Second Goal

Three minutes later, the ball was being passed around - sometimes advancing, sometimes retreating, but the blue team remained in their position.

It doesn't mean it worked the same way on the other team, as they sometimes hurriedly tried to catch the ball, leaving another opponent to be defenseless.

However, they were also quick to adapt, gradually causing them to lower their guard.

That was the first thing Aoi noticed, and so was Oka and the third-year midfielder.

The latter smiled as he received the ball and finally began to dribble for seconds, passing the opponent, catching them off guard as Kaga shouted at the top of his lungs,

"BE ON GUARD! THEY ARE ATTACKING!"

Since the red team was relaxed and suddenly felt the pressure from the aggressive attempts of the opponents' midfielder, they tensely surrounded the third-year midfielder, hastily halting any of his attempts to advance forward.

Some who bolted toward him also tried to obstruct any of his attempts to pass the ball from his right angle.

However, the third-year midfielder was unfazed, swiftly dribbling the ball, controlling it as though it was just an extended part of his body, passing even three opponents before he was forced to stop.

He sneered, and under Kaga's narrowed gaze, he passed the ball in the air, curving on his right side.

Oka tilted his head upward, watching the ball flying towards him without blinking.

He lowered his knee, and while he was being pushed by his opponent, readying to steal the ball from him, his spring-like leg bolted upwards, receiving the ball on his right shoulder.

His opponent almost made him lose balance, but with his hand supporting himself from completely rolling on the ground, he received the ball at the back of his head and calmly motioned his head to control the ball to fall on the floor.

He faced the ball, his enemy was at his back, and so was the goalpost.

He concentratedly swept his eyes and noted the current situation on the football field before deciding on his next move.

He dribbled the ball, swinging his right arm to push his opponent away, annoyingly pushing his leg to steal the ball away from him.

He then sprinted forward toward the goalpost, facing another two opponents dashing towards him.

His heart was as calm as the surface of the still ocean, causing his opponent to feel their hair stand on the ends.

Nevertheless, they did not hesitate to try to steal the ball away from him.

Faced with three enemies - one from behind, two from the front - he serenely dribbled the ball according to his insights and decision-making until he was forced to pass the ball to his free teammate.

When his teammate received the ball, he bolted forward – his speed increased two times more than before.

His teammate did not hesitate to pass the ball towards him, a bit forward, so he could still have time to sprint nimbly.

When he received the ball, he swept his eyes again to his surroundings and discovered Kaga was closing in on him.

After all, he was close to the shooting range, and perhaps, for three more seconds, he would position himself on his scoring range, or what was called Killer Zone.

If he arrived in that particular position, there was no doubt he could still miss unless the goalkeeper managed to stop the ball from scoring.

However, Kaga was aware of it, so he would not certainly let it happen.

So, without hesitation, he left Aoi alone - of course, not without ordering his teammate to guard him in his stead - and dashed towards Oka to stop him.

"Oka!" Kaga shouted with an ugly expression. "Where's your funny face? What's with the seriousness?"

Indeed, Oka, at this point, lost his jovial aura and was instead replaced with a grave, ominous ambiance.

Just staring at him would instill fear in any defender trying to stop him.

Kaga had known Oka's change of attitude whenever he became serious inside the football field.

There was nothing more dangerous than to face the fully concentrated Oka.

He was even known as the "Sheep in the wolf clothing," except that Oka was not a hypocrite.

He was even bestowed with another title, "The Cheerful Fox."

So many titles made Kaga envious.

He had one, but just that, not so famous.

Nevertheless, he always wanted his reputation to soar so his presence could finally be recognized by Izumi.

He was determined more than ever to stop Oka's attempt at scoring.

Oka gazed at Kaga for a second before focusing on the goalpost again, and then his speed suddenly increased.

Kaga was taken aback before realizing he could not catch up with Oka.

The distance was a bit far, for he was on the further right, caused by Aoi, and running at full speed could only be possible for a second since he was already exhausted.

Helpless, he could only watch Oka passing the rest of his teammates, leaving the goalkeeper as the only defender who could stop Oka's goal.

He was a bit assured by the goalkeeper, for he was the main goalkeeper of their club.

He was a second year in the same batch as Aoi, Kaga, and Oka and should have already grown accustomed to Oka's way of playing.

With Oka's limited range to score the goal, as he was on the further right side, the goalkeeper, at least, had a fifty percent chance to stop the goal.

In case the goalkeeper could not totally stop the ball, Kaga still tried to catch up to them.

Kaga watched Oka finally arriving at his Killer Zone.

Oka, knowing that no one could stop him from performing his signature shooting technique, did not hesitate to slow the ball's pace and took two steps, pulling his right leg to kick it.

Swoosh!

The ball flew forward, even curving to try to fly around the goalkeeper.

Oka performed his signature move, Curled Shot and the goalkeeper was absolutely familiar with it.

Knowing his enemy assured him half of his victory, and thus, he extended his right arm and jumped on it sideways. 

His finger lightly tapped the ball, changing the course of the ball entirely.

The ball flew away from the goalpost as a result, landing and rolling forward on the left side of the shooting field.

At the same time, Kaga was elated, knowing the ball was stopped - not entirely - by the goalkeeper from scoring, but his expression did not last.

There was suddenly another player pulling his right leg like a bow and kicking the ball, moving like an arrow.

He was familiar with the player, the situation, the coincidence, and the luck…

'How is he right there?'

A question struck in his head as he watched the ball in a daze being kicked towards the goalpost, successfully scoring another goal.