Chapter 426 Kawasaki vs Kobe I
Upon hearing Hiro's response, Nijichi's smirk faltered slightly. Annoyance flickered in his eyes as he said, "You've got a lot of nerve, Hiro. Don't think your luck will hold out."
The smile on Hiro's face widened. He could vividly see the effect of his words. And, he felt quite amused upon seeing Nijichi's reactions. So, he decided to continue, "Luck? It's not about luck, Nijichi. It's about skill and passion. And, if only you'd have shown a bit of that skill before, who knows we might have won a World Cup by now? But, don't let it bother you. Those are stuff from the past. Let's see which team has more of that today."
Nijichi's mouth repeatedly opened and closed as if he was trying to say something but couldn't come up with anything. And, before he could respond, the announcement echoed. So, both teams started moving.
The exchange left Nijichi visibly irritated, but Hiro remained as composed as before.
Even so, as they moved out, he kept staring at him with bloodshot eyes. He appeared quite pissed and seemed as if he'd take out his frustration in the field.
Hiro however wasn't bothered by his glares at the slightest as he moved while turning a blind eye to his glares. The tension between them was palpable, and the player close to them could vividly feel it.
Yet, none decided to meddle as they kept their distance from the two of them. However, Nijichi's state made some of his teammates a bit worried. After all, often emotions are a weakness for a player. It could meddle with their rationality, leading them to make bad decisions.
Then as Hiro emerged from the tunnel, the roar of the stadium hit him like a wave, its intensity almost knocking the breath out of him. The sheer volume of the crowd was overwhelming. A cacophony of cheers, chants, and the sounds of drums was echoing through the air, making the stadium extremely lively.
Every seat was filled, and the stadium was a sea of colors. Banners billowed freely as they fluttered with the fervor of the supporters.
His heart pounded as he moved forward. Yet still he maintained his cool.
One young fan, barely able to see over the heads in front of him, stood on tiptoe, trying his hardest to get a clear view of the field. His eyes were wide with excitement as he watched his hero step onto the pitch. "Look, Mom! It's Hiro!" he shouted, his voice filled with pure joy.
Another group of fans unfurled a massive banner that read, "We believe in you, Hiro!" It was a testament to the impact he had made in such a short time, a visual representation of the faith the fans had in him.
The atmosphere of the stadium was quite electric.
Then as they all held their respective position on the field, the referee glanced at his watch, preparing to start the match. At this moment, Hiro swept his gaze across the field, noting the position of the opposing players.
It was exactly as they had visualized. There wasn't much change to it. They were playing in a 5-3-2 formation with five defenders at their core. Their strategy seemed heavily based on defense. And they played counter-attacking football.
Meanwhile, his team clad in black and blue jerseys had spiced their strategy a bit. They weren't playing in their usual 4-3-3 formation. But rather, they were playing in a 4-1-3-2 formation. They had still yet to find a perfect defensive midfielder to cover the gap in their center.
But they had to do just with the players available in the team at the moment.
Despite the changes in the formation, their core value remained the same. They liked to play attacking football, and it hadn't changed today as well.
Erickson however, had dropped deep today. Instead of playing as the attacking midfielder, he was playing as the central midfielder in today's game.
Asahi had moved down to a defensive midfield position as well. Among the current players available to fill in the role of defensive midfielder, he was their best option. He was great at ball retention, his experience allowed him to make quick decisions, and mostly he was a good passer with excellent vision.
The only problem however was his speed.