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The whistle blew to signal the start of the second half, and I sent the ball back to Amagami behind me.
It was more like a signal for the start of the second half than a whistle.
“Amagami! Here I come!”
“Of course you’re going to get caught!”
Next to me, Aota accelerated as if chasing the ball.
High press. As I had anticipated, they closed in on the player with the ball and attempted to steal it.
In contrast, our strategy was…
“Amagami! Return!”
“Yes!”
We connected passes. It was possession soccer.
“Good.”
I received the ball and looked around for a passing lane.
Our team has four experienced players. It’s quite doubtful whether they can keep up with this game plan. …Even though it’s for the sake of winning, I’m sorry.
“Ito!”
Kick the ball slightly forward, not to the position of the player receiving the pass.
That way, you can control the ball while maintaining speed. It’s called a through pass.
“Nice pass!”
As the pass goes through, run. To follow up and to receive the pass.
In this situation, it’s pretty much impossible to play possession soccer with so few experienced players.
The numerical disadvantage is that significant.
So, I have to keep showing my face to mitigate the numerical disadvantage to some extent.
And then.
“Hayami! Go!”
Through the passing play centered around me and Amagami, the goal was within reach.
If I took the shot, it would go in. I was certain of that.
I lifted my foot and chose the trajectory.
The goalkeeper was slightly to the left. If I kicked it to the right…
“I won’t let you!”
It was the moment I took the shooting form.
“Ah! Aota!”
I didn’t ask why he was there. After all, if he understood the importance of numerical superiority, he would do the same.
“Ren! It’s the second round!”
“Haa, I don’t want to face you.”
Whether we lose by running out of time or lose the ball, the condition for victory in this situation.
It was.
“I’ll break through.”
It was a simple answer. If I could shoot, and Aota could stop me, then we’d both win.
I exhaled softly and rolled the ball with the sole of my foot.
It wasn’t a feint, but a ball touch to gauge the opponent’s move.
Flashy moves and techniques were no longer necessary.
“Are you going to let me go?”
“That’s right, Aota.”
And then I realized. Aota’s movement wasn’t a delaying tactic.
It was a definite move to take the ball.
“Damn!”
I couldn’t shake him off. Rather, with my speed slowed down, I had to make up for it with something else or I wouldn’t even have a chance to win.
“Hayami! Someone’s coming up behind you!”
Amagami’s voice from behind.
I can imagine the situation. Probably the defender I just passed is coming back.
“Damn. Then I have no choice but to shoot.”
It’s a gamble, but there’s no other option.
“I won’t let you!”
That’s a quick reaction. As soon as I got into shooting position, Aota stuck out his foot to block the shooting path.
But—.
“You still have that habit, Aota.”
“Huh!?”
The habit of spreading his feet too wide. When he suddenly sticks out his foot and his posture tilts, a space opens up.
My shot slipped through the gap between Aota’s legs.
The inside of his foot. A shot prioritizing control over power, sliding along the ground.
It curved slightly with a hint of spin.
“Damn it! Seriously?!”
Aota turned around, his face a mix of frustration and, oddly enough, a hint of joy.
“Score!”
The goalkeeper couldn’t react. Probably because Aota had just blocked his view.
The ball rolled toward the goal.
But it veered slightly off course.
“Damn it! An irregular bounce!”
It seemed that repeated games had created unevenness in the dirt field, causing the spin to slow down and the ball to veer slightly left of the post.
…Even luck was on Aota’s side.
“That was close. It would have gone in on a grass field…”
Aota wipes the sweat from his forehead, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Damn it!! Why did it go wide!!” “It would have gone in, right? That one!”
It was a close call. There’s no doubt about that. But the result was that it didn’t go in.
“Everyone! Switch gears!”
It’s coming anyway.
“Give me the ball! To me!”
Switching between offense and defense. One of the important elements of soccer.
And one of the things Sota excels at compared to his peers.
“Amagami! We’re retreating!”
“But! If we take it here, we still have a chance!”
“It’s impossible! The risk is too high to attack in this situation!”
What I should do now. That is.
“Aota. For now, I won’t let you take a shot.”
“Continuing man-marking, huh. This game is fun.”
I perfectly matches Aota’s movements, always positioning my body in a straight line with the ball.
“Hasegawa! Get out of the mark!”
“No way, no way. Once Ren is on the mark, I can’t break free. This is fine, give me the ball.”
“Oh, okay.”
With his back to me, Aota received the pass from the goalkeeper and stopped his feet.
“Well, I don’t know, but this sports tournament was amazingly fun. I never thought I’d get to play against you.”
“What? Do you think you’ve already won?”
“No, no, I’m just happy.”
Aota lifted the ball slightly with the tip of his foot.
What are you planning to do? There’s no space for a heel lift.
“—So, I’ve decided to give it my all too.”
“!!”
A sound like a gunshot rang out. A moment later, I realized it was the sound of Aota’s instep striking the center of the ball with force.
The ball was already gone, and dust was rising from the ground.
“Ren. Even after you quit, I’ve been evolving.”
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