3.12. Tap x4

"What an insane turn of events!"

"What an attack by Manshine City! And a counter-attack from Bastard Munchen nearly gets them the goal?!"

"Did you see that super block?! Y/N L/N, doing it all for Manshine C!"

"And now they can counter back! Chigiri Hyoma has picked up the loose ball!"

Reo barely registered the casters. His head was way too foggy, clouded by a storm of emotions that swirled within him. Because Nagi had asked him for help.

In that last attack, before Isagi had stolen the ball. Nagi had faced him properly for the first time since the second selection, met his eyes properly, and spoke to him. Usually, it was Reo to speak to him. Even in Hakuho High, it'd always been Reo initiating conversations. Up until the first selection, playing against Team Z, Nagi had never 'asked' for anything.

So it was a huge shock when Nagi had asked for Reo to pass to him. Such a big shock, that Reo's body had instinctively moved. He'd momentarily forgotten about everything that had come between them, passing without a second thought.

What... what does this mean? They were mid play. Reo ran forwards, supporting Chigiri as the princess tore up the field. It was an amazing chance to counter attack: but he kept glancing back at Nagi, distracted by the nonchalant way the white-haired treasure glanced back at him. He didn't want to choose me... so why did he ask for me now? Where's the logic in that?

I've had to crawl up. I've had to fight through every single selection so far. I've had to play through everything, by myself. The entire time, I've hoped for him to return. But it's only now?! When I've finally decided to play for myself, he shows up asking for a pass?! Reo sighed, trying to clear his head as they forged up the pitch. "What a pain in the ass."

One of the Bastard Munchen defenders went for a tackle on Chigiri. Avoiding it, he passed in from the flank. It was a wild ball, rolling across the ground a few metres to Reo's right. He hesitated.

"What are you doing?!" Chigiri yelled. "Reo! Get it!"

"Y-yeah!" Blinking, Reo ran over. He passed the ball to Agi in the centre of the field.

The defender had done his job, though. As Reo pushed forwards with Agi and Chigiri, a few of the Bastard Munchen players had managed to get back in time. The centre of the field quickly turned into a three on three. Chigiri, Agi, and Reo, against Isagi, Kunigami, and Kaiser.

Agi held the ball, facing off against Kunigami. Chigiri stood to Agi's side, ready for a pass. On the other side, Kaiser hovered, ready to steal. Reo jogged up behind Agi, not going in but just waiting, watching the duel. Isagi was doing the exact same thing opposite him.

Chigiri launched himself forward, yelling for a pass. Reo's eyes widened. Wait, that's too early! Both Kunigami and Agi glanced towards Chigiri. Agi's leg swung like he was going to pass, and incredibly fast, Kunigami placed himself in the pass line to intercept. Except, Agi didn't pass. He faked it, keeping the ball for himself and running down the field.

Kaiser and Isagi both went for the ball. Feet collided, and the ball flew into the air.

Reo ran for it. How far is the goal? Quite far. Ok. I need to dribble. He trapped the ball on the outside of his leg, letting it drop to his feet. Then, as the other team tried to steal, he took off.

His head was on a swivel, mind pretty much on autopilot as his feet began to move. Reo had practised Itoshi Sae's dribbling for hours, after seeing it for himself in the U-20 game. It worked in a different way to most people's dribbling - while most dribblers tried to actively get around people, Sae's style worked by exploiting each's mistakes.

The first defender he came across, he waited, eyes fixed on the other player. The other man lunged forwards, and that's when Reo moved. While the man was mid lunge, unable to turn, he brushed past him on the side.

As soon as he got past, Reo glanced to his side. He sent the ball to Chigiri. He sped up, sprinting past two more defenders that were slow to react, and motioned for the ball back.

It came back just as he wanted, a high lob. One defender stood in front of him, feet planted as he faced Reo. As the enemy player realised that he was going to try and receive the flying ball, he charged forwards. Reo jumped, eyes trained on the ball. I can header this... or trap with my chest!

The breath was knocked out of him as the Bastard Munchen defender slammed into him, quite literally knocking him out of the air. He'd probably expected Reo to stay planted on the ground, and that was why he'd put so much power behind the barge. Instead, the press ended up with Reo flopping to the floor, coughing as he tried to get his breath back.

An electronic whistle blew.

Reo glanced upwards, as like normal, an electronic voice rang out from above. "Yellow card, to Bastard Munchen's Anton Menser. Free kick, from Reo Mikage's position."

"What?!" The man raised his eyes skyward. "I was just going for the ball!"

No response. As Reo slowly regained his breath on the floor, the Bastard defender shook his head. He took a few deep breaths, calming himself before offering a hand to Reo. "Sorry, man."

"All good." Reo flashed him a tight smile, getting up off the floor.

Someone kicked the ball over to where Reo was standing. He placed it on the floor, looking around for his teammates. Brushing himself off, he exhaled. "I'm taking it, by the way."

His team flooded forwards. Bastard Munchen's players began to form up, standing side by side in a wall. Other players hovered around the sides of the wall, marking Manshine City's own players as they stood around the goal zone. Reo rested his hands on his hips, waiting as everyone got into their positions.

His eyes scanned the pitch, from left to right.

On the far left, Chigiri, Y/N and Agi were waiting, marked by Isagi and Kurona. In the middle, there was a wall of Bastard Munchen players, and behind that, Gagamaru. The boy's wide eyes were unblinking, looking completely lost yet somehow focused at the same time. To the right, Yukimiya and Ness were marking Nagi.

Other Manshine players were scattered around the pitch. A few to the far corners of the pitch, one right behind the wall, and a few behind and to the sides of Reo if he wanted to pass backwards. But did he? He could shoot - sure, it would be difficult, but it was definitely doable.

Reo took a few steps back. He inhaled deeply, holding it for two seconds before exhaling slow. Do I want a goal?

He made a mistake, glancing up. Seeing nothing but a mess of white hair, and calm grey eyes.

The whistle blew.

Reo ran forwards. His heart was pounding out of his chest, brain working in overdrive. Shoot? Don't shoot? Pass? Dribble? His leg swung forwards.

He passed.

It was a high pass, curving in a gentle arc way above the wall, to the right side of the pitch. It was probably a mistake. They only had one player over there, compared to the two or three on the left. Yet, he'd passed to the right.

I didn't even pass to a player in particular. Reo sighed. I just passed to where a player should've been. If they wanted a goal, they would've gone there. They should've gone there. It's the most likely spot they could score from.

A yell came from the goal box. Reo's eyes flickered up immediately.

Nagi was there?!

No fucking way. The pitch began to shift immediately. Everyone dashed towards the goal, defenders trying to clear it, attackers trying to hammer it into the back of the net. His pass hadn't actually gone stray, though. Nagi had been there to receive it. Nagi understood what I was thinking - even though I didn't understand myself.

Reo scoffed under his breath, ignoring the warmth that blossomed inside him. "Lucky."

He couldn't help but watch Nagi though, as defenders came from all sides. Isagi was already leaping to block his shot, having read Reo's pass perfectly. Kaiser was right behind the blue-haired boy. Nagi was already moving to shoot. It's gonna be blocked...! You can't shoot now!

Tap.

Nagi didn't shoot. His foot brushed across the bottom of the ball, spinning it in midair. It was an amazing fake shot - most of the players on the field were already looking towards the goal, confused when there was no ball going towards it. The ball hovered mid air.

Yet, Isagi had read it. He switched directions, this time using his head to block as Nagi's foot swung forwards. Still can't shoot now... not yet...! Come on, Nagi!

Tap.

A second fake shot. The ball this time went a bit higher, going over Nagi's head. The white-haired boy turned, watching it as it came back down to his foot level. This time, Kaiser lunged for it, blocking Nagi's shot as his foot swung forwards.

Tap.

A third fake shot?! Reo's mouth dropped open. But Isagi's still gonna block it... it's all gonna be for nothing unless you do one more. Isagi was scrambling to block again. As Nagi went to shoot, Isagi threw himself in front of the ball in an all or nothing block.

Tap.

Isagi fell to the ground. The fourth fake shot had left the goal completely open, no blockers except for the goalkeeper. Reo's heart was in his mouth, watching as Nagi's foot shot forwards at astonishing speed for such a perpetually tired boy.

He made perfect contact with the ball. It flew forwards, curving beautifully in the air.

And it went into the back of the net.

🥕🥕🥕

Y/N gulped.

"Wh-what in the world was that?! A trick?! A supernatural phenomenon?! A miracle?!"

"Nagi Seishiro, doing magic before our bloody eyes! He manages to tie up the game!"

"Manshine City ties up the game! Both Bastard Munchen and them now have two goals a piece!"

Disbelief. That's what Y/N felt. Sheer disbelief.

What kind of... what kind of goal was that?! How did he do it? I swear, he wasn't that good before! As happy as he felt for Nagi, in the end they were still competition. And that goal was... unreal. A five stage volley...? What is Nagi doing right that I'm not? How is he improving so fast?

Literally just months ago, when Nagi was in Team V, he'd been mediocre at best. He was on such a low level compared to Y/N, it was almost laughable. Y/N could've beaten him in his sleep. But now? That play wasn't just as good as Y/N, it was better. He could do similar things, fake shots and all, but four in a row?

I've improved, right...? I don't get so scared of losing now... and I'm playing for myself instead of Kuroi.

But what about my skills? Now that Y/N thought, he hadn't changed much. His overall physicality had improved since starting Prince's training, and now that he was training regularly, his stamina had vastly improved. But apart from that, he'd learnt very little. A few new skills here and there, a little bit about positioning, but it was all minor.

Was Noa right? Was he actually falling behind?

Y/N shook his head. I'm not. I just need to work a little more. That was a lucky shot anyway.

I just need... a goal. Nagi's goal was lucky. I don't need luck to get a goal.

Sighing, he rubbed the back of his neck. Then he turned, jogging back towards his own half with the rest of Manshine City. His hands clenched at his sides, skin turning white with exertion.