By the time Ryūma Banjō realized what was happening, Tabito Karasu had already twisted his body and was sprinting after the ball flying toward the center of Team V’s midfield.

When he reached it, he didn’t choose to keep dribbling forward—instead, he flicked his heel and passed the ball back without hesitation.

The ball rolled straight to Eita Otoya, who was positioned on the left side of Team V’s midfield.

There was only one reason Tabito made that choice: Ryūma Banjō was right behind him, barely half a step away.

Tabito could feel the pressure radiating from behind him, that suffocating presence telling him one thing—if he dared to keep charging forward, Ryūma would shut him down.

Eita’s situation wasn’t any better. The triplet brothers clung to him like glue, refusing to give him even an inch of space.

At this point in the match, both teams had already figured out each other’s habits and patterns.

Any small mistake now could completely change the course of the game.

For Team X, Eita and Tabito were still pressing forward as a duo.

With no teammates supporting them, Team V easily outnumbered them on defense.

That approach had worked earlier, but after being dribbled past multiple times, even the triplets weren’t clueless anymore—they’d learned how to contain Eita.

Tabito wasn’t in a much better spot either. He couldn’t shake off Ryūma, and Rin Itoshi’s constant movement kept him under relentless pressure.

But neither Tabito nor Eita panicked. As top talents, they had already foreseen this situation.

They simply believed that their combined skill would be enough to handle it.

Eita lowered his body, unleashing his full speed as he dashed toward the triplets.

“Eita!”

Tabito shouted, waving one arm toward him while using the other to block Ryūma.

The two of them wrestled for position, moving slowly toward the ball.

Eita glanced at Tabito, then looked away, choosing to take on the triplets alone.

But after three matches, the triplets’ defense had grown far sharper.

They had adapted to Eita’s dribbling rhythm, making it impossible for him to slip past them in one move.

After an intense exchange, they managed to halt him just as he entered the left side of Team V’s defensive third.

Eita frowned.

(What now? Charging in won’t help—there’s no room for a shot.)

(These three stick to me no matter what. Even if I break through, they’ll recover immediately.)

(And when they feel I might get past, they stop tackling and sprint straight to cut off my path.)

(If I try to use a Chop Feint, at least two of them will already be anticipating it.)

As he weighed his options, Eita caught sight of Tabito in his peripheral vision—still grappling with Ryūma.

Their positioning made Tabito the perfect target for a pass.

(It’s a gamble… Ryūma’s defense isn’t top-tier. If Tabito goes all out, he can definitely reach it!)

Eita made his decision and sent the ball flying toward Tabito.

Tabito immediately understood Eita’s intent the moment he saw the pass coming.

(I have to take this one. Only then can Eita go full throttle and break through those three.)

(Be the blade that cuts through Team V!)

With that thought, Tabito burst into action. He tightened his grip on Ryūma’s arm, pushed him backward with explosive force, and used the recoil to lunge forward.

But he knew it wouldn’t be that easy to lose Ryūma.

Keeping his arm slightly extended, Tabito stayed alert, ready to block again if Ryūma chased him.

Yet, to his surprise, after a few strides, he realized Ryūma hadn’t followed. Instead, Ryūma stood still, watching him with a faint, confident smile.

(Huh? He’s not chasing me? What’s with that grin?)

(Did he lose his mind mid-game? Whatever—just focus on catching the ball...)

Tabito turned his eyes to the incoming pass—only for the sight ahead to freeze him in place.

The meaning behind Ryūma’s smile hit him immediately.

Right in front of him, receiving Eita’s pass, stood Rin Itoshi!

“You bastard—wha… when did you get there!?”

Rin just let out a quiet “Hmph,” turned with the ball, and smoothly passed it toward the center of Team V’s midfield.

Tabito reacted fast, spinning to chase after it—but the rush of air past his ear told him it was already too late.

Watching that figure engulfed in purple flames sprint ahead, Tabito exhaled inwardly.

(Man… does he ever run out of stamina? Ryūma’s been sprinting this whole match!)

(And now, even this late in the game, he’s still accelerating like that. No wonder they call him a monster!)

Ryūma had already reached the center of his own half. The instant he touched the ball, he exploded forward, charging straight into the middle of Team X’s territory.

His advance was smooth—no one intercepted him during the counter.

After all, Team X had only sent four players into attack, and realistically, only Eita and Tabito were truly pushing the offense.

The two others who’d followed into Team V’s half were little more than decoys.

That, however, made Team X’s defense sturdier.

As soon as Ryūma entered the central zone of Team X’s half, three defenders moved in to block him.

Their goal was simple—to stall for time until Eita and Tabito could retreat.

But Ryūma had no intention of giving them that chance.

He immediately passed the ball to a figure breaking into the left midfield area of Team X’s half.

The moment the ball left his foot, he unleashed his full speed, bursting past the three defenders in front of him.

(Ryūma’s read it perfectly… is this his chemistry with Rin?)

Sure enough, that figure was Yo Hiori.

Moments earlier, when Tabito had shoved Ryūma backward, Ryūma had already given Hiori a subtle signal—telling him to push up the left side and wait for the pass.

...

(35 Chapters Ahead)

p@treon com / GhostParser