Chapter 11: Resolve
The final whistle was blown, ending the match in its stalemate when neither side was doing anything else. There were still a few trying, but the main one was Barou, and there were also a few Team Z players that wanted to score. Today was clearly not their day, as the majority of the goals came from the defense.
Dennis, Kunigami, and Raichi—these three have contributed to most of the goals made today. The gingerhead and hot-dead each had one goal on their statistics; Isagi also had one goal, and the German had two. Barou also had two goals, just like Dennis, and the last one was from his teammate.
While Team Z has scored more goals, it should be noted that their goals were also a collaborative effort. Only Dennis had created chances for himself, kind of like how Barou did it for his entire team.
'That wasn't an especially difficult match... but physically, I got exhausted.' Dennis valued his mental state above his physical state, and during the match, he hadn't felt nervous. He made sure their team was going to take the first win, and it benefited their morale.
Now they are more confident and will play even better in the next match. They would also listen better since his strategies were one of the reasons they got so far in this game. Trust in each other would grow, but no one could be sure because this was Blue Lock... and Ego's first words remained in their heads.
They were also rivals.
Team Z, after a brief rest on the field, left the vast artificial grassland and returned to their locker rooms, where they could finally rest for some more time, take a shower, and change into different clothes.
Imamura slumped in his seat, exhausted from running so much on the flank. "Oh my god, this was so intense! I can't feel my legs." His rough breathing was shared by others in the locker room. Team Z was exhausted to the core; most of them played outside of their positions today.
However, "This is because you are weaklings!" Raichi was just as energetic after the match. "Dennis, how come the MVP is so exhausted? Clearly, I'm a better player." And in his nature, he immediately turned to Dennis, wanting to prove how much better he was. Even though he was realizing it slowly, that wasn't the case.
Dennis was sitting in his seat, with the shirt removed and placed on his lap. The vapor was coming from his body and creating the effect of his own sweat being evaporated. He didn't mind Raichi's words, but the people stood up for him. Obviously, they were all talking jokingly at that time.
Probably the kindest guy in the team, Kunigami spoke up. "Dude, if not for him, we'd lose this match for sure. Do you think you'll be able to run after Barou for so long? Yeah, by the way, how do you feel, Dennis?" His admiration for Dennis rose to a new level after the match.
"Nothing much; I feel like usual. Maybe a little more exhausted; the match was indeed pretty intense, but I played in worse matches. If we had been maybe a little more organized, we would've avoided this. How about you all?"
He looked over the locker room to see everyone just sigh, and it was like a combined answer from ten players. Today they played well if we overlook the first half; none of them had any complaints as they took their first win. Now they needed another win, and maybe another one! To be honest, they were all worked up.
"Howdy, you lumps of talent!" The screen in the locker room lit up, showing Ego waving at Team Z. Everyone's attention turned to the screen, where the director of the project stood at full height looking at them.
"The second match in wing five just finished, and Team V crushed Team Y by 8 to 0." Ego raised his hand and opened his first. The 3-dimensional hologram appeared there and showed the statistics of the match.
'8-0?!' Pretty much most of the teams had the same reactions to this announcement, and they couldn't imagine how strong Team V was. This difference between the scores was a clear indication of their strength. Dennis thought differently.
'They just haven't realized how to play with eleven strikers on the team. Team Y must have had some arrogant players, but that will change after this one. Every team will realize how things work here, and they will eventually have to try things differently.
… … …
Ego has been talking for several minutes now about the importance of individual powers that we should have. Personally, I already know of my advantages and am trying to utilize them to the fullest. From Ego's words, we should find at least one such advantage and perfect it.
Exactly how the great forwards do. Arjen Robber, for example, has his left foot and drive along the box. He could've shot near the box from any position if he had his left leg in place and his body positioned in parallel to the goal.
Even better if you have a variety of weapons, as Lionel Messi does. Quick thinking, extraordinary vision, an alien left foot, and simple yet deadly dribbling. I know all these things too well not to understand what Ego wanted us to do.
If we find such weapons in ourselves, we gain confidence and get one step closer to our goals. There is no doubt in my mind that everyone is thinking about their weapons at the moment, most likely still figuring them out or having realizations.
In the next few days, these people will be trying to find out what their weapon is. 'Shame that I already know of mine and it is not so surprising.' I instinctively look down at my legs, inspecting all the muscles I've been working on for years.
I've spent endless hours building the thing I was gifted with. My physical shape obviously matters, and I know I'm gifted with it. I know, I can always improve my physique when I'm still young and have testosterone produced naturally.
But what bothers me is what I can't improve... I'm bothered by the fact that I can't enjoy playing football as much as I did in my early years, and it's not because the game is less exciting but because there are more times I consider football to be an alien object that isn't under my control.
No matter how quick I am, the football will still move quicker. Now, this raises a question… more like makes a demand for me to work on something that is more logical. My football skills and how I handle the most important things on the field.
The football itself.
… … …
"Fuhhh."
Dennis finally got into a cafeteria where he could eat. Most of his teammates already did so, except for Isagi. Not because he was a slow eater but because he wanted to talk one on one, in private, with the German.
"What is it, Isagi?" The German asked while still eating his food as the blue-haired boy sat down next to him with his meal. For the goals he scored, Dennis earned two points, and with those, he could finally purchase a good meal, which was steak. After a long time of eating vegetable side dishes, this was a golden opportunity to eat something good.
"Everyone is going back to the dorm to celebrate further; why are you staying here? We won because of you."
Dennis shook his head at Isagi's question, "I prefer to keep these kinds of celebrations off my schedule. Besides, I thought you'd know the reason better. Isagi, you want to ask me something, don't you?" He picked up the piece of meat and put it in his mouth.
Isagi frowned. Dennis was too observant; was his expression too giving?
"Don't make that face, please. You stared at me for so long during the match; there is definitely something you want to ask. Otherwise, you wouldn't have stayed behind your friends." Dennis smirked at the baffled boy.
'I couldn't have been so obvious.'Instantly, Isagi played back the moments from their match, but he realized that he was quite open about this act. Dennis was nodding and smirking, not even trying to play it cool. "Sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable."
The German laughed, "Forget about that; I was stared at by thousands, and just one guy is nothing. Anyway, what is it that made you stare at me like that?" The topic must've been serious, considering how serious Isagi's face turned in seconds.
"Dennis… During the match, how could you play so well against Barou and create moments for yourself? I couldn't do anything against him, but you not only defended but also scored goals. How did you manage to do that? To be exact, how could you figure out Barou's playstyle?"
The German huffed lightly. Apparently, Isagi was special, and the way he asked the question gave out something about him. He had some hints about the blue-haired guy, but this was enough to confirm that.
"I knew your eyes were special. You think that Barou didn't have a playstyle, right?" Dennis asked the question back, and Isagi nodded. From his point of view, Team X's main forward didn't have a playstyle at all; he just did something new all the time.
"That's not the case, at least not until the second half." Dennis began his explanation, not minding giving out information to his current teammate and maybe a future enemy. "During the first half, Barou had a fairly obvious style of play; he always attempted to get in front of the box at least thirty meters away and shoot with his leg at the top right corner."
His shots were pretty good at that; for example, Barou's first goal was done in a similar fashion, and he attempted some more, but that time his guard wasn't Igarashi.
"Then, realizing his weapon was neutralized, Barou tried to do something different and was successful. Keeping up with him with pure reflexes was tough; reading his movements was a pain in the ass. That's why I came up with a different type of approach."
Isagi listened carefully. This time he expected Dennis to make some revelation that nobody knew about, but was greatly surprised to hear him say his next words. "I just said to myself that I wouldn't let Barou receive the ball at all."
"Yes, but that was risky. How could you be so sure?" While yes, Isagi was asking the right questions, tight pressing had its disadvantages, and sometimes the ball would escape his grip, but that's only if you fail in your objective.
The only risk in this venture was Barou himself, but his team was the polar opposite because only player number ten could play at their level. If the ball did eventually reach Barou, Dennis could only hope to catch up with the Japanese in time. He was smart enough to catch him at the worst moments, when his body is off balance, and would definitely use moments like that further.
"The issue on Barou's team isn't him, but the team itself. Since he couldn't rely on anyone else, he tried to do everything himself, and we successfully cut him off the team, making it even harder. So instead of figuring out the animal like Barou, I figured out his team." All the passes, in the end, were going to Barou; Dennis had to just predict when Barou's teammates would do that.
Isagi couldn't understand how Dennis was about to do that, "But there were nine other players on the field…"
"Exactly," the German nodded, "that's the reason it took me the entire first half; I would have done it even then, but the teams were still figuring out how they wanted to play." With this finally said, Dennis continued eating his steak as if nothing had happened. Nonchalance wasn't ignored by Isagi.
"This is crazy… but still thanks, Dennis."
"No, not at all. You were doing crazy things. Isagi, hold your head high; people might not notice it yet, but today you directed the game from the shadow. They might have not noticed, but I did. Good job." Dennis only gave a proud glance to his teammate, saying, "For me, a striker is a person who creates goals, not just scores them."
and in a sense, every player on the field is a forward since from every position there could be those fluid and precise motions that can create an opportunity for anyone on the field to roll the ball inside the goal.
Now in Isagi's mind, there was no doubt that there was still a need for those who supply the goal to a scorer; without them, there are no opportunities at all… But Isagi didn't want to be a supplier.
Strikers are different.
"Behind every great goal scorer is a great passer; it's up to you to decide which one you want to be."
Seconds of complete silence followed, and the serenity of the dark cafeteria was added to the scene.
"I know what I want; I made up my mind the moment I walked into this project." Isagi smiled, eager to hear more from Dennis. His eyes were screaming what his mind was thinking.
"Then change, Isagi; I won't always pass to you. Consider the previous act an investment. I expect you to help me out with your vision in the future. If needed, of course."
Isagi laughed and considered, "Knowing what Ego-san has already done to us, we might really need. But I expect your help too. I'll grow stronger…and I expect you to do the same."
Dennis rolled over his eyes. Not so much that Isagi can see dissatisfaction in his eyes, "Hmm. Indeed, I expect the same. Now, I like to eat in silence."
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