บท 162: Second Half Commences

Halftime descended like a wave of relief, yet the electric charge in the atmosphere lingered. Players jogged off the field, sweat gleaming on their brows, hearts pounding from the adrenaline still surging in their veins. The scoreboard flashed: 24-0. Seiryuu High had dominated the first half, and they knew it. But it wasn't just the scoreboard that reflected the intensity of their play—it was the synergy they'd found, something rare and intangible.

Jack Mercer stood on the sideline, arms folded, scanning his players with sharp eyes. This was his first time coaching Seiryuu High as their official acting coach, and even he couldn't hide his surprise at how smoothly things had gone. Normally, a coach would have pages of notes, critiques, things to address at halftime—but not here. Sota had been a tactical genius, orchestrating the offense like a seasoned veteran. Every move was calculated, every pass deliberate.