When it was clear nothing was going to interfere with the game, Y/N turned back to the rest of the field.
Team Z looked down and out, horribly despondent. They were stunned, only staring blankly as Team W worked their way up the field.
The enemy advanced, manic grins displayed on every single one of their faces as they delighted in Team Z's pain, delighted in the idea that they would win. Y/N clenched his fists, trying his best to not care as they slowly moved forwards.
They had all the time in the world, playing with twelve players.
Team Z gradually began to come back to their senses, attempting a defence that was terribly fractured. Their positions had to change due to the lack of their 11th player, and it was nearly impossible to defend against twelve players all working in unison.
In a rush of movement, they bombarded Team Z with attacks. Even as their forwards tried to move into defence, more and more Team W members piled onto the attack.
With the extra manpower, they just passed the ball around, from person to person as Team Z scrambled to defend. Naruhaya slipped and fell as the two Wanima brothers styled on him. Gagamaru attempted a steal, but Kuon was there to pick the loose ball up and continue the attack.
It didn't take long for them to score the goal, the shorter Wanima brother slamming the ball into the back of the net.
🥕🥕🥕
Bachira started the next kick-off. He took his time, passing slowly to Isagi.
Y/N had completely abandoned his defensive position, walking slowly up the wing as he watched the field. Him trying to hold back was starting to be annoying...
I'm giving them a chance to play for themselves, he reminded himself. If I just go all out, then both our team and the enemy team's talents will be wasted.
Isagi took the ball forwards. Two Team W members pushed him from either side, legs tangling as they tried to get the ball. He passed it out, grunting with effort. The ball came flying at Y/N.
Instinctively, he took it down cleanly using his chest, and started slowly moving forwards. Both of the Wanima brothers were on him like starving dogs, following right at his heels as they attempted to get the ball.
"It's no use, little Y/N." One of them cackled from behind him. "Kuon told us literally everything about your team. Including the fact that you're an immature, lazy player with no talent at all."
"You want to bet?" Without hesitation, Y/N stopped the ball. He'd been running forwards at a steady speed, forcing the two brothers to tag behind him. Everyone watched with shock as Y/N's momentum completely stopped, the boy stopping the ball calmly as both of the Wanima twins went flying past him on either side.
He grinned, before passing the ball back to Isagi. The short boy didn't last for more than a few seconds as five Team W players surrounded him, stealing the ball away.
This time, Kuon took a shot on goal. Iemon lunged across, and with a flick of his wrist, barely managed to send the ball off course.
"Nice, Iemon!"
Isagi was on the loose ball in an instant, desperately trying to keep playing. "I'm not losing this!"
"I'll defend this goal even if it kills me!" Iemon roared. Y/N secretly thought that it was a bit cringe, but he supposed they were fighting for their soccer careers. "If we get one, we tie it up 4-4! We can have a chance!"
The ball bounced over to Chigiri, who slowly went after it. Breathing slowly, Y/N paused as the Wanima twins went straight after Chigiri, laughing the entire time.
"Run, Chigiri!" He yelled. "You're the best striker in the world, aren't you?"
The pink-haired boy just sighed with annoyance. He didn't run. But Y/N noticed his fists clenching with frustration at his sides, and his eyes slowly growing more and more angry at the idea he might lose his soccer career.
As much as Chigiri didn't want to admit he wanted to play soccer, Y/N could see it clear as day. So he kept shouting, encouraging Chigiri to chase after the ball.
Isagi was trying so incredibly hard. He fought, running like crazy, sprinting from place to place. In fact, all of Team Z was trying their hardest in order to just stay alive.
Nobody had time to think about Chigiri, and nobody wanted to except for Y/N, who padded back to defence.
"Chigiri, are you really going to lose here?" He questioned, blinking in an act of innocence.
"What does that mean?"
"You're scared to run." Y/N stated, repeating what Chigiri had told him in the first half of the game. "So you're gonna let your dreams die out, and live the rest of your life not running again?"
"If I do run, I could never run again. It might tear."
Y/N coolly met Chigiri's eyes with his own. "To me, never playing soccer again is a worse fate than never being able to walk again." In the middle of the match, with Team Z already down two players, he was talking to Chigiri only. "I would risk it. Because soccer's worth risking my life, no, soccer is my life."
He pointed out over the field.
Isagi was running like a demon, stringing passes together, tackling, dribbling, slicing through Team W's lines. The only ones who could stop him were the Wanima brothers, and even they took a bit of effort. His play bordered on insanity, as he struggled desperately against Team W's crushing grip on the game.
Team Z was fighting with him. Raichi was constantly moving, marking and fighting the Team W midfielders three against one. Bachira's dribbling was manic, full of energy. Kunigami was calling orders left and right.
"This is soccer. Intense soccer, the kind that you've always wanted to play. This is the fight to become the best striker in the world, and you're sitting it out."
Y/N turned away from Chigiri. If he doesn't join soon enough, then maybe he just never had an ego in the first place. "Ask yourself - what the hell are you doing, not fighting?"
The timer hit zero, and a sharp whistle blew. The automated voice rang out from above. "Three minutes, additional time."
"Get the ball!" Y/N was startled by the ball flying past him, towards Chigiri's feet. Isagi came steaming after it, his teeth gritted as his eyes burnt with passion.
When Chigiri didn't accept the ball, Isagi roughly barged into him. He took the ball, running back up the field with a rough cry of desperation. Only a few minutes left, and all of their soccer careers could be over.
Y/N watched as Isagi barely managed to avoid being tackled.
Wait... A rush of movement on the left side of the field. It was impressive speed. Nothing compared to Julian though... Or me, I guess. But it was impressive nonetheless, and completely blew past everyone on the wing.
Isagi must've spotted it too, because he launched the ball across the field. It wasn't an accurate, nor good pass, but it was in space where the ball wouldn't be stolen for a few seconds.
"Idiot!" One of the brothers said. "We'll clear it, and this game will be as good as over! Get the ball, Kuon!"
Kuon replied, grinning with the same madness as the Wanima brothers. "Alright!" He ran over to near the ball, about to boot it off the field. "And that's victory-"
"Move."
Chigiri exploded between Kuon and another Team W member, speeding past them easily to pick up the ball. He knocked it forwards, dribbling at a fast pace with huge strides.
The entire field exploded with noise.
"Is he for real?!"
"What's with that crazy speed?!"
"Am I dreaming?"
"Go, Chigiri!"
"We can draw! Just one more!"
The taller Wanima brother attempted to tackle him, but Chigiri kicked the ball far forwards. His speed increased even more than when he was dribbling, and he leapt over the extended leg.
The shorter brother was next, grabbing onto Chigiri's shoulder with desperation as he tried to pull the pink-haired boy away from his path. The keeper came out in unison, both players trying to stop the Chigiri train.
Y/N grinned, as Chigiri's speed increased yet again. He shrugged off the brother like it was nothing, powering towards the ball. The keeper went in for a low block. Chigiri raised a foot, and the ball glanced off of it.
It wasn't a strong kick by any means. Chigiri barely managed to scrape the ball, mid jump over Team W's goalkeeper. But it did go in, straight into the middle of the goal, tying up the score 4-4 as the whistle blew.
"Hmmm..." Nobody could hear Y/N as he hummed with curiosity. "There are some good talents here, aren't there?"