Soon, everyone from Team Z arrived at their dedicated soccer field.
Almost everyone agreed with Ryōsuke's proposal.
With only two hours until the match, everyone understood that determining positions and tactics was crucial — despite the time and energy it would take. Without this organization, the team would fall apart. Victory was their top priority.
Ryōsuke knew what he had to do: unite the team and take control. Only then could he guarantee their victory.
He stood before the goal, a ball under his foot, his gaze sweeping across the gathered players.
"So, who's first?"
"I'll destroy you!" Jingo stepped forward immediately.
He not only desperately wanted the forward position but also couldn't stand Ryōsuke. This was his chance to defeat him.
If he could beat Ryōsuke, he would gain control of the team — an opportunity he couldn't let slip away.
"Come on then, you attack first — if you can score, you win. You can start whenever you're ready." Ryōsuke smiled while passing him the ball.
Jingo glared at him, growing more irritated by his calm demeanor.
Though he knew Ryōsuke had shown incredible strength during the tag game, Jingo remained confident. In a one-on-one match, the attacker usually had the advantage.
"Get ready to lose!"
Jingo charged forward with the ball while Ryōsuke merely lowered his center of gravity, seemingly leaving openings all around him.
'An opportunity!' Jingo spotted his chance, planning to overwhelm his opponent with speed.
But just as he prepared to sprint, Ryōsuke appeared before him in a flash.
Thunderclap and Flash!
Though this skill wasn't combined with the Breathing Technique and wasn't at full power, it still granted him extraordinary speed.
"So fast!" Jingo was surprised but didn't panic. Instead, he turned sideways, attempting to force his way past using his body.
The closer a defender gets, the easier it becomes for the attacker to break through.
"Hey, there's no need to be so serious in a one-on-one! You'll waste energy and might get hurt!" Wataru called out worriedly from the side.
But Jingo ignored the warning. His pride was too strong to accept anyone above him.
Ryōsuke's earlier speech had particularly irritated him. This was his one chance to defeat him — victory would earn him tremendous prestige within the team.
'Once I defeat Ryōsuke Kira and take the leadership position, I'll make him play defender, no, goalkeeper!' With this thought, Jingo launched forward to make his move.
However, he'd forgotten one crucial detail: Ryōsuke was someone who could stop Rensuke's shots with his chest.
His shoulder collided with Ryōsuke's side with a loud impact.
Jingo's eyes widened in shock — it felt like crashing into solid rock.
"Is that all you've got for physical confrontation?" Ryōsuke's voice remained perfectly calm.
The failed clash threw Jingo off balance, his form completely disrupted as he tumbled to the ground.
In that moment, Ryōsuke smoothly stole the ball, maintaining perfect control.
"Your attack is over." He stated calmly.
"Hey, that was a foul, wasn't it?!" Jingo spun toward the others, demanding judgment.
"No, Kira's move was legal — proper physical contact." Rensuke responded.
"It's my turn to attack now."
Ryōsuke's voice drew Jingo's attention back, and he turned with a scowl.
"Bring it on! Don't think you've won just because you got lucky with one steal. I'll lock you down!" He gritted his teeth, humiliation burning through him.
He had to stop Ryōsuke's shot at any cost, even if it meant fouling. Backing up closer to the goal, he positioned himself to block any advance.
"Is that so? Then I'm attacking now."
The moment the words left his mouth, Ryōsuke gathered strength in his legs, employing the normal state Thunderclap and Flash just as before.
This one-on-one wasn't merely about team leadership — it was a practical test of his First Form.
"So fast!" the onlookers exclaimed in unison.
Even Jingo was shocked, quickly shifting his weight to charge at full speed toward Ryōsuke's potential attack route — it was his only chance to stop the attack.
But in that instant, Ryōsuke suddenly stopped, the ball freezing under his foot as if time stood still. Jingo, his center of gravity unstable, lost his balance and missed the perfect defensive position.
With a light tap, Ryōsuke sent the ball into the goal.
Though the normal state Thunderclap and Flash didn't strain his legs severely, it consumed more energy than regular running and shooting, making its use limited.
While his speed was remarkable, he knew that against skilled players, breaking through wouldn't be so simple — especially in real matches where multiple defenders awaited. He had more work ahead.
Still, at his current level, he could use the technique several times per match, making it a valuable tool for both offense and defense.
"Damn it... Damn it! No, that was just luck! Again! Let's go again!" Jingo shouted, refusing to accept his defeat.
"A loss is a loss." Rensuke rebuked him.
Everyone else on the field stared intently at Ryōsuke.
They finally understood his ability — his top ranking in the team wasn't just for show.
❖❖❖
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