章節 20: Chapter 20 – Isagi’s Reborn
After scoring, Team Y didn't waste time celebrating, bringing the ball back to the middle of the pitch for a quick restart. Team Z, now cautious, slowed their tempo, wary of any sudden press or attack. With only about fifteen minutes left, Team Y still had a chance to come back if they acted fast. But Kira had a different idea.
Realizing that Raichi and Isagi couldn't handle the pressure in the midfield, Kira shifted the play to the left flank, linking up with Bachira. The two of them toyed with their defenders, showing off their dazzling footwork—Cruyff turns, nutmegs, flip-flaps, and body feints—leaving the defense flustered.
Despite Team Y's dirty tactics and relentless fouls to stop them, Kira and Bachira continued their advance. Every foul gave them another opportunity to reset with a quick pass and continue their attack.
"Stop them at all costs!"
"As long as we keep them outside the box!"
"Foul them if you have to!"
Team Y put up a fierce resistance, but it wasn't enough. Kira finally broke through, dribbling diagonally toward the penalty box.
"Sorry, kids. All your efforts are in vain," Kira muttered as he spotted an opening. The center-back had shifted to close him down, leaving Isagi open in the middle.
Kira passed the ball to Isagi, catching him off guard.
'Kira!? He passed to me? Doesn't he see that I'm surrounded?' Isagi panicked. But he knew they had to score now or Team Y would counter. His mind raced as he weighed his options. In the midst of it, he unconsciously kicked the ball toward an empty space on his left.
'Huh!? Did he make a mistake?' Niko thought, confused.
But from the blind spot of the defender, Kira swooped in, perfectly positioned to strike. It was just as he had envisioned—he had held his run, knowing that Isagi had no choice but to pass it back to him. Niko rushed in for a desperate slide tackle, but it was too late. Kira calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner.
Team Y: 2 – 4 : Team Z.
The goal crushed Team Y's spirits. Some players looked up to the sky in despair, while others held their heads in their hands, defeated. Meanwhile, Isagi couldn't stop replaying the moment in his head—the moment he passed instead of shooting.
'Shit! I still haven't changed! What's wrong with me?!' Isagi furiously berated himself. 'I already scored in my first game here, so why do I still hesitate?!'
"You're the same player as me," Niko suddenly said, snapping Isagi out of his thoughts. "Our strength relies more on our mind than our physical abilities. I'm not fast, nor am I powerful. That's why I use others to my advantage."
Niko paused, looking resigned. "However, this is it for me."
But before he could say more, a voice from Team Y rang out.
"It's not over yet!" a player shouted, startling Niko.
"We can still win if we put everything into attack!"
"We're not gonna fall here!"
Rallying cries echoed as Team Y prepared for one last push. They knew their efforts might be futile, but they didn't care. They were holding out for a miracle.
Isagi stood silent, absorbing Niko's words. 'My partner is Kira, a far superior player than Tada-chan. That's why my pass connected and led to the goal,' he thought. 'But if it were anyone else, I might have ended up like I did with Tada-chan. I don't want that! I won't grow if I keep playing like this!'
Determined, Isagi clenched his fists. 'I know my weapons now. I know I want to win! I want to score goals!'
As the game prepared to restart, Isagi resolved to do whatever it took to score in the final minutes.
With time running out, Okawa shouted to his teammates, "If we score now, we might have a chance for a comeback!" He passed the ball to Niko, who had been feeling defeated. But as Niko looked at the faces of his teammates, he saw a mix of hope, fear, and determination. Their willingness to fight, even against the odds, reignited his spirit. He decided to lead them in this final push.
Team Y worked together, carefully passing the ball, advancing deeper into Team Z's half. They were drawing Team Z players into their territory, trying to create a gap. The passing was smooth and relentless, as Team Y sliced through Team Z's defense.
"Damn, you guys have no chance to win! Just give up already!" Naruhaya growled as he tried to block their passes.
"Hold them back! Don't let them score!" Kuon shouted, desperate to keep Team Y from closing the gap.
Despite Team Z's efforts, Team Y broke through the defense, with Niko receiving the last pass. He found himself in a one-on-one situation with Gagamaru. Calm as always, Gagamaru was confident he could stop Niko's attempt. But this time, Niko surprised everyone. Instead of shooting, he passed the ball to his right, where Okawa was charging in.
"Huh!?" Gagamaru, caught off-guard, tried to recover, but there was no need.
Isagi intercepted the ball at the last second. He had been shadowing Niko, knowing he would be at the heart of Team Y's offense.
"You're right, Niko. We were the same player," Isagi said, stopping the ball and scanning the field for his next move. "That's why, rather than shooting, you passed it!" Isagi swung his leg, deciding where to send the ball.
"You're a failure as a striker, Niko! This is my win!" Isagi declared as he sent the ball flying toward Kunigami, who trapped it with his chest.
Kunigami tried to push forward but found himself blocked by two defenders.
"Stop him! Foul him if you have to!" someone shouted from Team Y.
Before they could act, Kunigami passed the ball to the opposite side, where Bachira was waiting. Bachira quickly dribbled past three defenders.
'Oh? They're going for another goal,' Kira observed from behind, watching Bachira prepare to cross the ball. 'Isagi's running is so obvious. He's going to run straight into the defender for his shot,' Kira thought, smirking.
Kira joined the attack, running on the opposite side of Isagi. Seeing Kira approach, the defender hesitated, unsure of who to cover. In the split second he had to decide, he chose to mark Kira, the more dangerous player.
'Kira noticed what I want to do,' Isagi thought as he ran into position. 'That guy is really on another level, shaping the field with his vision and using players to his advantage.'
Bachira sent the ball toward Isagi, while Kira made a move that seemed like he was going for the shot but was actually creating space. His maneuver pulled the defender away, leaving Isagi open for the strike.
'One day, I'll be like Kira—always where the ball needs to be, and surpass him' Isagi thought, filled with resolve.
"I AM A STRIKER!" Isagi shouted as he kicked the ball, sending it into the top left corner of the net.
Team Y: 2 – 5 : Team Z.
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