Inazuma Eleven Ultra!

Chapter 8: Practice Match

The sun beat down on the grassy football field, casting a warm glow over the 10 silhouettes standing at attention. Each player wore a vibrant yellow jersey with blue streaks on the shoulders and neck collar, proudly representing the Raimon football club. The air was electric with anticipation as the team prepared for a practice match.

On the sidelines, Kantou-kun, Kageyama Aiku, the manager, Inoue Hatase, and two unknown girls stood watching the team. The girls, Anna Shuji and Itami Osoka, seemed a bit out of place, but their bright smiles and eager eyes hinted at their enthusiasm for the team. Strangely, Sawaegara was sitting on the bench, observing the scene with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

Kageyama's voice boomed across the field, drawing the players' attention. "Oi! Everybody!" The team turned to face him, their eyes locked on their coach. "I'm sure you've all realized that we have two unfamiliar faces in our midst today!" Kageyama exclaimed, his arms sweeping outward to encompass the two new girls. "These two young ladies are Anna Shuji and Itami Osoka! They are your new assistant managers! Treat them well if you want them to treat you well!"

Anna and Itami bowed in unison, their voices chiming together in a cheerful greeting. "Hello! We hope that we'll be able to take care of you! Let's have a good relationship!" The players exchanged awkward glances, their faces flushing slightly at the girls' enthusiastic welcome.

As the team's attention returned to Kageyama, he continued, "Now, back to the reason I split you guys up on the pitch!" The players looked around, taking in the formation. Six players stood on each side of the field, ready to face off in a practice match.

On one side, Okii Kabe, Riku Ayoka, Shinji Hatase, Shun Ayashime, Akira Matsumoto, and Sokudo Burokku formed a formidable team. Across from them, Tsurugi Gurushimi, Riku Ayoko, Takeshi Kiyotoka, Kayari Tatake, Hosoi Bo, and Hashiri Kame prepared to take on their opponents.

Kageyama explained the rules of the practice match, his voice clear and concise. "The reason I split you guys up like this is because I wanted you guys to have a practice match amongst yourselves! You guys will play a thirty-minutes, 6 versus 6 practice match against each other. As you can see, Sawaegara isn't among you guys! We have no other goalkeeper, so it would be unfair to one team if the other had a goalie! I will act as the referee for this match! I will give no orders for the whole thirty-minutes, you all will have to use your own skills without any guidance!"

With a final blow of his whistle, the practice match began. Akira, determined to make a strong start, took the kickoff. The ball soared through the air, heading straight for Shun. With a swift movement, Shun trapped the ball and immediately passed it to Sokudo. The three of them, the entire attack line of their team, surged forward, leaving Okii, Riku, and Shinji to defend.

As Akira approached Tsurugi, their eyes locked in a fierce stare. Akira's voice was low and determined. "Tsurugi.." Tsurugi's expression remained calm, but a hint of amusement danced in his eyes. Akira had already gotten over what he witnessed at the hospital the other day. He decided to not think much of it.

Undaunted, Akira began to perform a series of intricate off-the-ball movements, hoping to evade Tsurugi's defense. However, Tsurugi proved to be a formidable opponent, his movements swift and precise. "You can't get past me, not in a million years," Tsurugi declared, his voice dripping with confidence.

Akira's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with strategies. Suddenly, he spotted an opportunity. "Nice, Sokudo, it's just you and the goal now!" Akira exclaimed, his voice carrying across the field.

Tsurugi's head whipped around, his eyes widening in surprise as he realized Akira had fooled him. Akira slipped past Tsurugi, rejoining the attacking line. "Shun, I'm open!" Akira called out to his teammate.

Shun's response was immediate. "Akira, here!" He passed the ball to Akira with precision.

Just as Akira was about to receive the ball, a voice rang out from behind him. "Did you think I would let you get past me, first-year! Whatever the hell your name is!" Tatake's aggressive tone sent a shiver down Akira's spine.

Akira's eyes widened in surprise as Tatake nudged him to the ground. The ball sailed over Akira's head, and Tatake swiftly passed the ball to Tsurugi, who trapped it with ease. Tsurugi's calm demeanor was a stark contrast to Tatake's aggressive outburst.

With the ball securely in his possession, Tsurugi began to sprint down the field, his long strides eating up the distance. "You better score, first-year! I didn't pass the ball to you for nothing!" Tatake's voice echoed across the field, his words dripping with malice.

As Tsurugi approached Shinji, the defender stood his ground, ready to challenge the opponent. However, Tsurugi's speed and agility proved to be too much for Shinji. With a quick feint, Tsurugi evaded Shinji's tackle and continued his relentless drive towards the goal.

Riku, the next defender in Tsurugi's path, attempted to intercept the ball. However, Tsurugi's precision and control allowed him to lob the ball over Riku's head, effortlessly gliding past him.

The crowd held its collective breath as Tsurugi closed in on the goal. Okii Kabe, the tall and introverted defender, stood as the last line of defense. Tsurugi's eyes locked onto Okii, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

"Alright, time for my 'Revolving Death Shot,'" Tsurugi declared, his voice dripping with confidence. Okii's eyes widened in fear as he stumbled backward, his hands raised in a futile attempt to defend himself.

Tsurugi's fake shot sent Okii crashing to the ground, and in the same motion, Tsurugi unleashed a powerful shot that soared into the net. The scoreboard now read 0:1 in favor of Tsurugi's team.

The practice match was off to a thrilling start, with Tsurugi's team taking the lead. The question on everyone's mind was: could Akira and his teammates mount a comeback, or would Tsurugi's team dominate the match?

..........

As the practice match entered its final stages, the score stood at a dismal 1:5 in favor of Tsurugi's team. The latter had single-handedly scored all five goals, leaving Akira's team struggling to keep up. However, in the 16th minute, Shun had managed to score a consolation goal, thanks to an impressive assist from Sokudo.

The match resumed with Akira passing the ball to Sokudo. The trio of Akira, Sokudo, and Shun formed the heart of their team, while their defensive line seemed woefully inadequate. Sokudo sprinted down the right flank, charging into the opponents' territory with reckless abandon.

As he encountered Kayari, the latter sneered, "Just try and get past me, Sokudo!" Sokudo's response was laced with confidence. "You're forgetting... my body's built to crush puny ants like you!" With a fierce battle cry, Sokudo jammed into Kayari, sending the latter crashing to the ground. Kayari groaned, dazed from the impact.

Sokudo swiftly passed the ball to Akira, who trapped it with some difficulty. Tsurugi appeared before him, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Time to end this..." Akira muttered, his determination evident.

Tsurugi's response was laced with his trademark confidence. "Come on, Akira. I'm waiting." Akira took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with a fierce inner light. A strange, black aura began to emanate from his eyes, unnoticed by everyone except Coach Kageyama.

Kageyama's eyes narrowed, his interest piqued. "Hmmm... interesting... let's see what this power of yours really is," he murmured to himself.

With a fierce cry, Akira charged towards Tsurugi, the ball clutched tightly in his possession. Tsurugi prepared to intercept the ball, but Akira proved to be a formidable opponent. With a series of dazzling dribbles, Akira evaded Tsurugi's outstretched hands, leaving the latter stumbling in shock.

Akira continued his relentless drive, his movements a blur as he destroyed the opposing team's defense. The crowd watched in awe as Akira's determination and skill culminated in a spectacular goal. The scoreboard now read 2:5, a testament to Akira's unwavering spirit.

The team's reaction was a mixture of shock and admiration. Sawaegara's voice was laced with wonder. "How could a newbie perform dribbles like that?" The assistant managers, Anna and Itami, watched the match with wide eyes, their faces aglow with excitement.

Itami, the first-year student, exclaimed, "I've never even seen a football match, but I'm so excited!" Anna nodded in agreement, her voice filled with awe. "Amazing. Truly amazing plays! That Akira suddenly went from one to a hundred."

As the match drew to a close, Kageyama glanced at his watch before blowing his whistle. "Match over! Team B wins 5-2!" The final score was a testament to Tsurugi's team's superiority, but Akira's team refused to give up.

Akira's face, however, was alight with excitement. "I scored! I scored!" he exclaimed, his voice ringing across the field. Kageyama's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed intently on Akira. Tsurugi, too, watched Akira with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion, his thoughts echoing with a single phrase: "Akira... Could that be his power?"