Chapter 231: Match Resumes — The Counterattack
Although Shinichi was burning with excitement and ready to sprint back onto the field, the medical team rushed in and forcibly pinned him onto a stretcher.
They needed to stop the bleeding—and more importantly, confirm he didn't have a concussion.
If the signs were bad, Shinichi would be forcibly removed from the match and banned from returning until fully cleared.
But to everyone's surprise—
Even after taking a blistering shot directly to the face,
and even after all the dangerous symptoms he showed earlier…
Shinichi was fully conscious.
His awareness was sharp.
His responses were coherent.
And the terrifying amount of blood that had drenched his uniform—
had already stopped on its own.
If not for that crimson stain on his jersey, the medics might have believed he was a perfectly fine player.
Even so, protocol demanded a full examination.
They didn't want to let a stubborn kid back onto the pitch only for him to collapse from an undetected skull bleed.
But Shinichi refused—calmly, logically, and decisively.
....
Even when the referee, listening to updates through his earpiece, told him the match could be temporarily paused for his evaluation…
Even when everyone knew this was technically an exhibition event…
Even when Shinichi understood clearly that the organizers, the audience, and even his opponents
would gladly accept the "heroic return" narrative if he chose it…
Shinichi would not allow it.
He refused to let even the smallest controversy taint his match with Noa.
He refused any advantage, no matter how small or unintended.
Especially when he himself had said it:
The first goal determines the match's entire flow.
And he would not let injury time affect that flow.
....
"Restart the match."
Shinichi dismissed the medics, rinsed the blood off his face, and threw on a clean jersey.
He walked back to the halfway line.
....
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Noa."
Reassembled and sharper than before, Shinichi stood before the world's #1 once more.
This time, his black eyes were no longer calm or indifferent—
They burned.
Lightning-hot, razor-sharp fighting spirit surged through every cell in his body.
"Let's begin Round 2."
....
Noa said nothing.
Expression blank, he ignored Shinichi entirely, walked to the sideline, and picked up the ball.
It was still Bastard München's possession.
And Noa chose to take the throw-in himself.
....
"Holy crap… these two lunatics…"
Even the usually carefree Charles let out a noise
that was part awe, part complaint, and… part fear.
"I swear, it feels like the rest of us don't exist anymore."
"My instincts are screaming this isn't our match anymore. This battlefield belongs only to those two."
Everyone on the pitch felt it.
Earlier, the clash between Shinichi and Noa had been like distant thunder—a warning that a storm was coming.
But now?
The entire stadium had become a warzone.
Smoke.
Pressure.
Killing intent.
All of it radiated from those two monsters—
And everyone else, even knowing they were nothing but cannon fodder, was forced to face that pressure head-on.
....
"Rin would love this atmosphere."
Tanaka Shingen chuckled from another viewing room.
The matches were staggered for maximum viewership—so he was watching through the broadcast feed.
....
Kick-off. Round 2.
Every player tensed.
The battlefield was silent—waiting for the first shot to ignite the explosion.
Noa threw the ball—
straight over Shinichi's head.
Shinichi reacted almost immediately, leaping to intercept.
But the ball grazed his hair and landed perfectly at Charles's feet.
....
"Out of my way!"
Hiori smashed into Charles from the side, muscling him off the favorable angle.
He had already studied Charles's habits back in UA vs France—and finally regained enough size advantage to bully someone physically.
....
"Hmph. That's for the ball you stole last time."
But before either could react—
Black-red lightning cut through them.
Barou Shouei.
He intercepted the ball from both players at once.
.....
"So you WERE trying to steal my ball!"
Charles shouted instinctively, offended that his teammate had intercepted him.
But deep down—he was relieved.
Barou's interference kept him from getting crushed by Hiori's perfect read.
Being robbed by a teammate was preferable to being robbed by the opponent.
....
Barou didn't care.
He charged forward like a runaway truck, flattening everything in his path—
Until a familiar silhouette entered his vision.
In an instant—
The raging truck shattered like a wave smashing into a cliff.
Shinichi.
With jet-black lightning in his gaze, he struck perfectly at Barō's feet.
Barou's contorted posture gave him no time to react.
The ball snapped free—and rolled toward the quietly approaching Nessi.
....
"You take it. Show me the new 'magic' you learned."
Shinichi commanded without hesitation.
Ness muttered,
"It's magic, not tricks…"
and began dribbling cautiously.
He didn't need to be cautious.
Bastard München did not foolishly rush in to counter-press.
They withdrew in perfect formation—Noa leading the defensive retreat.
Reason and structure were already seeping into every player's instincts.
But this also exposed something else—
Bastard München lacked true team chemistry.
Barou hadn't even noticed Noa running into open space earlier.
Ness wouldn't have missed that in Ubers.
And Shinichi knew Barou wouldn't have missed it if this were Italy.
So—
"My turn."
------------
If you want to read 20 advance chapters ahead.
Visit my patreon: patreon.com/Kinglass