[PREVIOUSLY]
Back to the pitch, the ref had some the coin flip and SEIRAN were starting. Takeshi stood over the ball, Neron across him.
The ref seeing that everything was set, checked his watch and set the time, before bringing the whistle to his mouth and "PHHHHHHEEEEEWWW!!!!" He blew, the match officially starting.
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As the ref blew the whistle, Takeshi immediately passed the ball to Neron. Neron then passed the ball back, before he advanced forward.
Shinji received the ball, before he advanced forward with the ball
Kyoto defended quite deep in their half, with the two strikers staying just short of the middle of the field.
Shinji looked up for passing options. As soon as Shinji lifted his head, Hayato took off running. Shinji spotted the run and sent a small dink ball over the midfield line to him.
Hayato received the ball, an excited grin on his face. He immediately sped up into the free space where the ball had landed.
Cutting in on his left foot, Hayato let off a quick finesse shot from outside the box. The ball sailed through the air, it's destination goal-bound. But then a towering figure of Alexei Volkov leaped into the air, nodding it away.
Hayato's expression was off disbelief. 'Where in the world did he come from?' he thought. He had thought that he had a clear sight on goal, thanks to Shinji's pass, but seemed he wasn't so clear.
Shinji, as well, was of disbelief, but more of frustration on how Alexei had made it to deflect Hayato's shot. He shook his head, clearing his mind of the thought. He decided to focus on getting the loose ball.
The ball ricocheted into the air, landing at the feet of Shinji again. He looked up for any passing lanes to goal, his usual confidence slightly shaken as scanned the field for the familiar passing lanes. Instead, there was nothing-Kyoto had now regrouped more and tightened their defense even more.
"Shinji, over here!". Neron appeared in Shinji's view, Shinji sent a pass towards him. His frustration still lingered, but he'll still find a way to break down this low block.
Neron, with his back to the defender, feinted to the right, taking a touch with the ball towards his left; leaving the midfielder marking him behind.
Neron advanced forward a bit before sending a pass to Kaito on the left wing, he then ran forward to receive the ball back to which the boy had passed it to him.
The midfielder on Neron was resolute to stop him from getting the ball. Neron suddenly ran towards the ball. The defender religiously following him. As the ball reached Neron, he took a feint to the left, letting the ball roll to his right foot, leaving the midfielder behind and space for him to shoot.
Neron eyed the goal, leg winded back for a shot. His left leg shot out for a travela shot, the ball goal bound. But then a wall was in the way, but this time it was his brother Nikolai Volkov, leg outstretched, successfully blocking the shot.
'Ugh, damn.' Neron cursed in his mind, seeing his shot blocked.
The ball ricocheted into the air, finding it's way to Takeshi; SEIRAN regaining possession again.
Takeshi passed the ball to Shinji. The boy advanced forward with the ball, his eyes looking around for any weakness in this low block.
His brows furrowed in frustration, 'C'mon, there's always a lane, but this...' His gaze farted frantically across the pitch, searching for a clear passing lanes, but Kyoto has shut them all down. He needed to find a more clear opportunity for his teammates.
He scanned the field more, the passing lanes that lead to goal where all out of commission.'They're crowding the stage, how am I supposed to perform like this?'
Still, Shinji refused to give up. With a dramatic flick of his hair, he adjusted his footing. 'If I can't find a way, I'll just craft one myself.'
He glanced towards Kaito on the left. Quickly passing the ball to Kaito, Shinji ran forward. Kaito received the ball. He took a slow touch with the ball, the defender relaxing a bit, but still tense in anticipation. He then sent a lazy outside foot pass to Shinji. The midfielder marking Kaito, his eyes widened in disbelief. He had thought he was prepared for the pass, but the pass was just so sudden, it wasn't fast by any means but it had still caught him off guard.
Shinji received the ball on the wing, his head snapping up with practiced ease. He sent a curved cross into the box, the target Baro. 'Baro-chan, better make this count' he thought
Baro grinned. He held out his hands to secure a position to get the ball. But that smirk soon turned into disbelief, as a tower leaped into the air; heading the ball away. Alexei stared at Baro, his expression impassive like he didn't even notice the boy was there. Baro grunted in annoyance.
This continued on, with Seiran trying shot after shot, only for it to be deflected by either one of the two brothers.
Sophia's brows furrowed in contemplation. The two brothers were as formidable as ever, she needed a change of plan. Shinji hadn't been able to make a clear opportunity, not with those two still in the box. And she saw it was frustrating the boy.
She stood up, cupping her mouth to shout the instruction. "Play down the wings!!!" She bellowed, before signing for Daichi to push up as well.
The instruction was made. Shinji ran a hand throw his head in frustration, 'Dammit,' He thought frustrated at himself, but he complied with it anyway, as long as he's team shines, he doesn't need to be on the stage.
It was a throw-in for SEIRAN on the right hand side, which was quickly made.
Hayato took a touch with his right foot towards the right to drive in that direction. The defender stepped in that direction to stop his advancement. Hayato quickly chopped it with his right towards the left, before bursting past the defender.
Hayato cut in with his left foot for a shoot, the defender in front of him turned his body to block it. Hayato then quickly chopped it, going to the outside with his right foot. He sent a curling cross into the box.
Daichi eyed the ball in anticipation, his legs tensing up, ready to jump for the ball. As the ball sailed through the air, Daichi was getting ready to jump, but before the ball could even reach him, it was intercepted by Nikolai.
The boy then drove forward with the ball. Shinji ran towards him to stop his advancement. Nikolai then passed the ball to the side, a midfielder running towards the ball. Nikolai just stared down Shinji, no words left the boys mouth.
Renji Takahara took the ball, speeding off with it.
Takeshi stood in front of the boy, his body tense in anticipation, his expression serious as well. 'So they added someone new to the squad. An unknown anamoly, and a dangerous one at that.' Takeshi analysed. He had never seen the boy before, so that would mean he was a new player. But Takeshi couldn't shake off the feeling of dread he was having.
Renji's smile stretched wide, unsettlingly so, as he faced Takeshi, the smile unnerved the captain. His eyes gleamed with an almost child-like glee, though there was nothing innocent about it.
"Ohooo, my first partner on the floor." He said, his voice sing-song and unsettlingly playful. "Care to dance with me?" His head tilted slightly, his widened eyes locking into Takeshi. His smile growing even wider at the thought of competition.
Takeshi recoiled, clearly unnerved by the boy, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread creeping in very slowly.
Renji took the ball to the left. Takeshi's leg outstretched, his leg almost reaching the ball. But then the boys eyes widened as the ball quickly changed directions. Renji smiled at him, before bursting forward.
As Daichi had pushed up, there was a gaping hole in the defense. The two Seiran defenders stood in resoluteness to stop him. Renji smiled even more, "Yaaaay, more dancers. Let's dance even nore" He said giddingly, giggling as he danced with the ball.
The boy passed the ball from his right foot to his left, avoiding the outstretched leg of the first defender. His leg then quickly tapped it away from the next one, squirming his way through both of them.
He then took a shot, the goalie tried to save it but the ball had too much power and entered the goal.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!" The announcers shouted out,
"WHAT A GOAL FROM THE UPCOMING PLAYER OF RYOTO, RENJI TAKAHARA. SEIRAN HAD BEEN ON TOP FOR THE MAJORITY, BUT A QUICK COUNTER FROM THEM STARTING WITH THE CAPTAIN AND ONE OF THE TWIN TOWERS NIKOLAI VOLKOV HAS LEFT SEIRAN STUNNED." Akira commented.
Taro nodded in agreement, "THAT'S RIGHT, NOW WHAT WILL SEIRAN SO IN RESPONSE TO THIS." He spoke.
Back to the pitch, as the crowd for Ryoto roared in delight as their new star scored. Amid the chaos, Renji stood still, looking towards the players of SEIRAN. His smile unsettling and down right creepy, as it seemed to stretch even more. His eyes locked into theirs, burning with a strange, maniac intensity. "Ahh," he murmured, his voice dripping with eerie excitement."Shall we dance some more?" He asked, his tone light, almost playful, but the intense and unsettling glint in his gaze made it clear-this was no friendly invitation.
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A/N: Well that's this chapter, What do you guys think of the twin towers and Ryoto's talent. Do try to guess which real word players are their inspiration and don't forget to tell me your thoughts on the chapter, feel free.
Also throw me some of those stones guys
Stay blessed 🙏