Chapter 28 – Attacking Football

Team Z restarted the game with renewed determination, eager to make up for the goal they conceded. Now trailing, they explored every possible option to level the score. Bachira, Iemon, Kunigami, and Isagi all took their chances, but none resulted in a goal. On top of that, they had to compensate for the open spaces left by Chigiri's inattentiveness. Kira, in particular, was tireless, covering the left flank and midfield. Though Naruhaya and Kuon shadowed him, they mostly followed his instructions on where to move and when to press the ball.

"Alright, let's go again!" shouted a Team W midfielder, recycling possession as they sought to maintain control.

He passed the ball to Raito, attempting to create another one-on-one situation, but Raichi, still full of energy, disrupted the play. Sliding in with precision, Raichi cleanly touched the ball before Raito, sending Raito to the ground. No whistle, no VAR. The game continued.

"Tch, you're just a chore boy who can't do anything else," Raito snarled as he got back to his feet. "I've noticed you haven't left my side all game."

"That's the plan," Raichi shot back.

"Plan? Since when do you follow someone else's plan?" Raito asked in disbelief. Raichi was notoriously stubborn—following a plan wasn't his style. Raito would sooner eat his socks than believe that.

Meanwhile, Kira quickly scooped up the ball from Raichi's tackle. He surveyed the field and decided to launch a solo run through Team W's defense. However, knowing he needed a distraction, Kira opted to link up with Bachira on the left flank. Naruhaya moved in for additional support, forming a tight triangle that forced Team W's defense into a 3v2 situation, ensuring Team Z always had an extra man in play.

With a sharp pass, Kira sliced the ball through to Bachira, who was already in motion. Bachira took advantage of the situation, beating his defender one-on-one, but as he advanced, the defense closed in, trapping him near the wing.

"Man, didn't see that coming," Bachira muttered to himself, scanning for a way out. His eyes caught movement—someone was shadowing him along the sideline. He smirked. "Bold move. I like it," he said, using his heel to back-pass the ball while positioning his body between the defender and the pass, buying precious time.

Kira received the ball from Bachira and wasted no time, sprinting toward the goal line. The defenders were caught off-guard.

"Oi! Center-backs, move in and stop him!" a defender yelled in panic.

"I'm already on it!" shouted one of the center-backs, closing in on Kira, forcing him toward the goal line to lose possession for a goal kick. But Kira, with quick thinking, pulled off a magical Cruyff turn at the very edge of the line. He stopped the ball just before it crossed out of bounds, stepped over it with precision, placing himself outside the field while turning 180 degrees to poke the ball back inside.

"Damn it!" cursed the defender, completely outmaneuvered.

Kira glanced toward the goal, evaluating his options. 'The angle is too tight—it's a low-percentage shot,' he thought, deciding that one more touch would give him a better chance. Shifting the ball to his right, he aimed a powerful strike toward the far post. The goalkeeper reacted instinctively, diving to block the shot. The ball deflected off his hands, and for a brief moment, he celebrated the save.

However, his relief was short-lived. Isagi, perfectly positioned for the rebound, pounced. With a simple, composed touch, Isagi poked the ball into the back of the net, leveling the score.

Team W: 2 – 2 Team Z.

"Alright!" Isagi shouted, his voice filled with excitement after scoring the equalizer.

"Way to go, Isagi!" Kunigami grinned, ruffling Isagi's hair in celebration.

The rest of Team Z joined in, surrounding Isagi with cheers and pats on the back. Their spirits surged with newfound energy, their passion reignited as they prepared to give everything they had to score again. From the back of the field, Chigiri watched their joyful faces, the way they buzzed with adrenaline. The sight irritated him, the carefree manner they seemed to have as they chased the ball and scored goals.

'Stop it! Just… stop it!' Chigiri seethed inwardly. 'Why do you keep chasing the ball with such fierce determination in your eyes?'

His gaze shifted from Kira, to Isagi, to Kunigami, and Iemon—all of them, brimming with confidence. Not a single one of them seemed to doubt for a moment that they could win. Chigiri noticed how their bodies practically hummed with energy, tapping their feet, eager to get the game back underway. Frustration welled up inside him, boiling over at their positive attitude in the face of adversity. He clenched his jaw, anger seeping into every part of his body.

Kuon, who was closest to him, noticed the tension building in Chigiri. He could sense that Chigiri was about to snap. "Hey, Chigiri-san," Kuon called out, his voice cutting through Chigiri's storm of emotions.

Chigiri looked at Kuon, surprised that he had initiated a conversation with him.

"I don't think you want to give up at all," Kuon said plainly, his eyes locking onto Chigiri's.

Chigiri blinked in confusion. Did he really seem that transparent? Could even Kuon read his thoughts so easily?

"What are you talking about?" Chigiri asked, his voice low and uncertain.

"Your eyes," Kuon said, not breaking eye contact. "They're the eyes of someone who still wants to fight."

Chigiri couldn't process Kuon's words fully before Team W resumed their attack. With Raito neutralized by Raichi, Team W shifted their focus to the Wanima brothers, once again targeting Chigiri's side of the field. They had already scored from this flank earlier, and they knew they could do it again.

"You really have no talent besides your speed, huh, prodigy?" Keisuke sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. He and his brother danced around Chigiri with quick one-two passes, effortlessly bypassing him and advancing into the box.

Kuon quickly moved in, intercepting Junichi's path to try and slow them down. Sensing his opportunity fading, Junichi passed the ball back to Keisuke.

"Don't worry, big bro. I'll finish this," Keisuke said confidently as he swung his foot for a powerful shot.

But before the ball could leave his boot, Kira slid in with a perfectly timed tackle, cleanly stealing the ball from Keisuke's feet. Keisuke tumbled to the ground, letting out a frustrated grunt.

"Hey, VAR! That's a foul! That's what my big bro says!" Keisuke yelled, but the referee's whistle remained silent.

Kira paid the twins no attention, brushing them off as he pushed the ball forward. Without even glancing at Chigiri, Kira sped up the field, focused solely on the play. It was at that moment Chigiri truly realized—he wasn't part of the team anymore. Kira didn't acknowledge him, didn't see him as a player worth passing to. But instead of feeling relieved, something else stirred inside Chigiri. Kira's indifference didn't relief him—it enraged him.

'Since you have nothing at stake, you should just stop playing football now.' Kira's voice echoed in Chigiri's mind, a cruel reminder of their past conflict.

'Shut up,' Chigiri growled inwardly, crushing the intrusive thought.

'I came here to change myself. So should you.' Isagi's words from earlier reverberated through his head next.

'Shut up!' Chigiri mentally shoved the thought away again, his frustration intensifying.

'I don't think you want to give up at all,' Kuon's voice now joined the chorus in his head, 'Those are the eyes of someone willing to fight.'

'SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!' Chigiri raged, his mind spiraling. 'Don't talk as if you know anything about me!'

He glared across the field, his eyes locking onto Kira, who was evading yet another Team W press in the midfield. 'I didn't come here to fight. I came here to give up. I'm not here to play.'

But as Chigiri's gaze shifted to the left flank, the green field stretched out before him—empty, untouched, waiting. There was no one standing between him and that wide-open space.

Without realizing it, Chigiri's body moved on instinct. His legs propelled him forward, his mind quieting as his feet hit the turf. He sprinted down the left flank, the wind rushing past him.