Halftime – Team Z Locker Room
Everyone exchanged high-fives, buzzing with adrenaline.
"Ryan, Bachira, and Kunigami were amazing out there!"
Ryan smirked.
"Hah, of course! The goddess of victory's always on my side. For me, winning's just… natural."
Bachira grinned.
"Hehehe, can't let Ryan outshine me, can I?"
Kunigami nodded seriously.
"During that last shot, I focused harder than ever before… I think I've found it my new shooting sense."
Isagi sat quietly on the bench, deep in thought.
Using our weapons to create a formula for success… beyond that, lies this new shooting sense. To reach that level, I have to evolve. But how? My weapon is spatial awareness. Does that mean I have to run the entire field? Why can I shoot? What makes it possible?
I want to see… a new version of myself.
Juuen clapped his hands to get attention.
"Alright, everyone! Let's keep this momentum in the second half. Stay sharp, and victory's ours!"
"We're definitely winning this one!"
"Yeah!!"
Team V Locker Room
Reo sat on the bench, elbows on his knees.
"We're going to win. They're relying on counterattacks we'll change our strategy."
Zantetsu was still fuming.
"That red-haired guy! He called me 'dumb-eyes'! I don't even know him! Totally unforgivable!"
"That's right, dumb Zantetsu. We're not losing. Right, Nagi?"
"Mm," Nagi murmured.
Second Half Kickoff
Team Z started with the ball.
Isagi passed to Ryan, who immediately faced four defenders.
"Oh? Four at once? I'm honored." He cracked his neck. "Alright then let's give you a show. I'll take all of you on."
This time, Ryan didn't use his overwhelming speed; it would've been forced in this space.
He took short, rapid steps, dribbling forward at a deceptively quick rhythm.
Instead of avoiding the four defenders, he charged directly into them.
Against the first, he faked a nutmeg, making the man pivot then nudged the ball the other way and slipped by.
"One."
The second closed in Ryan used a simple flip-flap.
"Two."
The third came up to block Ryan poked the ball to the right with the outside of his foot, baiting him into turning his body. The moment he did, Ryan flicked the ball back inside with his instep and glided behind him.
"Three."
The last defender stepped forward. Ryan slowed down so the man slowed too, widening his stance for balance.
"Careful opening your legs like that," Ryan said with a grin. "Looks a little too easy-going."
"Huh ?"
The ball zipped between his legs; Ryan accelerated and was gone.
"Four."
The bench erupted.
"Too strong! What was that dribbling?!"
"I've never seen Ryan use that before!"
Of course you haven't, Ryan thought. I only learned it from a video last night.
In the Observation Room
Ego Jinpachi was replaying the footage, jaw tight.
"This kid… he can even copy that?"
Anri Teieri blinked. "What do you mean, Mr. Ego?"
"When Ryan scored his second goal earlier, he used an ability to mimic another player's technique. He reproduced Nagi Seishirō's trapping motion perfectly."
"A mimic ability that strong does it have any limits?"
"I thought it might… but that dribble just proved he can imitate anyone. If he can even copy that, then he can replicate every skill in existence."
"Wait 'that'? You mean that dribble wasn't just random?"
Ego slammed a hand on the desk.
"You football idiot! Haven't you ever watched a match before? That was Messi's dribbling style!"
"Messi? I've heard of him…"
"Messi's technique is one of the hardest in the world to reproduce. His body coordination, reaction speed, and close control are god-tier. He can protect the ball in a crowd and still create openings. But the scariest part is his foot-frequency 4.4 hertz! Even Bolt's top sprint frequency is 4.2!"
Anri's eyes widened. "So Ryan just… replicated that?"
"Exactly. Which means he's a true universal mimic. Now I'm certain Ryan Hoshino can no will surpass Noah."
Back on the Field
After beating all four, Ryan spotted open space on Isagi's side and passed.
He wasn't a selfish ball-hog like Barou. Sure, he sometimes over-dribbled when teammates were useless but this team could actually keep up, so he was happy to share.
Isagi received the pass calmly. Twenty-two meters… no, twenty-three. Within range. Power-wise, it's doable.
He lined up a shot but a slide tackle came from the side. Isagi pulled back just in time, keeping possession.
Damn, the lane's blocked. This formula won't work.
"Isagi behind you!"
Someone dashed past and took the ball cleanly.
Raichi roared instantly, "What the hell, dumbass! Get back here!"
Isagi sprinted to defend. "Sorry!"
What am I missing? he thought. Ryan bought me that chance, and I wasted it. If only my weapon were dribbling or raw strength…
No. Wishing for what I don't have is useless. The clue to evolution's already inside me. What can I do and what can't I? I have to evolve my weapon within those limits.
Nagi's Question
Nagi passed him silently, dribbling by.
"Just now, you looked so confident. Why didn't you shoot? You're doing too much useless stuff. Why don't you just give up? Why keep running? Are you stupid? I don't get it, tell me."
Before Isagi could answer, Ryan jogged up behind him, hands in pockets.
"Hey, snow-head," he said lazily. "Maybe focus on how to win first. You're three goals down. Keep slacking and you'll lose before you figure anything out."
Nagi froze mid-step.
"Lose…?"
"Go, Nagi! Don't let them counter!" Reo shouted.
Raichi slid in to block Reo's path again.
"You're not going anywhere."
"Are you a stalker or something?"
"I'm your worst nightmare, I'll eat you alive!"
Isagi's Realization
'Useless,' huh…
Suddenly, it clicked.
When I hesitated, wondering whether to shoot, that was the useless moment. That single hesitation gave the defender time to block me.
My weapon is spatial awareness. I can sense scoring space but if I don't act, that sense is meaningless.
Erase the extra thoughts. Follow the formula to completion.
In his mind, puzzle pieces began to align. Once he found the missing one, he'd complete his "evolution equation."
Lightning vs Speed
Zantetsu yelled from the flank, "Reo! Again!"
Reo glanced at Raichi dogging him. This guy never stops running.
"Annoying stalker. What are you, gonna call the cops?"
Raichi grinned. "You're good but I've figured you out. Every time you get the ball, you immediately look for Nagi."
"Tch."
Isagi shouted, "Nice work, Raichi! If we shut down his link to Nagi, defending's easy!"
"Reo," Ryan added from midfield, "without your genius partner, you're just a talented normal."
Reo's teeth ground audibly.
He slammed an elbow into Raichi's neck.
BEEP!
The ref's whistle cut through the air.
"Yellow card, Team V No. 9 Mikage Reo for elbowing."
Raichi rubbed his neck, smirking.
"Losing your cool already? One more of those and you're gone."
He lined up the free kick and sent it down the right to Chigiri.
"Go, princess, show them your speed!"
Chigiri took the ball and faced Zantetsu.
"Come on, princess! But I'm faster!"
"Who's a princess?!"
If I can't get past him, we can't score. Then I'll just attack from the opposite angle.
He kicked off first.
"Here?"
Zantetsu instantly matched his burst.
His reaction's fast… I remember what Ryan said his weapon is instantaneous acceleration. I can't beat that. Not in the first ten meters. But my top speed is higher. I'll create a situation where that difference matters.
Chigiri booted the ball behind Zantetsu then sprinted.
Zantetsu frowned. "Who are you passing to? No one's there!"
Chigiri blazed past him. "I'm passing to myself!"
"Hah! Naïve, princess! I told you I'm faster!"
He exploded forward, overtaking
but Chigiri smirked. "Yeah, your start is faster, dumb-eyes. But over distance…"
He pushed harder. His legs blurred.
"Fifty meters, 5.77 seconds. In long-run speed I win."
"Outta the way, slowpoke!"
But just as he looked up, his eyes widened.
Nagi stood ahead of him.
"Well done, dumb Zantetsu."
No way he read me!
"Thanks for the assist, princess. I'll take it from here."
"Not today, genius."
Isagi appeared in front of Nagi and intercepted.
"This position… perfect for a steal."
Both Chigiri and Zantetsu froze. They hadn't expected Isagi to appear there.
"Isagi?!"
Isagi met Nagi's gaze.
"I can't predict your moves but I can see the flow of the field. When Chigiri kicked long to outrun Zantetsu, he left a temporary weakness. If I filled that gap, that weakness disappeared."
He passed forward.
"I won't let anyone stop your sprint, Chigiri."
Chigiri laughed. "Good boy, Isagi! I'll give you a treat later!"
He rocketed downfield, flying past defenders.
"Damn it !"
"He's too fast!"
"Block him at the goal!"
"We've got enough men "
"Yeah right, useless defenders! Your door's wide open!"
Chigiri spotted the open top corner and fired.
The keeper dove his fingertips grazed the ball, deflecting it into the post.
CLANG!
It bounced back into the box.
Team Z groaned in unison.
"Hit the post!"
The defenders, all pulled left by Chigiri's run, left the right side completely open
and standing there was a monster.
Ryan Hoshino.
He sighed.
"Man, I told you guys to practice finishing. Can't believe I gotta clean up again."
The ball dropped at his feet.
He swung hard.
The ball screamed toward the crossbar hit then ricocheted in.
GOAL!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you're interested, you can read advanced chapters:
pat reon .com / Samorash
~> Bonus Chapter every 300PS!!