The moment the ball rolled away from Southside's goal, the entire stadium erupted once more.
The match had transformed.
This wasn't a game anymore.
It was survival.
Every player on the field looked exhausted. Jerseys were soaked with sweat, breathing had become uneven, and every sprint demanded more than their bodies wanted to give. Yet neither team slowed down.
There wasn't enough time left for that.
Aka collected the ball just inside Southside's half.
The moment he turned, Yusuke was already charging toward him.
"You again," Aka said quietly.
"I'm not stopping."
"I know."
Aka shifted the ball to his left.
Yusuke matched him.
He cut right.
Yusuke stayed there.
Another feint.
Another step.
Another desperate chase.
The crowd watched in complete silence.
For almost the entire match, this duel had repeated itself.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Neither one was willing to quit.
Aka suddenly burst forward.
Yusuke stayed attached.
Daichi stepped up to help.
Ren closed from the opposite side.
Three defenders surrounded him.
Aka didn't panic.
Instead, he calmly rolled the ball backward.
Réservoir was already waiting.
The French midfielder controlled it with one touch before lifting his head.
"They're overcommitting."
Theo immediately sprinted down the right wing.
Réservoir's pass curved perfectly into his path.
Theo reached it in full stride and crossed first time.
The ball curled dangerously into the penalty area.
Marc attacked it.
Daichi rose with him.
Their foreheads met the ball at almost exactly the same moment.
The header flew upward instead of goalward.
Everyone underneath it looked skyward.
The ball dropped toward the six-yard box.
Lucien lunged.
Tsubasa exploded off his line.
For one terrifying second, both players reached it together.
Tsubasa punched through the ball with both fists.
The clearance wasn't clean.
It only reached the edge of the area.
Aka was already there.
The stadium stood.
Aka pulled his leg back.
BOOM.
The strike screamed through a forest of bodies.
Halfway to goal—
Yuma threw himself in front of it.
The ball smashed into his ribs.
The impact sent him crashing backward onto the grass.
The rebound rolled toward Hiroto.
"Clear it!" Ren shouted.
Hiroto didn't hesitate.
He launched the ball high into the night sky.
Everyone watched it climb.
Higher.
Higher.
Then finally descend near midfield.
Takumi brought it under control with his chest before immediately feeding Sora down the left.
Southside countered.
The crowd found its voice again.
Sora sprinted past Noah.
One touch.
Two touches.
He slipped the ball inside to Pambara.
Pambara turned under pressure.
Marc was already charging toward him.
Instead of forcing anything, Pambara shielded the ball and laid it back to Hiroto.
Simple.
Safe.
Correct.
Hiroto switched play to Yusuke.
Yusuke controlled on the run.
Only Aka stood between him and the penalty area.
The two met once more.
Yusuke tried cutting inside.
Aka matched him.
He tried the outside.
Aka blocked that too.
For several seconds neither player gained even a centimetre.
Finally, Yusuke poked the ball through Aka's legs.
The crowd exploded.
Aka spun instantly, recovering before Yusuke could escape completely.
The two collided shoulder to shoulder.
Neither fell.
Neither gave an inch.
Eventually the ball trickled harmlessly out for a throw-in.
Both players stepped away, breathing heavily.
Aka looked at Yusuke.
"...You're improving."
Yusuke wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"...I'm still going to beat you."
Aka gave the smallest smile.
"We'll see."
The throw-in restarted play.
Only a couple of minutes remained.
Every challenge was harder.
Every pass carried more weight.
Every mistake threatened to decide the match.
The noise inside the stadium never stopped.
Southside supporters screamed themselves hoarse.
Nocturne supporters answered every chant.
The atmosphere had become overwhelming.
Then—
during a brief stoppage while the ball was retrieved—
Yusuke happened to glance toward the sideline.
His eyes widened.
Standing near the edge of the field...
wearing a full Southside kit...
soccer boots laced...
a bag resting at his feet...
was Riku.
Silent.
Watching.
Yusuke froze.
"...Riku...?"
The ball was thrown back into play.
But Yusuke's eyes remained fixed on the touchline.
For the first time in weeks...
Riku had come back.
To Be Continued.