First Match (Part 2)

Match:Team V vs Team Z

Score:0-4

Time Remaining:45 minutes

The match kicked off, with Team Z taking possession of the ball. One of their players quickly passed it to Nishioka, who immediately became the focal point of their offensive play. Team Z worked seamlessly together, each player supporting Nishioka in his mission to score and win the match. The ball moved fluidly through their ranks, but it was clear that the ultimate goal was to let Nishioka shine.

Shiro stood his ground, watching as Nishioka dribbled forward. Nishioka closed the distance between them, his eyes locked onto Shiro. With a burst of speed, he initiated a one-on-one duel, confident in his ability to evade the striker. His movements were fluid, his balance almost inhuman, as he twisted and turned, using his low center of gravity to keep control of the ball while trying to humiliate Shiro.

But what Nishioka didn't realize was that Kurona had positioned himself just behind Shiro, hidden from view. As Nishioka attempted to slip past Shiro, trying to outmaneuver him with his quick feet and exceptional balance, Kurona saw his opening.

In one smooth, calculated motion, Kurona launched himself forward, cutting across Shiro's path to intercept the ball. With perfect timing, he dispossessed Nishioka, snatching the ball away as Nishioka tried to push it past Shiro.

It was a swift, precise move—Kurona's intervention effectively neutralizing Nishioka's attack, just as Shiro had expected.

After Kurona's successful interception, he and Shiro immediately linked up for a quick series of one-twos, moving the ball effortlessly between them as they charged through the midfield. The pace picked up as they closed in on Team Z's defense, and soon, it was Shiro who had the ball at his feet, ready to take on the defenders.

Without missing a beat, Shiro stopped dribbling momentarily to adjust his position, his eyes scanning the defensive line. Then, with a sudden change of direction, he executed an elastico, swiftly flicking the ball around the first defender before using a croqueta to glide past the second. He followed up with a perfect roulette, spinning away from a third defender, his feet moving like liquid as he weaved through the opposition. The defenders tried to keep up, but Shiro moved through them with ease, each touch more fluid than the last.

He was unstoppable.

As he approached the final defender and the goalkeeper, the last line of defense lunged at him, attempting to block his path. But Shiro was prepared. With a deft flick of his foot, he lifted the ball over the defender's head, leaving him scrambling in the air. Without hesitation, Shiro leaped into the air, connecting with the ball in mid-flight. His left foot struck the ball with precision, sending a powerful volley toward the goal.

The ball flew past the goalkeeper, who dived desperately but was too late. It hit the back of the net with a satisfying thud.

With the ball in the back of the net, Shiro stood tall, a sense of triumph radiating from him. He quickly exchanged a high-five with Kurona, acknowledging the teamwork that had led to the goal. But there was no time to celebrate. Shiro immediately returned to his position, his eyes focused on the game, ready to score again.

As he got back into formation, Shiro couldn't help but notice the looks from his teammates. The ones who had been fooling around since the start of the match were now staring at him, their gazes filled with a mixture of contempt and envy. It didn't bother him, though. If anything, it only fueled his determination.

He turned toward them, his voice firm and cutting through the tension. "Even if this project is about creating a striker with an ego, it's also about creating a striker with great skill," Shiro said. "If you're just going to be an egoist and not be able to back up your claim, it'll be useless."

His words were blunt, but they carried weight. Shiro wasn't just talking about himself—he was challenging the others to step up, to match their egos with the ability to deliver. This wasn't just about individual glory; it was about proving that true skill and ego could work together to achieve greatness

The other players of Team V, who had been so consumed by their own egos throughout the match, seemed to have a reality check after Shiro's words. As the tension from Shiro's goal and his bold declaration hung in the air, they started to reflect on the situation. They realized that as long as they couldn't trust their own individual skills to win the game, their egos would only hold them back.

Slowly, they began to reconsider their approach. The momentary clash of egos seemed to shift, and a sense of understanding started to form among them. If they were to have any chance of winning, they had to support Shiro and work as a team—putting their own pride aside for the greater good. Each player came to the conclusion that helping Shiro and working together was the only way to move forward.

Score:1-4

Ego Pov:

As Shiro's goal flashed on the screen, Anri couldn't hide her concern. "He's too strong to play with them," she said, her voice tinged with worry. "Look at him—he's just destroying them. You should have put him in another group."

Ego, unfazed, responded with his signature calm and calculated tone, "No, this is the only group where he can get enough challenge. The players in the other groups are not developed enough to challenge him. In this stratum, at least some players will be able to stop him, given that they understand his way of playing. You know that in this group, there are other geniuses who are waiting to show their talents."

Ego's gaze lingered on the screen, watching the beautiful goal Shiro had scored. His lips curled into a small smirk as he observed Shiro's words to his teammates, realizing something profound.

"Finally," Ego thought, "this is how we turn a 0 into a 1. By unifying all the players under only one banner."

As the game unfolded, Ego could see it in the players' eyes. Right now, Shiro was the only one they believed could lead them to victory. They weren't just playing for themselves anymore—they were playing for him, the striker who had ignited something within them. The raw, untapped potential was beginning to shine through.

Ego leaned back, eyes gleaming. This is the essence of a true striker—someone who can give faith to the players around him and become a beacon of hope, someone who can turn the tide of a game and unite a fractured team. Shiro was starting to embody that role, and Ego knew this was just the beginning.

Nishioka Pov:

The match restarted, and the ball quickly found its way to Nishioka's feet. This time, there was no hesitation—he was out for revenge. Determined to make up for the humiliation earlier, Nishioka dribbled forward with incredible speed, weaving through the players of Team V with ease. His movements were fluid, almost as if the defenders were mere obstacles in his way. He effortlessly glided past Kurona, then danced through five more players, leaving them in the dust, each of them watching helplessly as Nishioka humiliated them one by one.

With the goal now in sight, Nishioka prepared for his shot. His eyes were locked on the target, confident that no one could stop him. But what he didn't realize was that Shiro had been following him the entire time, remaining just out of sight, watching his every move.

As Nishioka took the shot, Shiro was there, blocking the ball just in time, sending it careening away from the goal. The shot was completely neutralized. The ball flew back to one of Shiro's teammates.

Shiro had been patient, tracking Nishioka all along, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. His interception wasn't just about to block his shot—it was a reminder that the game was far from over

Kurona Pov:

The ball came to Kurona, and he immediately felt the weight of the situation. His teammates were counting on him, but the options were limited. He scanned the field, trying to make the best decision in the split second he had. The pressure of the moment wasn't lost on him, but he knew what had to be done.

He quickly passed the ball to the winger, who returned it to him in a seamless one-two. The two opponents closing in on him didn't stand a chance as he deftly maneuvered around them, feeling the flow of the game move in his favor.

With a flick of his foot, Kurona crossed the ball toward Shiro, who was already making a run down the left side of the pitch. The ball flew through the air, perfectly timed to meet Shiro's pace. It was a calculated move—a moment of clarity amidst the chaos of the match.

Now, it was up to Shiro to finish what they had started.

Shiro Pov:

Shiro watched the ball come to him, his control immaculate as it landed perfectly at his feet. He took a quick look up—80 yards from the goal, seven players still standing between him and the net. A challenge, but one he was more than ready for.

He wasted no time. With a quick series of stepovers, he slipped past the first two defenders, their attempts to stop him easily bypassed. He felt the space open up in front of him as he pushed the ball forward, ready for the next move.

The midfielder stepped in his path, but Shiro anticipated it, smoothly executing a roulette to glide past him. Another defender rushed in, but with a burst of agility, Shiro executed a sombrero, sending the ball over the player's head, all of that while keeping his eyes on the goal.

Now, with only the goalkeeper in his line of sight, Shiro didn't hesitate. In one fluid motion, he struck the ball with his left leg, unleashing a powerful shot. The ball flew through the air, curling toward the right upper corner of the net. The goalkeeper, left rooted to the spot, could only watch helplessly as the ball crashed into the top corner, the sound of the net rippling with the force of the strike.

Goal.

It was the kind of goal that demanded respect—a blend of skill, power, and the confidence that only Shiro possessed.

Score 2-4