Ryūma Banjō couldn't care less about what Tabito Karasu and Eita Otoya were planning.
Charging down the right midfield of Team X, Ryūma accelerated again toward the right side of their backfield.
There was still one midfielder from Team X ahead of him, but before the player could even close the distance,
Ryūma had already blown past him without losing a single step of momentum.
As he reached Team X's right back zone, Ryūma looked up at the four defenders crowding near the box and grimaced.
(Damn it! This four-back formation is such a pain. Who came up with this anyway?)
(Come to think of it... if that Kudo Tōya guy had attackers like Tabito Karasu and Eita Otoya...)
(He might be able to pull off a defense this tight. No—his offense would probably be even deadlier!)
(What's the best move here...? No clue where Karasu and Otoya are right now. Guess I'll have to rely on some time-saving dribbling tricks.)
Before Ryūma could think further, the four defenders had already closed in.
"Heh, fine then—let's get this over with!"
No sooner had he spoken than Ryūma exploded forward.
The nearest Team X defender reacted instantly, sliding in to intercept his dribble.
But Ryūma was ready. He stopped on a dime, narrowly dodging the slide, then burst to the left again.
Two more defenders on that side immediately moved to block his advance.
Their effort worked—partially. They managed to halt Ryūma's initial charge.
He shifted from a full-tilt sprint into a low, forward-leaning stance,
dropping his center of gravity. With a quick flick, his right foot nudged the ball to his left,
and he spun, driving the ball toward the right once more.
Just as Ryūma changed direction and charged forward again, a shadow suddenly leapt into his path.
He blinked in surprise, smirking inwardly.
(Heh, really going all out, huh, buddy?)
(Thought you guys were already through to the next round.)
(That last slide tackle—you haven't even gotten back up, and now you're diving again?)
(Alright then, if you guys actually win this one, Karasu and Otoya owe you big time.)
Still, Ryūma wasn't about to be stopped so easily.
"Going that hard, huh? Trying to earn yourself some extra steak tonight?"
With a grin, his feet began to dance. He pushed the ball from his right instep to his left,
stepped over it, and flicked it with his heel, curving it sharply to the right.
The instant the ball left his foot, Ryūma darted toward the same direction.
It didn't roll far before he caught up, regained control, and dashed forward again—
leaving the diving defender flailing behind him.
Then, from the left, another Team X player suddenly rushed in to cut him off.
"Ugh, how annoying."
Ryūma's expression turned impatient, the purple gleam in his eyes beginning to surge.
He drove the ball forward hard—intent clear as day: he was about to overpower the defender head-on.
The player could only watch helplessly as both the ball and Ryūma flashed past in an instant.
Still, the Team X defenders didn't feel defeated.
They had already completed the mission Karasu had given them—
to force Ryūma into a spot where he couldn't shoot, right along the backfield sideline.
It wasn't that Ryūma couldn't shoot from there,
but if he tried, Karasu and Otoya would block it ninety-nine times out of a hundred.
The other one percent? A miss.
Regaining control, Ryūma glanced around and scowled.
(Damn! So that's the plan.)
(When I broke left, they charged like madmen...)
(But the moment I switched right, they backed off—like they'd burned out.)
(So they were herding me here all along, cutting off my Direct Shot!)
(If I turn back toward the box, I'll run into Karasu and Otoya again.)
(If I can't get past them fast, the rest of Team X will have time to regroup.)
(Even if the triplets show up to block a few defenders...)
(with their level, it probably won't change much in the end.)
He shook his head. Better to focus on what's in front of him and take it one step at a time.
Just as he was about to dash toward the penalty area again, he spotted Yo Hiori on the left flank of Team X's backline,
eyes locked on him. That look seemed to say, "I'm here, Ryūma—pass it to me!"
Ryūma hesitated for a heartbeat, gazing at him from afar.
(I was just wondering if you'd be there... and you actually are.)
(From that spot, you could shoot—or pass it back to me. Nice!)
(Ah, come on, Hiori...)
(You're gonna make me start looking for you every time I think about passing, my dear friend!)
A faint smile curved Ryūma's lips as he lifted his foot for the pass.
The next instant, his right foot came down—but it only brushed past the ball.
A startled voice rang out.
"Wh... what!?"
It came from the Team X player who had leapt into Ryūma's passing lane from behind.
He'd anticipated a pass and jumped immediately—never expecting it to be a feint.
Ryūma didn't give anyone time to react.
His right foot, which had skimmed over the ball, recoiled swiftly, dragging the ball backward to his calf,
then—he struck hard.
[Thud!!]
The ball soared high, arcing toward the left side of Team X's backfield.
Yo Hiori had already sprinted to that spot, waiting for it.
As the ball descended, he kept his focus sharp, scanning the field with the corner of his eye.
(Don't worry, Ryūma. I'll always be where you need me!)
(Two defenders left in the box, the triplets have a few more tied down...)
(Otoya's closing in—but wait... where's Karasu?)
He glanced around but saw no sign of Karasu.
Just as confusion flickered across his face, a playful voice sounded from behind.
"Heh, Hiori... thinking too much again, huh? Baka~"
"Eh!?"
Before Hiori could react, Tabito Karasu snatched the ball cleanly from behind.
As he dribbled forward on the counter, Karasu sighed inwardly.
(Hiori feels different somehow... yet, deep down, nothing's really changed.)