the left edge of the penalty box—the exact landing spot—and was already striking forward.

【Thud!】
【Crack!】

The first was Y’s attacking midfielder’s kick. The second was Ryūma cutting across, blocking it head-on!

A grin curled across his face, his violet eyes blazing.

“Anticipation is the most annoying crap. I’ll crush you with the simplest way possible!”

GOAL!! Team V 6–5 Team Y

Ryūma blinked in surprise—Kobayashi Shima lay sprawled on the ground, and the ball that had gone into his own net… had been headed in!

Y’s attacking midfielder walked back calmly, then turned his head.

“Defeat us with the simplest way? Sounds nice. But you’d better prove you can do it.”

With that, he returned to position. Ryūma didn’t respond.

He glanced once at Team Y celebrating, then walked back slowly to his side, his mind racing.

(When I blocked that shot, the ball was struck again and again. The rebound force sent it flying diagonally upward.)
(In the end, Kobayashi must have anticipated it—scored with a diving header.)
(Wait… anticipated? Since when could Kobayashi Shima read plays like that?)
(That strange feeling I had—it must be this. They’re not just reading us anymore. They’re anticipating the ball’s drop and movement directly.)
(But even that doesn’t feel quite right. Damn it, I still can’t describe this sensation…)

Yo Hiori saw Ryūma brooding and patted his shoulder.

“What’s wrong, Ryūma? Thinking about Y Team?”
“Yeah, Hiori… Don’t you feel like they’ve changed?”

“I might be wrong, but if their formation used to be like a precision machine, now it feels like a machine on the verge of breaking.”
“Messy, aimless—that’s how they look. But in sudden flashes, they snap into order again.”
“Like that last lateral pass—from right wing to left in an instant.”
“Too fast. I doubt even you reacted in time, Ryūma.”
“Rin only caught it because he anticipated the pass’s destination. Otherwise, no way he’d react so quickly.”

“Which brings me to Rin—something’s turned against him.”

Hiori hesitated as Rin walked over, but Rin cut him off with a scoff.

“Say it. I know my own situation.”

Hiori nodded.

“Your analysis worked on their fixed formation. But now, you’ll have to readjust to their rhythm.”
“They keep flipping—chaos to order, order to chaos.”
“Ryūma, we’ll have to adapt to this rhythm too, or we’ll never find a breakthrough.”

“You two figure that out. Too much hassle. I’ll just smash them head-on.”
“I’ll take the kickoff. Let’s see what this transformed Y Team is really made of!”

...

Team V possession. Ryūma kicks off from center circle!

Charging solo into Y’s half, Ryūma exploded forward as defenders converged.

But instead of wasting time with feints, he relied purely on his freakish dribbling speed—untouchable, unstoppable!

“Damn it! How do you stop speed like this?!”

By the time Ryūma tore past Y’s fourth man, the final defender snapped, shouting in frustration.

(Hmph. Maybe I can’t stop your attack… but can you stop mine?)

Grinning, Ryūma stormed into midfield, ready to break through—

Only for six Y-team players to suddenly surge in from front and back, surrounding him!

(Huh? When did they get this many up?)
(Wait… think carefully. Those four I beat earlier—all of them steered their challenges to the left.)
(That nudged me into going right. Which means…)

Ryūma realized—he’d been so focused on breaking through, he hadn’t noticed.

Step by step, he’d been funneled into the right side of midfield.

(They set a trap for me. But those four earlier didn’t look like they were faking… unless…)
(Hah. Another possibility—maybe their core player has an ability like Rin’s. Someone manipulating everything.)

(Hiori’s right there… Guess it’s up to you now, Hiori!)

【Thud!】

Just as the six closed in, Ryūma lofted the ball high toward the left side of Y’s backfield.

Yo Hiori was already there, a bright smile on his face, his heart warming.

(Ryūma… I knew you’d pass to me when you were cornered.)
(Don’t worry—I’ll put this ball exactly where you need it!)
(Wait… why isn’t he moving?)
(That look in his eyes… No way—he wants me to shoot it myself?)