Chapter 45: Give Me the Ball
Monitoring Room
"Ego-san, this match is so intense," Anri Teieri remarked, gazing at the screen.
"Mhm, very intense. Win or lose, first or second place… It's only in situations like this that players evolve their Ego, right?" Ego had clearly anticipated the match between Team V and Team Z would become a fierce battle.
"Anri, what do you think Awakening is?"
"Huh? Ego-san, are you asking me? Awakening is…" Anri was caught off guard but still thought seriously.
"I think Awakening is… suddenly bursting with power, transforming from ordinary to superhuman—like a Super Saiyan…"
"Uh… That's completely wrong."
Ego regretted asking this idiot. He gave his own answer.
"The so-called Awakening isn't suddenly or supernaturally gaining non-existent power. That kind of fantasy doesn't exist in reality"
"Remember this. The so-called Awakening actually occurs based on thought and experience. In other words, Awakening is the moment a person learns from their true self!"
"The moment you understand your true self?"
Anri repeatedly pondered and savored this phrase. She seemed to have some realization as she looked back at the screen.
…
Central Pitch
"Reo! The right flank is crowded, try reorganizing the attack!" Zantetsu communicated loudly with Reo from not far away.
Reo had sweat beading on his forehead. Of course he knew the current situation called for reorganization.
But.
This Raichi guy is really annoying!
"What's wrong, kid? Can't run anymore? Huh?" Raichi pressed tightly against Reo, excitedly shouting.
'This guy… isn't he tired after running for so long?' Reo was inwardly amazed by Raichi's stamina.
But he could do nothing about this guy.
Seeing Reo silent, Raichi became even more pumped.
"Passing, dribbling, speed… I'm worse than you in everything—but I already know how to defend against you!" Raichi excitedly announced his discovery.
"When you receive the ball, your first instinct is to look for Nagi. But if he's marked out of the play by my teammates like now, you, this useless follower, have nowhere to go!"
Raichi laughed very ferociously, like a major villain.
"You…"
Reo was provoked. He actually threw an elbow towards Raichi's face.
"Ah…" Raichi let out a cry of pain.
Beeep!
"Team V Number 9, Reo Mikage, unsportsmanlike conduct, Yellow Card!" The verdict came from the loudspeaker.
"Damn it, I lost my cool." Reo finally realized this guy's trash talk was deliberately provoking his emotions.
Normally he wouldn't fall for it, but with the score tied and Nagi mentioned, he couldn't control his emotions.
"Well done!" Kira also saw the effectiveness of Raichi's defense.
Not everyone had the guts for dirty work like this.
Thanks to Raichi, the opponent's playmaker was being stifled.
"Receive the ball, Kira! Finish them!"
Raichi placed the ball and took a quick free kick.
The ball flew directly to Kira's feet.
The moment Kira received the ball, several attacking routes appeared in his mind.
Continue using the Bachira Card's dribbling to break through?
Kira glanced at the Team V defenders closing in.
No!
The left side is open.
And there's a great attacker there too!
Kira immediately passed the ball!
"Go, Chigiri!"
The ball's arc perfectly sailed over the heads of several Team V defenders.
Landing right in front of Chigiri.
A brilliant long pass.
The Team V players had no time to applaud the opponent's skill.
Now they had to face another genius' attack.
"Great pass, Kira!" Chigiri controlled the ball, accelerated.
He began his sprint down the left flank.
"Sorry, but I'm faster."
A figure appeared. Zantetsu had tracked back.
His steps were so quick.
He immediately positioned himself in front of Chigiri.
'Get past him before he stabilizes his stance!' Chigiri had the idea and immediately acted.
He darted towards the side opposite to Zantetsu's body weight.
"Oh, it's this side!"
Zantetsu adjusted quickly, immediately following.
As if his body weight didn't need to stabilize before executing the next move.
'Such strong core strength.'
'Can't shake him off.'
Chigiri reached a conclusion inwardly. 'The opponent's reaction speed is too fast. What to do? Pass back?'
"Chigiri! Get past him! You're faster than him!"
Kira's voice suddenly reached Chigiri's ears.
'I'm faster than him?' Chigiri was puzzled, then had a sudden realization.
'Earlier, when covering, I did reach his pass…'
'Wait…'
'He has explosive acceleration.'
'If I want to beat him, I need to create a condition that maximizes my speed advantage!'
Chigiri had the answer. He kicked the football forward.
"There's no one over there? Are you just venting your frustration?" Zantetsu was confused.
"Shut up! I'm passing to myself!"
"Interesting. You want to race me?"
With that. Two figures set off almost simultaneously.
Chasing the ball Chigiri had kicked ahead.
One second later.
Zantetsu had already pulled ahead.
Leading Chigiri in the chase.
"I told you, in a speed contest, I'm faster…" Before Zantetsu's smug words finished…
In an instant.
His expression changed from confidence to shock.
"Idiot four-eyes! I know your initial acceleration is faster. I can't beat you within 10 meters…"
"But what about 20 meters? 30 meters?"
"In a long-distance speed race…"
"I'm still faster!"
As soon as Chigiri finished speaking, he overtook Zantetsu.
Reaching the ball first.
Zantetsu Tsurugi!
Beaten!
"Stop him!" Reo shouted.
Other Team V defenders quickly moved to cover.
"Extras, stay out of my way!" Chigiri, his expression ferocious, changed direction with a lateral pull.
Bypassing the last defender.
One-on-one with the keeper!
Shot!
Boom!
The goalkeeper didn't react in time.
Goal!
Team Z takes the lead, 4–3.
"Number one in Building 5 is us!" Chigiri shouted domineeringly after scoring.
"Ahhhhhh!"
"Chigiri, I love you!"
"You finally outspeeded that four-eyes!"
The Team Z players gathered around, crowding around Chigiri.
Chigiri found Kira in the crowd and slung an arm over his shoulder.
"Great assist! Your shout gave me the courage to break past him!" Chigiri thanked him sincerely.
Kira just smiled. 'He had only given a slight reminder. And I still have two Trial Cards unused… Why does it feel like Team V is about to collapse?'
15 minutes remaining in the second half.
Team V side
Reo was now panting heavily, looking at the scoreboard.
'Are we going to lose?'
'Trailing 3–4?'
'A team with Nagi and me is actually losing?'
But on the pitch, that jagged-tooth guy keeps pestering me, not letting me play my game.
Zantetsu's speed advantage has been figured out by that redhead.
And the opponents still have three offensively strong forwards: Bachira, Kira, and Kunigami.
'What to do?'
The momentum of the match is now completely controlled by Team Z.
Reo racked his brains but couldn't think of a way to break the deadlock.
He had to admit. Since the start of the second half…
Team V has fallen behind Team Z.
'How can we lose here?'
'I absolutely cannot lose!'
"Reo, pass the ball to me later." Nagi's voice pulled Reo back to reality.
"Nagi?" Reo looked at Nagi in surprise. Nagi's expression was unprecedentedly serious.
"Reo, pass the ball to me later. I'll give it a try!" Nagi repeated his words.
Reo was now sure he hadn't misheard.
That guy who finds football troublesome was actually initiating and asking for the ball.
"Okay!" In that instant, Reo felt his confidence return. Because only he knew… How terrifying a serious Nagi could be!
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