On the stand, the conversation was still around the current score. It couldn’t be helped; everyone was so worried over this situation. Kana Tsuburaya, Hiroshi’s mother and also a good friend of Higo’s mother, also approached the boy with a question on the tip of her tongue.
"Ryusuke-kun... Do you think the team will be alright?"
Well, it was clear by her tone that she was only concerned about her son. The woman just used the team as a shield so that she didn’t look selfish here. Not that Higo would blame her, of course, since he himself knew that she didn’t quite understand football here.
Still, he also found it hard to answer this question. The boy turned to his friends, pleading with them silently to help him in this situation. He himself was never an analysis guy, so he didn’t know whether the team was in good shape or not right now.
Fortunately, he didn’t have to think too much, because soon, the players finally came out of the tunnel. The answer to that question was written clearly on everyone’s face, and Higo couldn’t help but let out a relieved sigh when he saw the burning determination in their expression.
"Well, you can see it yourself, Obaasan. Everyone is getting fired up right now." He pointed at the players. "We might still be down by one goal, but at least, they haven’t given up yet. We still have a chance to overturn the score, so just believe in the team. Believe that your son is good enough to flip the table." He added the last part quietly, knowing full well that Kana just waited for that line here.
The woman’s face brightened as she nodded rapidly; her enthusiasm was back. Not just her, but those around who overheard the conversation also couldn’t help but get excited here.
"Yeah, Higo-kun is right!" One of them raised their voice here. "We might be down by one point, but the players haven’t given up yet! We cannot let them fight alone here! Come on, guys! Get louder!"
"Yeah! Hakodate Nishi! Fight harder!"
Even though the cheers from the home team stand were still deafening as ever, the away team didn’t seem to lose in terms of enthusiasm. They shouted, screamed till their voices were hoarse, wanting to make sure that their boys didn’t fight alone here.
It seemed the boys also noticed it. They might not show any reaction, but Hiroshi and Takaaki, the two leaders of the team, bowed their heads slightly to the stand before walking to their own territory. This was their way to acknowledge that they noticed people’s presence around them.
"COME ON, HAKODATE NISHI! KEEP FIGHTING!"
Those four teenagers also followed everyone around, screaming at the top of their lungs to show their support. Somehow, they got carried away by the atmosphere around, forgetting about their analysis earlier and just standing there as the team’s supporters.
On the pitch, everyone was already in their position. The referee was also setting back his watch while also communicating with the assistant referee through the earphones to make sure everything was alright.
On the circle line, Hiroshi and Kenji were also ready to start the game. Kenji, in particular, kneeled for a moment while also mumbling, "Well, the retired senpai are here, so we cannot show a weak display, huh?"
Hiroshi couldn’t help but snort when he heard that. "You are right. At least, just in this first attack, we cannot disappoint them here. Let’s show what we are capable of!"
Even though Kenji didn’t raise his head, Hiroshi could see the grin spread on his kouhai’s face right now. "Ha! That is what I am waiting to hear from you, Senpai! Let’s show them that we are still as strong as ever!"
FWEEE!
Right after that, the referee finally blew the whistle, starting the second half with the kick-off from Hakodate Nishi. Well, Hiroshi didn’t hesitate here, passing the ball back to Takaaki. Then, without any communication, he and Kenji rushed forward, followed by four other Hakodate Nishi players behind.
"This!" Higo’s face was so excited when he saw this.
"Yeah, this is the original Blitzkrieg attack!" Makino nodded, also in the same excited mood. "Come on! Show them who is the boss here!"
Takaaki couldn’t hear their shout from the stand, but he also didn’t need their encouragement to do his task. The boy just glanced through his glasses, and before anyone could shut him down, he had already pinged a long pass toward the right flank, where Kenji had been standing for a while.
Thud!
"Oh! What a pass, Senpai!" Kenji grinned as he received it perfectly on his chest.
He seemed to do a good job being a focal point in the Blitzkrieg attack. Well, not that he had a reason not to be, since the boy was a perfect player to replace Kuroki’s role here. He was tall and strong in the aerial duel, and he could also control the ball and send it easily through any hole that was left by the opponent.
He showed it immediately with his vision here, as the moment he got two players trying to push him back, with a backheel, the boy sent the ball far closer to the byline, where Denki had already penetrated further to reach the ball.
"OH! The same scenario as the first goal!"
"Will we be able to see the second goal?! Come on!"
"Keep calm, Denki! You have all the time in the world, don’t be hasty!"
Unfortunately, unlike the first goal, Denki got surrounded so quickly by the opponent. He still had room to at least dribble the ball, but all the spaces in front of him were shut down by the opponent.
However, in desperation, his eyes suddenly caught someone moving closer to his side. That player came from the midfield area, and without even confirming for the second time, the right back knew exactly who that person was.
’Oh, well... You have already made a run, so it would be rude not to give the ball to you, right?’ He muttered unconsciously. ’Then, I will leave the rest to you, Hiroshi-senpai! Kill them again with your shot!’