Chapter 34: Chapter 34 : Beyond the Rivalry
Rin stood there, his body tense, facing the unrelenting force that was Isagi. The moment felt like a hunter and its prey—Isagi, the predator, had just closed in and claimed victory. Rin could feel the sting of the defeat, a crushing weight settling in his chest. He had been outplayed, outmaneuvered, and in that crucial moment, his pride took a hit.
Isagi, calm and precise, had bested him in ways Rin couldn't have predicted. It wasn't just that Isagi had taken control of the game—he had shattered the meticulous structure Rin had spent years building. Rin had trained relentlessly, pushing himself to the limit to become a player who could perform the impossible, defying expectations and crafting plays that no one else could. But here, Isagi had done what Rin couldn't anticipate, stepping outside of his calculations and seizing the victory with a brilliance that left Rin stunned.
The match was far from over, but the score now loomed heavily over Team Red—3-1. The gap between them felt vast, the tension palpable. Rin's mind raced, a mixture of frustration and resolve swirling within him. He knew this wouldn't be the end of their rivalry, but for now, Isagi had proven himself to be the one to beat.
Rin brought the ball back to the center, determined not to let the previous goal shake his resolve. The match had shifted to a new rhythm, a more dangerous one, and Rin was quick to seize control again. Tokimitsu, ever the reliable player, fed the ball back to him without hesitation, understanding Rin's intent.
Rin's feet moved swiftly, taking him toward the right side of the field. He and Tokimitsu swapped positions, a seamless transition of roles, with Tokimitsu sliding into the center. The shift was subtle but calculated, designed to catch the defense off guard. While the intensity of the game had clearly started to take its toll on most of the players, Tokimitsu remained a towering presence, unwavering in his focus and energy.
As Rin surged forward, he could sense the fatigue in the air, the slowing pace of the game starting to affect his opponents. But not Tokimitsu. Tokimitsu's steady, muscular frame made him an unrelenting force, and Rin was determined to make the most of it.
He moved with purpose, quickly sizing up Nagi, who, despite his speed and agility, couldn't keep up with Rin's sheer force. Rin's focus never wavered, his eyes locked onto his next target: Isagi, who was already retreating to confront him. Rin knew Isagi was anticipating a one-on-one challenge, but Rin wasn't about to play into that.
With a swift, almost dismissive flick of his foot, Rin passed the ball to Tokimitsu in the center, drawing Isagi's attention away from him. Tokimitsu, now in the heart of the field, received the pass with ease. Rin didn't wait around to see how Tokimitsu would handle it; he was already making his move toward the front, positioning himself perfectly for the next play.
The ball was now in Tokimitsu's hands, and Rin's focus was absolute. He expected Tokimitsu to feed him the ball, knowing that this moment was crucial. The next play had to be decisive. Rin's every step was calculated, each one pulling him closer to his goal.
The intensity of the game had reached its peak, and Rin, momentarily distracted by his own thoughts, could only hear the sharp beep of the intercom—a signal that the game has stopped.
To Rin's surprise, Isagi didn't pursue him. Instead, Isagi made a decisive shift in focus, darting toward Tokimitsu.
Isagi's eyes locked onto Tokimitsu, calculating the perfect moment. He surged forward with relentless speed, his body in full motion. Without hesitation, Isagi slid across the ground, executing a perfectly timed tackle. The sound of his cleats scraping against the turf echoed across the pitch as he made contact, sending the ball hurtling out of bounds.
It was a brutal tackle, the kind that made everyone hold their breath, but it was clean. Isagi's precision was unmatched, and the officials didn't hesitate to signal that no foul had been committed. The tackle had been executed within the rules—ruthless yet entirely legal.
The ball was now out of play, but the impact of Isagi's intervention was undeniable. Team White had lost possession, and the momentum of the match seemed to shift once again. Rin's eyes narrowed, realizing that Isagi wasn't just controlling the game—he was reading it, anticipating every move with an almost eerie precision. The game was far from over, and now Isagi had proven, once again, that he was in full control.
Isagi stood tall, his eyes never leaving Rin as he rose from the ground, the aftermath of his perfect tackle still reverberating in the air. Rin had been outplayed—outmaneuvered in a way that sent a ripple through his own psyche. Isagi didn't need to say anything; his presence alone was enough to make the point clear.
Rin, for the first time in the game, hesitated. He replayed the moment in his mind, questioning his decision to avoid dribbling down the center. Isagi's pressure had clearly rattled him. He had chosen to pass the ball to Tokimitsu instead, avoiding Isagi's direct challenge, but Rin couldn't pinpoint why. Was it fear? Did he really feel intimidated by Isagi?
The idea of being scared wasn't something Rin could easily accept, yet the question lingered. His whole life, he had trained to face every opponent with unwavering confidence, never backing down. But today, against Isagi, there was something different. Something unnerving. The way Isagi read the game, his calm decisiveness, and the sheer confidence in his every move made Rin second-guess himself.
"Am I really avoiding him?" Rin muttered under his breath, almost as if testing the thought. His gaze flickered to Isagi, who stood with an air of quiet dominance, waiting for the next play.
Rin couldn't quite find the words to explain it, but the discomfort gnawed at him. Was he scared of Isagi? Or was it just the realization that Isagi was no longer a mere rival to surpass—he had become an equal, someone whose abilities were as unpredictable and sharp as his own. The challenge was real, and Rin hadn't been prepared for this kind of game, where his mind wasn't the only weapon on the field.
He needed to push that thought aside. Rin clenched his fists, focusing on the game ahead. He wasn't about to let Isagi dictate the flow of the match, not now, not ever. He would find a way to break through, to regain control. The match wasn't over, and Rin wasn't about to back down now—whether he was scared or not.
Kurona's legs were burning, the fatigue from his relentless runs beginning to slow him down, but his determination pushed him forward. He had intercepted Aryu's throw-in with perfect timing, his speed catching the defenders off guard. The field ahead of him seemed open, and for a moment, it felt like the goal was his to claim. But with Tokimitsu and Aryu quickly closing the gap, that moment of freedom was fleeting.
Tokimitsu, with his powerful frame and relentless energy, had already caught up to Kurona. The gap between them was closing fast, and with every step, the pressure mounted. Tokimitsu's long strides were catching up, and now it was no longer a race of speed—it was a battle of endurance. Kurona had been running at full speed for most of the match, and his legs were starting to feel like lead. Tokimitsu, on the other hand, still had energy to burn, and it was evident in the way he closed the distance between them.
Kurona knew he couldn't outrun Tokimitsu for much longer. With each step, the gap between them grew smaller, and Tokimitsu's presence behind him was unmistakable. The defender was now just a few feet away, reaching out to challenge for the ball.
In that critical moment, Kurona made a split-second decision. His body was tired, but his mind remained sharp. He couldn't afford to let Tokimitsu close the gap completely. With a quick feint to the right, Kurona tried to mislead Tokimitsu, hoping to throw him off balance. But Tokimitsu, prepared for this move, didn't bite. Instead, he reached forward, his arm extended to make a physical challenge.
Kurona's instincts kicked in, and he pushed the ball forward, trying to accelerate just enough to shake off Tokimitsu's grasp. The exhaustion in his legs was overwhelming, but the adrenaline of the moment spurred him on. With every ounce of strength he had left, he pushed himself to fight for that extra yard, to keep possession just long enough to make his next move.
Kurona, despite the pressure mounting from Tokimitsu's pursuit, kept his composure. With a subtle backheel, he sent the ball to his left, where Isagi was already in perfect position. The play was fluid, the result of their well-practiced chemistry. But Rin wasn't far behind, closing in fast, ready to pounce on any mistake.
Isagi, though, was two steps ahead. He didn't trap the ball like most would expect. Instead, he sent it sailing high, just outside the box. It was a calculated move—a pass designed not to be intercepted, but to land perfectly for the one waiting to make his move.
Nagi, who had been anticipating this exact moment, appeared in the perfect spot to capitalize on Isagi's vision. He had positioned himself just where he needed to be, his focus unshakable. As the ball descended from the sky, Nagi didn't hesitate for a second. With perfect timing, he met the ball, slotting it past the goalkeeper with ease.
The net rippled as the ball found its mark, and Team White's lead grew to 4-1. The execution was seamless, a testament to the trust and understanding between Isagi and Nagi. Isagi watched the goal with a calm, almost detached satisfaction—he had known all along that Nagi would be there, ready to finish the job.
Nagi, with a grin, celebrated briefly, the moment of triumph shining in his eyes. He knew this goal wasn't just his; it was a result of Isagi's brilliant pass, Kurona's vision, and the whole team's growing connection. As they returned to their positions, the game seemed to belong to Team White, and Rin's team had no answer to the relentless pressure they were facing.
Rin stood still for a moment, his mind swirling with conflicting thoughts. The scoreline, now firmly in Team White's favor at 4-1, was a stark reflection of the reality he was facing. His earlier confidence, that burning desire to challenge Isagi and his team, now felt like a distant memory. The drive to win was still there, deep down, but the practicalities of the situation were beginning to weigh heavily on him.
Could he, could *anyone* on his team, really turn this match around? The answer seemed painfully clear. Isagi had outmaneuvered him at every turn, and his team was playing with a fluidity and control that Rin couldn't match. Every attempt to reclaim control felt like a futile exercise, with Isagi and his group anticipating his moves before he could even make them.
Rin clenched his fists, frustration mounting. He had always prided himself on his adaptability, his ability to read the game and outplay opponents. But now, against Isagi's rapidly improving team, his every move seemed to be countered, his every effort thwarted. This wasn't just a loss—it was a complete dismantling.
The gap between them had widened, not just in the score, but in the way they were playing the game. Isagi had become an enigma, reading the field and anticipating plays with a precision that Rin couldn't match. It was as though he was facing a version of himself—one who had not only the skills but also the unshakable mentality to dominate.
For the first time, Rin doubted his own abilities. It wasn't about being outplayed in terms of tactics; it was about being overwhelmed. And as the game continued, the weight of that realization sank deeper. There was no clear way forward, no immediate hope for victory.
Rin's spirit didn't waver, but his mind was forced to confront the harsh truth—defeat was no longer just a possibility. It was the reality of this match.
Rin's mind began to replay the moments of the game, each mistake becoming sharper and clearer in his thoughts, Rin couldn't deny the obvious truth—he had been outplayed, not just once, but multiple times.
When Isagi made his run towards Kurona, Rin's instinct told him to stick to his man, to track Nagi who was lurking in a dangerous position. But something had pulled at his attention. It was the presence that Isagi had on the field—an aura of calm determination, a quiet confidence that was almost suffocating. Rin had been drawn in, distracted by the sheer force Isagi was exuding. It was as if Isagi was a magnet, pulling all focus towards him and leaving the rest of the field open.
The sting of that mistake was undeniable. Rin had been fooled, outsmarted in the most fundamental way. His job had been to control the tempo of the game, to dictate the flow of play. But he had let Isagi take control, and now, the match was slipping further from his grasp.
He couldn't help but think, How could I let this happen? His mind raced, analyzing every move he had made, every choice, but it all came back to the same conclusion—he had underestimated Isagi.
The pressure of the game, the weight of his own expectations, and the growing realization that victory was slipping further from his reach—all of it was beginning to take its toll on Rin. The mistakes piled up, and each one cut deeper than the last. He had been so focused on defeating Isagi.
Now, For the last Goal which Isagi's team needs to end this match, Rin wanted to defeat Isagi, and outplay him, At least doing that would make him feel that he achieved something, Since winning the match wasn't possible
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