Chapter 43: Anxious

“Huh? What the hell was that ball speed?”

Two Y-team players didn’t even see when the ball had gone into the net.
The Y-team goalkeeper hadn’t even had time to react before it slammed past him!
Their attacking midfielder said nothing, just silently walked back to his spot to wait for the kickoff.

“Ryūma, you’re too strong! Did you name that shot the Heavy Cannon?”

“Yeah, it fits perfectly, Hiori! Not only does the ball’s power feel like cannon fire, even the sound when I struck it was like a blast.”

“So cool, Partner! No matter how many times I see that shot, it always leaves me speechless.”

“Alright, enough with the flattery.”

“Hehe, I mean it, Partner!”

Ryūma Banjō shook his head helplessly, heading back to his position.
“They’re about to kick off. Get back to your spots.”

Y-team possession. Kobayashi Shima takes the kickoff at center!
He passes left to their midfielder, then accelerates toward Team V.

As soon as their left midfielder receives the ball, the rest of Y-team starts making runs toward Team V.

“Triplets, you take the left side. I’ll handle the right—Rin’s over there too. Ryūma, the center’s yours.”

“Got it, Hiori. We’ll go with your plan.”

Hiori nodded at Ryūma, then sprinted to the right flank.

Y-team’s left midfielder carried the ball up the left wing into Team V’s half, only to meet the triplets closing in.
Without giving them the chance to tackle, he flicked the ball backward with his heel.

Direct confrontation was never their style. For Y-team, one-on-one duels didn’t exist—passing was the only truth.

【Thud!】

Receiving the flick, Hisakawa Mii launched a booming long pass to Kobayashi Shima on the right midfield.

In the center, Ryūma didn’t chase. He stayed composed, thinking:
(Stay calm, Ryūma. The right’s covered by Hiori and Rin.)
(Even if they don’t win it, Kobayashi won’t be able to dribble through. He’ll have to pass.)
(And the moment he does, that’s my chance to steal it!)

On the right, Kobayashi Shima watched the ball come in, fully aware of his predicament.

(What now? I didn’t think Hiori would just hold position behind me. Did they plan this?)
(If I pass forward, Rin’s waiting. If I pass back, Hiori’s waiting.)
(I can’t pass wider either—once it lands, I’ll be boxed in by both of them.)
(And even if I do, Ryūma’s lurking, ready to pounce.)
(No—he’d still catch up, even if he’s a few steps behind! Now we’re on even ground. Any pass toward the middle, he’ll cut it off for sure.)
(Wait… could this work? Forget it—I’ll trust you!)

His eyes sharpened. Kobayashi leapt forward and headed the ball wider right.

In Hiori’s puzzled gaze, the sound of a strike echoed.

【Thud!】

Before it touched the ground, a Y-team player further out right volleyed it into Team V’s backfield—straight at Rin Itoshi’s zone.

Hiori stared at the figure before him, even more confused.
(What? Not only did he shoot from there, but he aimed it at Rin?)

【Thud!】

A long pass shot out from Rin’s position, clearing up the mystery.

Spotting a figure appear behind Rin, Hiori began to piece it together.
(First, Kobayashi’s header made it seem like we’d secure the ball.)
(Then, from my angle, that wide player looked like he passed to Rin.)
(But no—the pass was aimed at Y-team’s attacking midfielder near Rin!)
(And to hide it, their right midfielder blocked my view after kicking the ball.)
(I thought Rin would win it for sure, so I ignored him blocking me. I even thought it was coincidence.)
(Damn… Y-team’s playmaker is sharp. Hope Rin doesn’t get rattled.)

But glancing at Rin, Hiori saw no change in expression.
(Huh? Rin’s mentality is solid. Haha, if it were Ryūma, he’d be raging by now.)

Sure enough, when Hiori tracked the ball again, Ryūma was already charging full speed to the drop point.

The ball fell back to midfield center, where Matsutani Kageaki was waiting.
But he knew by the time it landed, Ryūma would be there too.

So he gave up the ball and rushed in, trying to block Ryūma’s run. At the same time, two more Y-team players closed in from both sides.

“Heh, I spotted you two nobodies when I was tracking back.”

“You couldn’t stop me with the ball. Without it, you think you can?”

Ryūma suddenly dropped his stance low, then surged forward, slipping clean past the two players trying to sandwich him.

“Argh! Couldn’t stop him at all!”
“What? He’s not even that big, but it felt like he crushed my shoulder!”

The two players lay on the ground, groaning in pain.

Matsutani Kageaki—Y-team’s biggest player—knew he couldn’t win physically against Ryūma.
But if he could just slow him for a second, that’d be enough.

“I said… get out of my way!”

Ryūma’s speed spiked again as he approached. Concentrating all his power in his legs, he feinted left.
As Matsutani shifted to cut him off—
Ryūma instantly switched right, blowing past him with ease.

(Huh? He’s even faster without the ball? I thought his dribbling speed was insane because the ball didn’t slow him down!)
(But no… just like us, he slows down when dribbling. This… this off-ball movement is his true maximum!)

Shocked as he was, Matsutani had still done his job—Ryūma’s cut delayed his straight-line run.

That gave Y-team’s right attacking midfielder just enough time to reach the ball and poke it backward.
Their left attacking midfielder immediately passed it on to Hisakawa Mii up ahead.

Once again, Y-team pulled off their lightning-fast “V-shaped” passing.

Watching the ball slip away, Ryūma could only curse in his head:

“Damn!”