The ball rolled back to the center.
3 2.
Southside United in front.
But no one relaxed.
Not even for a second.
Kazuo stood over the ball again, eyes sharper now.
"…Don't slow down," he muttered.
He tapped it back.
Shin received.
And this time
he didn't play safe.
One touch.
Forward.
Fast.
"…Already?" Hiroto said.
Shin didn't respond.
He didn't need to.
Kazuo was already running.
Explosive.
Again.
Daichi stepped.
Early.
Kazuo cut inside
Daichi stayed.
Shoulder in.
Contact.
Kazuo stumbled
But didn't fall.
He pushed forward anyway.
"…Tch!"
Ren stepped in.
Clean.
Won the ball.
"GO!" Yuma shouted.
Ren didn't hesitate.
Passed.
Hiroto.
Hiroto turned.
Shin closed.
But Hiroto didn't hold.
He played it wide.
Takumi.
Kenta pressed immediately.
Takumi flicked it forward
Sora ran onto it.
"KEEP IT!" Riku shouted.
Sora controlled.
Renji chased.
Sora cut inside
Then passed back.
Reset.
"…They're pushing harder," Takumi said.
"They have to," Hiroto replied.
"They're losing."
The ball moved again.
Riku received.
Turned.
Shin stepped.
Closer than before.
More aggressive.
"…You're changing too," Riku muttered.
He passed quickly.
Yusuke.
Yusuke received.
Daizen stepped.
Same pressure.
But Yusuke didn't rush.
He held.
Just a moment.
Then passed.
Back.
Reset.
"…We don't need to force it," Yusuke said quietly.
Kaito glanced at him.
"…You've changed."
"…Yeah."
Play continued.
Southside United kept possession.
Short passes.
Quick movement.
Dragging IRONCLAD out.
Bit by bit.
Then
opening.
Takumi drifted wide.
Pulled Kenta with him.
Space opened inside.
Riku saw it.
Passed.
Yusuke.
He received.
Turned.
Daizen stepped.
Again.
Yusuke pushed forward.
Daizen moved.
Yusuke cut left
Then stopped.
Dead.
Daizen paused.
Half a second.
Enough.
Yusuke slipped right past him.
"…!"
Inside the box.
Ryo shifted.
Kaito shouted.
"PASS!"
Yusuke looked
Saw him.
Wide.
Open.
But
he delayed.
Just slightly.
Ryo committed.
Too early.
Yusuke shot.
Low.
Far post.
Eiji moved
Saved.
Again.
"…ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"
The ball bounced.
Kaito rushed in.
Shot
Blocked.
Masaru.
Cleared by Jin.
"…Still not enough," Kaito muttered.
Yusuke exhaled.
"…He's reading the shot."
"Yeah," Hiroto said.
"Not the play."
Yusuke glanced at him.
"…What?"
"Think about it," Hiroto said, already moving.
The game didn't stop.
Shin had the ball again.
Passed.
Toma.
Back to Shin.
Then
forward.
Kazuo ran.
Again.
Explosive.
Daichi stepped.
Ren covered.
Kazuo pushed forward.
Shot
Tsubasa dove
Saved.
The ball bounced wide.
Corner.
Kazuo clicked his tongue.
"…Still not enough."
"Same to you," Ren muttered.
Corner came in.
Hayate crossed.
Jin jumped
Header
Blocked by Daichi.
Rebound
Toma shot
Over.
"…Too close," Yuma said.
Southside United reset.
No panic.
No hesitation.
"Build it," Riku said again.
Hiroto received.
Passed.
Takumi.
Back to Hiroto.
Then
forward.
Yusuke.
First touch
clean.
Shin stepped.
Yusuke passed immediately.
Back.
Riku.
"…Faster," Riku said.
They moved.
Quick.
One touch.
Two touch.
No delay.
IRONCLAD shifted.
Trying to keep up.
Then
mistake.
Kenta overstepped.
Just slightly.
Takumi saw it.
Passed.
Sora.
Sora ran onto it.
Unmarked.
For once.
He didn't rush.
He looked up.
Yusuke.
Kaito.
Both in the box.
Sora crossed.
Low.
Driven.
Yusuke moved.
Shot
Blocked.
Daizen.
Again.
"…You don't stop, do you?" Yusuke muttered.
Daizen said nothing.
Just cleared.
Again.
The ball came back.
Hiroto intercepted.
Riku took it.
Instantly.
Kaito ran.
Yusuke ran.
Both options.
Again.
Same moment.
Same choice.
Riku slowed.
Shin closed.
Daizen shifted.
Ryo covered.
Everything tightening.
"…Now."
Riku passed.
To Kaito.
Kaito received.
Shot
Saved.
Eiji.
Again.
"…BRO!"
The rebound bounced.
Yusuke moved.
Didn't think.
Didn't hesitate.
He didn't shoot.
He passed.
Back.
Takumi.
Takumi struck it.
Shot
GOAL.
4 2.
Silence
Then
"LET'S GO!" Yuma shouted.
"YES!" Sora yelled.
Takumi stood still.
"…Finally."
Yusuke nodded slightly.
"…That's it."
Kaito looked at him.
"…You passed again."
"…Yeah."
"…Tch."
But again
no anger.
Just acceptance.
Riku exhaled.
"…We're breaking them."
Kazuo stared at the scoreboard.
4 2.
Then smiled.
"…Good."
Yusuke looked at him.
"…You're not done."
"…Of course not."
The game reset.
Southside United leading.
But the pressure
was still there.
Yusuke stepped back into position.
Breathing steady.
Eyes locked forward.
This wasn't over.
Not even close.
"…Let's finish it."