Takayama Elementary, unlike Ryusei, was a private school on the other side of the city. The school was much smaller, but it still had a competitive football team, hoping to spark students' interest in the sport.
Ryo surveyed the team as they passed among themselves to hold possession. It looks like they're running a more aggressive 3–4–3 formation. Their midfielders will probably drop back at the first sign of danger. But if we win the ball quickly, their defense will struggle to stop a fast break.
For a while, Ryo played cautiously, observing instead of pushing forward, hoping to grasp the dynamics and strengths of his opponents. This was something he always did whenever he played on the field.
He would sift through each player as if following a checklist. Did they struggle to pass well? Were they good at dribbling? Were they the center of their team? What habits did they have?
Many times, catching these patterns revealed opportunities. A flaw was just a chance waiting to be used.
Staying passive also anchored Ryusei's formation. By not drifting too high, Ryo could delay counterattacks and maintain a tight center. As the ball shifted between the two sides, he took note of any flaws in the opposing team.
Number 10 uses only his right foot. Number 6 is slow when dropping back. Number 3 often gets pulled out of position. And Number 8… he dribbles too much and rarely passes.
Ryo continued to analyze the opposing players for a few minutes, and he began stepping into more aggressive positions, drifting into open lanes where a pass might find him or a loose ball might fall.
After a reset from a missed shot, Takayama's keeper rolled the ball short, and their Number 8 confidently led the ball into the midfield. He moved up with his teammates, passing whenever he was outnumbered, but mostly kept the ball to himself.
However, he has too much pride. If he ends up in a one-on-one, he won't pass. He will try to dribble it through.
Right as Number 8 reached the midline, Tomoya stepped up to contest him. Ryusei's captain was a cautious, calculating midfielder who valued control over glory. He wasn't chasing goals; instead, he was the anchor, the safety net for their aggressive attacks.
So with an unwavering gaze, Tomoya kept his focus on the opposing midfielder who tried to break through his zone.
Undeterred, the boy pressed on, ball tight to his feet, daring Tomoya to stop him. Even though the midfielder had teammates nearby, he was determined to break through when faced with only one player.
Tomoya, however, wasn't one to be easily defeated, and in response to the attacker's sudden run, he stuck his foot out, hitting the ball away.
Careless, Ryo thought. Trying to take Tomoya alone was reckless.
Ryo had anticipated Tomoya's successful tackle, so he was positioned rather aggressively, and luckily, it sent the ball into the space in front of him.
Without wasting another second, Ryo burst forward, making use of his quick acceleration, and made it to the ball before anyone else could react.
Having cut off the opponent's momentum, Ryo decided to take full advantage and shift into a quick counterattack. So as he reached the ball, instead of carrying it forward, he planted his right foot and lobbed the ball far downfield.
On the receiving end, Ren pressed the back line even before the pass, and when the ball lifted into the air, he slipped between defenders, sprinting into the open.
The defenders, seeing Ren run past them as the ball flew over their heads, clawed at Ren's back, hoping to catch up and stop the incoming threat.
But as they saw Ren flawlessly control the ball as it came in from behind, they realized their mistake. They were too invested in their attack. They had moved up with their midfield to occupy the space and provide close support, but they hadn't anticipated that the tables would turn so quickly.
Most of the players could only watch as the ball went over their heads and dropped in front of an attacker who had completely broken free.
And this attacker was Ren. He doesn't lose a one-on-one with a goalie.
Within the next few seconds, Ryo watched as his brother smoothly shot the ball into the goal. The goalie tried closing the angle as he came off the goal line, but Ren simply sidestepped, opening the goal to his finishing touch, gracefully moving the net. At the same time, Ryo's quest updated.
{Notification!}
—(Situational Quest – Football Debut)
——[Contribute A Total Of 3 Goals Or Assists To The Team: 1/3]
The pitch erupted. Cheers rolled in waves as the referee's flag stayed down—Ren had timed his run perfectly. Many students, both boys and girls, were shouting out his name, acknowledging his prowess.
"Wow, that goal was so clean!"
"Aoyama-senpai is amazing! Did you see that control?"
"Kyaa~ Ren-kun is so cool!"
Ren sprinted straight back, throwing his arms around Ryo in an unshakable embrace.
"Ryo!!! That pass was perfect! As expected of my genius younger brother!"
Ryo couldn't hold back his grin listening to his brother's praise. Our first goal together… it feels incredible. I never want to forget this.
"Stop joking, Ren-nii. It was only possible because you read me so well," Ryo responded, completely immersed in the moment. All of their teammates also joined in, throwing in their praises and patting their backs.
Eventually, the energy settled, and both sides reset. Ryusei's spirits soared while Takayama wore frustration on their faces. One moment, they had been in control; the next, the ball was in their net. And it was only the 23rd minute; who knew what would follow?
So, with all the players in position, the referee brought his whistle to his lips.
Fweeet
—————————————————————————————————
On the sideline, Matsumoto chuckled as the cheers rang out, his shoulders shaking. Takigawa, who had jumped out of his seat as the goal was scored, glanced at him, baffled.
The head coach rarely smiled after a goal, but now he was laughing.
"This is fascinating," Matsumoto said under his breath. "Who could have guessed they'd play like this together?"
Takigawa stared.
"Takigawa, could you have known they would go hand in hand with each other? It's as if they're sharing the same brain! I worried they might clash, so I put them on opposite flanks," Matsumoto continued, half-rambling. "But I was wrong—they're perfectly in sync. Did you see that? There were no signals and no hesitation. Ryo was already preparing the lob before Ren broke the line, and Ren trusted him enough to commit without looking back! Wonderful! How exhilarating!"
Takigawa just stared at the head coach as he kept laughing to himself. Is he okay? He is never this excited over a single goal. He looked towards the small huddle forming as the team celebrated their goal.
He does have a point, though. There were no obvious signals between them. They both knew each other's capabilities, and they had complete trust in each other. Ren knew Ryo would make it to the ball and send a long pass, and Ryo knew Ren would break into a sprint for an attack.
Takigawa mumbled to himself, "I have never seen such fluid teamwork between players as young as them. Individually, they are both exceptional, but together… they are unstoppable."
Even in the stands, the reaction was the same. Many spectators were fascinated by the goal, and senior club members muttered in awe.
"Wow, that was crazy! Did you see how quickly they both moved after the tackle?"
"Yeah, Ren-kun's timing was perfect. He even stayed onside."
Others, such as Ryo and Ren's parents, were just as impressed by the goal.
Yuuki, their mother, leaned in and asked her husband, "Honey, did you know they were this good at football?"
"No, not really. I knew they always practiced, but I am surprised at how well they work together."
She listened to his words and her lips lifted into a soft smile, "Yes, I am so proud of them." She knew just how many hours they'd spent practicing, and seeing their effort pay off was a feeling unlike any other.