25th March 2025
The ball is on kickoff, and they're both panting and sweating like crazy.
"There is no way you can pull off my gyro shot..." Ren says,
"Oh... I'll try!"
Itoshi starts off fast dashing at Ren.
'Fast this time?'
Ren sticks out his foot to try and get the ball...
Itoshi rainbow flicks it over his head.
'Dammit!'
Itoshi runs, but is slower than before.
'He doesn't have much stamina! I can keep up! Legs move!'
Ren pushes his aching legs to their limit,
'Get to the goal!'
He manages to get there in time...
'This will be the last save I'll be able to make... My legs are in too much pain...'
Itoshi runs up, ball at his feet.
He winds up his legs, moving in the same arc ren did just minutes prior... But faster.
'He's trying a super gyro!?'
"ITOSHI GYRO!"
He rockets the ball at the net.
Ren jumps up, and it looks like he won't make it.
'Please!!'
...
The ball curves, and Ren headers it up and it hits the cross-bar.
It's falling.
'LEGS MOVE!'
He puts all his effort into trying to make his searing legs move...
They miss...
The ball lands at Itoshi's feet.
"I'll score your gyro shot then..." he says.
He slams his foot into the ball.
"Sloppy work Itoshi!"
The ball curves and hits the crossbar again.
Itoshi stumbles back in disbelief.
'Clear this! Legs!'
Ren manages to hit the ball with the tip of his foot, and it goes out of play.
"FUCK!" Itoshi screams.
"SAKAMOTO! YOU CAN BEAT THIS PHONY!" Coach Suganuma shouts from the sidelines.
Itoshi looks at the coach, "PHONY!? HE'S BETTER THAN YOU COULD EVER BE YOU WASHED UP OLD CUNT!" Itoshi screams.
Coach Suganuma is fuming with anger, he's ready to stop the match.
"You better not stop this match coach!" Nobu shouts, "Your players are about to evolve into the best high-schoolers in the history of Japan!"
Because it's a 1v1, Itoshi has a penalty.
'I can tell he's pissed about his gyro-shots not working, and I'm willing to bet he's going to try it again...
But it's such close range, there's now way he's going to hit the crossbar...
How will I read the gyro ball!?
Let me recall my knowledge on the technique...
Whichever side he puts spin onto is the side it's more likely to angle to, it's not guaranteed, but more likely.
So I see which direction he puts spin on, and go for a regular save, but angle myself slightly to the left or right, depending on which side he put the spin on.
This is my best chance.'
Itoshi winds up.
'He's going to have spin on the right!'
Ren dives to the right, but stares in horror as Itoshi didn't shoot a Gyro Ball...
He shot a Panenka... A shot straight down the middle...
'I can reach this!'
Ren's legs sear with pain but he blocks it with the tip of his foot, it bounces off the crossbar.
The ball lands at Itoshi's feet.
'Shit! I can't get up!'
Itoshi's face lights up, as he goes to kick the ball.
"ITOSHI GYRO!!!!"
He shoots the gyro shot...
He misses...
Itoshi falls to his knees, "W-why... Why can't I adapt to the gyro shot... I've always been able to learn instantly from seeing techniques... Why..."
"Because the Gyro Shot is one of immense precision... Not even a 99% accurate copy is enough to score one..." Ren says standing up "Copies will never keep up with the real thing..."