Chapter 110: The Shoulder Trap
"Pass it, Rin! To The Great Raichi!!"
Raichi's booming voice echoed across the field, making sure everyone on the pitch knew he was wide open. He was practically shadowing Rin, screaming for the ball.
Rin shot him a look of pure irritation. Raichi was actually in the best position for a transition, so Rin reluctantly fired a pass his way.
"It is showtime!"
Raichi trapped the ball, his heart suddenly thudding against his ribs. How long had he been in Blue Lock now? He had spent almost every waking minute doing the grunt work—marking, shouting, and running until his lungs burned. He had not actually led an attack in a real match since the project started.
Adrenaline surged through his veins. He took his first few touches.
...
And then, everyone on the pitch felt their faces twitch in unison.
"Pfft. Does this guy even know how to dribble?"
Shidou did not even try to hide his laughter.
Raichi was stumbling through his second touch. He had kicked the ball way too far ahead of himself, the ball rolling awkwardly out of his reach. His face went from pale to a deep, embarrassed crimson in a heartbeat. He had just choked on the big stage.
Bachira did not hesitate. He was on that loose ball like a cat, his movement fluid as he scooped it up.
"Man, talk about a letdown..." Karasu sighed, covering his eyes. He could not even watch.
"Get back here!" Raichi roared, his shame turning into explosive rage. He charged at Bachira, desperate to claw back his dignity.
But Bachira was not the same kid he used to be. He shielded the ball perfectly, his head scanning the field with predatory intent. As Raichi lunged, Bachira planted his right foot and whipped his left through the side of the ball.
The ball took flight, carving a high, beautiful arc through the air, sailing right over Tetsu Sokura's head.
Sokura looked back, confused. 'Is that a miss? It is way too long.'
He turned around to track the flight path, and his pupils dilated in shock.
"No way. How is he already there?"
Sokura felt like his eyes were playing tricks on him.
When Bachira had launched that pass, Kira was still tangled up with Zantetsu on the wing. While the ball was in the air, Kira was behind him. But as he turned to look, Kira was already five meters ahead.
It was impossible. Unless... they were perfectly in a telepathic connection!?
Sokura shot a look back at Bachira, who just playfully stuck out his tongue. 'That is Kira for you.'
Karasu had seen the move the moment Kira ignited. He abandoned his mark on Rin and sprinted toward the drop point.
Another one on one.
Kira was faster, reaching the spot first, but the ball was still at chest height. Karasu did not panic. He knew if he timed his arrival right, he could at least disrupt the trap and kill the play.
"Hey, Crow. Good to see you again," Kira said.
Before Karasu could react, Kira leaned into the ball, meeting it with his left shoulder. He used the impact to drive the ball straight down to the turf.
A shoulder trap? Karasu was stunned. He had not seen that coming. But even though the ball was down, it was still bouncing between them. Both had a chance.
Karasu used his signature reach, his arm extending to pin Kira back as he reached for the ball. Kira did not back down. They grappled for a split second, their momentum carrying them toward the ball simultaneously. Karasu wound up his leg, ready to blast the ball out of bounds and end the threat.
But Kira was a step ahead. He hooked his right toe under the ball and flicked it upward. The ball arched over Karasu's head.
Another Sombrero Flick?
Karasu stood frozen. He had been completely outplayed. Kira's arsenal was too deep; you could not predict his next move because he had an answer for every scenario.
Karasu could only watch as Kira accelerated into the box, alone against the keeper.
Kira squared his body and fired a low, clinical shot. The ball hissed across the grass and slammed into the bottom corner.
GOAL!
Team A leads, 1-0.
Karasu sighed, spreading his arms toward Rin in a gesture of apology.
Rin's face was like stone. He stared at Kira's back, his throat tight. It was not Rin's fault. Passing to Raichi had been the rational choice in that moment. But that choice had led to the goal. He had not expected Raichi to choke on the basics, but more importantly, he had not expected the Bachira-Kira connection to be that telepathic.
Bachira did not need to look. He just knew where Kira would be. And Kira did not just meet the ball; he controlled it in mid-air and toyed with the smartest defender on the pitch.
When the puppet becomes stronger than the puppeteer...
How is Rin supposed to control Kira?
'Tch...' Rin's mind was already racing, tearing apart the play to find a solution.
***
Audiovisual Room was in total chaos.
"Kira is a different breed. The Number One spot is not for show!" someone shouted.
"That shoulder trap was cold. He is a freak!"
"He is like a Swiss Army knife. You never know what weapon he is going to pull out next."
Kunigami stayed silent. He had hoped this tournament would give him a chance to show Kira how much he had improved. Looking at that goal, he felt a strange mix of relief and frustration. 'I am glad I am not facing that yet. I need to get even stronger before I challenge him.'
"That move... it was a bit like yours, Nagi," Chigiri noted.
Nagi nodded, then shook his head. "Close, but no. I use my back to kill the momentum. Kira used his shoulder to accelerate the drop. He is not just catching it; he is controlling the pace."
"I see," Chigiri replied, falling into a pensive silence. He had a sinking feeling that Kira was drifting toward a level they might never reach.
***
On the pitch.
Bachira sprinted toward Kira, launching himself onto his back. Kira did not stumble; he just carried him, jogging a couple of victory laps around the net.
"I knew you would be there! I did not even have to look!" Bachira shouted, his eyes full of joy.
Kira laughed, patting Bachira's leg. "And you are the only one who can put it on a platter like that!"
"Not bad, Kira-chan. That was some high-level stuff," Shidou said, jogging up to them. He started twitching his left shoulder, mimicking the trap over and over.
Kira looked at him and sighed. On himself, it had been a work of art. On Shidou, it looked like a nervous tic.
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