(Match 4: Rika's Team vs. A Team with a National-Level Player)
š„ Pre-Match: Facing a National-Level Monster
Rika stretched her arms, her breath steady despite the storm of nerves swirling in her chest. She glanced at her teammates, their faces filled with determination but also unease.
Across the field stood their opponentsāHimura Academy.
A powerhouse.
But the real problem wasn't the team. It was one player.
Tachibana Reo.
A Japan U-17 national player.
Rika clenched her fists. This wasn't just another game. It was a testāa battle to prove she could stand on the same level.
āļø First Half: A One-Sided Destruction
From the first whistle, Himura Academy dominated.
The moment Rika touched the ball, Reo was on her.
His incredible speed cut off her passing options. His tight marking shut down her dribbling. And when she tried to passā
Intercepted. Again and again.
Within fifteen minutes, her team was down 0-2.
Her teammates looked at her, waiting for a spark. But every time she tried to create somethingāReo crushed her.
"Is this all you've got?" Reo smirked after stealing another pass. "I expected more from you."
Rika gritted her teeth. She was falling apart.
š„ Second Half: Awakening the Storm
At halftime, Rika stood in the locker room, staring at her reflection in the mirror.
Sweat dripped from her forehead. Her heart pounded.
She had to do something.
She closed her eyes.
And then, she remembered.
Shun.
How he never stopped. How he always adapted. How he found a way to win.
Her eyes snapped open.
She wasn't just a playmaker. She could be a fighter too.
ā” The Second Half Begins: A New Rika
From the restart, Rika changed.
She no longer waited for openingsāshe created them.
Instead of forcing passes, she baited Reo ināand then outpaced him with quick one-twos.
Instead of backing away from tackles, she drove straight through them.
And thenāthe breakthrough.
70th minute.
Rika dribbled past two defenders, cut inside, and took a shot from outside the box.
The ball curvedāa perfect strike.
GOAL!
The score was 1-2.
š„ The Final Moments: Pushing Beyond Limits
Reo intensified his defense. But now, Rika wasn't scared.
She kept attacking. Faster. Sharper. More precise.
In the 90th minute, Rika received the ball one last time.
Reo rushed at her.
But this timeāshe feinted left, spun right, and broke past him.
With a final low cross, she sent the ball into the boxā
And her teammate scored!
2-2!
The referee blew the final whistle.
It was a drawābut to Rika, it was a victory.
Because todayāshe had stepped onto a new level.
And she wasn't stopping now.