Turning to look at the stands, overflowing with excited cheers, Mateo felt a familiar surge of excitement tinged with a bit of anxiousness. Then again, to relieve his anxiousness, he clutched his hand into a fist and inhaled a deep breath.
As he exhaled, his eyes glowed with an unusual sharpness.
Beep!!
The air crackled with the roars of the fans as the referee blew his whistle, announcing the start of the game.
Claudio passed the ball back to Mateo and dashed upfield.
Nijichi, their attacker, rushed for the ball, ignoring Claudio, who easily passed him. At the same time, Hiro rushed towards Claudio, attempting to block him on his way while everyone in the frontline dispersed to cover more distance and maximize their effectiveness.
Just as he was about to approach Claudio, Hiro however, hesitated. Being aware of Mateo's capabilities, it would be more effective to head towards Mateo than to block Claudio.
