The game continued with a goal kick for Esperion youth. They immediately tried to establish their dominance and get back into rhythm by exchanging quick passes again, but their opponents weren't having it.
Now hyped up due to Aizaki's last play, the exam takers surged forward with renewed energy, pressing aggressively and disrupting their opponents' flow.
The situation on the pitch could only be described as chaotic, with a flurry of tackles and turnovers, transforming the pitch into a battleground.
On any other day, the victor would be clear, as the youth team were better in every way. But in football, certain factors can transform a team, and enable them to perform at a higher level than they would usually have.
That was exactly what was happening right now.
Despite being outmatched in every department, Aizaki's last play had inspired them, enabling them to perform at a higher level than they usually could.
But even with all this, the youth team was on another level. They displayed their professionalism, and they remained calm even under pressure.
With the exam takers pressing aggressively, they stepped things up a notch, moving the ball around the pitch in a blur.
This continued throughout the game, until a change finally occured.
In the 67th minute, Yuuma won the ball Otomo in the middle of the park, and immediately went on the offense.
He danced through three defenders, and was bearing down his opponents penalty area, when he suddenly felt a hand grab his jersey from behind.
Without panicking, he stepped over the ball, and hit a back pass with his heel. The ball rolled through Kaneda's legs, and into the path of the running Akutsu.
Without slowing down, Akutsu raised his leg in a shooting motion, aiming for the goal, when the defense reacted.
With the memory of his previous goal still replaying in their minds, the defenders and midfielders quickly closed him down. They threw their bodies in the way hoping to stop the shot by any means necessary.
Adapting on the fly, Akutsu shifted his stance into a passing motion, surprising the defenders. He dug his feet under the ball, and sent a lobbed pass. The ball soared to the left flank, finding Kiriki in stride.
Kiriki took the ball in his stride, and sent a cross into the box where Shimura was waiting. Shimura met the ball with his head, and the ball soared to the top right corner, but the goalkeeper managed to deflect the ball with a fingertip save, diverting it out for a corner kick.
The Spectors remained silent all through this, as everyone was fully immersed in the happenings on the pitch.
Kiriki headed to the corner flag to take the corner kick, as every other person gathered in the exam takers penalty box.
Akutsu made his way into the box, stopping just beside Aizaki as he taunted,
"I guess you're all bark but no bite, huh? I mean if this is all you have, then you might as well start heading home."
Aizaki glanced at Akutsu and smiled before speaking in a sarcasm laced tone.
"The great Akutsu who swept through the starters as a first year is relying on trash talk? I must say I am disappointed."
Akutsu's eyes narrowed, a hint of frustration evident as he clicked his tongue, yet his smile remained intact. He shifted his gaze towards the corner flag, fixating on the incoming cross, waiting for his teammate's delivery.
As the ball floated into the box, the multitude of players jostled for possession, each vying to connect with the incoming cross. Amidst the chaos, Akutsu's attention drifted, his mind wandering off.
"How could they be so alike?" he pondered silently, his thoughts wandering as the image of Aizaki and a certain someone overlaped in his mind.
Shaking off his momentary distraction, Akutsu redirected his focus to the task at hand. With renewed determination, he propelled himself into the air, soaring above the crowd of players, including Aoi who seemed poised to win the header.
With a thunderous impact, Akutsu's head met the ball, channeling all his pent-up frustration into the decisive strike. The net rippled as the ball found its mark, sending shockwaves through the stadium and leaving everyone, especially Aoi, in stunned disbelief.
The exam takers stood frozen in disbelief, their expressions shifting from confusion to bitterness as they processed what had just transpired. The shrill sound of the whistle confirming the goal only deepened their sense of defeat. Despite pouring their hearts into the match, they found themselves unable to withstand the relentless onslaught.
With Akutsu's unexpected goal, a grim realization settled over them like a dark cloud. They knew, deep down, that victory was slipping further from their grasp with each passing moment.
As the exam takers struggled to accept the harsh reality of their situation, a new sound pierced through the air – a sharp whistle coming from the sidelines. This unexpected interruption drew their attention, causing them to glance towards the source with a mixture of confusion and curiosity.
As their gaze shifted towards the source of the whistle, they laid eyes on Fukuda, standing tall with a megaphone in hand. His presence commanded attention, and the exam takers watched in anticipation, wondering what he had to say.
"Ahem" Fukuda started, "Before the game started I told you all I would say something to you at certain point in the match, so listen up. Throughout this game, the youth team has been playing with a handicap."
Taking a dramatic pause, Fukuda observed the confused expressions on the players faces before continuing.
"The youth team is currently playing with a reverse system. This Means players who usually play as forwards are playing as defenders, players who usually play as defenders, are playing as forwards, the offensive midfielders are playing as defensive midfielders and vise versal. In other words, other than the goalkeeper, every member of the youth team is currently playing in a position completely new to them."
After allowing his revelation to sink in, Fukuda raised the megaphone once more. "Alright, 10 minutes are remaining," he announced firmly, his voice carrying across the field. "I want each and every one of you to dig deep and play to the absolute best of your abilities, and make sure you have no regrets in your hearts"
With these words, he walked back to his seat and observed the situation on the pitch.
Time seemed to freeze for the exam takers upon hearing these words. A sense of disbelief came over them, as their eyes widen in surprise. Bitter smiles tugged at the lips of a few, while some clenched their fists in frustration, but one thing was common, they all felt their will to fight vanish, well most of them.
Aizaki, upon hearing Fukuda's words furrowed his brows. "They're really good. Although I had a suspicion about Akutsu, I didn't notice anything wrong about the rest."
Looking at the dejected faces of his teammates, he sighed in disappointment.
"This complicates things. I really want to win or at least draw this match, but looking at their expressions, I don't think this team is reliable any longer."
******
The situation on the pitch became depressing, in the minutes following Fukuda's announcement. With the youth team increasing the tempo of the game, and their opponents morale at an all time low, the game became a walk in the park.
Although player's like Aizaki and Tachibana were not affected, their impact was limited by their teammates.
For Aizaki, the minutes leading up to the final whistle where nothing short of frustrating. With him being labelled as the main threat, he found himself closely guarded by three defenders.
Normally with Aizaki drawing the defenders attention, the other players will have more space to work with. Unfortunately, with morale non-existent, the youth team were able to easily shut Aizaki down on defense, and freely express themselves on offense.
Aizaki glanced at the scoreboard which now read Examtakers - 1 Esperion youth - 4, and knew the victors were already decided. Since the match had been decided, he focused on causing as much trouble to the opposition as possible.
Just as he thought this to himself, he heard the referee blow his whistle and signal the youth team to take the corner. Clearing his thoughts, he focused on the game at hand.
******
Aoi was downtrodden. He ran all around the pitch chasing after the ball, however his eyes lack the fire it had a few moments ago. As observed the situation on the pitch, he saw Nakano standing rooted in place. His voice came out as a wimper as he silently sobbed to himself.
Noticing how his teammates where in a similar state, it finally hit him.
'These guys have already given up. I understand, after all it's pointless, isn't it? I wanna go back home and take a bath..... I want to see my friends and just play normal football with them. This match today, I've already given my all so isn't that enough? Should I just give up to?"
As these thoughts ran through his mind, he turned his head and glanced at the sidelines where the coaches were seated, when he saw Fukuda pick up a notebook and write something down.
Fukuda then looked around again, and this time his eyes fell on Kaneda who was just on front of him. After observing him for a while, he picked up the notebook, and wrote on it again.
Aoi observed him with a blank expression as he thought to himself, 'Did he just failed Kaneda?"
He glanced at Kaneda and saw that just like everybody else, he had also given up. He turned his attention back to Fukuda and thought, 'is he failing those who have giving up?"
At this moment, Fukuda raised his head up from the book, and looked around the pitch again. Soon their eyes met, and Aoi saw a disappointed look gradually making it's way unto Fukuda's face.
Looking into the coach's eyes, Aoi finally understood the message he was conveying.
'Are you giving up to?'
With widened eye's, Aoi looked around the pitch as this question resounded inside in his mind.
"I'm I giving up?" Aoi couldn't help but blurt out in surprise. Recalling his mother and brother at home, and how hard they had worked to send him here today, Aoi's eyes quickly regained it's luster, as his determination soared higher than before.
He turned his attention back to the game, and saw that the youth team were about to take a corner. With a burst of speed, he made his way into the penalty box.
He looked up and saw the ball had already been floated in with Akutsu rising to meet it. Not wasting a second, he leaped into the air, soaring past Akutsu, and sending to ball out of bounds for a throw-In.
Landing on his feet, he let out a bestial roar,
"WHO THE HELL IS GIVING UP?!!"