The whistle blew to start the second half, and Fukura came out with renewed intensity. The pace was faster, the tackles harder, and the stakes higher. Shun and Harada were on a collision course, both players intent on proving they were the superior one.
As the match wore on, Harada's confidence began to show cracks. His attempts to break through Fukura's defense started to falter as Shun's awareness grew sharper. Every time Harada moved, Shun seemed to be there first, cutting off his passes, and disrupting his rhythm. The crowd could feel the tension in the air. It was a battle of wits, as much as it was a battle of speed and power.
The Last 20 Minutes: The Climax
It was with 20 minutes left on the clock that the game reached its peak. The score was still 1-0, Harada's team-leading, but Fukura had been relentless. They had been pressing for the equalizer, pushing forward with every ounce of strength they had. Shun was breathing heavily, his legs burning, but his eyes—his eyes were clear.
Then, it happened.
A beautiful pass from Yuto put Shun in a perfect position on the edge of the box. He took a glance at Harada, who was closing in fast. The entire stadium held its breath. Shun was calm, his body steady.
The ball came to him like an old friend. Shun took one touch, and in a flash of brilliance, his foot struck the ball with the kind of precision and power that only someone who had unlocked the flow could muster. The ball rocketed past the goalkeeper, hitting the back of the net with such force that the entire stadium shook.
Goal. 1-1.
The crowd erupted. Shun's teammates swarmed him, but all he could hear was the pounding of his own heart in his ears. I did it. I caught up.
But Harada wasn't done yet. He glared at Shun from across the field, and with a look of pure determination, he charged forward once again. The match was far from over.