Sugiya-senpai’s position was to play defense. He played center back, which was the key position. Although he tends to joke around, he was an excellent player and had been a regular since his freshman year.
“Don’t let NIGHTMARE have free reign! The key to this team is Higurashi! Don’t let him face forward and play freely! I’ll take care of Yoshizumi!”
Sugiya-senpai gave the team precise support from behind. Shinji received the ball and was surrounded by two players. As expected, Shinji was forced to pass the ball to the back instead of the front. It was too late to attack.
Sugiya-senpai’s tactic was the same as Yui-chan’s strategy in the previous basketball game. The idea was to take away the freedom of the players who make the game, and thereby destroy the starting point of the attack. It was a simple but effective tactic, especially for our team, where Shinji and I were the only members of the soccer team.
“Give it up. I’m not going to let you play this game right, Yoshizumi.”
“… That’s my senior Sugiya-senpai. You’re a rotten captain.”
“What do you mean, “rotten”! I am the captain and a reliable senior!”
Ignoring Sugiya-senpai’s ranting and raving, I pulled myself out of the enemy line. I had expected this, but Shinji was being targeted more than I expected. It was unlikely that the ball would come to me. If so, I’ll have to go back and steal it.
‘Don’t come back down.’
I could feel the silent pressure on Shinji’s face. The look in his eyes was not that of a friendly dog, but of a hound vigilantly hunting for its prey.
“… okay.”
The fact that he had that look on his face was proof that he was serious. I’m used to seeing this look in official games, but this was the first time I’d seen them in this ball game. Ara, I’m sure he would make the best pass to me. It was my job to make sure I got it right and score the first goal.
The time came quickly.
Mogi passed the ball to Shinji. At the same time, two players came to surround him to prevent him from freeing himself. Shinji, who had the ball at his feet and was checking them sideways, made a clever step and spun his body to break through the enclosure.
—Here!
I started running at about the same time Shinji made his ground-splitting pass. In an instant, I kicked into maximum gear and went to top speed. I catched up to the ball, leaving the player I was marking behind, and got it to my feet. But Sugiya-senpai was already in front of me.
“Yo-shi-zu-mi —!!”
Let’s do it! Sugiya-senpai shouted my name as he rushed towards me. There was still a little distance to the goal, but I’d scored in this kind of distance and angle many times when I was practicing by myself.
“—Huh!”
I made a feint in order to get past Sugiya-senpai and swung my right foot without hesitation. The bullet-like shot went right into the goal, just as I had envisioned.
As I clenched my fists, Shinji jumped at me with a big smile on his face.
“That’s Yuya, my buddy!! That was a nice goal!!”
“Shinji’s pass was great, too. But it’s only one point. Let’s keep our eyes open.”
When I returned to my own camp, I received a rough welcome from Mogi and the others, including a pat on the head. The game had only just begun, but you guys were getting too carried away!
“Aah!! Yuya-kun you are so cool!!!”
Kaede, who was cheering outside the ground, was waving her hands and shouting in excitement. Otsuki-san, Nikaido and Yui-chan, who were standing next to her, were slightly taken aback by her high tension. I was both happy and embarrassed. But I couldn’t ignore them, so I decided to raise myfist lightly. Kaede became dizzy and almost fell, and Yui-chan hurried to support her. I don’t know which one of them was the older sister in that.
“Yoshizumi… Nippori… I swear I’ll beat him!”
The fire in Sugiya-senpai’s eyes burned. It seemed to be a mixture of personal resentment, but still, there was no doubt that their motivation had gone up a notch. It was going to be a fierce battle from here on out. However–
“It’s fine, senpai. I’ll make it up to you here!”
I hadn’t forgotten the murderous sliding I was subjected to in the red-and-white match, or the nasty long pass that made me run for nothing!
Sugiya-senpai’s position was to play defense. He played center back, which was the key position. Although he tends to joke around, he was an excellent player and had been a regular since his freshman year.
“Don’t let NIGHTMARE have free reign! The key to this team is Higurashi! Don’t let him face forward and play freely! I’ll take care of Yoshizumi!”
Sugiya-senpai gave the team precise support from behind. Shinji received the ball and was surrounded by two players. As expected, Shinji was forced to pass the ball to the back instead of the front. It was too late to attack.
Sugiya-senpai’s tactic was the same as Yui-chan’s strategy in the previous basketball game. The idea was to take away the freedom of the players who make the game, and thereby destroy the starting point of the attack. It was a simple but effective tactic, especially for our team, where Shinji and I were the only members of the soccer team.
“Give it up. I’m not going to let you play this game right, Yoshizumi.”
“… That’s my senior Sugiya-senpai. You’re a rotten captain.”
“What do you mean, “rotten”! I am the captain and a reliable senior!”
Ignoring Sugiya-senpai’s ranting and raving, I pulled myself out of the enemy line. I had expected this, but Shinji was being targeted more than I expected. It was unlikely that the ball would come to me. If so, I’ll have to go back and steal it.
‘Don’t come back down.’
I could feel the silent pressure on Shinji’s face. The look in his eyes was not that of a friendly dog, but of a hound vigilantly hunting for its prey.
“… okay.”
The fact that he had that look on his face was proof that he was serious. I’m used to seeing this look in official games, but this was the first time I’d seen them in this ball game. Ara, I’m sure he would make the best pass to me. It was my job to make sure I got it right and score the first goal.
The time came quickly.
Mogi passed the ball to Shinji. At the same time, two players came to surround him to prevent him from freeing himself. Shinji, who had the ball at his feet and was checking them sideways, made a clever step and spun his body to break through the enclosure.
—Here!
I started running at about the same time Shinji made his ground-splitting pass. In an instant, I kicked into maximum gear and went to top speed. I catched up to the ball, leaving the player I was marking behind, and got it to my feet. But Sugiya-senpai was already in front of me.
“Yo-shi-zu-mi —!!”
Let’s do it! Sugiya-senpai shouted my name as he rushed towards me. There was still a little distance to the goal, but I’d scored in this kind of distance and angle many times when I was practicing by myself.
“—Huh!”
I made a feint in order to get past Sugiya-senpai and swung my right foot without hesitation. The bullet-like shot went right into the goal, just as I had envisioned.
As I clenched my fists, Shinji jumped at me with a big smile on his face.
“That’s Yuya, my buddy!! That was a nice goal!!”
“Shinji’s pass was great, too. But it’s only one point. Let’s keep our eyes open.”
When I returned to my own camp, I received a rough welcome from Mogi and the others, including a pat on the head. The game had only just begun, but you guys were getting too carried away!
“Aah!! Yuya-kun you are so cool!!!”
Kaede, who was cheering outside the ground, was waving her hands and shouting in excitement. Otsuki-san, Nikaido and Yui-chan, who were standing next to her, were slightly taken aback by her high tension. I was both happy and embarrassed. But I couldn’t ignore them, so I decided to raise myfist lightly. Kaede became dizzy and almost fell, and Yui-chan hurried to support her. I don’t know which one of them was the older sister in that.
“Yoshizumi… Nippori… I swear I’ll beat him!”
The fire in Sugiya-senpai’s eyes burned. It seemed to be a mixture of personal resentment, but still, there was no doubt that their motivation had gone up a notch. It was going to be a fierce battle from here on out. However–
“It’s fine, senpai. I’ll make it up to you here!”
I hadn’t forgotten the murderous sliding I was subjected to in the red-and-white match, or the nasty long pass that made me run for nothing!
