The intensity on the field had shifted in an instant. Team V, now with possession of the ball, seemed determined to answer back after the early shock. Reo, known for his composed play, took charge, pushing forward with an aggressive intent that cut through the midfield. Kira and Naruhaya tried to stop him, but Reo barreled past them, his footwork precise, as he played a quick one-two with Zantetsu.
Chigiri, caught off guard by the speed of the exchange, found himself momentarily thrown off balance. But just as the gap opened up, it became clear that Zantetsu wasn't going to have an easy shot. Team Z's goalkeeper, prepared and focused, made sure to cover the goal, and the shot that seemed imminent was blocked by the imposing presence of Raichi and Chigiri, now closing in on Zantetsu from both sides.
Zantetsu, however, wasn't one to be held back. Realizing the pressure from both defenders, he sprinted to the left of Raichi, slipping past him with a burst of speed that left Chigiri struggling to close the gap. Zantetsu glanced back, where Reo had been waiting, but the passing lanes were clogged. With Isagi's impeccable mark on Nagi, there was no easy route for the ball to go. So Zantetsu made a split-second decision, passing the ball back to Reo, his team's playmaker.
"Give them a taste of your talent, Nagi!"
Reo called as he received the ball and sent it to Nagi.
Isagi's eyes locked onto the trajectory of the pass as the ball approached. He could already read Nagi's movements. The ball came toward Nagi, who skillfully prepared to trap it with his chest. But Isagi had been anticipating this moment for a while. As Nagi's chest met the ball, Isagi moved like a shadow, closing the gap in an instant. With a swift nudge of his shoulder, he shoved Nagi off balance, just enough to disrupt his control.
'Nagi was stopped?'
It was flawless. Isagi had intercepted the ball with precision and timing, his defensive experience from his days as a defensive midfielder making him the perfect foil to Nagi's unpredictable style. Nagi, a master of deceptive movements, had been read like an open book. Isagi's calm composure and sharp instincts had completely neutralized him in that crucial moment.
The ball was now in Igarashi's possession. As he prepared to push forward, he caught a glimpse of Isagi sprinting ahead, leaving Nagi in his wake. Isagi's eyes flashed, silently demanding the ball. Igarashi hesitated—he was tempted to seize the spotlight himself—but the unspoken command in Isagi's gaze made it clear: the play wasn't over yet, and Isagi needed to be the one to make the next move.
Reluctantly, Igarashi passed the ball to Isagi.
Reo, still recovering from the shock of Nagi's failure to convert, barely had time to process what had just happened. His usual confidence wavered for the first time. He had trusted Nagi completely—Nagi had always come through, always pulled off the magic. But now, as he looked up, he saw Isagi sprinting past him, and the realization hit him like a brick wall. This wasn't just a game anymore. Isagi had thrown a wrench in their plans.
Still, Reo didn't falter. He kept his eyes locked on Isagi, chasing him down, unwilling to let him dictate the flow. But Isagi wasn't stopping. He had a mission, a promise to keep to Kunigami—and a test to push Naruhaya further.
Isagi's focus sharpened as he glanced ahead. The defense had shifted, and there was a small window opening for a perfect pass. With a calculated flick of his foot, Isagi sent a curved ground pass sailing toward Kunigami. The ball zipped through the gaps in the defense, narrowly avoiding a few desperate attempts to intercept it. But nothing could stop it. The trajectory was flawless, and it landed right at Kunigami's feet.
Kunigami, in perfect sync with Isagi's vision, didn't hesitate. With his left leg, he shot the ball with precision, his strike clean and true. The ball sailed past the goalkeeper, unstoppable, and crashed into the back of the net.
The scoreboard lit up, signaling another goal. Team Z had done it again. The same dominance they'd shown against Team W was unfolding once more. Kunigami, now at the forefront, looked at Isagi, a silent understanding passing between them. With a grin, Kunigami extended his fist toward Isagi. Without missing a beat, Isagi mirrored the gesture, his smile wide with satisfaction.
It was the same symphony of trust, of brilliance. Team Z, now on a rampage, had shown just how unstoppable they could be. The game wasn't just about strategy anymore; it was about the players—about their collective brilliance. And for the moment, Isagi had orchestrated it all. The others could try to keep up, but they were already in his wake. The match was theirs.
Nagi stood at the center circle, the ball at his feet, as he glanced toward Reo. His usually indifferent expression held a flicker of something rare—determination.
"At this rate, we might lose, Reo"
Nagi muttered, his voice calm but carrying weight. His gaze lingered on Reo, noticing the frustration etched on his friend's face. It was an unfamiliar sight. Reo, always composed, always confident, looked shaken—like the ground beneath him had shifted.
Reo turned to meet Nagi's gaze, startled by the words.
"What are you—"
Before he could finish, Nagi interrupted.
"Reo, give me the ball. I'll put in some effort."
The statement stunned Reo into silence. Nagi, the teammate who never took anything seriously, was offering to try. The words echoed in Reo's mind, and for a moment, he hesitated. But before he could respond, Nagi kicked off, sending the ball straight to Reo, then darted forward with an urgency that made everyone on the field do a double-take.
Reo blinked, caught off guard by the uncharacteristic display, but instinct took over. Without missing a beat, he returned the ball to Nagi and sprinted after him, his disbelief morphing into a renewed sense of purpose.
The other players on Team V exchanged shocked glances. Nagi was moving with intent—a sight they had never seen before. The usually aloof genius was now surging forward with the ball at his feet, breaking past Kira with a simple touch that left the defender flat-footed. The field seemed to open up for him, but waiting ahead were Naruhaya and Imamura, ready to block his path.
Nagi didn't slow down. With a series of deft touches, he weaved past Naruhaya, using a feint so subtle it left the defender lunging at air. Imamura attempted to close in, but Nagi flicked the ball over his foot with a controlled lob, reclaiming it on the other side without breaking stride. It was effortless, yet mesmerizing—a display of pure talent finally unleashed.
In the backline, Raichi, who had been holding a central defensive position, noticed the shift. His eyes darted to Isagi, who stood calmly, analyzing the play. Isagi gave him a subtle nod, and Raichi's lips curled into a smirk.
'He saw this coming...'
"Alright, time to show what I've got!"
Raichi roared, abandoning his position to meet Nagi head-on. He charged forward like a force of nature, leaving his post in the defensive line and the responsibility for Nagi's containment squarely on his shoulders.
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Flashback
The room was dimly lit, the glow of the screen casting sharp shadows across the players' faces. Isagi stood by the monitor, remote in hand, pausing and replaying clips of Team V's matches. His sharp eyes scanned every frame, dissecting movements, analyzing strategies, and predicting outcomes.
"You sure this will happen?"
Chigiri asked, his tone skeptical. The clip on the screen showed Nagi lounging lazily on the goal net, trading places with the goalkeeper in a match.
"He was sleeping during his first game."
Isagi smirked, confident in his assessment.
"It will. Once pushed into a corner, players like Nagi evolve. They don't have a choice. It's in moments like that when they discover abilities they never realized they had."
Chigiri frowned, still unconvinced.
"And Nagi? He already knows his abilities. He doesn't seem interested in this game at all."
"That's the point"
Isagi replied, leaning forward.
"He isn't excited now. But when the pressure builds and the stakes feel real, that changes. And when it does, we'll have to focus on him. His unpredictability can break even the best defenses."
Isagi's eyes narrowed as he looked at the team. He wasn't just planning for the match; he was thinking ahead—to the U-20 match and beyond. Players like Nagi and Reo were key, not just to this game but to Japan's future.
"The sooner they evolve, the better. For that, we'll crush them."
Raichi crossed his arms, a confident grin spreading across his face.
"You're counting on me, aren't you?"
"Raichi"
Isagi said, a smirk forming,
"when the time comes, we'll crush them together."
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Present
The field buzzed with tension. Nagi had just slipped past two Team Z players, the ball slightly ahead of him, its control momentarily loosened. Raichi barreled into position, using his physicality to disrupt Nagi's run.
But Nagi wasn't fazed. With a quick backheel, he nudged the ball forward and sprinted after it, leaving Raichi in his wake.
Raichi wasn't done yet. He charged forward, leaning into Nagi and attempting to shoulder him off the ball. Nagi countered with another backheel—this time to Reo, who was already making a supporting run.
Reo caught the pass cleanly, glancing at the field ahead. Isagi stood in his path, blocking any opportunity for a direct through ball. Behind Reo, Raichi had switched tactics, marking Nagi tightly to prevent him from positioning for a potential goal.
Reo clenched his jaw, realizing he had no clear passing options.
'Fine, I'll do it myself.'
He surged forward, choosing to break through the defense on his own.
Raichi's relentless marking forced Nagi into a less favorable position. Meanwhile, Reo advanced, pushing through the midfield before offloading the ball to Zantetsu on the right.
Zantetsu received the pass with ease and immediately launched a cross into the box. The ball soared high, its trajectory perfect for a striker.
Both Team Z and Team V players flooded the box, anticipation crackling in the air. Nagi, still under Isagi's tight surveillance, made a series of sharp runs to throw off his marker. Raichi had now turned his attention to Reo, ensuring he couldn't follow up.
Zantetsu's trust in Nagi was evident. The cross was meant for him—their team's top scorer, the player capable of creating impossible goals. But Isagi had anticipated this from the beginning.
"Thought so"
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