Chapter 61: Kira Ryosuke—Just What Kind of Monster Are You?!
Mikage Reo and Nagi Seishiro sprinted at full speed toward Z Team's half.
While charging ahead, Reo quickly glanced sideways to check Kira Ryosuke's position. As expected, Kira was still locked down by Zantetsu and the other defenders, unable to fall back on defense.
"What was that about us not scoring again?! Big talk with nothing to back it up!"
"As long as we put this ball in, the score will be completely even!"
"And then your so-called advantage disappears! We'll take the match in one go!"
Reo's face twisted into a triumphant grin. Together with Nagi, he tore through the pitch, straight toward Team Z's goal.
On the other side, Kira Ryosuke also began to move.
"You're not getting through!"
Zantetsu exploded forward with shocking speed, trying to stop Kira the same way as before. Kira had surprised him earlier with that absurd acceleration, but over a short burst, Zantetsu was confident he was unmatched—he believed even Chigiri Hyoma couldn't surpass him in pure first-step speed.
He was certain Kira couldn't slip past his mark.
But the instant he kicked off—he realized the distance between them was widening.
"Too slow."
Kira's voice brushed past Zantetsu's ear, followed by a gust of wind sweeping across his face.
"Impossible—?!"
In that very moment, Kira blasted past Zantetsu's "absolute defense" using a speed even more overwhelming than before.
Total Concentration Breathing—
Combined with Thunderclap and Flash!
At full power, the explosive initial acceleration was terrifying.
"What is with this guy's speed?!"
Zantetsu's eyes widened. He instinctively reached out to grab Kira but couldn't even touch him.
In that first step, Zantetsu had been completely defeated.
The other defenders hadn't even managed to react, let alone intercept him.
"N-No way!"
"He outran Zantetsu's first step?!"
"He's a monster! B-But even with that speed, he shouldn't make it in time from way back there! It's too far!"
Meanwhile, Nagi and Reo had already broken into Team Z's area.
If this ball went in, the score would tie—and with Team V's rising momentum, they would take full control of the match.
Nagi kept dribbling forward, and once again, that familiar short figure appeared in front of him—
Naruya Asahi.
"You're not getting through."
Asahi's voice was firm.
"Sorry, nothing personal, but why do people without talent like you keep struggling? You can't stop me. If it were me, I'd have given up already."
Nagi spoke genuinely, without mockery—he simply didn't understand.
He lightly nudged the ball outward with his right foot, instantly shifting Asahi's balance. Then his left foot tapped the ball the opposite way.
Elastico!
It was executed flawlessly, and Asahi's balance faltered again—
"Even if I don't have talent, I won't give up that easily!!!"
Asahi roared, using every ounce of strength he had left. One foot stomped down hard, forcing his body upright, refusing to fall.
He hadn't lost his defensive position.
"Oh?"
Nagi paused, just a little surprised.
But only a little. Even if Asahi held his ground for a moment, he couldn't reorient or correct his balance. He would still be beaten.
"In the end, pointless effort is still pointless. Why make this harder than it needs to be?"
Nagi pulled the ball back with his left foot, spun his body, and slipped past Asahi effortlessly.
Now he had the perfect shooting angle.
"Finish them, Nagi!"
Reo shouted excitedly. Nagi raised his leg for the shot.
In front of him, goalkeeper Gagamaru's heartbeat pounded violently—he knew he had to stop this shot.
But could he?
Nagi was a monster.
Every Team Z member held their breath.
"It's done."
Nagi whispered. His foot touched the ball—
"You said… it was pointless?"
Kira Ryosuke's voice rang beside his ear.
Nagi's eyes flew open wide.
For the first time—he showed shock.
Kira was already behind him, reaching the ball with even greater speed—
Interception successful!
The shot was broken.
Gagamaru instantly lunged forward and scooped the ball into his arms.
Defense successful!
"What—?!"
Reo was stunned. He never imagined Nagi's shot could be disrupted.
He couldn't understand why Kira was even in position to interfere.
When he turned and saw Zantetsu still sprinting after Kira, realization struck him.
"He broke through Zantetsu's marking and sprinted all the way back to defend?! How is that possible?!"
Reo's triumphant expression vanished. He yelled at Zantetsu:
"You useless idiot! You couldn't even stop that?!"
But Reo knew perfectly well—this wasn't Zantetsu's failure.
This was Kira Ryosuke's terrifying ability.
Charging from the front line all the way to the back in seconds, catching up to Nagi—
What kind of monster was he?!
"Fall back! Fall back!"
With their attack shut down, Reo had no choice but to organize the retreat.
"It's fine, Nagi! Just bad luck! Hold this round and take the next chance!"
Nagi stood frozen, still reeling from shock. He didn't understand how Kira had reached him. But he quickly snapped out of it, retreating while muttering:
"Defense… defense… we have to stop them…"
"That was perfect timing, Kira!"
Asahi's eyes were filled with relief. He might've cried if he weren't on the field.
If Kira hadn't arrived—Nagi would have scored for sure.
Kira simply patted his shoulder with a small smile.
"It's thanks to you. Because you defended with everything you had, Nagi had to make extra moves. That gave me the one second I needed. Leave the rest to me."