"Don't go head-to-head with him! Just stall him until I'm back!"
Sprinting toward the center of Team V's half, Ryūma didn't expect their four defenders to stop Eita Otoya.
If they could just hold him off until he returned, that alone would count as success.
Otoya heard Ryūma's shout and thought with mild irritation,
(So they're underestimating me, huh? He really thinks these guys can stop me?)
He showed no sign of slowing down. Leaning forward, Otoya charged straight toward Team V's backline.
"Spread out and close him in! Don't let him slip past us one by one!"
The order came from Putian Daiwa, and the other three defenders quickly agreed.
"Alright, you've got the most defensive experience—we'll follow your lead!"
Forming a tight horizontal line beside Putian Daiwa, Team V's defenders drastically reduced Otoya's space to advance.
Putian Daiwa knew Eita Otoya would likely get through in the end. But if they could delay him for even a few seconds, that would be enough.
He was confident this time. If Otoya tried to weave past all four defenders lined up side by side, it would eat up valuable time—enough for Ryūma to get back.
After observing Otoya closely, Putian Daiwa also noticed that he rarely relied on brute force,
so he wasn't worried about him charging straight through like Ryūma would.
But just as Putian Daiwa was feeling confident, Otoya reached their defensive line—and suddenly cut sharply to the side without slowing, sprinting laterally toward the center of Team V's box.
Putian Daiwa's eyes widened as he shouted, "Quick! After him!"
Because he was positioned on the outside of Otoya's breakthrough lane, Daiwa was the first to react and gave chase, staying barely a stride behind.
(He's out of options now. Ryūma's almost back.)
(Once he runs into the four of us plus Ryūma, let's see how he gets out of this!)
(Ha! My defense is paying off. Ryūma's definitely going to praise me for this—)
"Huh?"
To his surprise, Otoya suddenly slowed down, causing the full-speed Putian Daiwa to overshoot him by half a step.
In the next instant, Otoya performed a Chop Feint, sending the ball behind Putian Daiwa and into Team V's penalty area.
By the time Daiwa turned, Otoya had already darted past him.
He spun around only to see Otoya sprinting toward the ball.
Putian Daiwa froze—he couldn't believe he'd been beaten so cleanly.
The confidence he had just regained evaporated instantly.
Fortunately, Ryūma had made it back in time, bursting into the box.
Otoya reached the ball and immediately set up to shoot.
Ryūma leapt, blocking the shot path—but Otoya suddenly shifted his posture.
His right foot slid past the ball, his left foot pivoted left, and his right heel flicked backward, striking the ball with a deft touch.
The ball spun past Ryūma and flew toward Team V's left defensive flank.
(Tch, a double feint? Players who use feints are so damn annoying!)
Ryūma grumbled internally, conveniently forgetting he'd pulled the same move earlier himself.
Turning his head toward the ball's trajectory, Ryūma saw Tabito Karasu already waiting for it with a confident grin.
"Guess I'll finish this off," Karasu said.
"In your dreams, Karasu."
"So persistent, Eyelash Genius."
Sure enough, Rin Itoshi appeared in front of Karasu again, positioned even closer to the ball.
(So he read me again. I even changed my running pattern this time, and he still saw through it.)
(He predicted that Otoya would pass instead of shoot—and that it would come right here.)
(But I came prepared. You really think I didn't see this coming?)
"Don't think you can intercept my passes every time, genius!"
Karasu had been holding back from the start, leaving himself space to react.
He wouldn't be caught off guard like last time. The moment Rin appeared in front of him, Karasu instantly changed direction, moving behind him to box him out.
Just as he'd planned, Karasu charged past Rin and locked his arm around him, stopping both from reaching the ball cleanly.
"Pass it to me, Rin!"
Ryūma raised his arm inside the penalty area, calling out to Rin.
At the same moment, Yo Hiori appeared within Rin's field of view, clearly offering another passing option.
"Hey, Karasu! I'm open!"
"Over here!"
"This spot's good too—pass it to me!"
The rest of Team X swarmed around Karasu, trying to help him out.
(Damn it, what now? Rin's too hard to shake off. With him here, I can't even take a shot!)
(Pass to someone else? No, that won't work either! With their level, I'd be lucky if they could just pass it back to me in this mess!)
(Hold on... so many players around me? That gives me an idea!)
While Rin was focused on marking him, Karasu made a few quick hand signals toward one direction.
Then, using Rin's arm for leverage, he suddenly pushed off and lunged forward.
Rin froze for a split second—he didn't know what Karasu was planning, but he wasn't about to let him go.
He pressed his arm down harder, locking Karasu in place.
The two grappled fiercely as the ball came between them.
At the same instant, Karasu swung his foot to strike while Rin tried to trap and pull the ball back.
They both made contact simultaneously, and just as Rin's foot touched the ball, Karasu's kick sent it flying.
The ball spun back toward Team V's right flank at moderate speed.
Ryūma watched it approach, confused but amused.
(What the hell? Why'd he pass it to me?)
(So that's it—you've dropped the act, huh? You're the mole now?)
As he wondered what was going on, something flashed past his peripheral vision—a figure sprinting at incredible speed from behind him.
It wasn't heading for Ryūma, but straight toward the ball Karasu had just sent.
In that moment, Ryūma understood everything.
(Hah, I knew it. Like he'd ever actually pass to me.)
(So that's who it's for—Eita Otoya!)
...
(35 Chapters Ahead)
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