[3] First Match (2)

After that small confrontation, Izumo didn't waste any time and started sprinting towards the goal.

"STOP HIM!"

The older kid who was left behind immediately shouted towards his team, reminding them of the cheeky brat heading on their way.

"Useless"

Izumo remarked with a sly smile on his face as he effortlessly nimble his way and passed two enemy players with ease.

"This kid is nuts!"

One of two enemy players who was passed by Izumo commented in genuine amazement and disbelief.

On the other hand, Izumo's team was dumbfounded at the sight they were seeing.

"Am I... seeing this right?"

"Woah!"

"We... we may actually win!"

Izumo's team started chattering at each other with hope and excitement palpable on their faces as they watched Izumo close in toward the goal.

But there was one player from Izumo's team who had a different expression.

"No... he can't win"

Haruto muttered in solemnity since he was the only one who knew that there was a monster on the opposing team.

Indeed, a monster...

He had personally seen it with his eyes when he stumbled upon the opposing team's official match by accident.

And now, that "monster" happened to join today's match.

'Why? Why was he here?'

Haruto was practically pulling his hair in frustration at the unexpected development.

This was supposed to be just a casual match and his chance to show off in front of his friends.

But now, that plan was ruined after he saw that guy on the opposing team. It was that very reason why he was nervous and stuttered earlier since he saw his face.

He couldn't possibly back out now, especially right in front of his friends, his pride didn't allow him to.

He was their leader after all, if they knew he had tried to run away...

"W-What do I do?"

Haruto stammered and asked himself with a grave look on his face and felt nervous at being utterly defeated.

If he had known this was going to happen beforehand then he wouldn't have challenged them.

"R-Right... It's fine to lose, we're just kids anyway, H-Haha...."

That's right, even if they were to lose this match, all they were going to get was some mockery and insults.

It was no big deal at all...

Yes, no big deal at all...

"..."

Haruto stayed silent and clenched his fists in frustration, already having thought of giving up this match when a sudden memory popped up inside his mind.

"Haruto, you see... I plan to become the best striker in the world"

"If I give in to their intimidation then how could I possibly become the best!"

"That's why it doesn't matter whether I get beat up after this. All I care about is that I stood my ground"

Haruto's eyes glowed with a flash of light and his fist which was clenching had eased up as the fear and nervousness on his face had been erased.

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"These guys are weak"

Izumo muttered as he had just casually nutmegged an opposing player through his nimble dribbles.

Normally, he wouldn't have been able to do this but the opponents were too weak that he could easily perform a nutmeg.

'I guess the first goal ours for the taking'

Izumo thought after seeing he was already halfway toward the enemy's goal.

Perhaps if that older kid back then had successfully stolen the ball earlier, Izumo wouldn't have had such arrogant thoughts but it didn't happen.

He effortlessly thwarted the opposing team's defense which made him let his guard down.

"Hey, kid"

"Hm?"

Izumo suddenly heard a voice echo behind him and instinctively turned around to see who it was just to be disappointed as there was nobody there.

"Thanks for the ball"

"Huh?"

Izumo who had been distracted didn't notice the ball on his feet had already disappeared and was already in the grasp of an opposing player.

"Those were some good moves back then..."

"...!"

"But that's about it. You still have a long way to go, kid"

"You are-!"

Izumo had his eyes wide open in shock at the familiar face that somehow had appeared right in front of his eyes.

Those heterochromatic eyes...

And that face...

He had recognized this person in an instant the moment he saw him.

Oliver Aiku!

The future captain of the U-20 team and the future best defender in Japan.

"Holy shit!"

"Quite a nasty mouth you got there"

Aiku remarked and laughed at Izumo's outbursts, feeling amused at hearing a 6-year-old kid shout a foul word.

"Well then... see ya, kid"

Aiku instantly burst out in speed and rushed forward along with the ball in his feet.

And Izumo immediately reacted by blocking his way and trying to steal the ball back. Sadly, he was easily outmaneuvered by Aiku and was effortlessly passed.

"Damn!"

Izumo gritted his teeth and finally realized his mistake of letting his guard down, thinking he could dominate this match.

"What a blunder this is"

Izumo commented with a solemn look as his eyes regained intense focus and decided to stop holding back.

[Eagle Eyes]

The moment Izumo used this talent, his irises sharpened and had changed similar to that of a predator.

Through this change, he twisted his neck and crazily looked around everywhere to analyze the field.

With this, he could "see" everything in a small range within the field with him as the center at a 360-degree view and could visualize the players' position inside his mind.

"So this is what Isagi has always been seeing"

Though a bit different from Isagi since unlike him, Izumo could "see" all around him at a 360-degree angle while Isagi is limited to his field of view.

Naturally, Izumo was talking about the Isagi in the early stages of the manga and not the future one who could "see" everyone and the entire field.

"But this is good enough"

Although Izumo was limited to a small area to "see" with his eagle eyes, that didn't bother him since it was enough for now.

Indeed, it was enough for him since Aiku was already in his zone.

"Hm?"

Aiku suddenly felt a presence behind him and glanced behind just to see Izumo catching up to him.

"Oh?"

Curious, Aiku slowed down and wanted to see what kind of plays the kid would do.

'Understimating me, huh...'

Izumo could see that Aiku had slowed down, seemingly inviting him to catch up and show him what he could do.

'Very well, challenge accepted'

Izumo instantly sped up and shortly arrived beside Aiku.

With a stretch of his right foot, Izumo tried to steal the ball but Aiku easily dribbled it and kept the ball in his grasp.

But Izumo wasn't done and slammed his shoulder against Aiku while stretching his right arm in front of his chest.

"Oh!"

Seeing this, Aiku had a sparkle in his eyes and looked genuinely amazed at this move.

Though it may look like just a simple move. In truth, what it did was restrict Aiku's movement, limiting his options for moving.

"Haha! That was nice, kid"

"..."

"But that's still not enough"

"...!"

Aiku smiled and instantly rushed forward regardless of whether there was Izumo's arm blocking the way or not.

It was too bad that Izumo's body was too weak and frail, if he had been stronger then it would have been possible to stop him there.

"Shit!"

Sadly, Izumo's effort to restrict Aiku's movement was useless as he easily bypassed it by lightly ramming his shoulder against Izumo which disrupted his posture.

Even though it was just a light tap, Izumo couldn't help but shake and be pushed away by Aiku's strength.

"He's too damn strong!"

Izumo commented after feeling firsthand Aiku's monstrous strength but he wasn't annoyed. In fact, he was smiling right now as if he had expected to lose the confrontation.

'I already knew I was at a disadvantage against physicality. That's why I had to slow you down instead'

Izumo smirked, seeing a certain someone inside his vision range finally close in on Aiku.