Chapter 185: Intermission - Spies?!
"Okay, amazing job, everyone! This is definitely the best first half we have ever shown on the pitch." Kumiko praised as she watched all of her players with satisfied eyes.
Currently, they were in the half break, and everyone was just sitting on the bench with a bottle of water in their hand. However, none of them felt quite tired, with so even having their complexion get better as ti went by. Honestly, after playing in a hot temperature in Niigata, they forgot how comfortable it was to sweat in such cold weather.
"Still, you know that the job is far from being over, right?" Kumiko asked, a sign for everyone that a serious topic was coming. "So, we will make a slight adjustnt in the second half, get ready, because I will make so substitutions this ti."
This ti, all the bench players perked up, knowing that their chance was coming.
"At the beginning of the second half, Yuji-kun, Ishinori-kun, and Hori-kun, you three will co in for the twins and Kenji-kun." She announced, startling everyone else.
Kenji, particularly, frowned a little when he heard that. "Senpai, I don’t know if you hate us or what, but you don’t have to target us freshn so blatantly like this, okay?" He complained.
That was when the slower mbers of the team realized that three players who were off this ti were indeed the newcors, and coupled with Sano, who still hadn’t had an opportunity to step onto the pitch, things did look bad for Kumiko, indeed.
The girl herself just sighed helplessly, knowing that Kenji would notice this matter. Not that she would bla him, of course, since the boy just demanded justice here. Now, she had to explain this matter clearly, though, or a crack could appear on the team.
Fortunately, Kumiko indeed had a perfect answer for this question.
"I know it looks like I’m targeting you, but in fact, it is not
who does that, but the other people here." She explained. At her players’ confusion, the girl added, "Don’t turn around, but try to look subtly at the area behind the north goal. There are two people chatting casually, and in the western part, one more person is trying to mix with the crowd. Don’t look at them!" She hissed quietly.
Those who tried to do that snapped their head back imdiately, not daring to object to the order. However, the atmosphere suddenly shifted into a heavy one after that, with tension appearing like a boulder being thrown on their shoulder out of nowhere.
"What is going on, Kumiko-chan?" Makino asked, his tone somber.
"You might not notice this, but they have been recording you three since the beginning of the ga," Kumiko answered, looking at the three newcors with a helpless sigh. "If I’m not wrong, they should be the scout from a strong team around, either Ritsuikan, Esashi, or probably even Sapporo Otani High, wanting to get a better look at you."
Kenji himself was still dumbfounded by this, couldn’t help but ask, "Why us, though?"
"Why else?" This ti, Kumiko just stared at him like he was an idiot. "They probably noticed our performance in Niigata and figured out that we have been a more aggressive team after you guys joined the team, so they just want to take a look at how capable you are. Unfortunately, you three are high-profile players, so I cannot hide you when you guys are on the pitch."
Indeed, Kenji and the twins were obvious additions to the team. They brought a different quality and style compared to the senior players, so it would be impossible for them to go unnoticed. Still, to think that there would be this kind of an operation...
"That ans, they really treat us seriously this ti, huh?" Makino chuckled darkly.
Sohow, he felt insulted when thinking that, in the last couple of tournants, he didn’t get the sa treatnt. However, as the team got better, sothing like this was bound to happen, showing that they had turned into a bigger threat for those powerhouse schools.
"So, yeah, that’s why you three are off. I want to hide you a little bit longer, at least until we go to Sapporo. I want to give the impression that you guys are just half-ga players, not ready for the high school intensity. Do you mind if I do that?" she asked those three this crucial question.
The three newcors just glanced at each other for a mont before smiling wryly, not being able to find anything to complain about.
"I’m not happy here, but I can see your point. They are targeting us, and you are just trying to protect us a little bit longer. Fine, Senpai, you win." Kenji felt his shoulder slump on the bench.
"Well, I don’t really mind. I an, they are not really that strong, right?" Denji shrugged.
"Yeah, yeah! Also, the pitch is clearer from the bench, and we can see Hiroshi-senpai better when he is in action!" Denki added with his usual fanboyish persona.
Hiroshi himself just rubbed the back of his head sheepishly while the others chuckled at him. Sohow, the twins were still not getting over their fanboying period, still sticking with him whenever they t each other. The boy didn’t have the heart to refuse it, but this was still embarrassing for the boy here.
"Of course, Sano-kun and Fujinaga-kun, I still plan to play you both as well," Kumiko added. The last two mbers of the bench players perked up, having a glimr of hope after thinking that they weren’t going to play today. "I want to give everyone a chance to warm up and feel the atmosphere of this competition again, so each one of you will have your ti here. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Ma’am!"
"Good." Kumiko nodded once again before checking her watch. "Well, we still have three minutes before the second half begins, so let
give you one last ssage."
All the Hakodate Nishi players straightened their backs imdiately, knowing that she was being serious again.
"You guys have been doing well in this ga, and we are all confident with this result. So, in the second half, please restrain yourself a little bit from showing off and just treat the ga cautiously. Don’t give anything away to the scouts, and let’s surprise them once we play against their team. What do you think about it?"
This ti, everyone looked at each other ferociously, with Makino nodding in approval. "I like how your mind works, Kumiko-chan. Let’s fool them first and kill them later."
"Hell, yeah!"
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