6 5.
One goal.
That was all that stood between control and collapse.
The air felt heavier now. Not just from exhaustion, but from pressure. Every player on the field knew it. One mistake here didn't just cost possession. It changed everything.
Yusuke stood near the edge of the center circle, rolling his shoulders once, loosening tension. His legs felt heavier than before, but his mind was clearer.
"…Next one decides it," he muttered.
Kaito, a few steps ahead, didn't turn.
"Then don't let it be them."
The whistle blew.
Play resumed.
Shin received the kickoff and didn't hesitate this time. No slow buildup. No waiting.
He drove forward.
Hiroto stepped to meet him immediately, but Shin shifted the ball just before contact and slipped it wide to Toma. Toma returned it instantly, creating a quick triangle that pulled Hiroto slightly out of position.
That was enough.
Kazuo moved.
Explosive.
Again.
Daichi reacted earlier this time, stepping in before Kazuo could fully accelerate. Their shoulders collided hard, both fighting for balance.
Kazuo smirked.
"…You're learning."
He didn't force it.
Instead, he rolled the ball back to Shin.
Reset.
But not really.
Shin already knew the next move.
He passed left.
Renji.
Yuma stepped up.
"Not happening."
Renji cut inside, but instead of forcing it, he tapped it back to Hayate, who had quietly moved into space behind him.
Sora noticed late.
"Watch the middle!"
Hayate didn't shoot.
He passed.
Right back into Shin's feet.
The entire sequence took less than three seconds.
But Southside United had already shifted out of shape.
Shin looked up.
Kazuo moved again.
Not straight.
Curved.
Between Daichi and Ren.
Perfect timing.
Shin passed.
Through.
Clean.
Kazuo took it in stride.
"…SHIT!" Daichi shouted.
Too late.
Kazuo was already inside the box.
Tsubasa stepped forward.
Closing the angle.
Kazuo slowed.
Just slightly.
That tiny pause froze everything.
Daichi lunged from behind.
Ren closed from the side.
Tsubasa committed forward.
Three angles.
Three threats.
Kazuo chose none of them.
He dragged the ball across his body
slipping between Daichi's reach
then shifted again, cutting just outside Tsubasa's dive.
For a split second
he was alone.
Clear.
Open.
He struck.
Low.
Precise.
GOAL.
6 6.
Silence.
Heavy.
Complete.
No one moved.
The ball rolled into the net and settled like it had always belonged there.
Kazuo didn't celebrate.
He didn't need to.
He just turned and walked back.
"…Told you," he said quietly.
Yusuke stared at the goal.
"…So this is your level."
Kaito clicked his tongue.
"…That was clean."
Riku exhaled slowly.
"…Reset."
No panic.
No shouting.
But this time
it felt different.
The lead was gone.
Again.
Kickoff.
Riku tapped it back.
Hiroto received.
Shin stepped.
Instant pressure.
Hiroto didn't force it.
He passed sideways.
Takumi.
Kenta pressed.
Takumi flicked it back.
Reset.
But something had changed.
The tempo felt unstable again.
Not controlled.
Not chaotic.
Something in between.
Yusuke moved.
But not forward.
Not wide.
He dropped.
Closer to Riku.
Closer to Hiroto.
"…What are you doing?" Kaito asked.
"…Thinking."
"…About what?"
Yusuke didn't answer.
The ball came back to Riku.
He turned
Shin stepped.
Riku held.
For once.
He didn't pass immediately.
He didn't force the play.
He waited.
That alone surprised Shin for half a second.
Riku used it.
He slipped the ball past him to Hiroto.
"…Keep it," Riku said.
Hiroto nodded.
The ball moved again.
Short.
Controlled.
Sora tracked back and received, then passed it forward to Takumi, who had found a small pocket of space near the sideline.
Takumi drove forward a few steps, then stopped.
He looked up.
Nothing.
Every lane was covered.
He passed back.
Again.
Reset.
Yuma shouted from the back.
"Don't rush! We're fine!"
Daichi added, "Stay tight if we lose it!"
Even Tsubasa stepped forward slightly, organizing from behind.
The entire team had slowed.
Just like earlier.
But this time
Ironclad didn't fall for it as easily.
Shin didn't overcommit.
Kazuo didn't chase blindly.
They stayed disciplined.
Waiting.
Watching.
The ball reached Yusuke again.
Daizen stepped.
Close.
Yusuke didn't turn.
Didn't push.
He rolled the ball under his foot and shielded it for a second.
Then passed back.
"…Still not enough," Kaito muttered.
"…Not yet," Yusuke replied.
Another sequence.
Hiroto intercepted a loose pass from Toma.
"Now!"
Riku took it.
Turned.
Space.
Finally.
Kaito ran.
Yusuke ran.
Both options.
Again.
Same moment.
Same pressure.
Riku slowed.
Shin closed.
Daizen shifted.
Everything tightened.
Riku passed.
To Kaito.
Kaito received.
Shot
Saved.
Eiji.
Again.
"…BRO!"
The rebound bounced.
Yusuke moved.
Shot
Blocked.
Daizen.
Again.
The ball cleared.
The chance gone.
Again.
Yusuke exhaled.
"…We're close."
"…Not close enough," Kaito snapped.
The game continued.
Back and forth.
Short bursts.
Quick counters.
Reset.
Repeat.
Fatigue started to show.
Takumi bent slightly, hands on his knees for a second before standing again.
Sora wiped sweat from his face.
Yuma rolled his shoulders.
Even Kazuo's movements were just a fraction slower now.
But his eyes
were still sharp.
Still dangerous.
Another attack from Ironclad.
Shin to Toma.
Back to Shin.
Forward to Kazuo.
Daichi stepped.
This time
he held.
Didn't get beaten.
Kazuo clicked his tongue.
"…Annoying."
He passed wide.
Renji crossed.
Cleared by Ren.
The game slowed again.
A brief pause.
A reset.
Yusuke looked at Riku.
Riku looked back.
For a moment
nothing was said.
But something passed between them.
Something new.
Something different.
Riku stepped closer.
Just slightly.
"…Hey," he said quietly.
Yusuke glanced at him.
"…What?"
Riku kept his eyes forward.
"…Wanna work together for 10 seconds?"
A pause.
Yusuke smirked faintly.
"…Sure."
Then he stepped forward.
"…But only for 10."
The ball rolled back into play.