The sun was setting over the stadium, casting long shadows on the field as Shun and his teammates finished their cool-down stretches. The air was still thick with the intensity of their last match. Sweat dripped from their brows, muscles ached, and breaths came heavy—but none of them had forgotten the bicycle kick goal that had sealed the match.
As Shun wiped the sweat from his forehead, Coach Saito's voice cut through the air.
"Oi, Shun. Come here."
Shun straightened up and jogged toward the coach, who stood near the sideline with a man wearing a different team's tracksuit.
"This is Coach Tanaka from the Yokohama Academy team."
Shun's eyes sharpened immediately. Yokohama Academy. One of the toughest high school teams in the state tournament.
"They want a practice match," Coach Saito continued. "Tomorrow. 90 minutes. Full intensity."
Shun's gaze met Coach Tanaka's. The older man's expression was unreadable, but his eyes held a challenge.
"I've been hearing a lot about your team," Tanaka said, his voice calm. "Especially about you, Shun Kiryuu. Highest scorer. MVP. But you haven't faced my team yet."
Shun remained silent, but his fists clenched slightly.
This wasn't just a friendly match.
This was a test. A direct challenge.
Coach Saito smirked and clapped a hand on Shun's shoulder. "So? What do you say?"
Shun's lips curled into a smirk.
"Tell them not to regret it."
Matchday – The Battle Begins
The next day, the stadium was buzzing with tension. The Yokohama Academy team arrived, their players moving with sharp discipline. Their jerseys were clean, their eyes focused. They looked like professionals.
Shun and his team stood on the opposite side of the field, their jerseys still damp from morning practice. Some of them were still stretching, while others cracked their knuckles, sizing up their opponents.
"Tch. These guys look serious," Renji muttered.
Rika stood beside Shun, arms crossed. "They didn't come here to mess around."
Shun rolled his shoulders, the weight of the challenge pressing on him. He didn't care who they were. They were just another team to beat.
Kickoff – The First Blow
The whistle blew.
The match exploded to life.
Yokohama immediately took control, their midfielders weaving through the defense with perfect coordination. Their passes were lightning-fast, their movements precise.
Shun's team barely had time to adjust before the first shot was fired.
A powerful strike from outside the box.
Shun's goalkeeper barely reacted in time. He lunged, his fingertips grazing the ball—but it slammed into the net.
0-1.
Silence fell over the field.
Yokohama's players didn't celebrate. They just turned back into position, as if they knew this was going to happen.
Shun's Eyes Burn
Shun's jaw tightened. They scored in the first five minutes.
From the sideline, Coach Tanaka's voice rang out.
"Don't let them breathe."
And just like that—Yokohama's press intensified.
They cut off passing lanes, forced mistakes, and suffocated every attempt to advance the ball.
Shun finally received a pass—but the moment he touched it, two defenders crashed into him.
They weren't just blocking him. They were hunting him.
"They're targeting you," Rika muttered as she ran beside him.
Shun's heartbeat slowed. His mind calculated.
If they were after him… that meant someone else was free.
He feinted to the right, dragging the defenders with him. In the same motion, he sent a perfect through pass to Rika.
"Take it!"
She sprinted past the midfield line, breaking through the defense.
A shot.
**The ball curved beautifully—**but at the last second, Yokohama's keeper deflected it.
The Counterattack
Before anyone could react, Yokohama turned defense into offense.
The ball was launched into midfield. Their striker broke through two defenders and—with a deadly volley—scored their second goal.
0-2.
Shun's team stood frozen.
They were getting crushed.
Coach Saito's voice rang from the sideline. "Wake up! This isn't a warm-up match!"
Shun's fists clenched. This wasn't just a loss waiting to happen.
They were being humiliated.
His teammates' faces were filled with doubt. Some of them had lost confidence already.
Shun exhaled slowly.
He refused to accept this.
He walked to the center circle, waiting for kickoff. His eyes locked onto the goal, his determination burning hotter than ever.
Rika stepped beside him, watching his expression. She knew that look.
"What are you thinking?" she asked.
Shun tilted his head, cracking his neck. "I'm thinking we stop holding back."
And as the referee blew the whistle—
Shun exploded forward.