We had already scored a goal in the first ten minutes. Shinji passed the ball to Kenji, who tapped the ball while moving forward.
He smirked while looking at me stand before him.
"I won't let you get past me."
"So aggressive from here? Come on." He said as we kept staring at each other.
"He's got it!" Kimishita shouted as Shinji ran forward with the ball.
"What?" I asked, looking at Shinji.
"Hmph! You didn't really think I had only one trick up my sleeve." Kenji said, dashing forward.
"What? So fast." I said as Shinji played a high pass to him.
"Hmph, like you're the only one with a trick up your sleeve." I said.
"What?! How are you here already?" He asked as I headed the ball to Akatsuki.
"Don't forget. I'm fast, too." I said, looking at Kimishita.
"Tch, I won't let you get the ball again." He said as I moved back.
"Wasn't tryna." I said as Kimishita ran forward.
"Same tactics? You just changed the person to score this time around. Do you think we'll let him score?" Kenji asked.
"Hmph." I scoffed, smiling while running to Kimishita's position.
Akatsuki ran forward, dribbling past the guys before him. Kojima Sakura, the big guy in the LB, stood before him, his hands spread out and his legs, ready to run to defence.
"Let's go." Akatsuki said, faking a move to his left.
"That doesn't move me." Sakura said.
"Hm…? Is that so?" Akatsuki asked, smiling mischievously before tapping the ball backwards.
"A back pass?" Sakura asked as I stopped the ball and looked at my side.
Yusuke already created a space to receive a pass, and so did Akaji.
"He's gonna pass!" Hiroto said as they tried closing up the spaces provided.
"Thanks." I said, playing a high corner kick towards the goal post.
"Hmph. Even if someone manages to get the ball, he won't score since there's a lot of power in that shot. My defenders will also be able to steal the ball from whoever goes there. Controlling that kind of ball isn't an easy feat." Coach Yukihira said.
"Hm? Is that so?" Coach Haruya asked.
"I really gave your boy too much credit thinking he's all good. If he makes such a mistake on the field…"
"Hmph! What an easy ball." Hayato, GK said.
"You guys, their RMF is open! He's going for the ball!"
"Even if he gets it, there's no time."
"I don't know about that." Coach Haruya said.
"What?!" Coach Yukihira asked as Kimishita hit the ball into the net.
"H-how?!"
B4 THE M.
"They won't fall for that again, though."
"They won't think he'll score. Kimishita, you've got a really strong foot. No, literally. I'm sure you'd get my ball. Don't wait for it to hit the floor. Just shoot it into the net. Can you do that?" I asked.
"Sure! Who do you think I am? My shots always enter the net."
"Good."
GAME.
"That's 2-0 now." Kimishita said.
"You've done well." I said as he stretched his clenched fists to me.
"Thanks, Cap." He said as we bumped fists.
*Still, they've got more tricks than we know. They'll get serious now.* I thought, walking back to my position.
"Everyone, get into position!" Hiroto shouted.
The first half ended with neither teams scoring anymore goals since the first half was only for 15 minutes.
"Haha, you guys are doing well, but don't be glad yet. You haven't seen anything." The coach said, smiling at us.
*He's right. We can't relax. The game's only getting started.* I thought, throwing my towel aside.
"We've got this. We've gotten two already, and I'm sure they feel down in the dumps." Ryuto said.
*That's not true. They look like they're ready for…*
I gasped, looking at them as they smiled at each other.
I couldn't grasp what they were saying, but from their lips, I could read something like; "It's finally that time."
"Guys!" I called as they looked at me immediately.
"What with you all of a sudden?" Akatsuki asked.
"We're starting with the third formation. Complete defence." I said.
"Why? Let's just take control of the second half, too."
"If we continue going for the attack, we'll lose miserably. We'll still try our best to score, though, but we aren't going for attack first. Let's see how they'll start." I said as they nodded.
"Seems alright."
"Ugh, I'll have to go on defence?" Akatsuki asked.
"We're together." I said.
"Well, it looks like you guys are ready for the second half. Good thinking, Atsushi. But you'll need more than that in later matches." The coach said, smiling at me.
WHISTLE…
"Phew… I'm ready for the worst." I said.
"Come on, they'll be passing back soon." Akatsuki said.
"Yeah…"
*I feel kinda uneasy though.* I thought as Ryuto passed the ball to Akaji.
"Doesn't look like anything's changed." Akatsuki said.
"No, it has. Stay on guard!" I said.
"Okay okay."
*Something's wrong. They look a little too calm.* I thought.
"They've got the ball!" Kimishita shouted as I looked at the guy on the ball.
Matsumoto Akira, he was Yusuke's training partner. A basically unnoticeable player.
*Him getting the ball is understandable.* I thought, running forward.
"Yusuke!" I called as he nodded.
Yusuke stood before him, ready to steal the ball.
"The ball's behind you!" Suzune shouted.
"What?" Yusuke asked, looking back immediately as Akira dashed towards the ball.
"He's got it!" Kimishita shouted.
"Everyone! Fall back!"
Akira passed the ball to Shinji, who smiled, looking at Kimishita.
"You won't get past me!"
"Hmph." He snorted, raising the ball with his instep and using his heel to flick it.
"Haha, I won't fall for that." Kimishita said, looking back immediately, ready to dash forward.
"Stupid." Shinji said, the ball sitting comfortably on his instep.
*He didn't flick it over. Instead, he controlled it, making Kimishita think he'd flick it over his head. And he was really fast too. Now that's sick.* I thought, running towards the post.
He passed the ball to Kenji, who controlled it and moved forward with it.
"Come on, Atsushi. Don't tell me ya scared." He said as I nodded disapprovingly.
"Guys!" I shouted.
"Right away, Cap." Akatsuki said, running towards Kenji.
"Come on, you're so boring." Kenji said, kicking the ball towards the centre of the field.
*The centre? Won't it be hard for them to break through since we're all defending? Wait! I'm the only one in the center!* I thought, looking back immediately.
"Guys! There's no…!" As I was still talking, I felt a strong wind go past my ear.
*Huh? I couldn't react…* I thought, staring at the person who had kicked the ball.
He combed his bangs backwards as sweat rolled down his face.
*He… he scored?* I thought, looking at Koenji, who sat on the floor.
"Now that's a direct shot." Hiroto said.
"Bro, that's 39m away from the post! I thought you were only able to shoot at 26m." Kimishita said.
"That's what I taught you, I could score at 40." He said.
"Damn."
*Wow, their teamwork is really good. I didn't even notice them drawing the others away. And he scored from there? I can't do that.* I thought, drying off the sweat on my face with my shirt.
"Surprised, are you?" Kenji asked.
"I am. Never expected that from him." I answered.
"Well, we're just getting started." He said.
"Haha, can't wait to see what you guys are made of." I said, looking at the others.
*Not enough data. I see…*