Chapter 82 Football Match
Yesterday's conversation was stopped because the Green Team has a game tomorrow.
The spotlights above the field cut the grass into a checkerboard pattern of light and shadow.
The match is about to begin.
The first pitcher was Qianqie Baoma from the White Team. He wore a white jersey, and his fiery red hair resembled swirling flames. He flicked his finger behind his ear, brushing the sweat-dampened bangs from his forehead, which added a touch of sharpness to his already cold and piercing eyes.
"It's about to start, Jie."
"Um."
Jie Shi nodded, signaling him to begin, his dark blue pupils widening suddenly like a predator locking onto its prey.
The moment the ball took flight, Wang Xiaoxi cut into the gap between the two players. His right leg, covered in grass clippings, left a half-shadow in the light, the inside of his knee precisely blocking the passing route.
The movement caused the bruise on his lower back to throb violently, and cold sweat slid into the collar of his dark green jersey.
Suoh Hyo-hee won the ball.
He successfully made the steal, becoming the focus of everyone's attention.
His emerald green eyes gleamed with a cold light under the lamp.
Wang Xiaoxi swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing, and cried out in pain.
The four players on the white team clearly didn't want to give Suoh Hyo-hee any chance to breathe.
Four white figures were closing in from different angles, while three players from the Green Team were also rushing towards them.
This is the liveliest spot in the entire stadium right now.
Amidst this fierce and relentless encirclement, Suoh Hyogi suddenly stopped in his tracks. Beads of sweat slid down his drooping neck, dripping onto the lush green grass and disappearing instantly.
The aftereffects of "extinguishing the five senses" had completely disappeared, and the dull pain in his lower back was becoming increasingly intense. This pain, far from distracting him, actually made his mind clearer and his thinking sharper.
Of the four members of the White Team, the first to rush towards Suoh Koki was Nagi Seishiro.
This lazy guy, who claims to be a pacifist but is actually 999% aggressive, has revealed another side of himself.
Nagi Seishiro quickly lowered his center of gravity, bending his legs like a beast poised to pounce. His light brown eyes were obscured by a black aura, and a massive, ghostly skull loomed behind him. Nagi Seishiro thrust forward with a powerful shovel, tearing up a patch of grass with his sharp toes.
Just as his toes were about to touch the ball, Suoh Hyo-ki reacted with astonishing speed. His heel firmly planted on the ball, and with a gentle flick of his left toe, the ball seemed to come alive, soaring high into the air.
Seishiro Nagi's light brown pupils reflected the suddenly soaring soccer ball, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes. He tried to stop it, but the ball had risen too low, barely grazing the tips of his white hair before continuing its flight.
Futsuichi had been waiting behind Nagi Seishiro for quite some time.
He leaped, his posture resembling a fully drawn bowstring, full of power and beauty. His right leg lashed out through the air, the sound deafening, as if even one's heart trembled.
"He's going to shoot?"
Jie Shiyi's voice carried a hint of uncertainty. The White Team had watched all of the Green Team's games, and in their eyes, Erzi Yihui was just a ball transfer station, only responsible for passing the ball, and they had never seen him shoot.
This was also true in the first phase of Blue Prison (11 vs 11).
At this moment, Futaba revealed his long-hidden shooting ability.
A strong sense of crisis welled up in Jie Shiyi's heart.
The moment Erzi Yihui pushed off the ground, he rushed over from behind, intending to intercept the ball regardless of whether Erzi Yihui was going to shoot.
The ball was moving incredibly fast.
Despite his best efforts, Jie Shiyi was still unable to keep up with the lightning-fast football. He could only watch helplessly as the ball swept past him and flew towards the goal.
A lightning-fast afterimage suddenly appeared from the side.
The Thousand-Piercing Leopard, who should have been on the sideline, unexpectedly broke into the penalty area with an incredible turning speed.
With a leap, the Thousand-Piercing Leopard Horse brought the ball to a steady stop at its feet.
Long-range shooting is not his forte.
He frowned slightly, his red eyes fixed on the green team's goal, but he helplessly gave up on the idea.
Suoh Hyoki appeared in front of Senkiri Hyoma, following his every move, trying to steal the ball.
"What a clingy fellow," Qianqie Baoma chuckled, his tone full of mockery and disdain. However, his eyes sharpened even more, as if at this moment he was ready to face any challenge.
The Thousand-Piercing Leopard Horse instantly sprang into action, charging towards the goal like a red lightning bolt. The whistling wind filled his ears, but his pupils reflected only the slightly trembling net fifty meters away.
Filled with the desire and anticipation of victory, he would seize every opportunity until his right leg was unable to move.
Amidst the rain of grass clippings kicked up by his cleats, Qianqie Baoma lowered his center of gravity and abruptly changed direction. Just as he burst into the restricted area, a crisp, metallic clang was heard.
With a flick of his wrist, Erzi's slender yet muscular body was positioned between the goal line and the penalty spot.
His face was cold and focused. He slightly raised his head, and his emerald green eyes shimmered like gold on the surface of water under the light.
"Six seconds, faster than predicted." Niko said confidently, as if he could already see all of Senkiri Hyoma's next moves.
He spent a lot of time watching and analyzing all of the White Team players' games, and he already knew the characteristics and habits of the four White Team players, especially Senkichi Hyoma.
"Thank you for the compliment." Qianqie Baoma's red eyes narrowed, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth. He shifted his footwork, intending to pass the ball to a teammate.
“But you miscalculated.” Qianqie Baoma’s words carried a hint of provocation and disdain. “It should be 5.77 seconds.”
Behind them, two pairs of sneakers were plowing deep furrows in the grass.
On the left, Suoh Koki bent his knee in preparation for a sliding tackle, while on the right, Kira Ryosuke followed closely behind.
Three-sided sandwich.
The moment Qianqiebao turned to protect the ball, three shadows attacked from different angles, like the sea serpents that coiled around Laocoön in ancient Greek mythology, preparing to drag him into the sea and drown him bit by bit.
"Chikiri."
The monotonous tone of voice echoed through the stadium.
As Nagi Seishiro charged forward at high speed, the wind straightened his white hair and caused it to fall backward. His strong body, honed through rigorous training at Blue Prison, slammed into Kira Ryosuke like a cannonball. The force was so great that even the ice packs in the medical kit on the sidelines seemed to tremble.
A strong sense of impact filled the air.
Kira Ryosuke staggered back from the sudden impact, and the newly formed triangular defensive formation was instantly smashed open, leaving a clear gap.
In that split second, Qianqie Baoma seized the opportunity, the veins on the instep of his foot bulging, and the football transformed into a silver bullet that pierced through the gap.
Reio Mikage's pupils dilated rapidly at that moment, as if a model of the entire stadium appeared before his eyes, every detail clearly visible. Based on his knowledge of Seishiro Nagi and Hyoma Senkiri, he quickly determined the ball's landing point.
If Nagi and Chikiri team up, then this is the perfect opportunity to intercept the ball.
This is it!
His speed was so extreme that he had to brace himself with his hands to stop, barely managing to counteract the momentum. The grass on the soccer field chafed his palms, but it couldn't diminish the determination in his eyes.
Huh?
Reio Mikage stared wide-eyed in disbelief, her lips twitching slightly.
The sprint, which anticipated the trajectory, was suddenly shrouded in shadow halfway through, and the second piece blocked the landing point in advance.
"Peng—"
The dull thud of the impact echoed across the court as Jie Shiyi and Erzi clashed.
Erzi's black bangs bounced up due to the intense movement, revealing his emerald green eyes. His eyes moved left and right, quickly locking onto the trajectory of the football, the best passing point, and the opponent's position.
Bingzhi Yang darted out from behind Erzi Yihui, ready to seize the fleeting opportunity to steal the ball. Erzi Yihui immediately turned to defend, effectively blocking Bingzhi Yang's attack route. A fierce contest ensued, the ball darting left and right, up and down between their feet. In the midst of this intense struggle, Bingzhi Yang suddenly unleashed a powerful kick, sending the ball flying towards the boundary line.
This kick was extremely powerful, sending the ball straight towards the boundary line.
Ryosuke Kira had already anticipated the direction of the ball and rushed towards the edge of the boundary line, ready to meet the incoming football.
He raised his left leg to meet the rebounding football, his jersey hem fluttering as he revealed taut muscles.
Without any adjustment or cushioning, the trajectory of the outside-of-the-foot shot was so tricky it was as if it had been measured with a compass.
Shoot without stopping the ball.
The football grazed the bottom edge of the goalpost and went into the net.
The green team took the first point.
1:0
Less than five minutes into the game, the Green Team scored the first goal.
The speed was so fast that it shocked Reio Mikage.
His purple eyes widened as he stared at the scene before him in disbelief.
Whether in terms of football skills or team cohesion, the Green Team demonstrated an extraordinary harmony and tacit understanding.
It's like... how it should be.
From the moment he got the ball, his subsequent actions were as smooth as flowing water.
The attack was fast-paced and the passes were executed flawlessly.
Reio Mikage couldn't insert it at all.
With shooting ability from Suga Hsiao-ki and passing ability from Niji Ichiro, Kira Ryosuke excels in both.
In this situation, Reio Mikage felt a sense of bewilderment.
My existence seems to have no meaning.
Reio Mikage lowered his head, his purple hair falling down with his movements, just enough to obscure his equally purple eyes, making it impossible to see his expression.
Why did they choose me?
His hands clenched into fists involuntarily, the veins on the back of his hands bulging slightly from the force, and the stinging pain from his nails digging deep into his palms was nothing compared to the shock he was experiencing.
He wasn't unaware of the saying that there are always people better than you, and that there's always something beyond your understanding. It's just that the cruel reality came too quickly, so fast that he hadn't even had time to recover the self-esteem that Nagi Seishiro had smashed and left on the ground.
No, I need to find an opportunity to showcase myself.
When he looked up again, the vulnerability in his eyes was replaced by determination.
Besides Mikage Rei-o, Jessie also stopped the two boys with a wave of her hand.
Jie Shiyi gently touched the spot where Erzi had struck him; a faint pain still lingered there. He frowned slightly, his gaze fixed on the boy with long bangs.
This guy... got there before me.
The game continued, with the white team's Kiyoshi Ichik kicking off. Just as he was about to pass the ball, it was intercepted by Suoh Hyo-ki with astonishing speed.
The game started too smoothly.
Suoh Hyo-ki's attention began to wander unconsciously, and his movements became more casual.
But just then, he felt another wave of pain in his lower back.
Just as the ball was about to reach the White Team's goal, Suoh Koki gently kicked it, softly passing it to Kira Ryosuke. It was as if he were conducting a trivial daily passing drill, completely lacking the previous sharpness and dominance.
Kira Ryosuke was intently watching the situation on the field, ready to deal with any unexpected situations.
Huh? What's going on?
The black and white ball was passed to his feet, and he felt its powerless touch, which stunned him. The other two players on the green team (Futago Kazuki and Mikage Reio) were also stunned. They didn't understand why Suou Koki, who had already dribbled the ball to the white team's goal, would pass the ball to Kira Ryosuke.
He could have easily shot the ball into the goal and scored a second goal with a simple lift of his leg, but Suoh Koki chose to pass the ball instead. After a brief pause, Kira Ryosuke suddenly turned sideways and kicked the ball back with force.
The football, whistling through the air, hurtled towards Suoh Hyogi like a cannonball, as if in silent protest against his actions.
Ice-woven Sheep suddenly appeared from the side and instantly appeared next to Suoh Hyoki.
"Concentrate," he suggested gently and politely to Suoh Koki, but his left foot moved with no gentleness whatsoever, brutally plunging into Suoh Koki's crotch and violently kicking the ball away.
"King" Sang.
Bingzhi Yang smiled and addressed Suoh Hyo-hee.
The soccer ball was violently kicked away, and Nagi Seishiro quickly covered, controlling the ball and heading towards the Green Team's goal. Kira Ryosuke turned and followed closely behind. Suoh Koki snapped out of his daze and immediately chased after him, but was tightly marked by Hyōri Yo.
The two are 9 centimeters apart in height, but the huge height difference did not make Bingzhi Yang feel weak or powerless. On the contrary, he pressed forward step by step, which greatly restricted Suoh Xiaoxi's movements.
"Good!"
1:1
With Nagi Seishiro's successful shot, the White Team scored a goal, tying the score.
The noise on the court continued, but Kira Ryosuke's face was terribly gloomy. The veins on his forehead bulged slightly as he walked hurriedly toward Suoh Koki.
"Did your brain get soaked in the seawater of Nagawa?" Kira Ryosuke's words were unusually sharp, his light brown eyes staring directly into Suoh Koki's emerald green eyes as he said, word by word, "Why did you pass the ball at that moment?"
Su Wang Xiaoxi turned his face away, the protruding knuckles on the back of his neck were dazzlingly white in the sunlight.
Based on their years of familiarity, Kira Ryosuke guessed what had happened. He simply realized his words and actions were too sharp, and he felt he had hurt others. Instead of a formal apology, he used something else to substitute.
“If you’re thinking of apologizing to me this way, I absolutely will not accept it.” Kira Ryosuke’s expression became even more serious. His neatly combed light brown bangs were now messily stuck to his forehead, and the veins on his neck throbbed. “When you apologize, you have to look the other person in the eye!”
“Besides, becoming the core is my goal. I don’t need others to feel guilty or apologize and start accommodating me.” Kira Ryosuke suddenly grabbed his collar, their noses almost touching. “If others offer it to me, it will only make me feel more embarrassed.”
I don't want to be anyone's backup option, nor do I want to receive any impure choice.
He wants to win everything through his own efforts and abilities.
“Let’s have a match, Takashimare.” Kira Ryosuke flung his collar back and took a half-step, his fingertips tracing the still-fading bruise on his collarbone. “Let everyone see who is the one who deserves to be chosen.”
Suoh Hyo-ki's blue eyes widened in astonishment, the light shining through his pale gold eyelashes and casting butterfly-wing-like shadows on his cheeks.
Come on!
Ryosuke Kira slammed the soccer ball towards the center line, his light brown eyes gleaming with golden light. "Use your prized 'Synchronization' to crush me, or—"
He paused, then raised his chin, revealing his sharp teeth: "The throne will be crushed by me, this 'alternative'."
He's glowing!
Suoh Hyo-hee was stunned.
As Kira Ryosuke uttered these absolute truths, he seemed to become the "protagonist" of a shonen manga. He radiated a dazzling light, making his presence impossible for anyone to ignore.
Suoh Hyo-ki's fingertips dug deeply into his palms, blood seeping into the grass between his fingers. The throbbing pain in his lower back suddenly became clear and sharp, as if countless steel needles were crawling along his spine.
But what was even harder to bear than the pain was the strange and burning tremor surging in my chest.
"I couldn't have gotten it."
The hoarse voice startled the birds into flight, and Suoh Hyoki's figure shot out like an arrow.
Seeing the two locked in a stalemate, Reio Mikage realized that this was a golden opportunity.
—It can demonstrate my value.
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