"Go, go, go!"
Everyone sprang into action, immediately as the ball was passed to Isagi. The U-20 forwards immediately surged forwards, three of them meeting Isagi, Rin, and Nagi in a skirmish right on the centre line. Sae hung back slightly, waiting patiently as Bluelock shoved forwards.
"Rin!" Isagi kicked it across, as one of the U-20 forwards ran towards him. They'd practised their strategy beforehand. For the majority of the offence, he, Rin and Nagi would form a triangle, to keep possession of the ball while slowly pushing upfield.
Rin received it. He didn't take any risks as another one of the forwards ran towards him, passing it on to Nagi. Nagi didn't stop. He tapped the ball back to Isagi, as they ran forwards. The enemy team's forwards were quickly left behind.
It was easy... but Isagi knew better to get overconfident. Ego had studied each of the Japanese forwards, and pretty much laughed at them.
"They're all trash. Compared to you, none of them have developed their weapons. Expect them to be easily beaten, focus your energy onto the enemies that matter. The defenders." Isagi ran ahead of one of the three forwards, passing across the field to Rin. His ball went low and fast, straight to Rin's feet.
Rin received the ball with an extended foot. He threw a dark glare over his shoulder at his team, voice low and serious. "Offensive positions."
Like that, Bluelock kicked into a higher gear. Karasu dropped back, and from the two flanks, Bachira and Chigiri surged into the centre of the field with sudden bursts of speed. They pushed right past the U-20 forwards, swelling the number of Bluelock players in the midfield to six. Half the team faced off against Sae and two of the U-20 midfielders.
Rin touched the ball across to Bachira as the bumblebee sped up down the left side of the field. He fell in beside him, but the support wasn't needed. Bachira tapped the ball once, twice, three times. He turned his back to the enemy midfielder, span, and in a flash, was straight past.
The sound of feet scuffling on the ground was audible even for Rin, and the gasp of surprise from the midfielder had a grim smile forming on his lips. Bachira laughed, speeding up down the field.
The crowd stilled momentarily. They'd been cheering the entire time the game had been going on, but in the brief moment Bachira slipped past the U-20 player, they paused. Hesitated.
They were through. The four U-20 defenders were all that was left, with the midfielders struggling to cope with the huge attack, and the forwards completely useless. Orders were yelled out across the field as the U-20 team readied their defence. Rin, Nagi, Chigiri, Otoya, and Yukimiya flooded into the goal zone, but Bachira only had eyes for one boy.
"I knew it'd be you, Isagi." Bachira lined up the pass, kicking it high over the head of the nearest defender. He touched two fingers to his lips, blowing a teasing kiss as he grinned. Not slowing one bit, he chased after the ball he'd just kicked, ready to get a goal. "Love you, partner."
Before it could reach Isagi, one of the defenders began running. A tall man, with dark, medium length hair. Like he'd already spotted where the ball was going... but that was impossible, right?
Right?
He leapt up. Bachira's eyes widened, catching a glimpse of a number 2 and the name 'Aiku' before the man was high in the air. His body arched, a serpent rearing its head, and with a solid header, he knocked the ball straight out of the field.
It hit the ground, rolled, and went over the touchline.
Aiku landed in a crouch. He exhaled, calmly rising to his feet with one hand clenched. The crowd leapt to their feet, cheers ringing out for the U-20 captain. He stood way higher than Bachira, taunting eyes meeting Bachira's across the entire field. Are you serious?
What kind of player... what kind of defender is he? The referee called a throw-in, waving his flag to the side of the pitch. The eyes to see that, the brains to predict it, the physical ability to pluck that out of the sky... what kind of stats does he have?!
Isagi was thinking something along the same lines. He sighed, walking back to prepare for the throw-in as Chigiri jogged over to take it. Aiku smiled at him. His eyes glittered like a predator's. "Did you know, number 11, that people often liken strikers to robbers, and defenders as cops?"
Glancing over, Isagi shook his head. What is this guy on about? Aiku's grin widened. "On my watch, I ain't letting no robbers steal any goals." The stadium rang out with cheers of his name.
"Go ahead and try, officer." Isagi exhaled, determined. "You're gonna wanna have me on a leash."
He turned, taking his position as Chigiri stepped up to the line with ball in hand. Aiku was really arrogant, wasn't he?
"Don't feel the need to talk to that guy." Rin quietly said to him. The two stood a few feet apart, waiting as Chigiri looked over the field in front of him. "He's overconfident. Just wait. In ninety minutes, those cheers for him will turn into cries of anguish."
Isagi's breath hitched in his throat as Rin met his eyes. Lowering his head, Rin's serious gaze was made even darker by the shadow that fell across his face. "Just. Focus. On. Me."
"Okay."
That was all Isagi could get out.
He's got good eyes. He probably took in all the possible threats, and immediately made the decision to stop the ball getting to me. It's crazy... I've never played a defender on his level before. Isagi's mind was racing, but the casters wouldn't let him think.
"What do you think, Natsuki?! That was a crazy high jump!"
"An incredible clearance by Oliver Aiku! And how cold he was, immediately back on his feet and ready for the next ball! It's giving me goosebumps!"
"Well, he's not the captain of the U-20 team for nothing! They're known for their defence and quick counters... the 'Diamond Generation' of Japanese soccer!" Their voices were loud, praising the captain.
It pissed Isagi off.
When Chigiri tossed the ball back in, he received it. One arm shot out to shove an enemy midfielder backwards, before he spun and attempted to link a pass to Otoya on the other side of the field. Aiku is on this side... let's try the other!
Otoya seemed to be having trouble, though. In the short time that Isagi watched, he attempted to slip past one of the U-20 defenders. The other man was tall, dark-skinned with a shaved, tattooed head, and he didn't look too physically intimidating.
He kept up with Otoya, though. The two moved like ghosts, drifting one way and another, the defender completely neutralising Otoya's weapon of stealth and agility. Neither of them seemed to hold an advantage.
So, Isagi switched it up. He passed the ball across the field, to Yukimiya, and immediately began running forwards.
Yukimiya shot forwards like an arrow fired from a bow. Only one defender stood between him, and a free run on goal - a weird, short man with spiky hair. The man winked cheerfully at him as he approached, the two of them slowing down to stand off against each other. "Cool glasses, bro."
"Thanks, short stuff." Yukimiya replied. Using the sole of his foot, he feinted running left, then dashed to the right of the defender.
"This way, right?" The man followed him, momentarily throwing him off. Nobody had managed to react against him so well. "You're even faster than you looked on the recordings, dude."
The man cut in front, even faster than before. Yukimiya was forced to stop, and in that moment, the defender lunged forwards. He was a blur of speed, Yukimiya overwhelmed as the defender collided with him. With a well-timed kick, he managed to clear the ball away from him, sending it flying backwards.
The crowd cheered even louder, as the man instantly began moving again. Breathing heavily, Yukimiya frowned, and began running alongside the defender towards the ball. Something about that encounter didn't feel right.
Something twisted in Yukimiya's gut. He... beat me? So easily? "Loose ball!"
"Got it."
Nagi ran onto the ball, which was rolling along the ground. There was only one defender near him. His dull eyes took in the nearby area. Plenty of space. It's gonna be tough to get past them... I'll just trap it... and turn around. Then-
"Obstruct!" Midway through the turn, Nagi collided with something incredibly hard, like he'd just backed into a concrete wall. The breath rushed out of him as a deep, strong voice yelled in his ear. Hot breath touched his neck. "Annihilate!"
He couldn't turn, couldn't move to trap. A defender was literally right behind him, pressing up against his back. There was no space for him to do anything. "I won't give you an inch of leeway, super trapper!" The defender was incredibly strong - and Nagi felt that even more as one of his arms circled around his chest.
"What are you, a guard dog?" Nagi huffed, attempting to struggle out of the man's grasp.
"Sure am!" The defender grinned, showing teeth. "And here comes my owner."
"Huh...?" One glance to the side revealed it. Aiku came out of nowhere, barging into the two of them. Nagi couldn't do anything as the ball was ripped from his grasp, and immediately passed on. The grip on him loosened right after, and he was free to move, but the damage had been done. The ball was lost.
The captain smiled viciously. He passed the ball forwards, straight past Isagi, to Sae Itoshi.
"You're dead in the water, Bluelock."
🥕🥕🥕
"It's Sae's ball!" The announcer screamed. A roar rose from the crowd, excitement building in the air as the midfielder began to run forwards with a completely dead look in his eyes.
Chigiri ran for Sae, coming in from the side. They'd planned for this! If Sae ever got his hands on the ball when Bluelock was on the offensive, they would have to try to slow down the counter that was to follow. So when Bachira had pushed up to attack, he'd dropped back, keeping an eye on Sae the entire time.
"You're not getting past me." He shot in front of Sae. I know I'm not going to be able to stop him... but I just need to buy time. Eyes flickering down to Sae's feet, Chigiri tensed.
Despite the challenge, Sae's eyes showed not a flicker of interest. Without missing a step, he leant to one side, using his left foot and launching a powerful pass right past Chigiri's side. It was incredibly fast, perfectly accurate.
What the hell?! He didn't even pause. Chigiri's head twisted, watching the ball as it drew a graceful arc in the air. He's not giving us any time to think!
"Sorry! Aryu, it's yours!" He yelled back. The ball went straight from the centre of the field to the U-20 front line, the trio of players forming a triangle in Bluelock's half of the pitch. It was a stunning pass, over fifty metres long, and he'd done it without a flicker of effort on his face.
One of the enemy forwards received the ball. Aryu dashed in front, attempting a block, but he just passed it on to a second man. "No point in trying to slow us down!"
The second forward received the ball, Karasu immediately getting in his face. "You haven't played defence much, have you?" He dribbled forwards, Karasu tracking his movements as he cut off the man's path. "Don't you know the basics of a counter-attack?"
"Huh?!" In a burst of speed, a blur of white and magenta dashed past them. Karasu's opponent passed the ball on, as Sae Itoshi threaded the gap right between Karasu and Aryu.
"Keep moving forwards!" The forward chirped teasingly.
"Shit!" Karasu twisted, running back as Sae headed for the goal. He was a decent distance away, but definitely within his shooting range. "Niko!"
"On it!" Niko blocked Itoshi Sae from the front, mind whirring. He'll go for a shot, so if I stand here, I'll block it! The crowd's cheering was loud in his ears, his body alight with adrenaline as he faced off against the most dangerous soccer player Japan had ever produced.
He stalled for a second. That's all that was needed, as Chigiri rushed in front behind Sae. The princess used his arm, shouldering Sae off balance, and Niko ran forwards at the same time. It was an easy steal.
Should've been, at least.
Sae's expression didn't change at all. He was ice cold as he gently lifted the ball into the air, even with two enemy players inches away from him. Panic shot through Niko. The ball flew past him, across the field, to one of the U-20 forwards.
He'd seen that man on the recordings... He'd heard about him on the news. Sendou Shuto, the ace striker of the Japanese team. One of the best players in Japan, according to nearly all the news sources he'd read. And he had the ball.
But when he shot, Niko was caught off guard by the speed of the ball. Not because it was fast, but because it was... kind of slow? Sendou was basically on the edge of the goalkeeper's box, a few metres away from goal, but his shot was weak compared to ones Niko had seen in Bluelock.
Is it a trap or something? It's not spinning that much, maybe it's a knuckleball? Is it gonna dip? Apparently, none of that. Gagamaru leapt across the goal, his weapon of agility evident as he punched the ball to the side. The crowd's roar had risen ever louder as Sendou had the ball, but when Gagamaru punched it aside, an audible 'aww' came from the stands. Niko grinned.
"It's not a corner yet! The ball is still in play!" The announcer yelled. "And look who's running for it!" The stands erupted with noise.
Sae was already sprinting for the loose ball. Chigiri followed close behind. The princess was just faster, pulling ahead of Sae, but it didn't help as Sae twisted, gaining control of the ball while simultaneously dodging him.
The U-20 team flooded the box, the three forwards and two midfielders sprinting into the centre. Bluelock's defence returned as well, each of them marking one U-20 player.
Niko was prepared for anything. Sae definitely had the potential to score a goal, even at his extreme angle, so the entire team was on edge. Gagamaru stood at one end of the goal, facing Sae, and Aryu rushed to the back post in case he tried to curve it around the former. Karasu pushed against one of the forwards, and Niko marked Sendou the ace.
Find it... find the most dangerous position. He can't shoot, so he'll pass. Passing back would only give us time to think, so it'll be in the box, where all their players are. Most of them are marked, but out of them, the best shooter is Sendou!
He was ready for the pass even before Sae made it. It was a perfect pass, curving around the mass of players, close to Sendou's feet. All he would need to do was kick it in.
Niko brought his shoulder forwards. In a usual battle of physical ability, he would be at a horrible disadvantage. But he caught sight of Sendou's eyes. The man wasn't looking at him, eyes fixed on the ball that was coming right for them.
He rammed into Sendou's side. The man stumbled slightly, caught off guard by his aggression, and Niko took full advantage of that. He tapped the ball, stopping the momentum. Then took two quick steps forward, and booted it straight for the front line.
Breathing heavily, his mouth opened wide. "Go! Counter!"