With the game tied, it was all or nothing. The final minutes of the match became a blur of intensity—neither team was willing to back down. Harada, desperate to prove he was the better player, launched one final assault on Fukura's defense. He got past one, then another defender, but just as he was about to take the shot, Shun was there, cutting across the field like a flash of lightning.
It was then that something inside Shun clicked. He saw the play unfold in slow motion, his instincts taking over. He intercepted the ball and sprinted down the field—faster than he had ever run before. His teammates screamed, urging him forward, but he was focused. He could see Harada coming for him, but he wasn't afraid. Not anymore.
And then—he unlocked his Flow. In the final moments of the match, he reached a level of play that seemed almost impossible, his body moving with fluid precision. The moment Harada stepped forward to block, Shun executed a perfect bicycle kick from mid-field. The ball soared through the air, past defenders, past the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper, and into the top corner of the net.
Goal. 2-1. Fukura wins.
Post-Match: Rika's Realization
As the final whistle blew, sealing Fukura's victory, Shun collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily. The crowd erupted in applause, chanting his name. But Shun barely heard them. All he could focus on was the feeling inside him—he had just scored a goal that would define his future.
As his teammates rushed to celebrate, Shun's eyes wandered to the stands. There, among the cheering crowd, was Rika. She was staring at him—her eyes wide, her lips parted in astonishment. There was something in the way she looked at him that made his heart skip a beat.
Was that... pride? Admiration? Or something more?
For a moment, it felt like time had stopped. Shun couldn't look away. Rika's expression softened, and for a brief moment, they locked eyes.