Kurogami took his position before the nets, his eyes calm yet focused. Itsuki stood at defense, his focus sharp and unwavering.
Haruma walked with determined steps to the center of the field, his gaze locked ahead where Raya, the opposition striker stood with a focused expression, exuding confidence. Both Haruma and Raya were staring at each other, both appearing focused.
Raya stood ready with the ball under his foot, his entire posture exuding readiness to kickoff the game.
Minato then brought the whistle up to his mouth and placed it between his lips, his gaze sweeping the players on field one last time before a sharp piercing blow echoed through the air, signalling the start.
As the whistle echoed, Raya gently nudged the ball forward and began jogging towards Haruma, with the ball at his feets.
Haruma clenched his jaw tight, and began approaching Raya with the same pace as him.
The gap between them slowly closes with the ball rolling at Raya's feets. Kento, Minato and the rest of the players watching intently, their gazes never straying.
As they closed in, Raya surged forward accelerating his pace. Haruma, anticipating the move, slid his foot in for a tackle, but Raya with perfect timing flicked the ball defetly to his side, dribbling past him in a blur.
Just as Raya was about to charge forward, Haruma's foot came sliding in from his left. In a burst of reflex Raya shifted the ball to his right, narrowly avoiding Haruma's outstretched leg.
For a brief moment their bodies were almost one. Raya's breath hitched as he caught a glimpse of Haruma from the corner of his eyes, who was right next to him with his side pressing onto him.
With a slight shove Raya nudged Haruma aside and surged forward, his pace quickening. Haruma, undeterred, matched his pace, running just next to him, trying to force the ball away, but Raya's control on the ball was flawless.
Haruma kept running, his eyes never leaving the ball when suddenly, Raya swung his left foot at the ball, aiming to strike.
Haruma read his move in instant and quickly slid his right foot in for a block.
Just as Raya's foot was about to make contact with the ball, Haruma's foot slid into a perfect position for a block.
Raya's eyes flickered with sharp intent, and instead of shooting he gently nudged the ball to the left, sending it rolling between the legs of Haruma.
Without wasting any other second, he shifted his body to the left and charged past Haruma, leaving him in his wake, completely outpaced.
From the sidelines, Minato broke into a wide, proud grin. On the other hand, Kento was watching with a slight smile playing at the corner of his lips.
Raya was charging forward at the nets, his eyes locked on a clear sight of Kurogami standing firm before the nets.
Clenching his jaw in determination, Raya quickened his pace but suddenly Itsuki came sliding in, blocking his path with his face set with intense focus.
Raya, appearing unfazed began a rapid series of step over skill over the ball, his movements fast enough to make everyone watching lose their concentration.
But Itsuki with unwavering focus, slid his foot right aiming directly for the ball. Raya, sensing the danger, reacted instantly and rolled the ball back, his foot firmly planted on top of the ball, keeping it just out of Itsuki's reach.
Both Itsuki and Raya held their positions, both appearing focused. Then in a flash Raya's eyes widened in alarm, and in an instant he rolled the ball to his left.
Just after the ball shifted, Haruma's foot came sliding in from behind, making contact with nothing but just air, his face twisted in fury as he missed the tackle.
Now Raya stood between Haruma and Itsuki, his foot firmly planted on the top of the ball which was wide on his left.
Itsuki with intense focus lunged at the ball, his foot aiming perfectly for a tackle. At the same time Haruma quickly covered Raya, his body blocking every Raya's escape, leaving no space to send a pass. The air was heavy with anticipation, the smallest movement from Raya was crucial.
Just as Itsuki's foot neared the ball, Raya with all his might tapped the ball hard, sending it soaring into the air, leaving both Haruma and Itsuki stunned.
Just as the ball flew up, Raya took a big jump with his head connecting perfectly with the ball, he sent it flying towards the left, from where Makoto came rushing in, controlling the ball perfectly on his feets.
Itsuki, with his face twisted with fury, charged at Makoto with relentless speed.
Haruma, struggling to catch up with their speed, glanced on his left to see Itsuki was about to close in on Makoto, but before he could Makoto sent a flying pass back to the right.
Haruma's eyes widened, and as he turned to his right. His heart skipped a beat, Raya was no way near him, he was already charging towards the ball, the distance between him and Raya was now massive.
Haruma's eyes widened with a mix of nervousness and desperation before sprinting after Raya. But Raya, calm and composed, controlled the ball effortlessly on his feets, and glanced up at the nets where stood, The Black Kallor, Kurogami.
Inhaling deeply, Raya slightly leaned his body to his right and with a smooth deliberate movement he shot the ball with his left foot.
Haruma's eyes widened in sheer anxiety watching the ball soaring towards the nets.
Predicting perfectly, Kurogami launched himself towards the ball with a powerful dive. But in mid dive his eyes widened in disbelief. The ball began to curve in mid-air.
In a split second before it reached his outstretched hand, it took a big, sharp flawless turn, bypassing Kurogami's fingerprint and gracefully soared into the nets.
The Tokyo Wolves Juniors erupted into thunderous applause, their cheers filling the air. Minato, with his face beaming with pride, joined the chorus, clapping enthusiastically with the others.
Kento, with a smile of admiration, began clapping with genuine respect.
Raya, with a big smile, lightly punched the air in celebration, before Makoto came running and leaping on top of him in a celebratory embrace, their laughter echoing the field.
Itsuki stood motionless with both his arms at his waist, looking down with disappointment.
Kurogami remained lying on the ground, his body still, eyes widened, his face wearing an expression of shock. Unable to believe that he conceded a goal.
Haruma's once relentless speed faded into a jog before he collapsed to his knees, his face downwards, shadowed with disappointment.
Minato grinning widely, clapped enthusiastically, his gaze shifting to Kento as he began with a teasing smirk, "I'm sorry Mr. Kento, but your boys are clearly lacking both technique and brains."
Kento, unfazed, didn't respond, and kept clapping with a beaming smile on his face.
Minato shifted his gaze forward, crossing his arms with a confident smile, he continued, "I know you're desperate about winning the World Cup, but you can't just bring any player here who lacks every fundamental aspect of football."
There was still no response from Kento, causing a flicker of confusion to flash across Minato's face who opened his eyes and turned to Kento.
And upon looking at Kento, Minato's eyes widened.
Kento's face was twisted into a wild smirk, his eyes burning with intense madness. It was a madness unlike anything seen before, a sharp contrast to the purity and cheerfulness that had always defined him. His gaze, cold and relentless, was locked onto the game.
Maintaining his gaze on the game, Kento, keeping his smirk, spoke up in a low chilling tone, "Speed, Technique, Focus, Discipline… Those are the things that win you matches." He paused, his smirk widening, eyes narrowing as if intensity within them grew, "But, Ferocity… Hunger for winning… Hunger to be the greatest… That's what wins you a World Cup!"
With those words Kento let out a soft unsettling giggle, his eyes wide with twisted, unsettling pleasure as they remained fixed on the field.
Watching him like this made Minato sweat, his eyes wide with disbelief, and instinctively he followed Kento's gaze, and saw Haruma, and watching Haruma made his eyes widened further.
Haruma was still kneeling on the field, his head bowed, and the Golden Aura was emanating from his body, radiating with otherworldly intensity. And on the other side, Kurogami lay motionless on the field, releasing a Black Aura, contrasting sharply with Haruma's.
Both The Golden Demon and The Black Kallor's aura surrounding them in a chilling way, thickening the air with suffocating intensity.
Minato was gazing at them with wide, stunned eyes, feeling the heavy atmosphere radiating from both Haruma and Kurogami, the air itself seeming to pulse with their power.