Team Z was completely stunned. They couldn't even process how Rin Itoshi had managed to score.
Out of nowhere, several players were bypassed by Rin's dribbling. Then, during the scramble, the deflected ball landed right at his feet.
Team Z's goalkeeper had almost blocked it—but missed by a hair. That chain of bizarre coincidences left the whole of Team Z completely frozen!
Watching Rin's retreating figure, Ryūma couldn't help but think to himself:
(This is... Rin Itoshi. He's insanely strong.)
(He broke through an all-out 11-man defense with his ability to control the entire field!)
(First, he completely read how Team Z's four-man penalty box squad would react, allowing him to dribble past without pause. Then, just before reaching the box, he feigned a shot but actually passed.)
(That not only tricked Team Z, but also made them think Rin's role ended there—that the one to score would be me.)
(And he was right. The moment I got the ball, all eyes were on me, while Rin vanished from their sight.)
(He knew I wouldn't force a breakthrough after being blocked so many times before.)
(No! Even if I had forced my way in, they would've shut down my shooting lane!)
(Thinking about it now, I would've passed no matter what. Rin had me completely figured out.)
(He even used my lack of control over shot power to his advantage—knowing that if I passed, Hiyori wouldn't get the ball immediately, and the defenders would swarm in, causing chaos.)
(But how did he know the ball would end up right at his feet? With so many players fighting for it, the direction should've been completely random.)
(That fatso Furukawa was read by Rin too. No matter how many times Rin shoots from now on, he'll aim where Furukawa can't reach.)
Looking at him was like seeing invisible strings tied to every player on the field—and Rin was the one pulling them.
That's right. At this very moment, Rin Itoshi had turned everyone on the field into his puppets.
Rin walked up to Ryūma, his expression ice-cold.
"I'll finish them with my goals. You just keep running."
Ryūma stared at him. Maybe it was just his imagination, but Rin's face looked like it carried a hint of arrogance.
"Hah? You scored one goal by luck, and now you're acting all high and mighty?"
"Luck? Yeah, I guess a brainless idiot like you would think my goal was luck."
Rin turned away, walking back to his position as if he couldn't be bothered to listen any further.
"What? Brainless idiot? You punk, you looking for a beating?!"
Ryūma's eyes widened as he shouted at Rin in disbelief.
Just then, Yo Hiori smiled and walked over to Ryūma.
"Alright, Ryūma. They're about to kick off again. Don't get caught up with Rin. But you'd better step up—he scored that goal all on his own."
"Got it, Yo. Just watch—I'll break through for sure."
This time, Yukio Ishikari took the kickoff for Team Z from the center circle, with Akemi Inoue supporting him on the flank. The two worked together like seasoned partners.
Behind them, the rest of Team Z pushed forward. Once again, they chose an all-out attack, hoping to replicate their earlier goal.
"Guys, if our tactic worked once, it can work twice!"
"Exactly! Our aerial game, using our height advantage—even if they know it, they can't stop us!"
"Let's go! Full attack!"
With words of encouragement, the four-man penalty box squad charged ahead. Ishikari dribbled toward Team V's half, while the others maintained the same all-out formation as before.
Three of them moved into midfield and defense, ready to set up consecutive aerial passes, while the rest protected the ball carrier.
"Last time you got lucky, but not this time! Watch how us three brothers shut you down!"
But Team Z wouldn't let the triplets steal the ball so easily. They all stepped forward to block them.
"That's it, hold them here. This spot will work. One more aerial—"
Before Ishikari could finish, a lightning-fast figure intercepted his pass.
"I'm at full throttle now! Don't think that aerial tactic's gonna work twice!"
As Ishikari froze in shock, Ryūma dribbled and spun to launch a counter. But before he could accelerate, Shūhō Aoki grabbed both his arms, stopping him from advancing.
"Hah? You looking to die, kid?"
Ryūma was about to snap back when the mechanical voice rang out:
Beep! Beep! Team Z foul! Obstruction of a clear counterattack by pulling. Shūhō Aoki, yellow card!
(Tch. That bastard Shūhō was targeting me. The second I got the ball, he grabbed me.)
(Well, whatever. If that had gone in, it wouldn't have been a complete breakthrough on my own anyway.)
(Come on then, you scrubs! Set your formation—you're just stepping stones on my path to getting stronger!)
From Team V's frontcourt, Ryūma lined up for the free kick.
"Let's go, Yo!"
He passed the ball to Yo Hiori on the right wing, while charging through the center himself.
As three Team Z defenders closed in, Ryūma suddenly burst left.
(That spot... Got it, Ryūma!)
Reading his run, Yo Hiori adjusted his angle and launched a long ball.
[Thud]
"Our strength is in the air! Ishikari, it's yours—win that header!"
Before Akemi Inoue even finished, Ishikari was already sprinting to the landing spot, leaping up.
"You don't think you'll win every jump against me, do you?"
At the same time Ishikari rose, Ryūma leapt with him!
With explosive power, Ryūma dominated the aerial clash, knocking Ishikari to the ground!
"Damn it! I can't even beat him physically?!"
Flat on the turf, Ishikari's confidence shattered as he watched Ryūma dribble past. Never had he imagined his prized aerial ability would be shut down so easily.
Driving into Team Z's backfield, Ryūma frowned, mind racing.
(What now? Their penalty box defense completely cuts off my shooting lanes. I need to get past at least two of the four left inside.)
(What technique should I use? The Elastico? Triple Feint? Split dribble? Rainbow Flick? Nutmeg?)
(No! None of those will work! Ishikari's already rushing back—not to steal the ball, but to block my shot!)
(Even if I beat two instantly, more are behind them. By the time I got past all of them, Ishikari would be back—and that fat bastard's still on me.)
(What move could get me past five defenders at once? Right now, every time I beat two, the ones I just passed immediately recover.)
(Isn't this a complete deadlock? There'll always be two or three defenders plus the keeper blocking me in the box.)
(What should I do? Should I pull back and pass to Yo? No... even if I pass to him, it'll just play out like before—or worse, let Rin score again.)
(Like Rin does... pass to shift their focus, then shoot at the right moment?)
(No way! I don't have Rin's eyes that see the future of the field, or his ability to manipulate players.)
(If I can't read their minds, I have no idea what moves they'll make!)
(Damn it! Why don't I have Rin's ability? No—even just Kiyora's ability would do!)
(If only I could anticipate every move and read all of them—I'd create a shooting lane for sure!)
(No technique works. No detours work. Forcing it doesn't either...)
(Does this mean I can only score by combining with Rin? Am I really incapable of doing it alone?)
(This... is this really my limit?)