Chapter 02 : VS Toho I : Observing from the Bench

"Just so you know, I hate you Jun." Riku glared at Misugi who has an innocent look on his face.

"Cut the crap, Riku-san! You have been whining for almost fifteen minutes now! Can you stop it?" Yayoi scolded, silencing him with a glare.

Right now, they are sitting on Musashi's bench, waiting for the match to start. The referee has already had the whistle in his mouth waiting to blow it to begin the game. On the bench, Riku could see Kojiro Hyuga, one of the most talented strikers in Japan right now, and he is still 15.

He could also see their goalkeeper too, Ken Wakashimazu. He is the main reason why Toho Academy has not conceded any goals yet until the final of the prefecture tournament. However, Toho Academy is not just those two. They have Takeshi Sawada, a decent playmaker, and Kazuki Sorimachi, a fast winger that can be their second option when Hyuga cannot score.

Honestly, he could not see Musashi win the game without him and Misugi on the field.

"How much do you think we have to score in the second half?" He asked quietly. Misugi didn't give his answer immediately, pondering for a second as the game started.

"It depends on Hyuga-kun's condition," Misugi spoke. "If he is not at his best, we will only be one or two goals behind them. However, if he is on his form, it would be good if our defense could hold him from scoring less than four goals." Riku took a second to process what he just heard.

"What about you? How long can you play today?" Misugi tensed for a bit before replying,

"Doctor gave me the green light for the second half, but if the match continues until the extra time, I cannot do anything about that."

"So, if we were only one goal behind, you will have to wait until seventy minutes to play. But if we need more goals to level the score, we will play together from the beginning of the second half. Leave the extra time and the penalty shootout to me. You got it?" Riku said in a serious tone, leaving Misugi with no other option.

Unfortunately for them and the Musashi team, it's just five minutes since the game begins and Hyuga has already scored. Sawada who received a long throw from Wakashimazu didn't even look before he sent a through pass for Sorimachi who managed to beat Musashi's offside trap. He outruns two defenders on the left flank before he sends a low cross to Hyuga on the near post who didn't have a problem tapping the ball into the net.

0-1

"Our midfielders are not fast enough to close the gap between them and Sawada," Riku said after the game started again. "We could not handle Sorimachi's speed, and he played on the edge of our offside lines. If Sawada is able to give him more passes like earlier, we will have a big problem, and it still doesn't count Hyuga's ability."

The game continues at a very high tempo. Musashi's players could not hold the ball for more than a minute due to the high pressure that Toho set for them. Even their defenders are pressing up to the midfielder area.

The result came quickly. In the twenty-five minutes, Hyuga managed to steal the ball from Musashi's defender, and without hesitation, he shoots the ball from the outside of the penalty box with his full power. Musashi's keeper could not react at all, leaving the ball went into the net with ease.

0-2

"Okay, that's enough." Riku stood up and shouted from the side of the pitch, "AKIRA! SHINJI! MINORU! COME HERE!"

His shout gained the attention of the supporters.

"Who is that?"

"I don't know, he is loud."

"Yeah, and why did he act like a captain and command his teammates?"

"I know right? He is just a reserved player. Why did he act like Misugi?"

Riku ignored the whisper from the supporter side and just waited for the three players he called to come.

*SMACK!*

He smacked their heads immediately right after they are in front of him.

"Ouch!"

"It hurts, Captain!"

"What the hell was that?"

"That was for being idiots you three! What the hell are you doing there?" Riku scolded those three, ignoring their whining. The three players just looked at each other with confused faces before they asked,

"I don't know, Captain. Did we do something wrong?" Riku sighed while rubbing the tip of his nose.

"You are our strikers! Act like one! Why did you go down to help the midfielders? Just keep pressuring their defenders! Let Toho's midfielders be our midfielder's problem to deal with!" The trio looked at each other with confused faces.

"But if we don't help the midfielders, we would not be able to get the ball, captain."

"No, if you haven't noticed yet, you make it easier for Toho to control the midfield area. Look, without you to pressure their defender, they can put the pressure line up to our area without any problem. It helps for their number 14, Sawada, to build their play as there are a lot of options he can choose to pass.

But if you pressure their defenders, they will be wary of you and fall back to their area once again, creating the distance between their defenders and midfielders that would make it easier for us to deal with. Do you understand?"

Riku nodded in satisfaction as he could see the realization on the trio's faces.

"Akira and Minoru, you are our wingers. Toho's strength is its compactness in the middle. If you pressure their flank area, it would scatter their players, making it harder for them to build a play. Can you do it?"

The two looked at each other with determination before they turned back to Riku and replied,

"Yes, Captain!"

"Good! Now, go back to the field and do your job!" Riku turned around to go back to the bench. He didn't realize that Misugi was following them when he gave the trio the pep talks.

"You do realize that it wouldn't solve our problem of stopping Hyuga, right?" Misugi retorted. Riku sighed at what his friend said before he spoke,

"I know, but it would limit Sawada's movement. If you notice, he is the player who touched the ball the most for Toho. Our offside trap is also working against Sorimachi despite the first goal. Now it is our defenders against Hyuga. I hope they can survive without conceding more than two goals, or it would be hard for us to level the score in the second half."

Misugi nodded with a grim face. Their situation is not looking good right now.

The game continues once again with the kick-off for Musashi. This time, their trio of strikers, Akira, Minoru, and Shinji, pressed Toho's defenders to make them back down to their defense area. Sawada who didn't have backup from the defenders had a hard time building up a play due to the pressure of Musashi's midfielder.

However, Musashi is in the same boat. They couldn't hold the ball for too long before Toho's players get too close to them. They also feared that Hyuga would strike again, so Musashi's players unconsciously lower their defensive line.

It was in the forty-three minutes when the worst thing for Musashi happened. Their wing-back, Kitajima Inamura, made a mistake by passing the ball too weak. Sawada who saw the opportunity steals the ball and sends it straight to Sorimachi who runs on the left flank.

He didn't wait too long before sending the ball high to the middle of the penalty box, the place where Hyuga has been waiting for. The striker with the number nine didn't have too much problem overpowering three defenders in his jump and heading the ball straight to the near post, another goal for Toho, and a hattrick for Hyuga.

0-3

Hyuga's goal also ended up in the first half with the lead for Toho Academy, making it almost impossible for Musashi to overturn the score. However, Hyuga and Toho players know not to lower their guards, as Musashi still has Jun Misugi for the second half, a player that could rival or be better than Tsubasa Ozora if he is healthy.

It is just unfortunate for them to not know anything about Riku Takahashi, another monster who had never played for the Musashi until now. And they will be the first ones to taste defeat against the player who would cause a storm in Japanese football.

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"Okay, why do you all look so gloomy?" Misugi spoke as he saw the entire Musashi players bowed down in depression.

"We have already talked about it earlier. It is alright for them to score against us as long as it is not more than five. We can still level the score. Come on!"

"Jun is right." Riku took his turn to speak. "It is not over yet. We can still win the game. Just remember how Liverpool defeated AC Milan in 2005, or the Remontada in Barcelona against the PSG two weeks ago. Anything is possible in football, and I believe we can still win the match. Do you trust me?"

A few players lift up their faces but didn't speak anything.

"I say it again, do you trust me?!"

Now, more players looked up to Misugi with hope on their faces.

"Answer it, do you trust me?!"

They looked at each other with determination, before they turned to Riku and shouted,

"We trust you, Captain!"

"Good! Now, Jun and I will enter the game to substitute Suzuki and Inoue. Jun, trust me with the defense. Save your stamina so whenever I get the ball, you can run to wherever I pass." Misugi nodded.

"Wait, Misugi-senpai played an attacking midfielder? Is he the holding midfielder?" The goalkeeper, Moriyama, interfered. Several players who Riku didn't know too much nodded in agreement. However, Riku ignored it for now.

"It is a long story, but before when I was in the team, I was the holding midfielder and Jun was the best-attacking midfielder you can ask for. Trust me in this, okay?" Moriyama nodded without any question.

"Good. Shinji, Minoru, and Akira, you did a good job pressuring their defense. Keep it up and be prepared to coordinate with Misugi in the attack. You will be involved more in the second half, okay?" The trio nodded with determination.

"Good! Our defense is getting better. Just don't make silly mistakes and don't let Sawada dance around you. If he has the ball, closed him down quickly. Do it with two people if necessary. I will be responsible for Hyuga. Do you get it? Good!"

Riku nodded in satisfaction.

"Let's go! Win or lose, we will fight till the end of the game because we are Musashi! Right?"

"Yes, we are Musashi! Let's fight till the end!"

The players left the dressing room with new determination, with eyes that promised they would not go down without a fight.

"As expected, you are still a good motivational speaker, captain," Misugi spoke as he and Riku walked behind. Riku just shrugged before he turned to Misugi and said with a serious tone,

"Do you want to score the first goal or should I do it?" Misugi smiles wryly, knowing exactly what his captain means.

"So, you noticed about Wakashimazu-san's habit too, captain?"

"It is hard not to notice. So, what do you say? Do you want to do it?" Misugi pondered for a moment before he said,

"Nah, they will have their focus on me. Besides, you have better accuracy, so it will be easier for you. I cannot wait to see their shocked face when you pull that stunt."

Riku didn't give any answer, just fixing the captain's ban on his arm and the sports glasses he wore.

"Who are you?" A heavy voice came from behind, gaining those two's attention. There, they could see Kojiro Hyuga staring at the captain ban on Riku's arm before he asked once again,

"Why do you wear the captain ban, and not Misugi-san there?" Misugi and Riku looked at each other with shrugs before Riku said,

"My name is Riku Takahashi, and why do I wear the captain ban? It is the team's decision, so you have to ask our teammates." By the growl they could hear from Hyuga, they could see he didn't like the answer he got.

"It doesn't matter. We lead with three goals. It is impossible for you to overturn the score. We will be the ones who win the tournament against Tsubasa, Misugi-san." He said that and left Misugi and Riku who basically ignored him.

"Wow, his arrogance knows no bounds, right?" Riku muttered lowly.

"You can say that. But he backed it up with his achievements, two times national tournament runner-up, only lost against Nankatsu. It speaks a lot about his capability." Riku nodded at what Misugi said while preparing to enter the field.

There is uproar in the supporter stand, seeing that the captain ban is not on Misugi's arm. However, Riku ignored them as he took his position in front of the three defenders. It surprised Toho players too, not only because of the captain ban but Misugi's position is also changed. However, they didn't know exactly how to react.

When the referee blows the whistle to start the second half, Akira sends the ball quickly to Misugi who gives it straight to Riku. The players from Toho tried to close him down quickly. But to their surprise, Riku didn't pass the ball back to Misugi.

He took a position to send a long pass and before Hyuga who is the closest one to him slide to tackle the ball, he slammed the ball hard with the instep of his right foot, sending the ball high and fast to Toho's defense area.

At first, no one knows what Riku is trying to do, as the ball goes further and seems like not targeting any of his teammates. However, when Wakashimazu saw the trajectory of the ball, he widened his eyes in panic.

"SHIT!"

Wakashimazu who stands outside of the penalty box tried to run back in panic as he saw the course of the ball will go straight to his net. However, the ball spins faster, making it drop faster than he expected. Wakashimazu jumped as high as he can, trying to deflect the ball. Unfortunately for him, the ball was still too high, only an inch from his tip.

But that was enough for the ball to slam straight to his net, silencing the entire stadium with the sudden goal.

Riku who saw the ball slam Toho's net walked calmly straight to the supporter stands with his arm spread, celebrating the goals. It took only a second before the supporters roared at his goal, making him feel like David Beckham who he saw on Youtube did the same when he was young.

Inwardly, he was pumped up. This goal was the beginning of journey, and he sure as hell would not forget about it.

Musashi Middle School 1 – 3 Toho Academy

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Author note:

Wow, the first game, and I bend it like Beckham! If you are curious about the reference to Beckham's goal, you can watch it in:

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51dFju9AOJk

Thank you!