Just as Ryūma Banjō's right foot was about to touch the ball, he suddenly shifted his motion—hooking the ball inward with the tip of his right foot and pulling it toward his left. In the next instant, his left foot exploded with power, bursting past Tabito Karasu's interception and slipping behind him.
He was already escaping Karasu's defensive range. Karasu cursed himself inwardly.
(I shouldn't have rushed it. That shout was clearly meant to make me hesitate, damn it.)
(Facing this monster Ryūma one-on-one is tough enough, and I still panicked. No wonder I couldn't stop him!)
(Calm down, Karasu! Don't lose your head. Worst case, I'll switch to Plan B!)
Even as he thought that, Karasu extended his arm to block Ryūma's advance, trying to pin him down.
But Ryūma wasn't about to give him that chance. Using the sole of his left foot, he rolled the ball backward, turned sharply, and accelerated forward with his right foot. Karasu reacted, but it was too late—Ryūma was already past him.
Reaching the center of Team X's backfield, Ryūma was immediately surrounded by three defenders, with two more stationed inside the penalty area.
Seeing their formation, Ryūma's mind raced.
(No opening for a shot. Dribbling through them would just waste time.)
(Otoya's nowhere to be seen, and Karasu's going to recover soon. What should I do?)
"Ryūma, I'm here!"
Yo Hiori's voice cut through his thoughts. Ryūma looked up, spotting Hiori sprinting into position, and his eyes lit up. He recalled their synchronized attack drills on the training ground.
(It's coming, it's coming!)
(He's itching to try that move, huh? That means his touch and rhythm are peaking right now.)
(Alright then—let's show them our new weapon!)
With his mind made up, Ryūma's movements became fluid and decisive. As he approached the three defenders, he suddenly shifted direction, performing a Chop Feint and darting to the right.
The nearest Team X player reacted instantly, following his movement, while the other two closed in from behind, wary of his cut-in.
Karasu had warned them before kickoff—when Ryūma made a lateral run, they had to stay alert for his inside cut.
Watching from midfield, Karasu nodded approvingly at their discipline, then sprinted toward Ryūma down the right flank.
But something unexpected caught his eye—Hiori was charging straight toward Ryūma.
(Huh? A close-range pass? That's too tight a distance!)
(Forget it—just block him. He can't be allowed near Ryūma!)
"Stop Yo Hiori! Don't let him approach Ryūma!"
To Karasu's surprise, Hiori didn't move closer to Ryūma at all. Instead, he veered away, slipping past the defenders and sprinting straight toward the left side of Team X's backfield.
At the same time, Ryūma angled his run toward the right side of the penalty area—the complete opposite direction.
Growing impatient, Ryūma shouted,
"Can you guys move already? You're just in my way."
Right as he said it, he swung his right foot around the front of the ball and nudged it forward with his left. In the same motion, he spun again, using the inside of his left foot to flick the ball ahead.
The ball lifted slightly off the ground, threading cleanly through the narrow gap between two Team X defenders.
At that instant, Ryūma exploded forward. The two defenders reached out to block him with their arms, but—
"You think you're Tabito Karasu?"
Ryūma's expression didn't waver. A faint grin tugged at his lips as his arms and core tightened, muscles coiling with strength. Using the defenders' pressure as leverage, he burst free in an instant.
He sprinted toward the ball and, without hesitation, delivered a strong pass toward Hiori on the left flank.
The moment Hiori saw the ball coming, he understood—Ryūma wanted to use that move.
(Don't worry, Ryūma. I won't mess this up!)
Then he spotted Karasu closing in fast, with Otoya lurking nearby.
Blue light flashed in Hiori's eyes. He steadied his breathing, every nerve focused on the incoming ball.
"Now!"
Hiori took a small step and swung into a shooting motion.
Seeing it, Karasu quickly signaled to Otoya before accelerating to intercept, while Otoya adjusted his route toward the box to block the shot's path.
Ryūma, however, stayed exactly where he was—the center of Team X's backfield. He didn't move after passing.
As the ball dropped just centimeters from the ground, Hiori's right foot came down—
But Karasu had already foreseen it. Though impressed that Hiori could predict the timing so perfectly, he still trusted his instincts. He had always believed in Hiori's potential—and because he did, he was ready to cut off the passing lane at the perfect moment.
"I'm not the same as before, Karasu!"
Under Karasu's stunned gaze, Hiori brought his right foot down—but instead of passing, he trapped the ball!
In the next instant, he pushed it to his right, stepped outward with his left foot, and swung his right leg back—launching a precise cross.
The ball soared with flawless height, speed, and angle. Ryūma's grin deepened.
(That's it, Hiori! That's the rhythm! This time, we'll make it!)
A violet gleam surged in Ryūma's eyes. His leg muscles tightened, body diving forward as he unleashed his full speed.
He charged toward the descending ball and, reaching the perfect position, leapt into the air.
Karasu immediately realized what was coming. He signaled to Otoya—taking the left side of the goal himself while Otoya covered the right.
As both defenders reached position, Ryūma performed a midair bicycle kick, striking the ball's center cleanly.
[Thud]
The ball rocketed toward Team X's goal—but mid-flight, both Karasu and Otoya sensed something off.
The shot wasn't headed for the goal at all—it was veering toward the left side of the penalty area.
(Huh? Did Ryūma miss?)
In that instant, both Ryūma and Hiori broke into a sprint, the same thought echoing in their minds—
(Let's synchronize, Hiori!)
(Let's synchronize, Ryūma!)