The Rise of the Iron Wall!-Chapter 11: Starting to Work Hard

"Come on! Defend, Hori! Don’t let him get through you so easily!"

"Fujinaga! Help! Push him to the corner!"

"Yes! He is crossing again! Higo-senpai, get it!"

Thud!

Higo took a deep breath as he had just done another save, plucking the ball in the air. This was already his fifth catch in the game, and honestly, after the second one earlier, he didn’t need his clairvoyance ability to help him get through this. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

It wasn’t him being arrogant or his ability improved that much in the middle of the game, but more like the team’s defense moved with great coordination, shutting down all the strategic areas while only leaving the flank open.

If that was not enough, whenever the opponent’s wingers had the ball, there would be at least two people closing down any route to the striker, leaving the opponent to take a desperate cross into an easy route that was quite easy for Higo to pick.

With this kind of defense, somehow Higo started to believe that the school was indeed a strong team.

Still...

"Hey, hey, why would we go deep in the back?" Higo complained to Makino. "They are pushing further. Should it be a great chance for us to counterattack?" Of course, this was not a suggestion coming from his understanding of the game, but more like from his mental exhaustion after having to be alert for more than 35 minutes since the game began.

Hearing that, Makino just looked at him in disdain. "What do you know about football, Chibi?"

Higo’s ears turned red in anger. "Why, you?!"

"Honestly, it is not easy for us to attack. Only a few players could hold the ball for too long and create something for our striker, and you see Hiroshi is getting marked quite tightly. Once he holds the ball, I am sure that he will be fouled instantly. So, right now, our best priority is to defend the lead at least until the first half is over, and after that, the pressure will be on them, and that is when our chance finally comes."

Higo bit his lips annoyedly. He wanted to retort, yet the explanation was too quick, not giving his brain enough time to process it. In the end, Makino just patted his shoulder gently, saying, "Just do your job and stop any ball from getting into your goal. Leave the rest to us."

After that, the game somehow shrank into half-court, with Esashi High getting the possession almost all the time. Meanwhile, the Hakodate Nishi players were defending with their lives, not wanting to give the opponent any chance to tie the score.

Everyone from the home team worked hard, from the strikers who tried to chase the ball whenever it was sent back to the defenders, Hiroshi, who, even though he wasn’t that good at defense, was still trying to harass the opponent’s midfielder, to the defenders who sweated more than anyone else to parry the opponent’s attack.

Honestly, even though Higo was busy catching the crosses one after another, he didn’t face any threat since the beginning of the game. He hadn’t faced any test yet, so people didn’t have any impression of him.

However, things changed when, somehow, the opponent’s left winger managed to break through the right side forcefully. Hori, the reckless right back there, got humiliated with a nutmeg, and that winger managed to enter the penalty box so easily.

"Damn! Hori, what the hell are you doing there?!"

"Jun, cover!"

"No, captain! Number 8 is about to come!"

The situation turned into a chaotic one, with all the attention on that winger. Esashi’s number eight managed to sneak into the penalty box, and the winger saw the movement as he sent a cutback pass toward that direction.

"SHIT!"

Both Makino and Fujinaga slid, wanting to block the shot. The opponent’s number 8 was still one step closer, though, as he sent a low shot to get between the defender’s body and go through the bottom left of the goal.

For a moment, it looked like the ball was about to hit the net, and all the Esashi’s forwards were about to celebrate. However, in the last second, a short hand suddenly popped out of nowhere, blocking the ball’s route to the goal.

BAM!

The ball was deflected toward the left side, rolling slowly outside of the field. However, that was probably the last thing everyone cared about here. No, all the attention was on the goalkeeper who made the amazing save just a few seconds ago, as the boy was just shaking his hand strongly as if he was in pain.

Honestly, the Esashi players were only taken aback for a moment before moving on quickly, grabbing the ball for the corner kick. They didn’t know the inside story, so in their mind, while the save was amazing, it was not something to celebrate. However, things were different from the Hakodate Nishi’s side.

Everyone knew Higo’s background here. This was the boy who got dragged by Kumiko to join just a few days ago, not having any experience playing, and in the beginning, even making a fool of himself by missing a goal kick by miles.

So, how could they not be enthusiastic when the boy made such a superb save, preventing the team from suffering a goal?

"HELL, YEAH! That’s what I am talking about, Chibi!" Makino roared, high-fived the goalkeeper in excitement.

"Goddamnit, Senpai! Are you sure that this is your first time playing?!" Fujinaga added, staring at Higo in awe.

"Tch! What are you guys doing here?! Get ready for the corner kick!" Higo clicked his tongue in disdain, waving his hand away to prevent the others from coming at him. "Just keep your eyes on everyone! Don’t let even a single player get an open space!" He shouted, commanding the defensive line.

"YES, SIR!"

Higo didn’t show it, but he could feel his heart beating so fast. He didn’t expect that, amidst the chaotic situation a moment ago, his clairvoyance would suddenly send an image of what kind of ball would come next, allowing him to shift into the direction the ball would go quicker than anyone could see.

This subtle positioning might not look like much, but for Higo, who was quite short and couldn’t reach a tricky spot like that so easily, being able to predict where the shot would go and move two or three seconds earlier to anticipate it was definitely a God’s blessing. Now, after he had already made one amazing save, his confidence soared to the sky, and somehow, he let out a little smug smirk curling on his face.

’Yes... I can do this...’