Kaneko's celebration dies down, and the team retreats to their half.
One of the scouts watches Kaneko with a thoughtful look. A colleague notices.
"Something on your mind?"
"No… I'm just trying to remember where I've seen that number 9 before."
After a moment, it clicks.
"Ah! That's right. Four years ago, in middle school—he won the national tournament two years straight. And he scored in almost every match."
The nearby scouts turn toward Kaneko, surprised.
"If that's true… why didn't Shūdan-teki take a chance on him earlier?" one asks, confused.
As Kaneko takes his position, he locks eyes with Riccardo.
Even if it won't be easy… I'll win my starting spot back, he thinks, staring him down.
Riccardo reads the message clearly. With a confident smile, he answers in silence: he's not giving up his place.
Before play resumes, Coach Ishii makes three substitutions.
Number 8, Ono, comes off for number 30, Yasuda.Number 2, Ueno, is replaced by number 12, Takeda.Number 11, Shimizu, exits for number 22, Hamada.
Yasuda steps beside Nishimura.
"We're going back to a three-man midfield. You stay behind Aliberti and Kaneko."
"Got it."
"Control the match! Keep the line low!" Coach Suzuki shouts from the sideline.
Coach Yamamoto hears it and watches Shūdan-teki adjust.
They've changed formation again… clearly shifting defensive.
He looks at Ito and signals him forward.
Time ticks away. Shūdan-teki hold their lead, fighting for every ball.
It's the 88th minute.
Noguchi is out of breath as Maebashi Ikuei push forward, desperate for space.
A cross flies into the box. Noguchi leaps over Ishikawa and heads it clear.
How much time is left? he wonders, watching Riccardo battle for possession on the opposite half.
Even if it's just a friendly, a win here could solidify our chemistry… he thinks—right as Aogaki glides forward, dribbling past several players.
As captain… I'll protect this lead.
Suddenly, Aogaki fires a low cross to Ishikawa, who receives it with his back to goal, catching Noguchi off guard.
Ishikawa tries to turn, but Noguchi rushes in, aggressive.
He can't be allowed to turn!
Noguchi lunges. He hits the ball—but he hits Ishikawa's shin first, sending him to the ground in pain.
The referee whistles sharply and points to the penalty spot.
Noguchi freezes, stunned by the reckless mistake.
He looks up at the scoreboard: 90 minutes.
His teammates try arguing, but the call stands.
Ishikawa sets the ball on the spot. Andou shifts on the line, bouncing lightly.
The referee checks the players, then his watch.
"Once the penalty is taken, that's it!" he announces.
He blows his whistle.
Ishikawa charges and strikes hard with his right foot, sending it straight down the middle. Andou dives left.
The equalizer hits the net—and the referee blows for full time immediately.
Maebashi Ikuei 3 | 3 Shūdan-teki.
Maebashi Ikuei barely celebrate.
Students and spectators applaud both sides.
Noguchi stands frozen, crushed by his mistake. Kaneko notices from a distance.
Both teams complete the usual post-match rituals—thanking fans, greeting officials, showing respect—before heading to the locker rooms.
Inside Shūdan-teki's locker room, silence hangs… until Coach Ishii walks in and, to everyone's surprise, begins to clap.
"You played a great match today," he says, then adds on his way out, "Show me that same spirit in the next ones."
Coach Suzuki follows him out."We'll wait for you by the bus," he says before closing the door.
As silence returns, Noguchi suddenly stands and bows deeply.
"I'm sorry!" he blurts, drawing every gaze. "I lost my composure and made a stupid foul. Because of me… because of your captain… we couldn't win!"
"Lift your head," Kaneko snaps, clearly irritated. "It was just a friendly."
Noguchi looks up at him.
"I know… but winning would've given everyone a real boost," he murmurs, frustrated.
"So what?" Shimizu cuts in. "This team hasn't reached nationals in ten years. And we just drew 3–3 with Maebashi Ikuei, last year's national champions. If that's not a good result, I don't know what is."
The mood brightens. Noguchi slowly begins to believe it too.
"Thank you…" he sighs, looking up with a faint, ironic smile. "Look at that—a captain getting lifted by his own teammates."
Then he faces them.
"From now on, I'm going to be the best captain the Shūdan-teki Men's Soccer Club has ever had!"
His words spark joy across the room.
"And I want everyone to give everything, just like today!"
"Yes!" the team shouts in unison.
The locker room erupts with energy.
Meanwhile, Maebashi Ikuei's locker room is quiet.
"Shūdan-teki is really strong this year," Ito says while pulling off his shirt.
"Yeah," Watanabe answers beside him.
Ito grins. "Next time, I want to beat them. With everything we've got."
Kobayashi laughs. "Same here!"
One by one, the players agree—they want a rematch, and this time they want to win.
"There's only one way to face them again," Takahashi says, stepping to the center. "We qualify for nationals. And that's exactly what we'll do!"
Later, the Shūdan-teki players board the bus. Everyone is asleep.
Coach Suzuki watches them with a gentle smile.
"They really played well today," he says, sitting next to Coach Ishii. "What do you think?"
"They did. Especially considering they've only had a week to absorb everything."
"How likely are we to reach the nationals?" Suzuki asks, genuinely curious.
"This team has potential. It's my job to bring it out. And as one of my old coaches used to say—let's show them what real soccer looks like."
Suzuki chuckles softly.
"I'm sure that coach would agree."