Isagi surged forward, the ball dancing at his feet as he scanned the field. Two Team X defenders rushed to block his path, their movements coordinated to trap him. With a sharp pivot, Isagi darted to the left, dragging the defenders with him, before cutting back and sending a precise pass to Kira on the right. Kira, anticipating the move, dropped back to shield the ball from the pursuing defenders. With a deft touch, he returned the ball to Isagi, who had slipped past the disoriented defenders to regain possession.
Driving toward the penalty box, Isagi felt a presence creeping up behind him. His instincts flared. Abruptly halting, he flicked the ball behind him and took a few cautious steps back. Turning swiftly, he caught sight of the culprit—Raichi, barreling toward him with reckless speed, intent on stealing the ball and claiming the glory. Isagi's sudden stop caught Raichi off guard, and the would-be thief stumbled and fell to the ground in an unceremonious heap.
Annoyed but undeterred, Isagi refocused and lined up a shot. Just as the ball left his foot, a massive leg shot out, intercepting the attempt with precision. The ball came to a dead stop, trapped by none other than Barou, who had abandoned his mark on Kunigami to confront Isagi. Without hesitation, Barou launched into a blistering counterattack, his sheer power and speed leaving Gagamaru and Naruhaya floundering in his wake.
Barou's movements were unrelenting, each stride a statement of dominance. As he approached the edge of the penalty box, he unleashed a ferocious finesse shot. The ball curved majestically, evading Igarashi's outstretched arms before slamming into the back of the net. Isagi could only watch as Team X leveled the score.
'Seriously? Even after getting everyone to play as a team, we're barely holding on'
Isagi thought, his frustration mounting. Yet, he couldn't help but admire Barou's raw talent. The fault, he admitted, partly lay with himself for underestimating Barou's presence on the field. Still, the true catalyst for the goal was Raichi. His unchecked ego and reckless playstyle threatened to unravel the fragile unity Isagi had worked so hard to establish. If this continued, Team Z would descend into chaos, mirroring the disastrous first match of the original timeline.
Raichi's latest misstep sparked an argument with Kira, who lambasted him for tackling Isagi and squandering their lead. Kunigami and Gagamaru stepped in to quell the heated exchange, urging the team to refocus as the clock ticked down.
As the game resumed, Kira passed the ball to Isagi, trusting him to create another opportunity. Isagi's confidence in his ball control was unwavering. Gliding past defenders with an effortless elegance, he left them grasping at air. Barou, however, wasn't so easily shaken. Determined to reclaim his dominance, he closed in on Isagi, his imposing figure a looming threat.
Barou's physicality was undeniable, and he used it to great effect, pushing into Isagi's shoulder in an attempt to unbalance him. Isagi, feeling the strain, realized he couldn't hold onto the ball much longer. Thinking quickly, he executed a perfect nutmeg, slipping the ball between Barou's legs and darting to the left. Barou instinctively turned to follow, only to find no one there. Confused, he glanced to his right and saw Isagi sprinting ahead, having feinted and outpaced him.
Now in open space, Isagi wasted no time. He unleashed a stunning long-range shot, the ball arcing gracefully through the air. It seemed destined for the right corner of the net, only to swerve unexpectedly at the last moment, nestling into the left corner instead. The crowd's collective gasp was drowned out by Team Z's wild celebration.
Isagi extricated himself from the mob of cheering teammates, retreating to his half as the intercom urged the game to continue. Despite the euphoria of regaining their lead, Isagi's focus remained razor-sharp.
Team X began the game in their usual chaotic manner, which held out for a while until the final whistle blew. The scoreboard displayed a decisive 2-6 loss for Team X, granting Team Z their first 3 points and the lead in the rankings.
As Team X trudged off the pitch with dejected expressions, one player stood apart, his face twisted with frustration. His gaze lingered on Isagi, simmering with anger. It wasn't his fault, he told himself; every time he had the ball, he scored. Yet, Isagi had dribbled past him with ease and scored, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.
On the other side, Team Z celebrated, albeit cautiously. While the points were a relief, Isagi knew it wouldn't last long without continued effort. He allowed himself a moment of satisfaction, though—his hat-trick of goals and assists was an undeniable highlight. His precise distractions and interplay had led to Kira slotting the ball into an empty net and Kunigami unleashing a powerful strike from the edge of the penalty area.
In the locker room, laughter and chatter filled the air. A clear dynamic had formed within the team. Isagi, Kira, Kunigami, Bachira, and Gagamaru naturally gravitated toward one another, their contributions bonding them. Meanwhile, the other players loitered on the outskirts, desperate to find a way into the group's inner circle.
Raichi and Chigiri sat apart, silent yet simmering with their own frustrations. Finally, Raichi, unable to hold back any longer, slammed his locker shut and marched toward Isagi.
"Hey, why didn't you pass to me when I was open?!"
Raichi's voice was sharp, cutting through the room's jovial atmosphere. All eyes turned to him as his anger spilled over. His frustration stemmed from Isagi's blatant decision to ignore him after their initial play, leaving Raichi to chase opportunities that never came.
"Let it go, Raichi"
Kira interjected, casually taking a sip from his water bottle.
"We won the match."
Raichi whipped around, his glare searing.
"Won the match? That 'bulldozer freak' on their side ran through our team like it was nothing! No one stopped him, not even once! Do you think we'd have won if they actually played to his strengths more often?!"
"What's your point?"
Imamura's voice carried his own irritation, his tone sharp.
Raichi pointed an accusing finger toward Isagi.
"My point is this—there are two more teams stronger than them. If those teams work together, do you really think we'd stand a chance?"
The room fell silent. Raichi's words hung heavy in the air as the team recalled Barou's overpowering presence. Had Team X played smarter, leveraging Barou's dominance, they might not have survived the match. It was Isagi's relentless efforts—creating opportunities and finishing chances—that had kept them afloat.
"Look"
Isagi finally said, stepping forward,
"if you're going to make this about passing, then let's talk facts."
Raichi crossed his arms, his scowl deepening.
"Fine. Explain it, genius."
"Okay"
Isagi continued, his voice steady but firm.
"I did pass to you. And what happened? You lost the ball to the first defender. Once. That's it. Meanwhile, I passed to Kira, Kunigami, and Bachira, and each of them scored. Kira and I played one-two to cut through their defense. Bachira beat two defenders and scored. So you tell me—why should I pass to someone who can't make it count?"
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