Chapter 48 – Comeback

The game resumed with the red team in possession, and Kira immediately took control of the ball. This time, there was no hesitation—he had no intention of passing the ball away in the midfield. Kira was determined to drive the ball straight toward the box himself, either setting up a perfect pass or taking the shot.

Predictably, Shidou was on him again, pressing aggressively. Exhaustion didn't matter to Shidou; whether it was the first minute of the match or the final seconds, he defended with relentless energy. His approach was always the same—crush his opponent with pressure.

But Kira's composure never wavered. His control over the ball and the field remained impeccable. One or two deft touches, and he shrugged off Shidou's press with ease, gliding forward ever closer to the opposition's goal.

Shidou tried sneaking in from behind, looking for an opportunity to blindside Kira, but it was as though Kira had eyes in the back of his head. With smooth precision, Kira dodged every attempt. His concentration was razor-sharp, pushed to its limits. He wasn't just playing against Shidou—he was managing the entire field. He saw every movement—Shidou's relentless advances, Nagi's run into the box, Raichi's shifts between offense and defense, and even the positioning of his lesser-known teammates.

Then, with a subtle hand signal, Kira caught Nagi's attention. Nagi saw it immediately and began his run down the right side of the box. Kira, maintaining control, threaded the ball perfectly to him.

Shidou leaped forward, his instincts screaming at him to steal the ball, sensing an opportunity as it passed. But Nagi didn't hold onto it for long. He quickly sent it down the right wing to Raichi, who was waiting in position.

Shidou's drive didn't falter. He bolted after the ball, his speed startling Raichi.

"You can still move like that?!" Raichi growled, irritated by Shidou's relentless pursuit.

"Give it up, shark-teeth!" Shidou snarled, his eyes wild with intensity. "That goal is mine!"

Raichi scoffed, but before Shidou could intercept, Raichi nutmegged him, slipping the ball through Shidou's legs with a slick move and sending it back to Kira, who had been left unmarked during the exchange.

With Shidou, Nagi, and Raichi occupied, Kira found himself with a clear path. He stepped in to take the shot, but just as his foot was about to connect with the ball, Hirakazu lunged in with a hard, crunching tackle.

Kira didn't let the impact pass unnoticed. He made sure to collide forcefully with Hirakazu, his body crashing to the ground with an audible thud.

The whistle blew sharply from the intercom.

"Hirakazu Midorikawa, foul on Kira!"

The game momentarily halted as Kira slowly pushed himself up from the ground, wincing slightly but composed. The foul had awarded his team a prime opportunity—a dangerous free kick just outside the box. Though securing a foul hadn't been his plan, it now presented a crucial chance to change the game's trajectory.

The ball rested temptingly on the grass, just a few yards from the penalty area. Both teams began organizing themselves, players adjusting positions and communicating silently. The air was thick with tension as they prepared for what everyone assumed would be a carefully orchestrated free kick.

But amidst the stillness, Raichi noticed something—a brief moment of indecision and distraction as players settled into their formations. Without hesitation, he seized the opportunity. In a flash, before anyone could react, Raichi bolted toward the ball and struck it with force.

The ball sailed with precision, curving towards the top right corner of the goal. It was a shot no one had expected, not even the goalkeeper, who could only stood in place as the ball found the back of the net.

"Yes!" Raichi roared, pumping his fist into the air, his face alight with triumph. The boldness of the move, the sheer audacity of taking the shot when no one was expecting it, made the moment all the sweeter.

Red team 4 – 4 White team.

While Nagi and Raichi celebrated with a high five, Kira stood apart, lost in his own world. His intense focus had been building since Shidou launched his second barrage of goals. Now, Kira seemed untouchable, his concentration sharp and unwavering. On and off the ball, he controlled the field with ease, maneuvering the game to his will. Shidou, so eager to score the final goal and end the match, had forgotten about Kira—and Kira seized the opportunity.

Field control came naturally to Kira, something he did every match. But this time was different. The exhaustion, the high stakes, and the fierce rivalry with Shidou pushed Kira into a heightened state of hyperfocus. This mental clarity gave him an edge, allowing him to make plays he might not have been capable of under normal circumstances. He became ruthless, dismantling the opposing defense, one player at a time, slipping through press traps before they even realized he was gone.

Even now, as Kira scanned the field, his mind was working nonstop. 'I can see the silhouettes of players... all lined up in positions where they could score.' The game resumed, and the white team, desperate to win, attacked with everything they had. Shidou returned to his chaotic style, racing from the left wing toward the red team's goal.

"Don't let them feed Shidou the ball!" Raichi yelled, his voice filled with determination. Nagi nodded, immediately pressing Kurona. The two locked into a brief struggle, Kurona proving his ball-handling skills as he searched for Shidou. Glancing up, Kurona spotted him—Shidou, sprinting unguarded along the wing.

There was no mistake. Shidou had no one marking him, no one slowing him down. Kurona didn't hesitate. He sent a precise pass cutting across the field, aiming for the upper-left corner of the box, a perfect spot for Shidou to finish. But before the ball could reach its target, it was cut off by a foot—Kira's.

Kurona froze, shock written across his face. "How did he—? Where did Kira come from? Shidou left him behind a while ago..." His mind raced. "Wait... was Shidou left unguarded so Kira could intercept the pass?"

Shidou scowled, annoyed. "Tch... bold move, blondie." He lunged to steal the ball back, but Kira had already surged forward. From where he intercepted, there was considerable distance between him and Shidou, giving Kira time. He knew what was at stake. With determination in his every step, he drove the ball forward, taking on the red team's defenders one by one.

Hirakazu was the first to challenge him. Kira extended his arm to block Hirakazu's path, but Hirakazu powered through, pressing in for a steal. At that moment, Kira pivoted, executing a flawless Marseille turn to the right. The smoothness of the move allowed Kira to maintain his momentum as he left Hirakazu behind.

"One..." Kira mentally counted as he advanced, facing his next challenge: Kurona. Aware of Kira's ability to use his opponent's momentum against them, Kurona stood still, waiting for Kira to make the first move. But Kira charged ahead, undeterred. His pace and control created a tense moment. Was he really going to barrel straight through?

Kira's footwork was deceptive, a series of slow but deliberate stepovers that forced Kurona to react. Kurona jabbed his foot out, attempting to poke the ball away and force Kira left. Kira obliged, feigning to the left before performing a swift flip-flap, darting back to the right. The rapid change of direction caused Kurona to overcommit, his balance lost.

"Two..." Kira continued, unphased, his path now clear. The goal was in sight, just him and the keeper. His eyes locked onto the target—victory was within reach.

But then, his instincts flared—a sense of danger coming from behind. Trusting his reflexes, Kira abruptly pulled the ball back with a V-cut, narrowly avoiding a sliding tackle from Shidou, who had caught up. The two were now face-to-face for the final showdown.

"Between the two of us, you're the real fox, always scheming," Shidou muttered through clenched teeth, his frustration palpable. He was determined to steal the ball, something he had failed to do against Kira all game. But this time, he vowed, he would win.

Kira didn't respond, his focus entirely on the ball. With a burst of speed, he charged at Shidou. Shidou mirrored him, and they collided in a fierce contest of speed and strength. Each time Shidou reached for the ball, Kira would slip it just out of reach. It seemed like a stalemate until Kira's instinct kicked in again.

Kira shifted the ball to the right. Shidou followed. Kira stepped over the ball with his left, his back now to Shidou. Sensing an opportunity, Shidou prepared to muscle his way through. But Kira's body swayed unpredictably, like a pendulum, throwing Shidou off balance. Kira shifted his weight sharply, and Shidou lunged—but found nothing but air. Overextended, Shidou stumbled and fell.

Shidou watched helplessly as Kira broke free, dribbling past the keeper. 'That guy...' Shidou thought, still trying to grasp what had happened. 'His speed is decent, and his shooting is average, but his control... his ability to manipulate his body and the ball...'

'He knew he couldn't overpower me, so he set traps, using my own strength and aggression against me. Each move... was a setup. I was left chasing shadows.'

'He is a true embodiment of a MAESTRO.'

Kira reached the goal, the net wide open. He could have tapped the ball in easily, but instead, he stopped it just before the line. With one foot on the ball, he turned back to look at Shidou.

Their eyes locked. For a brief moment, it felt as though the entire world consisted only of the two of them—rivals, both driven to be the best. There was a silent understanding between them. Shidou seethed with frustration, while Kira allowed himself a small, smug smile, savoring his victory.

Red Team 5 – 4 White Team.