Chapter 44: Shut Up, Genius!
Most teams would collapse the moment they faced Team V's offense.
But this team not only didn't collapse, they even launched decent counterattacks.
Nagi didn't understand. What made the other side so persistent? So insistent on this boring sport?
Beeep.
"The second half continues."
Team Z's ball.
"Let's go, everyone!" Igaguri roared from the defensive line.
Kira's Zantetsu Trial Card had expired at the end of the first half. Only with his brain back could he have given those tactics and encouraged Isagi in the locker room.
'Whoever wants Zantetsu Tsurugi's card can have it—I'm done with that slow-brain mode.' Kira definitely wouldn't absorb it again.
That feeling of being slow-witted… it felt like his head got heavier.
Watching his teammates launch a new offensive, Kira also started looking for space.
"Kunigami, receive the pass…" Isagi sent a through pass from the central area.
Instantly, the ball flew past the opposing defenders to Kunigami's feet.
"Great pass, Isagi!"
'So touching! After scoring that goal, Isagi's eyes aren't just on Kira and Bachira anymore. He can see me too!'
Kunigami was almost moved to tears. He had played so many matches with precious little time on the ball.
After his emotional moment, Kunigami, upon receiving the ball, wanted to attempt another long-range shot.
But he found the opposing defenders were all wary of him now. 'Not a good opportunity,' Kunigami thought, and played a lateral pass to Bachira.
Bachira, surprisingly, didn't control the ball at all. The moment it arrived, he directly passed it.
He was looking for Kira's position.
"Great pass, Bachira!"
After receiving the ball, Kira immediately accelerated forward. Even without the Zantetsu Trial Card boost, Kira clearly felt his speed had improved.
His steps were more agile and lighter.
"Stop him!"
Team V players were getting anxious. 'It's that damn white-haired guy again.'
How could these nobodies stop a striker like Kira?
A series of step-overs.
Directly fooled one defender.
Then, an Elástico (flip-flap).
Shook off another one!
Bachira watched from behind, stunned. 'Kira is copying me again!'
That's right. Kira had stealthily used the [Bachira Trial Card].
His four Trial Cards for today were Nagi, Reo, Zantetsu, and Bachira.
He was saving the Nagi and Reo cards for a surprise later, so he used Bachira's card ahead of time.
So satisfying!
"Damn, is this guy human? His dribbling is this good too?" Reo had always thought only Nagi was a genius. But now, this white-haired guy's displayed talent was making him waver a little inside.
'Is this Kira guy also a genius?!'
Otherwise, how do you explain why he has so many possibilities?
Kira was completely unaware that his actions were causing a huge stir in Reo's heart.
He himself was lost in the joy of being the dance king of the pitch.
Man and ball seemed glued together.
In no time, he was one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
"Hehe." Kira stuck out his tongue like Bachira and took a powerful shot at the goal.
…
Back on the Pitch
The Team V goalkeeper was terrified.
Another shot!
His hands still hurt from saving that big oaf's shot earlier.
He was so busy this match. He'd never been this busy in all the previous matches.
He started missing the old days when he could even drink water by the goal during a match.
Now, forget drinking water; if he got distracted for a second, the opponent was already charging with the ball.
And again, it's this white-haired guy.
The Team V goalkeeper felt wronged. 'I was a striker before too!'
'I'm not cut out for goalkeeping!'
Boom.
Kira's shot arrived.
So fast!
The Team V goalkeeper instantly judged he couldn't reach it, but still put on an effort to dive.
'Duh, if I just stood still by the goal, my teammates would yell at me.'
Huh?
Wait a second.
Maybe there's a chance?
A gust of wind.
Enter the Idiot Zantetsu.
Somehow, he had circled around to the goal line, leaped high, and headed the ball out of the goal.
"Crap, Team V strengthened their defense too," Igaguri provided commentary from the back.
'Got to admit, this guy's ears and eyes were really sharp.'
"Since when?" Kira was baffled. 'I must've been too caught up in the joy of dribbling and missed Zantetsu's run.'
But Kira reacted quickly, turning immediately to go for the rebound.
He was also pleasantly surprised to find Isagi had already appeared at the spot where the ball was falling.
"Follow up! Shoot!" Kira shouted.
"Follow-up shot?" Isagi controlled the incoming ball and glanced at the distance to the goal. He hesitated slightly, seemingly not very confident he could score from there.
However, in that moment of hesitation…
The opposing defender arrived.
A clean tackle, forcefully taking the ball from Isagi's feet, followed by a long boot forward.
"Ah, I messed up…" Isagi instantly realized inwardly that he had missed a great scoring chance.
This was a rebound that Kira worked so hard to create with his shot. And he didn't capitalize.
So he immediately turned to chase the ball, wanting to atone for his mistake.
Simultaneously, a player beside him also started running.
It was Nagi.
"You're just not good enough, huh…" Nagi actually initiated conversation, but his opening line was a critical hit.
"Why didn't you shoot? You wasted too much time…" Nagi asked, as if genuinely curious why Isagi was so incompetent.
Isagi had no time for him. He just wanted to recover the ball he lost.
"By the way, why don't you guys give up? How are you different from the opponents we faced before? You don't actually think you can win, do you?"
"What I can't understand is, if I only had your level of talent, I probably would have quit football long ago…"
"Huh? Tell me, what makes you still fight so desperately now…"
Nagi's words were like needles, pricking Isagi's heart.
Isagi got angry. He shouted.
"Shut up! Genius!"
Huh? Kira?
Somehow, Kira had appeared beside the two, running alongside them.
"What are you saying about my teammate? Do you think you're the only genius in the world?" Kira glared at Nagi.
After the scolding, Kira, afraid of getting hit, quickly created distance.
If you're going to hit someone, hit Isagi first.
Hahahaha!
Isagi, however, felt inexplicably touched. In his view, Kira had heard their conversation and deliberately came over to stand up for him.
So he also glared ferociously at Nagi and said, "Shut up, genius! I'm just getting into the game now!"
"Huh?" Nagi was somewhat didn't understand why these two were angry.
He had been asking sincerely. He didn't feel there was anything inappropriate about it.
Maybe that's just his airheaded nature.
"Hurry up, Nagi!" Reo's shout brought Nagi back to the match.
It turned out Reo had already won the ball. Preparing to launch a counterattack.
"Mmm… ah… oh." Nagi responded dazedly and started leisurely making a run.
"I told you, I won't let you get past me in this match…" A familiar voice rang out. Reo's face darkened.
That's right. Raichi was here again.
Death Clamp!
Clamped on directly!
"Damn it, are you a stalker? Wherever I go, you follow?" Reo felt helpless and angry.
"Hehehe, my job is to keep an eye on you. If you're so aggrieved, call the police then…" Raichi laughed with a cheeky grin.
The situation was deadlocked again.
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