Chapter 59: Who To Choose?
"What's going on? Are they fighting amongst themselves now?" Chigiri asked, confused as he watched Kira and Rin's stance.
"They're looking down on us way too much. We're still in a match," Bachira pouted.
Kira calmly observed the current positions of the players on the field. Aryu was defending behind him.
Itoshi Rin, plus Isagi, Bachira, and Chigiri.
'All four are obstacles hindering my attack. But I'm confident right now.'
Because he could see many paths to the goal.
This was the benefit of Rin's field vision ability: the power to foresee more possibilities.
Both Kira and Itoshi Rin stood their ground, observing each other with a tacit understanding, as if whoever moved first would expose a weakness.
'Such composure!' Kira moved first. After all, he was currently on the offense. Keeping the ball at his feet without action wouldn't lead to a goal.
Kira's footwork had a special rhythm to it—unhurried, leisurely—as he began his attempt to break past Rin, staying close.
Rin was startled.
Why did this rhythm feel somewhat familiar? Rin felt like he had seen it somewhere before.
Just as Rin was pondering, Kira's rhythm abruptly accelerated, like a piano piece reaching its climax.
The sudden change in tempo caught Rin off guard. Kira dribbled past him as effortlessly as a breeze.
'Incredible rhythm control... that touch... is Kira evolving too?' Isagi's mind replayed Kira's series of movements.
They were all simple touches, lateral pulls. Yet they possessed a unique sense of beauty. It was so similar to Rin's style!
…
Monitoring Room.
"Many famous football stars worldwide are jokingly called 'metronomes' by fans because of their superb rhythm control, their ability to shift between fast and slow."
"When to speed up and when to slow down is one of the hallmarks of their play."
"Such players will suddenly slow down while dribbling, and then abruptly change pace, directly disrupting the opponent's rhythm."
"The skill of combining fast and slow is essential for them to succeed at the highest level."
Ego explained Kira's unique, rhythm-based dribbling method to Anri.
"But Kira hasn't shown this before? It feels like his techniques keep popping up constantly," Anri asked, clearly confused.
"Indeed. Normally, most players reveal their habits through their play, but Kira seems different."
"Either he has been intentionally hiding his abilities,"
"Or his learning ability is incredibly strong, allowing him to acquire new techniques from his opponents."
…
On the Pitch.
Rin also realized it. This metronome-like change in tempo was exactly one of the characteristics of his own playing style, wasn't it?
'Could this guy's sense of rhythm rival mine?' Rin shed his dismissive attitude, turned around, and closely followed Kira.
'Didn't shake him off... as expected of Rin,' Kira silently praised Rin, but didn't dare slow his steps in the slightest.
The slightest pause would let Rin catch up. But if he took the shot now...
'Bachira and Chigiri are still ahead. I can't get a good angle for the shot either.'
So, Kira stopped the ball, used his right foot to hook it, and turned, trying to shake off Rin.
Rin's footwork shifted closely in response. Still not shaken off.
'So... so cool!' Bachira watched as the two relentlessly chased each other, bringing the ball towards his position.
His eyes grew increasingly fervent.
He couldn't just let the two of them play like this; he had to join in. Bachira made up his mind, moved, and went to intercept Kira, joining the fray between the two.
"Idiot, don't come over!" Rin shouted, trying to stop Bachira from approaching.
It was too late.
Just as Bachira was feeling confused.
Kira used Bachira's body as a shield, a solid wall. His legs exploded with powerful acceleration, instantly shaking off Rin.
And Bachira became an obstacle hindering Rin's initial movement.
'Thank you, Bachira! I'll pick you if I win!'
After shaking off Rin, Kira faced the goal and prepared to shoot.
Just as Kira thought he was about to win this challenge, he sensed movement behind him.
A foot appeared near his own.
A sliding tackle?
It was Rin!
Turns out, Rin had noticed Bachira's movement earlier and knew Kira would definitely use Bachira's body to shake him off.
So, he was prepared to be evaded.
A striker's guard is at its weakest when shooting.
Itoshi Rin seized this opening, making a sliding tackle from behind the moment Kira shot.
But the direction of his tackle was also towards the goal!
Rin intended to tackle the ball into the opponent's goal.
Kira instantly guessed Rin's intention. Deciding to throw caution to the wind, he put his full power into the shot with his right foot.
Boom!
Both players' feet almost simultaneously touched the ball.
Because they kicked it from different angles, the ball was subjected to two different forces, causing it to fly into the White Team's goal in a strange, twisting arc.
GOAL!
Third Stage, 3v3 [Enemy-Stealing Decisive Battle], Red Team wins 5-1.
Kira hadn't expected the final goal to end in such a dramatic way. It seemed like he and Rin had ended in a draw.
For this last goal, both of them had touched the ball at the last moment. It was hard to determine who won and who lost.
Itoshi Rin got up from the ground, dusting the grass off his clothes. His gaze towards Kira held a trace of interest, though his tone remained cold. "You're different from those other guys. It seems I can't just treat you as a background character anymore."
"Is that so? Means you didn't know enough about me before. If you knew more, you'd find..."
"Perhaps I am your future rival!" Kira retorted with a cold laugh.
Inwardly, Kira wanted to laugh brightly, but the Trial Card's effect was still active, keeping his expression like an iceberg.
"Heh, don't get full of yourself. Itoshi Sae is the only one I need to defeat."
"Oh? Really? Then... I wish you success."
"Hey now, you two." Aryu interjected, elegantly flicking his long hair as he sauntered over. "That final goal was truly stylish. But now, the selection awaits! Whom shall we claim?"
So, who to choose?
Kira turned and saw the dejected expressions on the White Team's three players. The feeling of waiting to be chosen after a loss probably didn't feel good.
"Personally, I find the crimson-haired speedster quite appealing. His velocity is simply stylish, and his aesthetic is most refined. He would undoubtedly elevate our team's overall style," Aryu voiced his opinion, then turned to the others. "Rin, Kira, what are your thoughts?"
"I have no opinion. It doesn't matter. Any one of them is the same, no difference," Itoshi Rin showed no interest in any of the three White Team players.
'Just wait until you see them next time, you'll be interested then,' Kira secretly complained. 'Really, still so aloof.'
"What about you, Kira?"
"Me?"Kira's gaze swept over the three.
Chigiri, seeing Kira look his way, turned his head away.
Initially, he held quite a grudge against Kira for abandoning him and teaming up with others first.
He wanted to take Kira back to prove he wasn't weaker than the others.But the reality was, Kira's choice was right. He couldn't keep up with Kira anymore.
Bachira, on the other hand, had wide eyes. Seeing Kira look at him, he gave a carefree smile. As if nothing mattered.
Isagi looked preoccupied, clearly still analyzing the just-finished match.
"Come on over, Bachira. Come back and play with me again." Kira had already made his decision.
Bachira was the most suitable for their team right now. All three Red Team players had strong individual abilities.
But they lacked someone to connect them. And Bachira's creative passing would link the three individuals into a cohesive whole.
'Kira made the same judgment as the Red Team in the manga.'
"Him? A pity. I had really wanted that red-haired gem. But your performance was most stylish, so I shall defer to your choice. He is... acceptable," Aryu expressed some regret at not getting Chigiri.
Huh?
Me?
Bachira's feelings were complicated. He didn't want to continue playing with Kira in this manner.
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