Renji Kurogami stood still, his breath calm — but his mind was anything but.
He hadn't even touched the ball in the last play.
Mori had stolen the spotlight again — and Aikawa wasn't far behind.
But Renji wasn't going to stay in the shadows.
He was going to take this game back.
The whistle blew, and Team 2 surged forward.
Shun Takagi danced through the midfield with blistering speed — but Aikawa wasn't about to let him pass so easily.
"Not so fast."
Aikawa cut in with a clean, standing tackle, swiping the ball from Takagi's feet.
But Aikawa didn't stop there. He was already calculating — already devouring.
He flicked the ball toward Kenta Shimizu.
Renji's eyes narrowed. He knew exactly what Aikawa was planning.
"He's going to use Shimizu as a stepping stone to score."
But then —
"Tch—!"
Reiji Sakamoto came barreling in from the side.
"I'm taking that!"
He lunged for the ball — and his tackle sent it spinning into the air.
The ball soared high, hanging for a breathless second before starting its descent.
It was heading right for Team 2's penalty area.
And in that instant — the entire field exploded.
Mori dashed forward.
Aikawa surged in from the left.
Kaede Arata charged in from the right.
But Renji didn't wait.
He wouldn't lose again.
He activated Phantom Waltz.
His full speed.
He weaved through the chaos like a shadow, his vision locking onto the falling ball.
"I have to reach it first."
He could already feel them closing in behind him.
But Renji wouldn't stop.
This time — he would take the shot.
The ball dropped lower —
The goal was in sight —
And Renji prepared to strike.
To be continued…