Chapter 220: Glowing!
Chapter 220: Glowing!
Solo interception!
Long sprint!
Dribbling past three players!
Shaking off the defender!
A criminal-like goal!
Himekoji alone did all of this!
One person against the entire Meiwa High School team!
…
After the silence came the uproar—
“Did… did it go in?”
“It went in just like that?”
“The scorer… is that pervert who’s somehow playing without clothes?!”
On Toyosaki’s side, they were the first to be dumbfounded.
These guys looked even more shocked than the Meiwa players who’d been made into “background extras” by Himekoji.
“Hmph! He’s just a pervert, stealing center stage from Hayama!”
“But… that goal just now was really cool…”
“Not as cool as Hayama!”
…
Himekoji fished the ball out of the opponent’s net for the second time.
Under the opposing players’ gaze full of shock, disbelief, and fear, he shook his head and casually jogged back to midfield.
Halfway back, he casually kicked aside the Meiwa Number 7 Beast blocking his way.
That guy had been frozen in place looking like an idiot ever since Himekoji stole the ball. He only snapped out of it when Himekoji kicked him—
“Ji! Where have you been this past year? I’ve been looking for you! Searching everywhere on the soccer fields like a maniac!”
“Why aren’t you playing for Toyosaki?! Showcasing a power stronger than in middle school?!”
Play what competition?
Himekoji hadn’t played soccer for over a year now!
Besides one decent long shot he’d practiced regularly, all his other skills were hopelessly rusty…
Also, did they think he didn’t want to play?
Ignoring the overly excited questions, Himekoji coolly carried the ball back to the center circle without so much as a glance back.
“You actually managed to do it all by yourself…”
Hayama, who had been waiting in the center circle all this while, couldn’t help but look at Himekoji with deep respect.
Though a glance at Himekoji’s bare upper body made his expression turn awkward.
“Uh… Mihara-kun, why aren’t you wearing your clothes properly?”
“You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”
“Huh?”
“Shh!”
Himekoji signaled for him to be quiet.
The match was ongoing, and Himekoji had no interest in pointless chatter.
Just like he ignored the Meiwa Number 7 earlier, Himekoji now ignored Hayama.
Hayama wouldn’t understand the cheat or the loneliness.
So, talking about it was useless!
…
Meiwa kicked off.
Perhaps still shocked by Himekoji’s god-like performance earlier, they deliberately routed their attack away from where he was positioned.
Himekoji was positioned more towards the left side of the field, so Meiwa went right!
The Number 7 Beast charged down the wing, ball at his feet. Any Toyosaki player foolish enough to challenge him was immediately bowled over by his beast-like physique.
After dribbling past two players, he finally regained his confidence.
Ah ha! Getting stripped by “Partner Ji” earlier was just a fluke, a reunion surprise!
When he got serious, he was unstoppable, a mighty beast!
“Look out!”
But just then, at this critical moment of regained confidence, he heard his teammate’s frantic warning behind him.
“That topless pervert is coming again!”
Himekoji streaked like wind across the pitch, from the left side to the right, blowing past the Number 7 Beast!
Interception x2!
After winning the ball, Himekoji didn’t hesitate at all. He repeated his earlier feat: a long, solo run!
Dribbling cleanly past two opponents, he burst through the Meiwa midfield line—
Thirty meters out!
Himekoji twisted his waist and swung his leg!
“Stop him! He’s taking another long shot!”
Meiwa players yelled frantically. Those nearby hurled themselves desperately, trying to block the shot with their bodies.
But Himekoji jinked, selling the shot but instead cutting the ball!
Just like that, he breezed effortlessly past the Meiwa player who had completely lost his footing.
An acceleration later, Himekoji surged forward several more meters with the ball.
Closer to the goal!
…
Damn it! Was the exact same scene going to happen again??
Were they going to be humiliated twice in exactly the same way by the same guy?!
No!
Don’t let him shoot! Don’t let it go in!
As title contenders, Meiwa simply couldn’t afford such disgrace!
Get tight! Mark him closely!
The three center-backs became Meiwa’s last line of defense.
Exchanging a quick glance among themselves, they formulated a plan.
Closing in together this time, they didn’t rashly lunge in.
No need for them to steal the ball!
All they had to do was cling to this inhuman guy like sticky glue, giving him no room to breathe!
Because Toyosaki’s frontline consisted of only this naked dude!
Stall him for a few seconds—just long enough for their teammates to hurry back on defense!
Himekoji’s acceleration after the “Clothing Explosion” was practically alien; ordinary players couldn’t react fast enough.
Meiwa High’s three defenders had to keep their eyes glued to him, barely managing to match his rhythm through sheer effort.
Faced with their tight defense, Himekoji remained perfectly calm. His right shoulder dipped as his weight shifted, priming to dodge sideways with the ball.
Not on your watch!
The defenders quickly mirrored his movement.
But right as they followed his feint, Himekoji’s right foot suddenly snapped the ball toward the left! His whole body screeched to a halt beside it.
Fake out!
Oh no!
Their balance gone, the three defenders could only watch Himekoji dart straight between them.
Wait!
There was one thing they could still do—apart from staring helplessly.
Namely…
Tactical foul!
The Shirt-Tugging Technique!
One defender, toppling over, gritted his teeth and thrust out his “saving hand”!
Then…
“Crap! I forgot the guy has no shirt—!”
His opponent’s Number 22—wait, he’s numberless now! That shirtless Pervert! He’d actually seen this coming from the very start!
They called Himekoji a ‘Pervert’ because he was freakishly good on the field. That was the reason—not because he genuinely looked like one!
Probably…
……
“Another goal?” murmured the spectators, their breathing frozen with disbelief.
“Dammit! With that angle cleared, he’s primed to shoot!” muttered the Meiwa players, dread pooling in their stomachs.
But then—in that crucial flash—a figure lunged into view, slamming right into Himekoji’s shooting path!
That jersey, stretched tight with muscle… that massive frame… And—
The bold, scarlet Number 7!
“Not gonna let you shoot! If you want to shoot—shoot through me! Partner!”
“I’ve been waiting for this moment all along!”
This time, after the ball had been taken from him, this Number 7 Beast didn’t just stand frozen—choking on regret. He raced back, spurred by shame!
Perseverance paid off!
He’d finally seized his chance for redemption—right before Himekoji’s thunderous kick!
I’ll prove that more than one of us got stronger this past year.
BEEEEP—
Just as the Number 7 Beast’s whole body vibrated with furious excitement—
“Huh?”
A shrill whistle pierced the air.
What happened?
He blinked blankly, turning his dazed look toward the referee.
“GOAL GOOD!”
“Toyosaki pulls another one back!”
“3–11!”
……
Goal good?
Wait! Goal? How? Who blasted it into the net?
My partner didn’t even shoot yet!
Idiot ref!
Number 7 scoffed… then reflexively glanced at Himekoji’s feet…
Huh!
Where’s the ball?!
Wait… that weird breeze under my legs earlier…
He spun around—and clashed eye-to-eye with the goalkeeper’s watery gaze of utter woe.
……
“Ji… I didn’t expect you to shoot so fast!”
Number 7 snapped, looking furious after all his longing for a fierce, fiery showdown.
“And sneaking a shot right between my legs?”
“Never saw that coming from my partner!”
……
Himekoji ignored his yapping.
At that moment, one thing was certain: shooting between the legs was the simplest and most efficient move.
One ball! Two passing through the legs!
Through Number 7 Beast’s. Then straight through the keeper’s pants door.
……
“H-Hat trick…”
“Three goals in three minutes!”
Everyone was stunned!
“That Pervert… he’s way better than… better than Hayato at soccer!”
“Way better!”
“First time I’ve actually thought that Pervert looked kinda sharp…?”
“All hail the Cult Leader-sama! Stepping into hopelessness and turning it around!”
……
Shattering someone’s bias? Sometimes it only takes a few well-aimed shots.
Himekoji was blazing like fire on that field.
……
……