Whistle!
The whistle blows, signaling the end of the first half. The referee only gives two minutes of added time. This is just enough time for the national youth team to launch one final attack. The Blue Lock team knows this and defends fiercely until the very end, giving the opponent no chance to score.
3-1! This is the score at the end of the first half. Both teams' players, coaches, and substitutes return to their respective benches, waiting for the final showdown in fifteen minutes.
"A tense fifteen minutes. After the national youth team's goal, their momentum was unstoppable. For a moment, I thought the Blue Lock team was going to concede again."
"But no one expected the Blue Lock team to extend their lead in the final moments."
"Player Tendou seized the opportunity and, with a swift counter-attack, left the national youth team in despair."
At the commentator's desk, the host wipes the sweat from his forehead and turns to the guest commentator beside him.
"What are your thoughts on the second half?"
"The national youth team's offense is very strong. With Sae Itoshi, and after the substitutions, they've posed a huge threat to the Blue Lock team."
"In the last ten minutes, their number of shots was more than double what it was in the first thirty minutes."
"As for the Blue Lock team, their defensive problems still exist. Just as we predicted, they are all strikers and don't have any experience as defenders."
"They only conceded one goal in the first half, largely due to player Tendou's outstanding performance. His relentless sweeping and clearing have stifled the national youth team's scoring opportunities time and time again."
"But he's only seventeen years old!"
Yes, Tendou is only seventeen. Stamina is his biggest challenge. It's impossible for him to sweep and clear the backfield like a a sweeper and also handle the team's offensive duties for the entire match.
"That's right. The all-around free-roaming style of play is extremely draining on stamina. This is a big problem for the Blue Lock team."
"But you have to admit, his contributions on both offense and defense are huge. He's the biggest reason for the Blue Lock team's lead in the first half!"
"And his personality is quite 'distinct'."
The two commentators chat passionately, even talking about Tendou's provocation towards the audience. They don't dislike this kind of charismatic player. The top-tier players in the football world are almost always arrogant. This is almost a requirement for being a superstar.
Inside the Blue Lock team's locker room.
"How much longer can you keep playing like this?"
"I can probably play for another twenty minutes without any problems."
Facing Jinpachi Ego's question, Tendou answers honestly. Jinpachi Ego doesn't think it's a shame, because Tendou's performance is already beyond his expectations. To play as an all-around free-roaming player at this age and last for 70 minutes is already incredible. Keep in mind that this is Tendou in his peak state. If he were to ease up, he could easily last for the entire 90 minutes.
"After the second half starts, do we need to slow down the pace?" Jinpachi Ego asks for Tendou's opinion.
Tendou thinks for a moment and shakes his head. "No. Just keep the current pace. In the second half, I'll reduce my forward runs and stay in the back more."
They are in the lead, so the national youth team is the one that needs to be in a hurry. Jinpachi Ego nods, then turns his attention to Chigiri and the others. He instructs them to be the ones to put more pressure on the national youth team's defenders after the second half starts. The goal, of course, is to reduce Tendou's workload and lower his stamina consumption.
Hyoma Chigiri reluctantly nods. Jinpachi Ego's request is essentially his final ultimatum to them. He's ready to make substitutions to keep the defense "fresh." After that, Jinpachi Ego continues to explain the plan for the second half to the rest of the team, then leaves the rest of the time to them.
"The national youth team is watching my every move now. You will have many opportunities in the second half."
Tendou pats Rin Itoshi on the back. The younger Itoshi brother nods. He didn't have much of a chance to shine in the first half. He is still too green when compared to Tendou and Sae Itoshi. The last goal of the first half, in particular, made him realize just how far he is from Tendou and his older brother. After that, Tendou tells Tokimitsu Aoshi, Isagi Yoichi, and the other attacking players to be ready for opportunities. At the same time, he tells the substitutes to be prepared at all times.
At the time he was at Kirisaki Daiichi, Tendou was both the captain and the coach, so he's used to giving out instructions. Fortunately, his authority is strong enough that everyone is willing to listen to him. After he's finished all of this, Tendou finally starts to rest.
When the second half starts, the first thing to focus on isn't defense. The national youth team's fierce attack is inevitable. Trailing by two goals, they have no room for retreat. The period between halftime and the start of the second half is the easiest time to concede a goal.
Fifteen minutes later.
In the player tunnel, the starting eleven from both teams are here again. Unlike at the start of the match, the people with serious expressions are the national youth team's players. Most of them are looking at the No. 7 at the front. With Sae Itoshi, they are still two goals behind. What would happen if they didn't have him? Do they really have a chance in this match? Neither side says a word. A chilling air fills the tunnel.
Whoosh!
The door to the player tunnel opens. Tendou and Sae Itoshi lead their teams out onto the field.
"Sae Itoshi!"
"National youth team, go!"
...
"Tendou, this is my phone number! Please contact me, you have to contact me..."
The fans are crazy. They reach out to the players walking out of the tunnel. Some of the more aggressive ones are throwing pieces of paper with their phone numbers written on them to Tendou, signaling that they need his "divine cannon" to get a rise out of them. Tendou turns around and gives them a wink, and some of the female fans are so flustered that they almost faint.
"You're always doing such boring things," Sae Itoshi can't help but complain. He feels that Tendou is a disgrace to his talent.
"A life that only consists of football is very monotonous and boring," Tendou says with a raised eyebrow. "Don't let your football be as boring as your life."
Boring? Sae Itoshi takes that to heart. He feels that in some ways, Tendou is very similar to some of the star players he knows. Maybe it's this kind of personality that makes Tendou's style of play so uninhibited, full of creativity and inspiration.
He isn't the first person to misunderstand Tendou, and he won't be the last. Tendou is an opportunist, not an artist on the field. But there really isn't much of a difference. His abilities, like his big data analysis and his "six eyes," make Tendou an imaginative artist on the field from the moment he steps onto it.
Sae Itoshi scoffs, "Teach me how to play football after you win. You're not worthy right now."
"I'm already winning, aren't I?" Tendou holds up two fingers, representing their two-goal lead. "Come on, genius. Don't make this match too boring."
...
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