Tokyo CF players gathered quickly. Minato clapped his hands.
"Come on! It's not over!"
Kick-off.
Tokyo Cf tried to take control again, but something had changed. The pressing wasn't as sharp. The runs weren't as aggressive.
On the bench, Coach Sato stood up.
"Substitutes, go warm up. Now."
Rikuo stood up immediately. Kenji right next to him.
They started jogging along the touchline.
Kenji exhaled lightly and said with a small smile:
"Looks like I was right… Maybe we'll go in at the start of the second half."
Rikuo simply nodded.
He didn't really respond. He didn't want to think too much about what Kenji was saying.
He focused.
On his footwork.
On his breathing.
On the game.
"Damn it Minato… Rivelinho… Raizo… you have to score… you were dominating…" thought Rikuo.
But the match wasn't the same anymore.
Kashima had gained confidence.
Tokyo was recovering the ball lower.
Passes became sloppy.
Duels weren't as sharp.
"You can feel a real shift in momentum since the goal! Tokyo CF has lost control of the match!"
"Yes, Miyazaki-san. Kashima has completely flipped the game. They're winning second balls and keeping possession. Tokyo is backing off."
You could feel it in the stands.
The chants were quieter.
More nervous.
More unsure.
The cold was starting to settle over the stadium.
From the sideline, Rikuo felt it differently.
Not just the February cold.
A cold inside the rhythm of the match.
"We dropped our intensity… we're not in it anymore…" thought Rikuo.
He carefully observed the opponent.
Compact block.
Well-coordinated press.
And most importantly…
Their coach.
On the sideline, a tall man stood with crossed arms. Sharp eyes. Strong presence.
Matheus.
A German men.
Tall silhouette. Cold stare. Heavy aura.
"He's different…" thought Rikuo. "He has a real aura…"
Matheus barely shouted.
He watched remained calms.
A small hand gesture.
His team adjusted instantly.
On Tokyo's side, there was hesitation.
Coach Sato remained calm.
Maybe too calm.
"Is he going to change something?… The tactic from the start isn't working anymore…" thought Rikuo.
Tokyo wasn't creating anything.
Worse.
They didn't even have the ball anymore.
"Unbelievable! After dominating early on, Tokyo can't even keep possession! Are you seeing this, Heishi-san?"
"Yes, Miyazaki-san. Kashima controls the tempo now. Tokyo's early high press may have drained them. They don't look used to sustaining it."
Minutes passed.
35th.
40th.
44th.
Tokyo suffered.
Then—
"Fiiiiiuuuuuuu!"
Halftime.
Players slowly walked toward the locker rooms.
Minato walked fast. Serious face.
Rivelinho stared at the ground.
Bao looked frustrated.
On the other side, Matheus stood still for a few seconds, watching Sato.
"You have a good team, Mr. Sato…" thought Matheus.
"Great players like Minato… but you chose the wrong tactic. You won't beat me at my own high pressing game."
He turned and entered the tunnel.
— Tokyo CF Locker Room —
Silence.
Heavy breathing filled the room.
Coach Sato stood in front of the board.
He opened his mouth to speak.
But Minato stood up first.
"Guys, seriously… you're playing bad."
All eyes turned to him.
"Why are you playing backward? We win the ball quickly, but after that our possession is terrible! That won't work!"
He paused. Looked at everyone.
"So wake up! Go back out there and play like players who deserve this badge!"
Silence.
But this silence was different.
Everyone was focused.
Hearing Minato, who usually looked cold and distant, speak like that… it motivated them.
Rikuo watched.
"Wow… that was a real captain speech…" thought Rikuo.
"And he's right… I saw the same things from the bench… it was obvious… I think the coach knows it too… we need to change the system… and maybe some players like Bao…"
Minato sat down.
Coach Sato spoke again.
With a Cold tone.
"Good. You heard Minato."
Pause.
"I take responsibility. This tactic won't work against Matheus' team. His idea is simple: recover the ball high, score, and keep stacking goals. That's how they've played since he arrived."
He looked at each player.
"So we will play our way. We recover the ball, impose our rhythm, suffocate them… and we come back. We are at home."
He pointed toward the door.
"Listen to the supporters when we go out. Answer them with your performance. That's all they want."
"Yes coach!"
Energy was back.
Kenji tapped Rikuo's shoulder and whispered:
"Listen carefully Rikuo… this is exactly the moment when—"
"Bao, you're out. Kenji, you're in."
Half a second of silence.
Kenji slowly turned to Rikuo.
He winked at him..
"See? I told you… and pff… he didn't even let me finish."
He exaggerated his breathing like he wanted to show he had predicted it first.
Rikuo looked at him.
"This guy never misses a chance to show off… he shines too much… my eyes hurt…" thought Rikuo,
slightly rubbing his eyes.
On the other side…
Bao wasn't smiling.
He pulled off his jersey in frustration.
Sharp movement.
Dark look.
Straight at Rikuo.
"It's not even me replacing you Bao… it's Kenji… why are you looking at me…" thought Rikuo with a completely neutral face.
Bao clenched his teeth.
"This coach doesn't trust me… I'm betrayed… replaced by kids who haven't lived a quarter of my career…" thought Bao, boiling inside.
Coach Sato looked at him immediately.
"Bao. Stay professional. I won't tolerate that behavior here."
The tone was icy.
Bao looked away.
The tension was real.
Kenji was already putting on his jersey.
Jumping lightly in place.
Ready.
Rikuo felt something strange inside.
Excitement.
Frustration.
Hunger.
"If Kenji goes in… then I have a chance too…" Thought Rikuo.
— Kashima CF Locker Room —
The atmosphere was relaxed.
Confident.
Players were smiling.
"We continue like this in the second half. Alex, I'll keep assisting you. You just do your usual things," said Akira.
"…Yes."
Van Alex answered with a blank face. Piercing blue eyes.
He looked like a machine.
"Another short answer… figures. When you're programmed only to score goals, social interactions must be complicated… he's been like this since day one…" thought Akira.
He remembered their first meeting.
— Flashback —
Two years earlier at Kashima CF.
Two seasons ago, Kashima wasn't close to being champions. Akira had been at the club for six years. It was the worst season he had ever experienced.
"I've been here six years… this might be the worst season ever. Maybe I'll quit at the end of the year…" thought Akira while walking to training.
That day changed everything.
The club president stood in front of the players.
"Gentlemen, we know this period has been difficult. We've decided to part ways with the previous coach. Today, I present to you the new coach and a new signing."
Akira sighed.
"Another attempt to save the club… this old president is crazy… let's see who these so-called saviors are…" thought Akira.
Two men entered the training pitch.
One very tall.
The other with a cold, commanding aura.
"Here they are. Matheus Hofman, our new coach from Germany. And with him, Van Alex."
Applause.
Akira was shocked by Alex's height.
And by the coach's presence.
Training that day was brutal,intense.
European-level intensity.
Everyone ran and suffered.
At the end of training, most players left.
Except two.
"You're Alex, right? You look good. What are you doing in this club?" Akira asked in English.
"…"
No answer.
"Are you deaf? When someone talks to you, you answer. That's called respect. Don't they teach that in Germany?"
"You are a small player, Mr. Japanese," Alex said coldly in a poor English.
"Excuse me? Don't talk to me like that. I'm a good player. I'm just not in the right club."
"Then give me good passes. The ball is next to you."
They stood about 30 meters from goal.
Akira passed the ball to his right foot.
"No. That's not a good pass."
"What are you even looking for?" Akira asked, annoyed.
"I'm looking for a good pass."
Akira felt challenged.
This time he passed the ball forward into space. Alex was facing away from goal.
In one movement—
He Turned and shoot a powerful shot.
Top corner.
Akira froze.
"That is a good pass, Mr. Japanese. Give me the ball… I score."
Akira slowly smiled.
"Alright… I see where this is going. You and me… we're bringing this club back."
— End of the Flashback —
Back to the present.
Both teams returned to the pitch.
Tokyo looked different.
More united.
They formed a circle.
"Guys, we go back to basics. Like the captain said. Up front, I'm here. Give me the ball, I'll score, meus amigos," said Rivelinho.
"Don't give up! Follow the captain! Talk to each other! Trust yourselves! Ren, wake up! They underestimate you!" shouted Raizo.
"I won't let him dominate me just because our captain isn't here… you won't score again, Alex,"
Thought Ren, nodding firmly.
Minato clapped everyone's hands.
The second half was about to begin.
Rikuo watched closely.
His eyes were on his Coach Sato.
Ready.
Waiting.
"Fiiiiiuuuuuuu!"
"The second half begins, dear viewers! What will these next 45 minutes give us? We'll find out by the end! Enjoy the game!"
The comeback… or the fall.