Chapter 14: Desperate Crowd
Second Half Begins
The whistle blew.
Team Y kicked off, immediately dropping the ball to their defenders. Just like the first half, they played it safe—cycling possession in the back line.
"Push up!"
"Let's fight back!"
Team Z surged forward, swarming into Team Y's half.
"Damn it—that was close!" Imamura Yudai slid in hard, narrowly missing a clean tackle.
"It's fine! Keep pressing!" Isagi Yoichi pulled him up and chased the next pass.
Isagi's eyes burned.
No gaps. No chances. They're just trying to wear us down!
Time ticked on. Frustration mounted.
No one's weapon worked against this iron curtain.
Boom!
A clean interception—Isagi stole the ball with a desperate slide.
Still ten minutes left. We have a chance—even if just to draw.
Boom!
Raichi Jingo's volley was powerful—but the goalkeeper parried it out.
Corner kick.
Team Z packed the box.
Wait…
Isagi's skin prickled. Something felt wrong.
He turned—eyes wide.
No. They've been waiting for this.
Boom!
Bachira Meguru's corner curled perfectly—
—but the goalkeeper punched it clean.
Pass. Pass. Long ball!
In a flash, Niko Ikki received it and launched a rocket toward midfield.
"It's happening—!" Isagi shouted. "Cover Okawa!"
Team Y Counterattack
"End it, Okawa!"
The ball sailed toward Okawa Hibiki, who was already sprinting behind the line.
This is it.
One-on-one with the keeper.
But—
Bang!
A blur of light blue surged across the pitch.
Yūshin Seiichi.
He stopped the ball mid-air with his chest and stared coldly into Okawa's stunned eyes.
"Now the real game begins… losers."
His pupils gleamed with deep blue fire. An eerie aura surrounded him—like ghosts circling a battlefield.
Seiichi shoved Chigiri Hyōma aside without breaking stride.
"Don't get in my way, trash."
Without even glancing back, he passed, then accelerated into Team Y's half.
"Stop him—quick!" Niko screamed.
Two defenders rushed in.
"I've been toying with you for eighty minutes," Seiichi muttered. "Now… watch from the sidelines."
He dropped his shoulder, feinted right—
then burst past the first defender.
The second tried to close the gap—
Gone. Cleanly bypassed.
Niko lunged in himself—
Boom!
Seiichi lifted his foot and shot from outside the box.
"You're shooting?! From there?!"
Swish.
Top right corner.
GOAL.
Team Z 1 – 1 Team Y.
"YES!!"
"Beautiful strike!"
"SEIICHI!!"
Seiichi stood calmly, surrounded by cheers.
Then—he spoke.
"You're all useless. From now on—just give me the ball. Then watch."
He turned and walked away.
The locker room went silent. The joy vanished.
Even his teammates… felt fear.
Kickoff: Team Y
Tension gripped them. With the draw, their advancement chances plummeted.
They had to win—but panic spread.
"Calm down!" Niko yelled. "We still have time!"
But hesitation festered.
Mao Li intercepted a slow pass and sent it wide.
"Damn it—don't let Seiichi get it!"
But it was too late.
Tap.
Fried meatball dribble.
Turn. Marseille spin.
Boom!
Explosive step—three defenders gone in three seconds.
One-on-one.
Niko stepped in front.
"I won't let you pass."
Seiichi glared down.
"You're an insect."
A flurry of stepovers. The ball danced like an illusion.
Niko's eyes locked in—
Then Seiichi feinted left, drew him in—
—and pushed right.
Niko went for the trap.
Seiichi reversed instantly, nutmegging him through the legs.
Boom!
Another shot ripped into the net.
GOAL.
Team Z 2 – 1 Team Y.
The stadium froze.
No cheers.
Just breathing.
No one could believe it.
Team Y's wall… shattered in five minutes.
They weren't even on the same level.
Final Minutes
Five minutes left.
Team Y pressed with desperation—
their dreams hanging by a thread.
But Team Z had marked every man.
No space. No chances.
Niko scanned the pitch, sweating. Nothing. Nowhere to shoot.
"Then I'll do it myself—!"
Boom!
But Seiichi appeared again.
He stole the ball cleanly, eyes like daggers.
"No… please—don't—" Niko murmured.
"STOP HIM!" Okawa screamed.
Feint. Marseille turn.
Gone.
One-on-one.
"I won't let you shoot!" Niko roared, grabbing his jersey.
Whistle.
Foul.
"Ref! Red card!!" Mao Li protested.
"Yellow card," the system announced.
"What?! One-on-one and that's all?!"
"Focus!" Isagi barked. "This is our last chance!"
40-Meter Free Kick
Too far to shoot… right?
Everyone in the box prepared to defend a cross.
But Seiichi stood still.
His ankle locked at 45 degrees.
No way…
Boom!
A cannon shot exploded off his foot.
It soared like a missile—curling with unnatural grace.
"Goalkeeper!!"
Too late.
Swish.
Upper right corner.
GOAL.
Hat trick.
Team Z 3 – 1 Team Y.
Control Room
In the monitor room, Ego Jinpachi and Anri Teieri watched in silence.
Anri's jaw dropped.
"He scored a hat trick in under ten minutes…"
"Not even on the same level," Ego murmured.
His eyes gleamed.
"So this is what you've been hiding, Yūshin Seiichi."
"The perfect egoist."