Reverberating cheers could be heard from the audience as Daikyo High's two newcomers, Yuta and Taro, settled into their positions. Their presence alone brought a shift in the dynamic, a surge of tension that rippled through both teams. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the turf, but the heat of competition was just beginning to rise.
Sota wiped the sweat from his brow, his eyes narrowing as he studied the opposing team. "Stay sharp, everyone," he called out, his voice steady despite the knot forming in his stomach. "They're going to come at us hard."
"Let them come," Ryuji muttered, cracking his knuckles. The rush of the game had ignited something within him—a hunger for victory he hadn't felt in years. His mind was still buzzing with the thrill of his earlier interception, but he knew this was just the beginning.
