The clock read thirty minutes remaining. The score: 1–1.
Isagi stared at the scoreboard, his mind replaying the clash between Ryan and Barou. In that duel, there was nothing he or the others could've done if anything, going up would've only made things worse. Barou had proven himself: he was on a different level compared to the rest of Team X. So now the plan was obvious feed him when space opened. Team Z had the same logic with Ryan.
Both of them possessed the power to turn nothing into something to make 0 become 1. Isagi didn't have that spark yet. How could he leave a mark on this pitch? He didn't want to remain a spectator; he wanted to take part. A storm of ideas spun in his head.
Chigiri, watching Ryan run earlier, felt an echo of his own past, the freedom of sprinting across open grass, one opponent after another left behind, wind roaring in his ears. He missed that feeling: everything else dropped away in those moments. Then Chigiri's face tightened he glanced down at his scarred, battered knee and sighed. He wasn't the prodigy he used to be. Coming here had not been about becoming the world's greatest striker for him it felt like a step toward abandoning his old self.
Team X had the kickoff. From the start they fed Barou; Team Z responded by placing three men on him: Raichi, Kunigami, and Isagi. Raichi and Kunigami stuck close to Barou, while Isagi shadowed behind them to cut off any fanciful trick he might pull and be ready for a tackle. With two hulking defenders glued to him, Barou couldn't surge forward as freely.
Barou was the kind who hoarded the ball he considered himself a king, and kings don't pass. Asking him to pass was like asking him to die. Naturally, the ball got stolen.
Isagi took possession and drove forward alone. Passing midfield, two Team X players rushed at him.
Inside Isagi, a battle: should he try to dribble past both? But two men were stacked in front of him what should a striker do in that situation?
Voices came from behind.
"Isagi pass back!"
"Pass it!"
Raichi and Kunigami called. Isagi froze pass or take them on?
Then something snapped into place: as if he'd been granted a bird's-eye view, he saw every player's position in his head. A strange sensation rose, and his foot moved on its own. He lofted the ball into the penalty area with a precise chip.
"Hey don't shoot aimlessly, Isagi!" someone yelled.
Before the protest landed, a shadow streaked into the box and thumped a volley home Ryan, clean and lethal.
GOAL!!!
Ryan jogged over and slapped Isagi's hand.
"Nice pass, Isagi."
"Ryan how did you get there?" Isagi panted.
"Because I knew you'd feel it the scent of the net," Ryan said.
"The scent of the net?"
(Truth: he just saw Isagi loft and sprinted. Fast feet, fast thinking.)
Team X restarted. Barou had the ball and wanted revenge for that goal.
"So you're not running away, you're coming to me?" he sneered.
"You bastard. This time I'll beat you. A king doesn't run off crying when he's defeated."
"Hey, King where's your crown? Fake king much?" Ryan shot back.
"Say that again and I'll kill you," Barou snarled.
"Oh? So passionate. Fine since you're so eager, I'll take you seriously." Ryan cracked his knuckles and readied himself.