Kickoff.
Riku didn't ease into it.
He slammed the ball back harder than needed, the impact echoing across the field as the ball skidded toward Hiroto. His jaw was tight, his eyes locked forward.
"…This time, I'm taking control," he muttered under his breath.
It wasn't loud.
But it wasn't meant to be.
Hiroto received immediately.
His first touch was clean, but his head was already moving before the ball settled. Left. Right. Forward. Back.
"Slow it down," he called out. "Structure first. Don't rush it."
But there was something off.
A slight crack in his voice.
They had all felt it.
That first goal wasn't just a goal.
It was a warning.
"Just give it!" Yuma shouted from up front, already pushing into defenders like he was trying to force the game into submission. "We're not getting bullied again!"
He shoved forward, pressing into Bastien, trying to create space through sheer force.
"Calm down," Takumi said, already dropping deeper. "We reset."
He opened his body, arms slightly out.
"Here."
Hiroto tried to find him.
He shifted the ball, shaping his body for the pass
But Réservoir was already there.
Not rushing.
Not lunging.
Just stepping.
Calm.
Measured.
Perfectly placed.
He cut off the passing lane before it even existed.
"…You haven't learned anything," Réservoir said quietly, his tone almost bored.
Hiroto forced it anyway.
The pass slipped through the narrow gap
Marc Pelletier crashed into it.
Hard.
The ball clipped off his foot and deflected awkwardly, spinning loose into open space.
"…Tch," Hiroto clicked his tongue.
Sora reacted first.
He darted in, spinning onto the loose ball with quick feet.
"I've got space!"
For half a second
he did.
Then Noah Garnier was there.
No sound.
No warning.
Just presence.
A clean tackle.
No wasted motion.
No hesitation.
The ball was his.
He didn't celebrate it.
Didn't even pause.
He moved it forward immediately.
Theo Armand received wide.
Already accelerating.
Already dangerous.
"Too slow," Theo called out, glancing at Ren as he pushed forward.
Ren didn't back down.
He matched him step for step, tightening the gap.
"I won't get beaten twice."
Theo smirked.
He tried to cut inside
Ren held his ground.
Didn't bite.
Didn't lunge.
Forced him outward.
"Center!" Ren shouted.
Daichi shifted in instantly.
Closing the space.
For a moment
Theo was boxed in.
Then he slipped the ball inside anyway.
Sharp.
Quick.
Réservoir.
Smooth control.
No rush.
No panic.
"…You're panicking," he said casually, dragging the ball just enough to pull Hiroto toward him.
Hiroto stepped.
Trying to close him down.
Réservoir faked a forward pass.
Hiroto bit.
That was all it took.
The ball slid sideways.
Tight space.
Aka appeared.
He didn't look.
Didn't adjust.
Didn't even move at first.
The ball reached him.
Bounced once.
Then
Soft control.
Like it meant nothing.
Kaito stepped in immediately.
"Not this time."
Aka didn't react.
Didn't flinch.
He just stared at him.
A second passed.
Maybe less.
But it felt longer.
Then
a small nudge.
Kaito moved.
Too late.
Aka slipped past him.
"…Heh."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
Yuma charged in from the side.
"I'll take him down!"
Aka stopped.
Completely.
Yuma flew past him.
"…What the hell "
Aka dragged the ball backward slowly.
Deliberately.
Like he was pulling the game back with him.
Tap.
Tap.
"…This is boring," he muttered.
Jules Caron made a perfect run.
"PASS!"
Wide open.
Clear.
Easy.
Aka didn't even glance.
Still dribbling.
Hiroto stepped in again.
This time
better timing.
He got a touch.
For a split second
the ball was loose.
Then Aka took it back.
Instantly.
Like it had never left him.
Riku stormed in.
"Stop hesitating!"
He didn't dive in.
Didn't rush.
He watched.
Reading.
Trying to understand.
Aka paused again.
Locked eyes with him.
Then smiled.
"…I see you."
Riku stepped forward
Too late.
Aka flicked it.
Between his legs.
Gone.
"…Still invisible," Aka said softly.
Riku froze.
Just for a moment.
That moment
was enough.
"…SHUT UP!"
He turned instantly.
Chasing.
"I'm not letting you through again!"
Daichi stepped up.
Ren beside him.
They closed together.
Forming a wall.
"Tsubasa, ready!" Daichi shouted.
Tsubasa shifted behind them, adjusting his stance, eyes locked forward.
Réservoir stood back.
Watching.
Arms loose at his sides.
"…He's wasting time," he said.
"…But it's entertaining."
Aka slowed again.
Right outside the box.
Tap.
Tap.
Side to side.
The ball barely moved.
But everything else did.
Everyone froze.
Waiting.
For something.
Anything.
Yusuke stepped forward.
Calm.
Controlled.
"Don't rush," he said.
"Hold your positions."
The team listened.
For the first time
they didn't collapse.
They held.
Aka tilted his head.
"…Better."
A faint smile.
Then
movement.
Sharp.
Sudden.
He shifted the ball sideways.
The defense reacted
Just a fraction too late.
The space opened.
The breakthrough
had begun.