The approach was simple here. Since Yuwell Carlson was so good at creating a chance for himself, the best way to deal with him is to isolate the boy. Don’t let him get any ball, no matter how bad the position was. That way, at least, they didn’t have to worry about any surprise attack from the boy again.

Of course, it was a risky decision. After all, there was no way Sano could contain Yuwell alone, so it would take at least two or even three players to kill that boy. If Sapporo Otani were smart, they would use this chance to break through the other side, using the Swedish striker as the bait to break through the away team’s side.

Still, this was the decision that Higo made, knowing that Yuwell had to be taken down first before they could think of anything else.

’This is going to be a contest of endurance between him and me.’ The goalkeeper couldn’t help but mutter. ’He is the heart of their offense. As long as I could save all the incoming attacks from him, we would be okay. Come on! I can do this shit!’

Unfortunately, there was one thing he miscalculated here. Yuwell Carlson was not just excellent with the ball on his feet, but even without it, he could create a room for himself, getting rid of Sano’s entanglement before arriving at the space where Kazawa couldn’t reach. Seeing this, Yuya Fukuda, the team’s left back, sent a through pass immediately, and soon enough, the ball met Yuwell’s left foot at the left side of the penalty box.

"OH! YUWELL!"

"COME ON! KILL THEM!"

All the Sapporo Otani supporters got up from their seats, ready to celebrate the incoming goal. However, the moment Yuwell launched a powerful shot from that spot...

BAM!

Makino arrived, throwing his body on the line. As a result, the ball just hit the captain’s chest before bouncing outside of the pitch, giving another corner kick for Sapporo Otani’s side.

"Fuck yeah! Come on, Teme, that’s how you should defend!" Higo roared, high-fiving his friend enthusiastically.

"Okay, okay, no need to get excited over just one play..." Makino replied, rubbing his sternum as he flinched at how heavy the shot was. "Damn, it is like someone is throwing a bowling ball straight to my chest. His shot power is crazy."

For that, Higo couldn’t help but nod, showing his agreement with the captain. He himself was one who faced that rocket so many times, so the goalkeeper knew what it felt like to have himself on the line like that.

"Come on, their attack is still coming again!" Kuroki, who dropped back to anticipate the corner kick, offered a hand for Makino. "You still okay?" He asked without even a single concern on his face, as if this were a formality question.

"Ha! Who do you think I am?!" Makino grunted, getting up immediately while also getting ready for the next play.

The incoming attack was far from over yet. This time, a corner kick was sent toward the middle, right where all the players were fighting in the middle of the crowd. Higo himself found that the ball was within his reach. However, the moment he was about to step further to pluck it in the air, his body froze, not wanting to move even for an inch.

’FUCK! NOT NOW!’ He groaned desperately. ’MOVE, MY FUCKING LEGS!’

BAM!

Before he could get over the panic attack that he got from the last game, the boy watched how Rin Mito leaped so high as if he was flying before redirecting the ball straight toward the near post. Fortunately, Usami was keeping his eyes on that spot, so it was easy for the boy to clear the ball away from there.

"Yes, Usami! Thank God, you are here!" Higo couldn’t help but laugh, ruffling the boy’s hair fondly.

The supporters groaned when they saw this, knowing that they were denied another chance to score.

"What the fuck?! What is going on with this game?!"

"I know, right?! This should be the second goal-line clearance of the day!"

"Eh?! Who was the first?!"

"Idiot! Didn’t you forget that before Hakodate Nishi scored, their four-eyed kid almost got a goal on his own?!"

Indeed, just like what they murmured from the stand, this was the second time a goal-line clearance was on the board. This showed how good the quality of both teams’ defense was, as they were able to protect their own goal from the storm and rain.

Higo also let himself take a deep breath here, somehow feeling relieved. The constant wave of attack from the home side was so crazy that he couldn’t think of anything for a second. However, when his panic attack flared earlier, the boy panicked, not knowing what to do.

This was the second time someone saved his ass in the last two games, as Sano did the same in the game against Esashi. This warmed his heart, though, enough to make him realize that he was not fighting alone here.

’Yeah, even if I have this mental block, I don’t have to worry. I have everyone’s back here.’

Of course, this didn’t mean Sapporo Otani’s offense would stop. No, if anything, they became more curious, wanting to unpeel all the layers of defense in front of them.

More combination plays were on the pitch, with Yuwell becoming even more ridiculous, shooting all the balls he received. The boy knew that he would never get any peaceful moment to even take control of the ball, and if he tried to dribble it on his own, another player would swarm him in a second. This was the best situation he could think of, and honestly, even with this, Higo found himself starting to get crazy here.

So many close shots were flying, and he had to go up and down acrobatically to save them all. Hell, the closer one even had the ball crossing the line slightly before he stopped it from rolling further, which all the Sapporo Otani complained that it was a goal. Fortunately, the ball wasn’t that far from the goal line, so the referee could see it clearly without making an ambiguous decision.

Still, the situation was so dangerous for Hakodate Nishi, and Higo couldn’t help but wipe the sweat on his forehead while glancing at Kumiko on the bench.

’Come on, Kumiko-chan... If you have a plan, throw it now before they can kill me...’