40 A Jolt of Excitement (2)

With Karasu in the center circle, he scanned the field. Glancing towards Nagi on the right and Reo on the left, both up against the halfway line. Fortunately, Otoya guarded Nagi, with Sho doing the same for Reo.

"Hey, Yukimiya, switch with me," said Sho, walking towards the back of the field.

"A- Alright," said Yukimiya, trading spots with Sho. 'I guess he wants to defend?' he thought.

"You sure?" asked Karasu quietly, waiting for Sho to take his position a few feet behind him.

Sho walked behind him and raised a brow, "Of course, just make sure to pass me the ball as soon as you kick it off."

"Alright. Let's see what you can do," said Karasu with a smirking scoff, " but if you don't produce any results, don't be too surprised when I call for a pass."

"You won't have to," smiled Sho.

Restart!!

"Go Sho," said Karasu quietly, rolling the ball behind him.

Immediately as the spikes of his cleats touched the ball, the imaginary black strings loosened their grasps from both Nagi and Otoya's legs and returned back to his eyes. A slight headache followed as the information for the new weapons began to reveal itself. Everyone on the opposing team began to rush for Sho as he stood motionless, still processing the details.

Thinking the imaginary black strings finished, they unexpectedly began to profusely roll down his cheeks. Similar to when a woman cries with black mascara on.

"How unfortunate," cried Sho, guessing what was about to happen as the never-ending string kept on falling from his cheeks onto his dirt-covered jersey and onto the grass-covered field below. Creating an ever-growing pool of darkness.

"Sho, you got to do something about 'em!" shouted Karasu, approaching Sho's still figure.

'This scene... This scene is why I love football.' Thought Sho, admiring the looks on everyone's face as they charged forward.

This impending sense of dread was near as everyone stepped into Sho's imaginary pool of darkness, whether they wanted to or not. Every step they took was recorded by Sho. So, with their newfound abilities in his arsenal, he decided to try one out — or so he thought.

"Just pass i-," said Yukimiya, turning his back to Sho.

"There's no need! Just let me see how far you can go with that half-assed weapon. A mere imitation is nothing to be proud of." interrupted Ryuu, meeting face to face with Sho.

Sho closed his eyes and whispered, "This is no imitation, for I have awoken," and the next moment, he raised the palm of his left hand to Ryuu's eyes, blocking his field of vision.

He unknowingly trembled. He began to take a step back but stopped. With forgotten confidence, he pushed Sho's arm away, freeing his eyesight. But just as he did that, Sho used his 'Stealthy Steps' and ran behind him. A shock struck his thigh, triggering Ryuu to unconsciously throw his heel back, blocking his route.

Anticipating this, Sho reopened his eyes and kicked the ball up, jumping over his outstretched leg. Another shock struck Ryuu's other leg, jolting his forward, chasing after Sho.

"That dirty play won't work twice!" said Ryuu loudly, brushing the sweat off his face and continuing his chase, "I'll give it to you. It was pretty smart, but not enough to keep me off you."

"Whoa, what's up with these guys?" said Reo, from across the field, watching both Sho and Ryuu cross the midfield line.

"Pass, Sho. Here!" said Yukimiya, rushing past the corner of the penalty area.

'Don't be so hasty, Yukimiya.' thought Sho, reading both Isagi and Reo's movements.

"Fine! Yukimiya, get it!" said Sho deceivingly, throwing his leg back.

"He's passing it to the opposite flank! Get Yukimiya!" said Ryuu, hearing his callout.

Sho could only grin, propelling his leg forward, launching the ball into the sky.

Confused by how powerful the kick was, Ryuu watched as the ball kept gaining more speed, traveling far above all of their heads.

"It's not a pass! It's a shot!" said Isagi, caught in Sho's trap. Reo couldn't believe what he was hearing until he looked directly up at the ball and said grimly, "Jump!"

Both Reo and Isagi jumped for the ball while Ryuu continued chasing Sho, and Nagi was kept well-guarded, far away from helping his teammates. The fast-spinning ball just brushed past Reo's high bun before hitting the top right of the goal, scoring his team's second goal.

Otoya, Karasu, Yukimiya, Sho 2 - 1 Nagi, Isagi, Ryuu, Reo

"Seriously? How are you supposed to stop something like that?" said Nagi.

"Damnit," said Ryuu, wiping the sweat from his cheek.

'No... Even though Ryuu couldn't stop him here, I'm getting closer. If I can devour him — I can win! Just think! What can I do to surpass Sho and control the way this game is going?

Yukimiya lightly jogged up to Sho's still figure in front of the goal and lightly patted his back, "Nice goal." he said, high-fiving Karasu.

Karasu walked past both, picked up the ball from the net before scoffing. "Don't fight him head-on. Wait till one of us is open. Did you forget we're trying to keep the ball away from Ryuu." said Karasu scoffingly.

"Shush. We got the goal, so why are you complaining?' replied Sho.

"You know he is right, Karasu. It worked out in our favor so let's keep the ball rolling," said Otoya, intervening swiftly, "we're only three goals away from fighting some world-class players."

On their way back to their positions, Otoya pulled Sho to the side and asked, "Did you copy my 'Stealthy Steps' when you ran behind Ryuu? Your footwork looked almost identi-"

"Y- Yea, I did," interrupted Sho, continuing his walk back to his position; he asked, "Are you upset?"

"No, I'm not. But even if I was, there isn't much I can do. You already copied my weapon. Just promise me you won't use it against me if we're ever on opposing teams."

"I promise."

On the other side of the field, Nagi rested his hands against his hips. While Ryuu crouched down and picked at the artificial grass. "Sorry 'bout that. I didn't do much of anything," said Nagi, glancing towards Karasu's receding figure, "that blockhead over there didn't let me get anywhere near you guys."

"We're only down by a point. Let's start our counter," said Reo, getting into position.

Ryuu straightened his bent legs, rising from the ground, and got back into position, not talking about what just happened.

Kickoff!

"Go Nagi!!" shouted Reo, kicking the ball to the left of him.

"Ah... yeah, yeah," replied Nagi, perfectly balancing the ball with his foot.

-(Scene Break)-

"I wanna watch that again... With that fake pass, he purposely yelled out Mr. Model's name, averting everyone's attention to him. Giving Sho enough time to muster up a powerful kick right into the goal. That play was as close as you can get to a miracle." said Anri, sitting in her office chair, watching the game through a multitude of screens.

A rough "ahem" was heard from behind Anri as Ego coughed, choking on his noodles. "Anri, what you just said exposes your mediocrity," said Ego stressing, resting his cup of noodles on a nearby table.

"B- But that play was crazy. I don't think your average high school freshman could ever pull something like that off again, even if he tried!"

"I wonder. The will to score a goal and the skill to back it up, all put in an environment of a high-stakes game with just the right players. When all of these conditions stack up in just the right way, a player's performance on the field can exceed human understanding. Everything on the field, miracles included, can be explained, Anri," said Ego, pushing the bridge of his glasses up, "Avert your attention back to the screen. Another thing you call a "miracle" could be on the horizon."

-(Scene Break)-

'Notice me, Ryuu!! Pass to me! Thought Isagi, meeting each other's gaze as he ran down the field.

Ryuu perfectly arched the ball right in front of him as Isagi grinned. "Nice! Bullseye!" he said.

With his Spatial Awareness, he analyzed the field, finding Sho behind him and Karasu about five feet away from the right side of the goal. "Alright, let's gamble," said Isagi quietly, kicking the ball to the left of Karasu, aiming to tie the game.

As the ball continued to sail mid-air, Karasu pushed his legs to their limits, propelling himself in front of the ball, stopping its course towards the goal.

"Nice try, but that was a wager you were bound to lose," smiled Karasu, until he saw a shadow loom over him, "Huh?"

"There's someone else in front of him." laughed Isagi, as he watched Nagi perfectly trap the ball with his heel. "This makes us even!"

Nagi made perfect use of his legs as he perfectly rotated his hips, sending the ball into the side of the goal.

"Sorry, Isagi, I stole it," said Nagi, raising his hands up to his shoulders, 'surrendering' himself.

Nagi wiped the sweat from his chin with his jersey as Reo turned back, walking towards his position. At that time, Reo was quietly and secretly sharpening his fangs...

Nagi, Isagi, Ryuu, Reo 2 - 2 Otoya, Karasu, Yukimiya, Sho

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