Chapter 92 Football 92 The Match Begins
The highly anticipated showdown between the U-20 national team and the Blue Prison has finally begun.
The root of the noise and attention surrounding this highly publicized battle lies almost entirely with Sae Itoshi.
This is his first time representing the Japanese national team, making it a significant event.
Before the match, the two teams were arranged to wait in the same lounge. The air felt like solidified lead, so heavy it was hard to breathe. An invisible hostility and sparks of competition crackled in the silence, creating a tense atmosphere.
At the start of the two teams, Itoshi Rin stood like an ice sculpture radiating coldness, his eyes fixed on Itoshi Sae ahead of him. His emerald green eyes, similar to his brother's, swirled with undisguised killing intent. A chilling aura emanated from him, causing everyone in the rest area to instinctively tense up and even hold their breath.
"Hey, aren't they...brothers?" The guy with the light yellow afro couldn't help but shrink his neck and move closer to Captain Ofri Aikong. He scratched the back of his neck with disbelief and confusion. "This atmosphere...is too weird. It feels like they're about to fight at any moment."
Overe-Agon crossed his arms, his face still bearing a cheerful smile that seemed to encompass everything. "Haha, don't be nervous. Maybe it's just a little kid throwing a tantrum? Kids this age all go through a rebellious phase to some extent."
These words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly attracting everyone's attention, with all eyes focused on Ofri Aikong.
Of course, this also includes Itoshi Rin's gaze, which can freeze a person to the bone.
The chilling gaze that had been directed at Sae Itoshi instantly shifted to Ofri Aisora.
Despite being the center of attention, Ofri Aikong seemed completely oblivious, showing no discomfort whatsoever, and instead greeted everyone in a friendly manner.
This is the composure of a mature adult.
The atmosphere at the back of the line was equally subtle.
"Qianqie, Erzi."
"haven't seen you for a long time."
Suoh Koki and Kira Ryosuke greeted their former teammates.
"Yo, we meet again, Suoh, Kira." Senkiri Hyoma's beautiful red eyes narrowed slightly, and the corners of his mouth curved into a smile, but there was no warmth in that smile, instead, it carried a kind of ignited fighting spirit. "Although we used to be partners who fought side by side, this time... we have no intention of holding back."
Standing next to him, Futaka Ichiro habitually rested his chin on his index finger and thumb. Even through the thick fringe, both Wang Xiaoxi and Kira Ryosuke could clearly feel the penetrating gaze emanating from him.
Suoh Hyo-hee met their gazes. "That suits me perfectly. We will also do our best and won't let you down."
Ryosuke Kira nodded slightly to the side. Although he didn't speak, the firmness in his eyes showed that his attitude was the same as Koki Suoh's. His gaze swept over the faces of his two former teammates, then subconsciously searched the starting lineup of Blue Prison, and asked with a hint of doubt, "...Where's Rei? He's not in the starting lineup?"
"Ling Wang is not in the starting lineup." That was Bingzhi Yang's reply.
The boy's light blue eyes, like a calm lake, now clearly reflected Suoh Koki's figure. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a heavy weight, "However, I will work together, for his sake as well, to personally pull you down from the 'throne'."
"I look forward to it." Suoh Hyoki's response remained concise and confident, with even a faint, almost imperceptible, smile hinting at the challenge he was about to take on.
This unyielding stance made Qianqie Baoma click his tongue in disapproval.
"...You bastard." Senkiri Hyoma crossed his arms, his crimson eyes burning with fighting spirit, his tone a complex mix of annoyance and undeniable apology. "Still that infuriating tone of yours!"
[The highly anticipated showdown between the U20 national team and the emerging force, Blue Prison, has officially begun!] The impassioned male voice, like a spark igniting a fuse, instantly set the entire stadium ablaze.
【This is the Tokyo National Stadium! Ladies and gentlemen!】 The other announcer's voice was even more excited, filled with barely suppressed enthusiasm.
On one side is the formidable national team, and on the other is the emerging youth academy, La Boum, boasting an all-striker lineup. What kind of performance will they deliver? We'll have to wait and see.
Their response was met with deafening cheers and whistles from the stands, which had been barely contained. The sound waves pounded against every corner of the stadium, and the air itself seemed to vibrate.
[A special player joined us for this match; he is none other than Sae Itoshi, hailed as one of the Eleven Heroes of the New Generation. This is his first match as a member of the national team, and I imagine most of us came specifically for him.]
"冴——"
Almost the instant the announcer finished speaking, a deafening roar of screams, applause, and shouts of his name erupted from every corner of the stands like a volcanic eruption. Huge banners were waved wildly, countless cameras focused on that composed figure, and the temperature in the entire stadium seemed to rise several degrees because of him.
Undoubtedly, the vast majority of this bustling crowd were there to witness the debut of this prodigy (who was playing for Japan for the first time).
Amidst a deafening, almost roof-lifting roar, the players from both sides lined up to enter the field. The air seemed to freeze, yet was filled with a palpable tension.
With the referee's whistle, the highly anticipated match officially began.
Rin Itoshi from Blue Prison kicked off the game, and without hesitation, he delivered a precise short pass to Hyouri Sheep on the wing.
Like an arrow released from a bow, Bingzhi Yang deftly controlled the ball and instantly accelerated, speeding towards the heart of the U-20 half. In the blink of an eye, he had already penetrated the Blue Prison's midfield line, heading straight for the U-20's defensive area.
Some things went too smoothly.
Ice-Weaving Sheep's light blue eyes were slightly lowered, and the corner of her eye quickly scanned her surroundings like a radar.
The progress was almost eerily smooth, with an unreal calm permeating the air.
This is not the level of defensive intensity expected from a national team.
A sense of vigilance, like a cold thread, quietly crept into his heart.
The strength of the U-20 national team is far more than this.
Or is this a trap?
Just as Bingzhiyang's mind began to stir and he attempted to observe further, two figures, as if they had foreseen this, instantly blocked the crucial path in front of him.
U-20's Niou and Shin, along with Saharu, arrived in time to build a solid barrier.
That's more like it!
Ice-Weaving Sheep's wariness instantly transformed into calm judgment.
In the tiny gap before the opponent's encirclement was formed, Bingzhi Yang keenly spotted Itoshi Rin rushing in from the right. He flicked his left foot, intending to send the ball into Itoshi Rin's sprinting path.
A pea-red figure cut the ball in half.
Saeshi Itoshi intercepted the ball like a cold, merciless wind. Her movements were concise, efficient, and ruthless, leaving no room for the passer or receiver to react.
Ice Sheep felt a chill run down his spine, and almost instinctively wanted to accelerate and counter-attack to regain possession of the ball. He shifted his weight forward, and a figure as imposing as a mountain had already loomed over his path.
That was the U20 captain and the strongest defender – Ofri Aikong.
“Kid, not bad for you,” Ofri Aikong’s voice carried a hint of approval, but more so of an air of complete control. “However…”
As he spoke, Ofri Aikong merely took a half-step to the outside, seemingly casually, and as if he had anticipated all of Iceweave Sheep's possible breakthrough directions, precisely blocking his path forward.
Its massive size and precise positioning instantly blocked all of Iceweave Sheep's advance.
Iceweave Sheep twisted his body forcefully, attempting to use off-the-ball movement to bypass Aikong and find a new receiving point. But Ofri Aikong was like a persistent thorn in his side, easily taking a huge stride and once again blocking his way.
“I hate it the most—” Overeigh leaned forward slightly, his smile unchanged, but his words carried an all-knowing mockery and powerful confidence, clearly reaching Ice Sheep’s ears, “For strikers like you who are always thinking about ‘stealing’ the football from other people’s feet. Then let me, the righteous policeman, arrest you, you little thief who is left-footed and likes to launch sneak attacks from the gaps in the box.”
Overe-Agon was like a crimson python lurking in the shadows, coldly and precisely targeting its prey's fatal weaknesses.
!?
Upon hearing Ofri Aikong's precise analysis of Bing Zhiyang's preferred footwork and breakthrough habits, Jie Shi, who was not far away, felt a chill run down her spine and goosebumps erupt all over her body.
Within five minutes of the start of the game, and after only a few rounds of observation, Bingzhiyang's playing style was completely analyzed.
Jie Shiyi seemed to see a huge red python suddenly tightening its grip, tightly coiling around Bing Zhiyang. The suffocating pressure made it difficult for him to breathe.
Ice-Weaving Sheep, at the eye of the storm, showed little emotional fluctuation. He slightly raised his chin, his light blue eyes calmly meeting Overeef Aikong's smiling scrutiny.
"Oh? Is that so?" Ice Sheep's voice was cold and detached. "Then let's give it a try, Officer."
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