While the players of Ookami elementary school were falling back, the forwards of Ronden elementary school began to charge the ball forward.
The two forwards on their top were extremely agile. With swift 1-2 passes they tore the defence of Ookami elementary school like pair of sharp scissor blade cutting through the paper.
The fast pace counterattack intrigued the crowds as they stood up from their seat and watched them tear the defence of Ookami elementary school.
With only Akashi and Endo remaining in the backline, the forwards of Ronden elementary school were already infront of the penalty box. Akashi tried to maintain his composure as much as he can and didn’t charge forward recklessly.
‘What will it be? Will he pass or will he dribble pass me or will he shoot?’ Akashi began to wonder as droplets of sweat began to wail down his sweaty face.
Just then he caught a glimpse of the foot of the player with the ball. Thinking that he’d pass the ball, Akashi jumped forward to block his pass course. But contrary to his expectations, the forward faked the pass and dribble passed him.
Endo was the only one standing between that forward and the goal. He was their last ray of hope.
“Come forward Endo senpai.” Hiro desperately shouted.
But Endo hesitated to come forward and started to panic instead of keeping his cool like he used to do. Since earlier moment, he seemed out of place. As if something was gnawing on him, he seemed different than his usual self.
The forward of Ronden elementary school took full advantage of his hesitation. As he was glued to his post, the forward of Ronden elementary school had a lot of space to shoot and score. Taking advantage of those spaces, the forward shot the ball and scored a goal against Ookami elementary school.
“Gooooaaaaallllllll!!!!!”
[Ronden elementary school have opened up the scoresheet. The champions have once again demonstrated why other teams need to fear them.]
The crowds burst out in cheers as Ronden elementary school took the lead against Ookami elementary school in the 17th minute of the match.
“What’s the matter with you Endo senpai? You’re acting weird. You should have been able to make that save.” Akashi began to complain.
He had full confidence on Endo to prevent the goal. But contrary to his expectations, Endo conceded a goal. He was frozen at his place.
“It’s alright. It’s alright Akashi.” Hiro intoned while pulling back a fuming Akashi.
“Let’s give our best Endo senpai.” As he was returning to his position, he whispered.
Endo didn’t reply anything and continued to remain unresponsive.
Beep!!
The referee blew the whistle, commencing the continuation of the match.
As time progressed, the playstyle of the Ronden elementary school remained the same. However their attacks started to become even more lethal.
The score remained 1-0 for the entirety of the first half. While the keeper of Ronden elementary school was making unbelievable saves and preventing their goals. Endo on the otherhand looked out of place.
Even after that first goal, there were many instances when they were on the verge of conceding goals. If not for their defence, they might have already conceded more than 3 goals in the first half alone.
While exiting the pitch, nobody spoke anything.
The tension on the team was evident from the faces of the players.
Bam!!!
Unable to control his anger, Akashi banged the locker while they were resting in the locker room, awaiting for coach’s guidance.
“What’s the matter with you Endo senpai? If you don’t want to play then just substitute for Mark senpai. He’s more than ready to play. But if you want to play then play as if your life depends on it.” Akashi burst out in fury and began to cuss Endo.
Hiro and Kuon tried to hold him back but he was simply too strong for them to restrain. While Akashi was cussing at Endo, nobody spoke anything. Afterall Akashi was stating the fact.
Akashi who grew up in a family of Yakuza feared nobody. While his father ran a business, his grandfather used to be one of the boss of a local Yakuza gang. Even though his grandfather had retired from his position because of his old age and because of the stricter laws, his Yakuza friends from his younger days still used to hangout with him at his place.
Akashi who got along with his grandfather often accompanied him at the time of meeting. And whenever those old fogies met each other, they would cheerfully tell their heroic deeds they performed when they were younger. Akashi who was fascinated by those stories was extremely influenced by their stories and wanted to become like them.
His love for football also started because of his grandfather as well. While those old fogies were Yakuza’s who didn’t give a damn about life, they would often gather together to bet in football matches. And because of those betting habits, they’d often spectate the match from the stands. And as time progressed, those habits changed into love for football.
“Kuro senpai help!” Hiro pleaded while gesturing Kuro to help them restrain Akashi.
Even though Akashi was younger compared to Endo, he was much more taller and bulkier than the rest of the players. And his fierce temper was no joke. He’d even punch a 13 year old in anger. He was an idiot with immense raw strength.
“Okay that’s all Akashi.” Coach Miura intoned as he made his way towards the locker room.
Hearing the voice of the coach, Akashi quiet down and tried to break free from their clutches. Fearing that he might lunge at Endo if left alone, the two of them increased their grip and restrained him even more tightly.
“Leave me” Akashi rose his voice and tried to shake them off.
“Leave him” Coach Miura exclaimed.
Hearing the words of coach Miura, both of them let go of him. Upon getting free from their clutches, Akashi walked towards the bench and sat down with a wet towel on top of his face.
“Okay! Now that everyone’s clam down, I’d like to say something. I know that first half have been tough for you all and it’s not going as expected. But I want you all to know that the game has not ended and we still have time to turn around the match.” While giving a pep talk, Coach Miura gestured assistant coach Honda to bring him the whiteboard. He then began to scribble something on the whiteboard.
“Look here! The reason why we aren’t able to score a goal against them is because they’re guiding us to the place where they want us to take the ball. They’re manipulating our play by creating fake spaces. The spaces where we cannot score a goal. They’re intentionally leading us.” Coach Miura briefed them about the flaws.
Having said that, he adjourned the meeting. And as the players were leaving towards the pitch with a newfound confidence, he stopped Endo.
“You know why I’m not pulling you out of the game?” Coach Miura mumbled.
Endo continued to remain silent.
“Endo look me in the eyes.” He yelled.
Endo hesitatingly lifted his head up to meet his eyes. “I’m not pulling you out of the game because I believe in you Endo. So it’s all up to you whether you want to prove me right or wrong.” Coach Miura exclaimed while looking him in the eyes.
Endo remained speechless. But he was feeling guilty as well. 𝒷𝓭ℴ𝓋𝓵.𝒸ℴ𝓶
“Do you understand Endo?”
Endo silently nodded his head.
“Go and give your best.”
[I thought that the coach would substitute his keeper for making those lethal mistakes. But what’s this, he hasn’t dropped him out of the team. Is their something going on his head? Is this a part of their strategy? Or is it a plain act of ignorance? Whatever it is, we’ll only know after the end of the match.]
Beep!!
With the blow of the whistle of referee, the second half of the match commenced in full swing.
Neither of the team made any changes and the game continued with the same players from the beginning.
With no tactical changes in the second half, Ronden elementary school continued to play as they did in the first half. Intentionally leaving a gap for the players of Ookami elementary school to exploit, they continued to mislead them.
And as such at 43rd minute of the game, the ball was with Hiro. As he was dribbling the ball forward, he noticed a gap in the left side of the player infront.
Having heard of their tactics, he did as they wanted. He dribbled towards left to the gap they intentionally left open. However instead of making a shot from the left side, he cut in even more deep and began to dribble the ball towards the post.
Unlike Endo, Taki came forward to block his shoot course. Covering a large space, he stood tall infront of him. As if he was trying to intimidate him.
He slowed down his pace and approached the post slowly. And just as Hiro was about to make a shot Taki stretched his arms wide.
But the ball went down between his legs while he was focusing on his sides.
“Gooooaaaaallllllll!!!!”