Shūdan-teki restart the second half. Kaneko taps the ball to Riccardo, who immediately charges into the opposing half.
"Cover every space!" Hikaru shouts.
Riccardo pushes forward like any striker would, but the density of defenders forces him to halt.
As expected—they're pushing us wide. Too bad for them: we don't mind.
With a backheel, he leaves the ball for Nishimura, who winds up and launches it toward No. 14's area—only for Kaneko, towering over him, to contest it.
The aerial duel is no contest: Kaneko wins it and heads the ball toward Tanaka on the flank. Tanaka runs freely all the way to Koganei's box. Their No. 2 tries to cut him off, but Tanaka is quicker and sends a cross inside.
The ball flies across the area, just over Kaneko and the Koganei midfielder tracking him. It lands near Riccardo—boxed in by two center-backs—but No. 4 steps ahead and clears it outside the box.
It drops between Minato and Shimizu. The Koganei player reaches it first, flicking it forward toward Matsuda, who suddenly finds himself alone and ready to break.
He spins sharply and runs, with Shimizu chasing him down and finally catching up.
Matsuda passes immediately to Hikaru, who approaches with Nishimura marking him loosely. Nishimura doesn't expect a one-touch left-footed pass straight to the No. 9.
The striker looks ready to receive.
"Sho, man on you!" Yuji warns while approaching.
Too late—Tamura lunges in, intercepts cleanly, and bursts forward like a freight train, opening the field.
Yuji tries to stop him, but Tamura shields the ball and drives past him before switching wide to Tanaka, who accelerates as always.
"Double up on him!" No. 4 orders, pushing No. 3 to break from the defensive trio and assist Minato.
Both defenders corner Tanaka near the flag.
"Here!"
Sugimoto appears for support, and Tanaka manages to slip him the ball.
Minato moves toward the advancing fullback. He's come forward too!
Sugimoto fakes a cross, cuts inside, and returns the ball to Tanaka—now one-on-one with the center-back.
Tanaka faces him, waits for the moment, nudges the ball to the right, and explodes forward. The ball rolls along the byline.
Kaneko and Riccardo move inside the box, each tightly marked.
But Tanaka plays it back toward the edge of the area, where Nishimura arrives with a first-time strike.
Keita slides in, blocking it and sending the ball looping high into the box.
"Mine!"
The goalkeeper rushes out, grabs it, and instantly throws it long toward Minato.
Coach Fujita frowns. "This isn't good…"
Minato charges ahead into the space Shūdan-teki left behind, supported by Matsuda and Hikaru against Tamura and the compact visiting defense.
Tamura delays rather than engaging, giving Minato a split second to decide. He passes to Matsuda, who has drifted inside and dragged Sugimoto with him.
The ball reaches him—but Matsuda lets it run, a dummy pass for Sho.
Aoki reads it, though. He steps in aggressively from behind, wins the ball, and immediately turns to counter.
"Yuma!" Nishimura, who had dropped back, calls for the ball.
Aoki feeds him near midfield.
Nishimura drives into Koganei's half. Shimizu and Tanaka drag the two central midfielders wide with their off-ball movements, opening a channel for him.
Keita moves to confront him.
Suddenly, Riccardo drops out of the box, asking for the ball. Nishimura plays it and surges forward himself.
Keita hesitates—unsure whether to cut the return pass or cover Nishimura's run.
That hesitation forces No. 4 to step onto Nishimura… leaving Hayato alone with Shimizu slipping behind him into the box.
Riccardo gently scoops the ball over Hayato, perfectly weighted for Shimizu, who taps it across to Kaneko at the far post. Kaneko beats the final defender and scores.
50:55 — Koganei 0 | 2 Shūdan-teki
Coach Fujita slams his fist in frustration. "Damn it!"
He storms to the touchline.
"Calm down! Don't rush the play—you're not used to it! They are! Take your time and build properly!"
Kaneko celebrates wildly, and Riccardo approaches him with a smirk.
"That's one for me."
Riccardo smirks back. "Anyone can score from two meters out."
Kaneko bristles, and the two start arguing.
Fujita exhales after yelling at his team and watches Riccardo.
In the first half he wasn't that dangerous aside from the assist. Now I get it… Compared to No. 9, he's more technical, smarter—basically a playmaker up front.
"Hanasaki," he calls.
She approaches. "Yes?"
"Have Kanemoto warm up. He'll be coming in soon."
She blinks, surprised. "But he's a defensive midfielder… and we're losing—"
"I know." He cuts her off. "But I overestimated us. Shūdan-teki this year… they're truly dangerous. If we don't adjust, we'll concede five more."
Hanasaki lowers her gaze. "Understood…"
"But that doesn't mean we give up. We'll play our football."
"Yes!"
Meanwhile, the match resumes—with Shūdan-teki fully in control.
The ball goes out near Koganei's half. The referee signals a substitution.
"Change!"
The players turn toward the board, surprised to see Kanemoto coming in.
Yuji freezes. I'm being subbed out…? Why?
"What is the coach thinking?" Hikaru mutters to Sho.
Kanemoto steps onto the pitch. "Minato, Keita, Shun—come here."
The three gather.
"Minato and Shun, play slightly higher. Keita and I double-mark No. 24 whenever he drops to link play."
"Got it."
"Minato, tell Hikaru and Matsuda they'll be supporting Sho. Have them take more long-range shots."
"Right."
Shimizu prepares to take the throw-in once the referee signals.
He throws to Nishimura, marked by Shun. Nishimura spins away neatly and advances—but the reinforced block with Kanemoto leaves no room.
No space anywhere…
He turns back and plays Shimizu on the wing. Shimizu lifts his head—no passing option inside.
Coach Fujita watches with unease.
I know waiting and countering is our only chance… but it feels wrong to play scared.
Ishii is about to start again.
We'll lose the ball here… better recycle it.
"Cross it anyway!" Coach Ishii suddenly shouts, shocking both Shimizu and Fujita. "We try to score—even if we mess up and get punished!"
Fujita is struck by those words.
I really have so much to learn… My fear is what's losing us this match.
Shimizu obeys and whips in the cross.
A chaotic battle erupts in the box. Hayato believes he has the advantage—until Riccardo soars above everyone, heading the ball into the net.
55:10 — Koganei 0 | 3 Shūdan-teki
Riccardo celebrates with Shimizu, thanking him for the assist.
Coach Ishii exhales. "A shame…"
Coach Suzuki blinks. "A shame… that we scored?"
"No. A shame about that substitution. This could've been a thrilling match."
Suzuki sighs. "True…"
Time passes. The match ends.
Koganei 0 | 4 Shūdan-teki
Players thank each other and the students watching from the stands.
At midfield, Coach Ishii and Coach Fujita meet.
"Good game. Shūdan-teki are really strong this year—you can aim for Nationals," Fujita says.
"Thank you. And I think you're a good coach too. With time, you'll manage your team better."
The words hit Fujita hard—he's speechless.
"Maybe one day you'll take my place at Shūdan-teki. Have a good evening."
Ishii walks off, Suzuki bowing slightly in thanks.
Inside the locker room, Shūdan-teki celebrate. Riccardo saunters up to Kaneko, smirking.
"In the end, I scored more than you."
Kaneko clicks his tongue. "You stole that last one! It was coming straight to me."
"Sorry, senpai, but you were just a little too slow."
The two bicker while the rest of the team watches, amused.