Chapter 22:The Final Surge

The game was reignited, Team Z determined to overcome the setback of conceding a goal. Now trailing, they explored every possible option to level the score. Bachira, Lemon, Kunigami, and Isagi each took their chances, but none found the back of the net. On top of that, they were forced to compensate for the open spaces left by Chigiri's inattentiveness. Kira, tireless and focused, was covering the left flank and midfield. Though Naruhaya and Kuon shadowed him, they mostly followed his lead, moving and pressing where he directed.

"Alright, let's go again!" shouted a Team W midfielder, recycling possession as they sought to maintain control.

He passed the ball to Raito, attempting to create another one-on-one situation, but Raichi, full of energy, disrupted the play. Sliding in with precision, Raichi cleanly touched the ball before Raito could get to it, sending him to the ground. The referee's whistle remained silent. "Tch. You're just a chore boy who can't do anything," Raito sneered.

"That's the plan," Raichi shot back, a smirk on his face.

"Plan? Since when do you follow someone else's plan?" Raito asked, disbelief in his voice. Raichi was notorious for his stubbornness; following a plan wasn't his style. Raito would sooner eat his socks than believe that.

Meanwhile, Kira scooped up the ball from Raichi's tackle. He surveyed the field and decided to launch a solo run through Team W's defense. However, knowing he needed a distraction, Kira opted to link up with Bachira on the left flank.

Naruhaya moved in for additional support, forming a tight triangle that forced Team W's defense into a 3v2 situation, ensuring Team Z always had an extra man in play. With a sharp pass, Kira sliced the ball through to Bachira, who was already in motion. Bachira took advantage of the situation, beating his defender one-on-one, but as he advanced, the defense closed in, trapping him near the wing.

"Man, didn't see that coming," Bachira muttered to himself, scanning for a way out. His eyes caught movement—someone was shadowing him along the sideline. He smirked. "Bold move. I like it," he said, using his heel to back-pass the ball while positioning his body between the defender and the pass, buying precious time.

Kira received the ball from Bachira and wasted no time, sprinting toward the goal line. The defenders were caught off-guard.

"Oi! Center-backs, move in and stop him!" a defender yelled in panic.

"I'm already on it!" shouted one of the center-backs, closing in on Kira, forcing him toward the goal line. But Kira, with quick thinking, pulled off a magical Cruyff turn at the very edge of the line, stopping the ball just before it crossed out of bounds. He stepped over it with precision, placing himself outside the field while turning 180 degrees to poke the ball back inside.

"Damn it!" cursed the defender, completely outmaneuvered.

Kira glanced toward the goal, evaluating his options. 'The angle is too tight—it's a low-percentage shot,' he thought, deciding that one more touch would give him a better chance. Shifting the ball to his right, he aimed a powerful strike toward the far post. The goalkeeper reacted instinctively, diving to block the shot. The ball deflected off his hands, and for a brief moment, he celebrated the save.

However, his relief was short-lived. Isagi, perfectly positioned for the rebound, pounced. With a simple, composed touch, Isagi poked the ball into the back of the net. The score was now 4-2.

"Alright!" Isagi shouted, his voice filled with excitement after scoring the equalizer.

"Way to go, Isagi!" Kunigami grinned, ruffling Isagi's hair in celebration. The rest of Team Z joined in, surrounding Isagi with cheers and pats on the back. Their spirits surged with newfound energy, their passion reignited as they prepared to give everything they had to score again. From the back of the field, Chigiri watched their joyful faces, the way they buzzed with adrenaline. The sight irritated him, the carefree manner they seemed to have as they chased the ball and scored goals.

'Stop it! Just... stop it!' Chigiri seethed inwardly. 'Why do you keep chasing the ball with such fierce determination in your eyes?'

His gaze shifted from Kira to Isagi, Kunigami, and Lemon—all of them, brimming with confidence. Not a single one of them seemed to doubt for a moment that they could win. Chigiri noticed how their bodies practically hummed with energy, bouncing on their feet, eager to get the game back underway. Frustration welled up inside him, boiling at their positive attitude in the face of adversity. He clenched his jaw, anger seeping into every part of his body.

Kuon, who was closest to him, noticed the tension building in Chigiri. He could sense that Chigiri was about to snap. "Hey, Chigiri-san," Kuon called out, his voice cutting through Chigiri's storm of emotions.

Chigiri looked at Kuon, surprised that he had initiated a conversation with him.

"I don't think you want to give up at all," Kuon said plainly, his eyes locking onto Chigiri's.

Chigiri blinked in confusion. Did he really seem that transparent? Could even Kuon read his thoughts so easily?

"What are you talking about?" Chigiri asked, his voice low and uncertain.

"Your eyes," Kuon said, not breaking eye contact. "They're the eyes of someone who still wants to fight."

Before Chigiri could respond, Team W resumed their attack. With Raito neutralized by Raichi, Team W shifted their focus to the Wanima brothers, once again targeting Chigiri's side of the field. They had already scored from this flank earlier, and they knew they could do it again.

"You really have no talent besides your speed, huh, prodigy?" Keisuke sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. He and his brother danced around Chigiri with quick one-two passes, effortlessly bypassing him and advancing into the box.

Kuon quickly moved in, intercepting Junichi's path to try and slow them down. Sensing his opportunity fading, Junichi passed the ball back to Keisuke.

"Don't worry, big bro. I'll finish this," Keisuke said confidently as he swung his foot for a powerful shot.

But before the ball could leave his boot, Kira slid in with a perfectly timed tackle, cleanly stealing the ball from Keisuke's feet. Keisuke tumbled to the ground, letting out a frustrated grunt.

"Hey, that's a foul! That's what my big bro says!" Keisuke yelled, but the referee's whistle remained silent.

Kira quickly regained his footing, determined to turn the tide. He was no longer just reacting; he was in control. As Team W tried to regain possession, every attempt was met with Kira's unmatched focus and strategy. The clock ticked down to ten minutes, and Kira felt a surge of energy coursing through him.

"Give me the ball!" he shouted, demanding it from Raichi, who quickly passed it to him.

Kira took a deep breath, summoning all the abilities he had copied so far. He unleashed Baro's signature dribble, weaving in and out of defenders with fluid grace. Team W's defenders struggled to keep up, but Kira's movements were quick, calculated, and electric.

He sensed Raito moving in, prepared to challenge him again. Kira feinted left, then exploded right, executing a flawless elastico that left Raito stumbling. Kira laughed to himself as he caught sight of the bewildered defender. "Didn't see that coming, did you?" he taunted.

As Kira pressed forward, he felt the familiar presence of Chigiri on his left. A connection sparked between them, a mutual understanding forged through countless matches. Kira used his unique ability, Eye Contact, knowing it would work only in perfect synchronization with Chigiri.

"On my mark!" Kira shouted, glancing briefly at Chigiri, who nodded in response. They had practiced this countless times, and now was the moment to unleash it.

As Kira approached the penalty box, he made eye contact with Chigiri, the signal igniting their combined movements. Chigiri dashed forward, perfectly timing his run as Kira prepared to execute a pass. The defenders were caught off-guard by their synergy, momentarily losing focus.

Kira delivered a sharp, accurate pass to Chigiri, who was now sprinting full speed towards the goal. The moment he received the ball, Chigiri's confidence surged. He could feel the weight of the game on his shoulders, but this time, he was ready to rise to the occasion.

As he approached the box, Chigiri recalled his training, all the hours spent honing his skills to become the fastest player on the field. He felt unstoppable. Rushing past Keisuke and Kuon, he locked his gaze on the goalkeeper, the only obstacle left in his path.

"Get out of my way!" he roared inwardly, summoning every ounce of his speed. No one could catch up to him now.

With Team Z now ahead 4-3, the atmosphere shifted. Chigiri's heart raced, but there was no time to savor the moment. They needed to maintain their lead. Kira, fueled by the energy of the team, felt the weight of responsibility. He knew this was the moment to unleash his full potential.

"Let's keep the pressure on them!" Kira shouted, positioning himself to receive the ball from Raichi, who had just intercepted a pass from Team W. The game had only a few minutes left, but Kira was determined to seal their victory.

As Kira took possession, he utilized his copied abilities. He activated Baro Dribbles, deftly maneuvering around the defenders who lunged to dispossess him. The field opened up, and Kira's confidence surged as he glided toward the penalty area.

"Isagi, make your run!" Kira commanded, knowing that teamwork was crucial.

Isagi darted forward, weaving between defenders, and Kira executed a perfectly timed pass. Isagi received the ball at the edge of the box and prepared for a shot, but Team W's defenders quickly closed in on him.

"Don't hold back!" Kira encouraged.

Feeling the pressure, Isagi faked a shot, creating space by leaving the ball behind. Kira, anticipating this, charged forward to take the next opportunity. He was determined to keep the momentum going.

Meanwhile, Chigiri, having recovered from the previous defensive play, sprinted down the wing. Kira's eyes locked onto Chigiri as they instinctively communicated their next move.

"Now, Chigiri!" Kira shouted, using Eye Contact to enhance their synergy.

Chigiri, fueled by Kira's trust, shifted into high gear, darting past his defender. Kira sent a swift pass toward Chigiri, who controlled it effortlessly and charged toward the goal. The space opened up before him as the defenders scrambled to react.

"Come on, Chigiri! You can do it!" Isagi cheered from the sidelines.

With a burst of speed, Chigiri broke free, leaving his markers behind. He faced the goalkeeper, whose eyes widened in anticipation. Chigiri's heart raced, and he knew this was his moment to shine.

As he approached, Keisuke, one of the Wanima brothers, lunged forward, attempting to block him. But with quick reflexes, Chigiri sidestepped him, maintaining his focus on the goal.

"Not today!" Chigiri declared, channeling every ounce of determination. He launched a powerful shot towards the bottom right corner of the net.

The goalkeeper dove, but he was a second too late. The ball zipped past him, hitting the back of the net with a satisfying thud.

"Goal!" the crowd erupted in cheers.

Chigiri spun around, pumping his fists in the air, adrenaline coursing through his veins. The scoreboard lit up with the score—5-3, Team Z leading decisively.

"YES! We did it!" Chigiri shouted, racing toward his teammates, who quickly enveloped him in a sea of celebration.

"Way to go, Chigiri!" Kira cheered, feeling the thrill of victory wash over him. The team's camaraderie was palpable, each player buzzing with excitement.

With time running out, Team W attempted to mount a final attack, desperate to close the gap. Raito and his teammates pushed forward, but Team Z was resolute, defending with everything they had.

Kira, now invigorated by the team's energy, switched into a defensive mode, using his copied abilities to anticipate Team W's moves. He shadowed Raito, reading his body language and movements.

"Not on my watch!" Kira shouted, executing a perfectly timed tackle to dispossess Raito, who stumbled to the ground in frustration.

The whistle blew, signaling the end of the match. Team Z erupted into jubilation, celebrating their hard-fought victory.

"5-3! We won!" Raichi yelled, pumping his fist in the air.

Kira felt a surge of pride as he joined in the celebration, knowing they had fought as a team to secure the win. He glanced at Chigiri, who was grinning from ear to ear, the exhilaration of scoring the final goal still radiating from him.

"Great job, everyone!" Kira exclaimed, his heart full. "We've come a long way, and this victory is just the beginning."

As they gathered for a team huddle, Kira looked around at his teammates, each one shining with potential. They had overcome challenges and doubts, and now they were united, ready to face whatever lay ahead together.