Chapter 4: Kousuke's Comeback! Analysis Is Complete!

FYI

: Speech

(Tone/Context):

- Thoughts

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The ball is received Ryuzaki who rushes forward on the attack as Striker Team B Defenders swarm him to try and defend the goal.

Kousuke- Damn it! We really overcommitted to the attack!

Ryuzaki- We win.

Ryuzaki passes to Sato who only now comes into view of Kousuke.

Kousuke- I get it now...

Ryuzaki gets into position as Kousuke just barely catches up trying to put a stop to Sato by getting in between them.

Sato: Yeah. This could work.

Kousuke: What the hell are you talking...

Sato no-look passes backwards to a Defender Team A Winger.

Kousuke- ... this entire time he's been... 

The Winger passes to an open Ryuzaki.

Kousuke- ... hiding from me.

Kousuke catches up as he jumps towards his right in defense of the goal but Sato jumps to his right as the crash into each other. The impact knocks Sato back onto his ass but Kousuke is nudged just enough that he can't block the shot as the ball digs into the goal and the whistle blows over a cheering crowd.

Kousuke- Damn it! I completely fell for it!

Announcer: Goal! Takahashi Ryuzaki scores another goal at the 10 minutes and 53 seconds mark!

The score then changes to Striker Team B (0) : Defender Team A (2).

Kousuke- They watched our tapes and now they're all working together to counter me by keeping Sato out of my sight.

Hirata: Kousuke we're down by 2 goals. If they score again.

Kousuke: I know.

Hirata: We're in a real bind here Kousuke. Do you have a plan?

Kousuke: Yeah. I'm sorry that it's a bit late but my Analysis is complete.

Hirata: So?

Kousuke: One thing. I can't guarantee this will...

Hirata: Just get on with it.

Kousuke: The three major players in Katsuo's team are Katsuo himself, Sato and Ryuzaki.

Hirata: Explain it to me.

Kousuke: Let's start with Ryuzaki. There's not a lot to say about him. He's the type to position himself for a volley. He doesn't seem to have any other talents. In short he's completely reliant on Sato's passes.

Hirata: So as long as we shut down Sato he isn't a problem.

Kousuke: If only shutting down Sato was such an easy task. Again Sato doesn't have any physical capabilities that could prove problematic to any of our player but his playmaking is very good.

Hirata: How do we deal with him?

Kousuke: I need to keep a close eye on him. He has another talent in which he seems to be able to use his awareness to be able to hide himself from me completely.

Hirata: You mean?

Kousuke: Yeah. To defeat him. This'll take a group effort.

Hirata: Hang on. I'll bring everyone here.

Kousuke then discusses something with his team and then the team spreads back out.

Kousuke: Now that we've handled talking about our defense let's talk about theirs.

Hirata: Yeah so how do we handle Katsuo?

Kousuke: Katsuo can use his Augmentation to form a ultimate defense that's pretty much impenetrable from the front for about 5 seconds.

Hirata: Just 5 seconds?

Kousuke: Yeah.

Hirata: What brought you to that conclusion?

Kousuke: After the 2nd stage of our 3 stage attack his Aura evaporated and he became increasingly desperate. There's no way a sane person would ever turn off their Augmentation in the middle such a high stakes moment. So that should have been his limit.

Hirata: I get it.

Kousuke: He also has a limited range to use his technique.

Hirata: How do you know that?

Kousuke: You saw how those other two stuck to him really closely.

Hirata: Yeah?

Kousuke: My running theory is that Katsuo can extend his Augmentation to his teammates but they have to be close enough for him to do it.

Hirata: I see.

Kousuke: So if we can separate them a bit and bide our time during the attack for 5 seconds continuously and pressure him then we can score.

Hirata: Wait so his Augmentation must be...

Kousuke: Yeah. It's a Puppeteer Augmentation that allows him to manipulate his own body along with that of his teammates.

Hirata: That's just.

Kousuke: Yeah. But one more thing. It took about 5 seconds before Katsuo could use his Aura again.

Hirata: How did you know that?

Kousuke: There's only one way Katsuo could've been able to keep moving after taking that shot to the face. He used his Aura to reduce the impact of the shot.

Hirata: So we have a five second interval to score?

Kousuke: No. That Aura wasn't Augmented. I could tell. It was just plain old Aura. That block was through sheer luck.

Hirata: So we almost scored for real there?

Kousuke: Yeah.

Kousuke- They planned this counter attack from the very beginning.

Kousuke stares at Katsuo and the other team with Sato running towards Katsuo in glee.

Sato: Katsuo! Your plan worked!

Katsuo: Of course it did! Who do you think I am?

Ryuzaki: One more and we win.

The ball is returned to Kick-Off as Hirata starts with the ball.

Kousuke: Hirata. Let's do this!

Hirata: Yeah!

Hirata passes to Kousuke who Augments his Aura as it swirls in his eyes as he races up field with Hirata racing down from the other side.

Kousuke: 1 2! Let's go!

Kousuke and Hirata pass the ball between each other as the move through field passing and dribbling past all of the opponents.

Katsuo: Neither of you scores. Not on my watch!

Kousuke passes the ball to Hirata that gathers it with the outside of his right foot as Katsuo's eyes shift to him. Hirata shifts his weight and lobs the ball far to the right as the Striker Team B Winger receives the ball.

Katsuo- To him huh? Well bring it on. It's not going in!

The winger passes the ball towards Kousuke who readies a shot pulling his leg back as Katsuo Augments his Aura.

Kousuke- Yeah that's right! Wear yourself out.

Katsuo- It's not happening!

Katsuo rushes in but Kousuke traps the ball instead.

Hirata- He's... just like...

Kousuke- 5 seconds.

Katsuo stumbles but recovers quickly. Kousuke pulls up his leg again. Katsuo eyes the ball and his foot as Kousuke looks as if he's going to pass to Hirata which diverts Katsuo's attention to him for a second.

Kousuke- 8 seconds.

Kousuke's foot approaches the ball but he rolls his foot over the ball as he uses the outside of his foot to pass the ball to his Team's Winger who shoots the ball.

Kousuke- 10 seconds. Time's Up!

Katsuo's Aura disappears but he still manages to block the shot as he begins to sweat profusely.

Kousuke- Still huh? Damn this guy.

Hirata- You've got to be kidding me!

Kousuke- I get it now! he's been training his entire body so that even after his Aura gives out he can still block any shots that come in. But if that's the case then it's not possible to score like this.

The ball flies overhead as it lands near Hirata who shoots the ball at the goal with Katsuo barreling forward.

Kousuke- Nope. You stay right there!

Kousuke puts his back to Katsuo stopping him from being able to block the shot as the ball flies towards the goal.

Kousuke- It's in!

The goalkeeper jumps to the right and punches the ball away.

Kousuke- You got to be kidding me!

Kenji appears he gets into position and shoot the ball into the goal and the whistle blows.

Announcer: Goal! Striker Team B score their first goal thanks to Nakamura Kenji at the 17 minutes and 23 seconds mark!

The score then changes to Striker Team B (1) : Defender Team A (2)

Kousuke and Hirata walk up to Kenji.

Kousuke: Good job.

Hirata: Yeah really. Well done.

Kenji: Thanks you 2.

Kousuke: All right everyone 2 more.

Hirata: Yeah!

Kenji: I'll do my best.

The ball restarts at the Kick-Off line with two players at the starting line from Defender Team A.

Hirata: So since they have the ball next. Does that mean we're going with that plan next?

Kousuke: Yeah we are going with that plan.

The whistle blows as the game starts up again as Kousuke dashes towards the player with the ball as he blocks off his path.

Kousuke- Never mind Sato. He's none of my concern. My concern for now lies on getting the ball away from them!

Hirata gets into a position ready to receive the ball and be able to rush past the defense as soon as the ball is recovered by Defender Team A.

Kousuke- Yeah Hirata. You know what you have to do. Katsuo isn't someone we can beat through brute force. Now to deal with the bigger issue. I know you'll reveal yourself eventually. Even if you don't I'll find you! Sato!

Kousuke constantly moves to block the opponent player's path.

Sato- Damn it! He's cutting him off entirely! He doesn't have a way through but I can't show myself to Kousuke yet.

Kousuke scans the area looking to his teammates as one of them signals out Sato's position as he rushes towards his teammate who high fives him as that Teammate marks the person with the ball and Kousuke finds Sato.

Sato- Shit! He revealed my position.

Sato tries to flee the area but Kousuke appears cutting him off.

Kousuke: Found you!

Sato: Katsuo! I've been found out!

Katsuo tcchs in irritation.

Katsuo- Without Sato we can't score. However with my defense there's no way that they'll get through!

Katsuo: Just keep possession. Don't let them get the ball and we'll win!

Defender Team A passes between each other desperate to not lose possession.

Kousuke- There's not much time. If it goes on like this we'll lose.

Kousuke breaks off from Sato heading to the player with possession.

Defender Team A Player- Sato's finally open!

The Defender Team A Player passes the ball to Sato but suddenly Kenji appears from out of a crowd of players stealing the ball with an interception.

Kenji: What an interesting position. Mind if I weigh in?

Sato: No! Wait!

Kenji dashes off as Kousuke smirks at him.

Kenji- So it all went according to plan. Cheeky brat.

Hirata- It really worked!

Hirata thinks back;

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Kousuke: When someone spots Sato signal his location. It doesn't matter if anyone sees it just show me where he is.

Hirata: But if you mark him then we lose our best player.

Kousuke: Yeah because of that they'll likely start to just pass the ball around all willy nilly.

Hirata: So what's the plan?

Kousuke: Once the player with the ball is in my sight I'll break off from Sato...

Hirata: Are you insane? That'll open a pass to him and there'll be no stopping them.

Kousuke: Yes there will. Namely there'll be Kenji.

Hirata: Kenji

Kousuke: Kenji doesn't draw much attention to himself so if I can create a play to entice him even just a little we can secure the ball.

Hirata: I see now.

Hirata sweats a little.

Hirata- Will that really work?

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Kenji dashes forward passing between his teammates as he makes it up the field. Eventually Kenji, Hirata and Kousuke rushing against Katsuo and the other 2 defenders. Kousuke was running down the right, Kenji down the left with Hirata running down the middle.

Kousuke- He won't fall for something like that again. No... It's more like I can't think of a plan similar to that.

Hirata: Kenji! Let's do a 1 2!

Kenji- This guy has just now become interesting. To think he could rope me into his subpar play like this. Fine then. I guess I'll play along and see what happens.

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To Be Continued

Next Chapter-Do Or Die! The Winner Is?