NOVEL NEXT Chapter 47: Breaking Point
The scoreboard glowed with brutal simplicity: Zeta 2 – Omega 2.
Renji Kurogami stood in silence, his breathing ragged. The sting of his failed shot and Omega's counterattack gnawed at his mind. Around him, the tension on Team Zeta's side was suffocating.
"You're not the only one on this team," Sora Amagi's voice cut through the air, low and sharp. "Start playing like it."
Renji's eyes flicked toward him, but before he could respond, the whistle blew. The game resumed.
Omega wasted no time pressing forward. Shohei Kuroda controlled the midfield like a maestro, his passes slicing through the pitch with laser accuracy.
"Close him down!" Kaede Arata shouted.
Riku Saionji burst forward, but Kuroda anticipated it. A quick body feint sent Riku off balance — and with a smooth Marseille Turn, Kuroda spun away, creating space.
"Damn it!" Riku hissed, scrambling to recover.
But Omega's coordination was seamless. Makoto Yajima darted into the open space, receiving Kuroda's pass with a soft first touch. He barely needed a second to flick it forward to Aikawa.
Aikawa. Their captain. Their heartbeat.
Renji's eyes locked on him. He knew Aikawa was dangerous — but this was something else entirely.
Aikawa advanced with calm confidence, his gaze scanning the field. And then, with chilling ease, he began his assault.
A quick one-two with Yajima. A diagonal run. And then, with a perfect Through Ball, he split Zeta's defense wide open.
"Jin!" Riku yelled.
Jin Kazama reacted fast. He rushed off his line, narrowing the angle as Yajima closed in.
Yajima struck — a low, powerful drive — but Jin threw himself at the ball, his gloved hands deflecting it just wide of the post.
The ball spun toward the sideline — and Renji was already moving.
He reached it before anyone else, his vision expanding. He saw Sora making a run down the left. Riku was surging on the right.
But Renji's ego burned. He wanted to take it himself.
He didn't pass. He cut inside, his speed accelerating. Aikawa moved to intercept — but Renji saw it coming.
He feinted left, then broke right with a sudden burst, using the classic Inside-Outside Cut to leave Aikawa flat-footed.
The goal was in sight. But Omega's defense was closing fast.
"Renji!" Kaede's voice rang out. "Center!"
But Renji ignored him.
He fired.
The ball blazed forward — but Omega's keeper read it perfectly, diving to make the save.
The rebound fell to Aikawa. And once again, Omega countered.
They moved as one — fluid and precise. Kuroda, Yajima, and Aikawa formed a relentless triangle, passing with perfect rhythm.
Sora raced to intercept, but Kuroda played a One-Touch Pass into space.
"Stay on them!" Kaede shouted.
But Zeta's defense was crumbling.
Aikawa reached the edge of the box — and with a deft Step Over, created just enough space to shoot.
He struck with brutal efficiency — a low, curling shot aimed for the far post.
Jin dove — and with a stunning fingertip save, pushed it wide again.
The whistle blew.
"Corner kick," the referee called.
Renji's heart pounded. They were falling apart. And it was his fault.
As Omega prepared for the corner, Sora walked up to him.
"You're trying too hard to be the hero," Sora said quietly. "We're not going to win like this."
Renji's fists clenched — but deep down, he knew Sora was right.
The corner kick came in — a dangerous, looping cross.
But this time, Jin rose above everyone else, punching it clear with authority.
The ball fell to Kaede, who controlled it with ease.
"Renji! Go!" Kaede launched a perfect long ball into space.
Renji's legs moved on instinct, chasing the ball downfield.
But this time, he saw the bigger picture.
Sora was sprinting into the box. Riku was cutting inside.
Renji drew the defense — then, at the last moment, sent a low cross slicing across the face of the goal.
Sora met it with a sliding volley — and the net rippled.
Goal.
Zeta 3 – Omega 2
For the first time, Renji didn't feel the need to celebrate. He felt something else — the first flicker of true teamwork.
But the match wasn't over yet. And Omega wasn't done fighting.
To be continued…