Heading back onto the pitch I noticed how tight and orderly Team X seemed. With Barou leading their way they seemed like a proper team.
Then looking behind me all I could notice about my team was how Raichi wanted to be striker and bachira and isagi mumbling about something.
But at this point, I couldnt care less. I understood Isagis plays now. I was certain I could do them myself.
I felt good, although I was still angry with Barou, Isagi and #3; for some reason, I felt relaxed. No feelings of hot nor cold but a firm feeling of freshness.
And with that kickoff began.
Barou quickly passed the ball to his goalkeeper and ran down the middle of our field to the goal box. He wasn't my man so I tried my best to ignore it but seeing such an obvious threat almost made me move off instinct.
Instead, I held my ground and marked my man, #3.
He didn't seem to care too much just watching Barou run with a nonchalant look on his face.
But I knew better now, this was an act.
I made sure I kept an eye on him.
And just as I expected a long ball came straight from the goalie directly to Barou. A very cocky play, I'm sure he thought of this beforehand in the locker room.
With the ball dropping quickly near barous back he had to turn to receive it but that allowed kuon to give a great heading clearance.
For some reason, perhaps by fate, the ball fell to my feet.
I had so many thoughts in my head, whether I should pass and do as Isagi does, or whether I should dribble or even a one-two.
But I didn't get a chance to choose, with a man quickly pressing behind me, attempting to use my weak psychicality against me.
Without a thought, I let him lean onto me and did an instant turn into the by-line.
'instinct...' I didn't know how I really got past him so easily but I did. Now with my head up I saw a clear opening. Bachira running down the opposite wing not even looking at me.
It seemed everyone was so preoccupied with me that they hadn't noticed.
Once again by instinct, I made a right-footed trivela across the field.
Only then did everyone begin to notice the bachiras movement.
The ball landed just barely in front of him, with a defender quickly on his heels it seemed as if the ball was telling him to cut in. And so he did.
It was different from what he felt before. It didn't feel like his monster, but another's. Either way, it worked.
Now cutting inwards to the right side of the box bachira began to look around for a pass.
'This is it' I couldn't help but breathe through my mouth right now, for some reason I felt so alive. As If I had finally broken a burden holding me down.
My brain wasn't the fastest but I could 'see' it. The spot for my goal.
Making a run on the right side right behind Isagis defender I could only prey Bachira saw me.
I wouldn't know until he passed. Then it came. A perfect through ball right to my feet.
I could see it. My goal! The angle was tight but all I had to do was slot it into the bottom corner with my right foot.
'I could do this. I can do this' all I had to do was shoot.
But then I felt it, a cold chilling feeling yet also so warm, 'what if I miss? What if it goes wide? Won't it be a waste?'
These thoughts almost subconsciously made me look up to where Isagi was.
'He's open, if I pass we'll score.'
In what seemed like a second an endless stream of words assaulted my mind telling me I couldn't do it.
Just as I was about to pass to Isagi I felt a hand grab my chest.
It was the player #3 from before. He had run all the way here just in time to stop me from making a certain goal.
"What now? heh, your precious little birdies gone?"
I couldn't even afford time to think of a response for as soon as he spoke a tackle came in to steal the ball.
Without hesitation, I cut back allowing me some space to think.
I had wasted my chance, Isagi was now being guarded and my only real option seemed like passing backwards.
But was that right? All my high school life I was taught that way, if I had no options then I should restart.
But for some reason, Egos words came to mind.
"To be the number 1 striker, you must have the number 1 ego."
It frustrated me to my core. It pissed me off more than Isagis's goal, it made my blood boil more than Barous arrogance.
His words for some reason made me enraged.
"Why do I have to listen?"
"Why do I have to be the number 1 egoist?"
"Why do I have to restart?"
Like a chain being broken I had realised how much I was being limited by my own thoughts.
Why can't I just do what I want?
I couldn't feel it. I couldn't feel the air hitting my skin. I couldn't see the spot where I needed to score. I couldn't even tell I was dribbling.
I made a quick pace change dribbling to the left, almost Closing my angle entirely.
"Huhhh? You lost again?" I couldn't hear it, I wanted to cross, and so he tried to block. But I changed my mind, I didn't want to cross.
Cutting back in again I left #3 behind me doing the splits.
I was now free on the left side of the box. I needed a pinpoint accurate shot to score here.
Even tighter than the angle I had before. It didn't matter to me. The chances, the certainties and definitely not Isagi.
I hadn't even noticed I shot until the sound of my foot colliding with the ball reverberated in my head.
And before I knew I could see again.
I could feel again.
I watched near dumbfoundedly as the ball curved beautifully into the top right corner leaving the goalie leaping for air.
Silence.
There was only silence. Nobody seemed to breathe as they all watched me waiting for my reaction.
And honestly, I couldn't give one.
I didn't know what happened either, I just did what I wanted.
Before I could even figure out how to celebrate I felt Isagi Jump on my back and start cheering.
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL"
Next thing I knew, what felt like the whole team was jumping on me.
After a few minutes, everyone seemed to calm down. Besides me. I still couldn't believe how it happened.
Whyd I even shoot? I know how bad my shooting is and how accurate of a shot that had to be for it to even be a chance, and yet I did it with no hesitation.
'was that really me?'
"Tahshi, great goal man, I honestly thought we lost it there when you didn't shoot or pass but wow, way to get it back," Isagi said wrapping his arms around my neck with a grin on his face.
And for the first time, I didn't brush it off. I felt a grin spreading across my face as I nodded. "Yeah… felt pretty good."
Bachira also came over and gave some compliments.
"Definitely, that was totally pwoosh and whoof and whishoww, y'know?" He said with a childish smile on his face.
"Uhh, thanks. Both of you. I honestly don't know what came over me there. But thanks"
"No problem, but let's focus on the game, there's still 30 minutes left."
"Mm," Isagi was right although I wanted to analyze my goal and even do a knee slide too, now wasn't the time.
The game was still tied. Anyone could win.
The whistle blew, and kickoff Kickoff began with an NPC passing the ball back to Barou. And as expected he began to dribble. It didn't seem like he was much of a team player. We all knew what he'd do and yet he still did it.
He really did think of himself as a king.
But this time it didn't work, with Isagi and Kunigami instantly pressuring him, he had no chance of using his skills or physique.
Luckily for him, the rebound fell to his teammate who decided to pass the ball back to the defence and recycle.
The game seemed to be at a standstill with Team X not wanting to lose possession.
But also fearful of trusting Barous prowess.
In the end #3 got the ball.
"You know what, chibi?" he called out with a mocking tone. "You're not so bad. Let's call it even, huh?" He stood there rolling the ball under his feet. he seemed quite cocky, for someone I just scored on.
"Even? You wish. Goals are the only thing that matters here dickhead". I knew better now than to fall for his provocations and make a tackle so I stood my ground waiting for his play.
He laughed, rolling his eyes. "Aww, what a shame. We could've been great friends." Finishing his sentence he made a no-look pass to his left towards a teammate of his.
Quickly looking towards the ball and the player I failed to keep up with his movement. He slipped behind me and received the ball right to his foot. Effectively cutting me out with a one-two.
#3's opponent was now Naruhaya, and quite honestly, I didn't have much faith in him. I had a feeling that #3 would get past him.
Which he did with a simple feint inwards only to keep going down the wing.
"Dammit," I muttered, chasing after him. He was fast, but I pushed myself harder, quickly closing the gap.
As he reached the edge of the box, he lined up for a cross. I lunged forward, barely managing to graze the ball with my foot, altering its path slightly, but it wasn't enough to stop it.
The cross arced through the air, curving perfectly toward the far post. Kuon rose to meet it, his leap timed to perfection—but his header missed by a hair, the ball slipping just past him.
Yet whether by luck or sheer instinct, the King was waiting just behind him. With only Igaguri marking him, he was left practically unguarded, free to score.
Barou pounced upon the ball and unleashed a ferocious header directly into the back of the net.
Before anyone could make a sound first, Barou was yelling from the core of his heart "ARGHHHHHHHHH!"
The goal seemed like a slap from my mother. It was a brutal reminder of the stakes.
They were leading again, and time was slipping away.
I looked up, catching #3's smirk as he ran towards Barou, then glanced back at me and blew a mocking raspberry.
'Childish,' I thought, gritting my teeth. But I couldn't let it get to me. We had just over ten minutes left—barely any time, but enough to make a difference if I gave it everything I had.
I couldn't let this game end here. We still had 15 minutes left. If I could score once, I could score twice.
I walked back to the center for kickoff. There were no words to be spoken between me or my team, we all collectively knew one thing. This wasn't over.