31 FFD 30

Two blond girls in hats leaned over the railing on the rooftop of Toyogasaki High School, huddled together in a rather suspicious manner.

"Ugh, seriously! Hayama the Great Demon King is just flaunting it! Those gullible humans shouldn't fall for his deceptive act!" Sanae said, gripping a small telescope tightly in her hand, her face filled with indignation.

"Why on earth did you insist on coming up to the rooftop to watch the game, Chibiko? It's freezing out here," Eriri complained, shivering as a gentle breeze swept by. She had dressed lightly, and now all she could feel was the strong wind on the rooftop!

"Hehehe, don't you get it? Only by being up high can you have a complete view of the whole situation!" Sanae proudly declared, sporting a windproof vest. Compared to Eriri, Sanae had come much better prepared.

"It's like watching ants from up here. Can you really call that a complete view? If you want to enjoy the game, it's better to do it from the stands," Eriri grumbled, clearly dissatisfied. Her vision was already not great. Standing on the rooftop to watch the game felt like watching a low-quality movie with blurry distant scenes.

"I'm not watching the game, I'm observing our enemies, death! Hayama the Great Demon King is cunning and sly, with the ability to deceive and a bunch of lackeys! Only by being up here can I keep a close eye on them."

Sanae tightened her grip on the telescope and scanned the surroundings. "Look over there, in the central region of the extreme north! Those two hound eagles belong to Hayama the Great Demon King! It's the Demon Queen Haruno and her sister, the Frost Witch Yukino!"

Eriri's eyes widened, but all she could make out was a blurry mass in the northern stands. The game was in full swing, with attacks and defenses happening on the field, and the fans cheering occasionally. However, for Eriri, whose vision wasn't the best, it only made her feel queasy, as if she were experiencing motion sickness.

"Chibiko, you watch it on your own. I'll go find a nice spot to rest," she mumbled, huddling up and making her way to a corner shielded from the wind.

"You're useless, Eririn! Let the mighty Mjolnir Hammer take over your mission!"

...

Hayama Kazuto exchanged a few glances with his teammates and quietly made his way to his position. As he passed by Hayato, Kazuto could see the fiery determination in his Hayato's eyes.

"Kazuto, give it your all!"

A distinct cheer erupted from the northern stands, blending with occasional boos from the same area. It created an odd mix of sounds. Kazuto turned his head and confirmed that it was Haruno who had shouted.

What's your game here? Are you trying to provoke Hayato?

Kazuto glanced at Haruno with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, and she responded with a sweet smile in return.

Then, he shifted his gaze to Hayato, whose fighting spirit intensified, revealing a newfound sharpness. Beneath that intense determination, there seemed to be a tinge of anger brewing.

...

"We're entering the three minutes of added time in the first half of extra time. Even though we're nearing the end of the first half, the atmosphere in the stadium remains intense! There have been several brilliant interceptions and counter-attacks that have gotten the crowd on their feet. This is what soccer is all about!"

"Toyogasaki's No. 14 skillfully intercepts the ball! It was a clean and beautiful interception, reminiscent of Captain Tsubasa's moves. Sobu's No. 14 receives the back-heel pass and swiftly passes it to No. 5, who's known for his excellent long passes!"

"After stealing the ball, Toyogasaki's No. 5 shows great decisiveness and launches a long pass towards the forward area! Both Toyogasaki's No. 11 and Sobu's No. 11 are sprinting after the ball, like two fast horses competing to see who can reach it first and gain possession."

"Toyogasaki's No. 11 manages to reach the ball, displaying impressive speed! However, Sobu's No. 11 is not far behind, just a step away! Toyogasaki's No. 11 attempts to break through, but Sobu's No. 11 executes a sliding tackle, causing the ball to go out of bounds! Sobu once again disrupts Toyogasaki's attack, resulting in a throw-in!"

"Hmm? Did you see that? When Sobu's No. 11 made the tackle, the ball deflected off his opponent and went out of bounds! Sobu got lucky there, earning themselves the throw-in! Otherwise, a throw-in from that position could have been dangerous for them!"

"Sobu's silverback steps up for the throw-in! The defense of Sobu's silverback is incredibly strong, and his powerful throw-ins are truly impressive! I can't help but wonder if Sobu can capitalize on this opportunity, initiate a swift counter-attack, and equalize the score?"

"With an impressive and forceful throw-in, the ball travels nearly half the length of the pitch and lands at Hayato's feet! Hayato smoothly dribbles the ball, maintaining a steady pace. It's remarkable how he remains unaffected by the trailing score, displaying great mental fortitude!"

"Toyogasaki's No. 14 tries to close in, but Hayato shows no intention of evading him! A brilliant stepover! He successfully bypasses Toyogasaki's No. 14! This attack holds promise!"

"Kakeru Tobe receives the ball! A quick pass, and the ball is once again at Hayato's feet! Toyogasaki's No. 14 is left chasing after him, but with little effect!"

"Sobu seems to have adjusted their tactics, focusing on faster and more precise passing! Each player retains possession for no more than ten seconds, including Hayato, who's responsible for advancing. It's all about passing, attacking, maintaining cleanliness, and sharpness! I can see shades of Tiki-Taka in their gameplay!"

"Toyogasaki is clearly struggling to adapt to Sobu's change in playing style! Their continuous running has depleted their stamina, yet the ball remains firmly under Sobu's control. Sobu's new tactics are proving to be highly effective!"

"An astonishing sequence of 18 passes! Toyogasaki still can't get a touch on the ball! The ball has been expertly maneuvered into the penalty area by Sobu! The Toyogasaki goalkeeper swiftly comes off the goal line to confront the situation!"

"Butterfingers! It's an enormous blunder, an utterly silly mistake! The Toyogasaki goalkeeper fumbles the ball while attempting to catch it! Sobu's No. 11 pounces on the opportunity and takes a decisive shot! The Toyogasaki goalkeeper has accidentally gifted Sobu a goal!"

"This mistake! I'm lost for words to describe it. Simply put, Sobu has scored an incredible goal. In the dying moments of the first half, Sobu executed a powerful counterattack, bringing the score to a thrilling 2-2 tie!"

"While the goalkeeper's error directly led to the conceded goal, it's clear that Toyogasaki's inability to adapt to Sobu's tactics is the primary culprit!"

With the sound of the whistle, the referee signaled the end of the first half. Kazuto walked over to the goalkeeper, giving his shoulder a comforting pat, before supporting him as they made their way towards the locker room.

In front of the corridor leading to the locker room, two girls positioned themselves on the left and right, effectively blocking the way. Hayama Kazuto recognized them both—Utaha and Ginko.

"You guys can go ahead," Hayama instructed his team.

Utaha and Ginko stepped aside, creating a clear path for them to pass through. Once all the players had entered the locker room, Hayama turned his attention to Ginko and asked, "What brings you here?"

Ginko hadn't brought an umbrella, and the afternoon sun made her feel a bit dizzy, but she still took out her folding fan and gently tapped it on his shoulder. "How come you didn't tell me about this match?"