Chapter 14: The Cut-Back Pass
Team X Training Room.
A figure was continuously shooting balls towards the goal.
Every shot was powerful and forceful, the balls flying into the net.
Whoosh.
This person had a sharp, forward-spiking hairstyle and a robust physique no less impressive than Kunigami's.
Sweat dripped onto the turf with his every movement.
He was the highest-ranked player in Team X, ranked 250th, Shoei Barou.
Although it was very late, he still trained as if unaware of fatigue.
Barou muttered to himself as he trained, "To think someone is ranked above me... I'm only 250th? I'll crush them!"
…
Monitoring Room.
Creeak.
Anri Teieri came in from outside and found Ego in the same position as when she left – squatting on his chair, watching the situations in each room on the screens.
While admiring his dedicated work attitude, she couldn't help but advise, "You should rest a bit. It's very late. The selection matches start tomorrow, you'll need to watch for a long time then too."
Ego replied without turning his head, "I rested during the time you were out just now. There are still players training. As their guide, how can I sleep?"
"Who is it? Kira Ryosuke again?" Anri asked curiously, leaning forward. She found it wasn't Kira. "Huh? This guy... I remember him. During check-in, he had that haughty, arrogant aura, like a king coming on vacation."
"Correct." A slight smile played on Ego Jinpachi's lips. "On the pitch, he is a king. At least, he thinks he is."
Anri blinked, not fully understanding, then remembered something. "Oh, right! I recall now. His opponent tomorrow is Team Z."
"Correct. Interesting. Let's see which diamond in the rough is more valuable."
…
The Next Day.
Building 5, Central Pitch.
The Team Z players, wearing blue jerseys, filed out of the locker room led by Kira.
Tap, tap, tap.
The sound of scattered footsteps echoed through the stadium.
"Pitch... I'm back."
Kira at this moment was like a gladiator entering the arena, his eyes filled with fighting spirit. Behind him, the others all had determined looks. Although there were no spectator stands around the pitch, they knew this was the first battle determining the football careers of Team Z's members. No one wanted to lose.
As everyone stood on the pitch preparing to warm up...
Baam!
The door of the opposite locker room swung open, and a group of players in white jerseys walked towards them.
"Team X is here," Kira looked over and immediately noticed Shoei Barou walking at the front of the opposing team. He couldn't help but mutter internally, "So tall, similar build to Kunigami."
[Detected attribute that can be absorbed!]
[Dribbling +15 (Continuous decay)]
[Strength +15 (Continuous decay)]
[Speed +15 (Continuous decay)]
[Shooting +15 (Continuous decay)]
[Duration: 10 minutes]
[Retention Time: 24 hours]
[Absorb?]
"Absorb."
[Absorption successful. Obtained Shoei Barou Attribute Trial Card x1]
[Dribbling +15 (Continuous decay)]
[Strength +15 (Continuous decay)]
[Speed +15 (Continuous decay)]
[Shooting +15 (Continuous decay)]
[Duration: 10 minutes]
[Retention Time: 24 hours]
[Silently chant 'Use Barou Trial Card' to activate!]
Kira was satisfied. This morning I absorbed the attribute cards from Kunigami, Isagi, and Bachira, purposely saving one slot for Barou to absorb when I met him. He didn't disappoint. This guy is currently a level above everyone else in Team Z.
"Hiss~ Namu-san! That tall number 10 on the other team has such a strong presence!" Igaguri exclaimed.
Isagi also noticed this guy. He looks very strong just by his appearance.
Kunigami glanced sideways, his gaze also drawn involuntarily. A power-type player like me? he guessed internally.
Team Z now realized this guy was the biggest obstacle to winning today.
Beep beep!
"The match between Team X and Team Z will begin in ten minutes."
"The lower-ranked team will kick off first."
"All fouls in this match will be adjudicated by VAR. Please prepare, both teams. The match will begin shortly."
The loudspeakers on both sides of the central pitch announced.
"Everyone, play as we discussed yesterday. Let's warm up first," Kira said, his face serious upon hearing the announcement, fulfilling his self-appointed captain's role by informing everyone.
"Kira, are you nervous?" Bachira asked Kira while stretching his legs.
Kira nodded, but then smiled and said, "Let's just enjoy the match."
Ten minutes later. Both teams were in position.
Beeeep!
"Match begin!"
Team Z deployed according to the positions discussed yesterday, everyone standing in their assigned spots. In contrast, the opposing team seemed to be in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Barou as the lone striker. However, the players stood quite loosely, not strictly adhering to the formation, as if this setup was a last-minute, reluctant decision.
Kira placed his foot on the ball and observed the opponent's positioning. Let's score one before they get into the game properly, Kira thought.
He then passed the ball back to Isagi behind him and immediately turned to make a forward run.
After receiving the ball, Isagi didn't hesitate for a moment, immediately dribbling forward to break through. He also understood the reasoning behind Kira placing him in central midfield; if his passing could link up the team's attacks, the probability of winning this match would increase greatly.
However, the opponents weren't playing in a conventional way.
The moment Isagi received the ball, three opposing players rushed at him like madmen.
Three-man press? No, they just want the ball? What's going on?
Isagi had no time to think. The instant the opponent closed in, he made a short diagonal pass forward. The ball flew accurately to the feet of Kira, who had made a forward run and was unmarked.
"Beautiful, Isagi!" Kira immediately dribbled at speed.
"What the hell? Stop him!"
"These guys aren't even trying to play properly!"
The opposing defenders panicked instantly, directing the two defensive midfielders to quickly move up and stop the accelerating Kira.
Facing the two players closing him down, Kira quickly looked left. Kunigami had also made a run down the left wing. A long pass could definitely reach him. He prepared to pass.
"Watch the left! Block this pass!"
"Wrong! It's going right!"
Both opposing defensive midfielders were fooled by Kira's gaze, stretching their right feet to intercept the pass. Unexpectedly, the ball didn't go left. Kira paused slightly, then used his left foot to push the ball forward to the right. The ball flew towards an empty patch of grass.
The two opposing midfielders looked confused. There's no one there. Why pass there?
However, one opposing defender had already sensed something was wrong, cursing these two idiots internally.
It turned out, on the right wing, a figure was sprinting at high speed – it was Bachira, who had been lurking on the right wing since kick-off, waiting for an opportunity. Seeing both opposing players drawn to Kira, Bachira had started his acceleration early, sprinting into the gap in the opponent's defense. An instinctive voice told him to run there.
The defender who noticed something wrong also rushed forward to challenge for the ball. But Bachira had started his run earlier, reaching the ball first. Then, taking advantage of the defender's unstable footing as he charged in, Bachira executed a beautiful turn, agile as a spirit dancing on the wing.
He beat his man!
"Beautiful, Bachira!"
"Great turn!"
Teammates following up also saw Bachira's skillful move, cheering as they advanced.
But it wasn't over. Two other players, seeing Bachira dribbling forward, immediately converged to surround him. Bachira couldn't immediately cut inside towards the penalty area and could only keep his head down and continue dribbling forward.
"Team X's penalty area isn't so easy to enter!" The two opposing defenders ran alongside Bachira, closing in, looking like they would force him out of bounds.
Bachira, however, stuck out his tongue. "Fell for it, you two!"
While moving, he suddenly flicked the ball backwards with his heel.
A cut-back pass!
Just before reaching the right-hand byline, Bachira made a heel pass back into the center of the penalty area, towards the spot where there was no defender.
"Bachira, great pass!"
"Dammit! Everyone was drawn to that number 8!"
"How is there such a big gap here?!"
Players from both teams shouted out.
----
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