A high intensity series such as this one produces plenty of awesome to go around.
"You're not fit to be a striker!"
Main Series
- During the introductory game of tag, Bachira appears to be asleep throughout it and Igaguri tries to get a cheap shot in. Cue Bachira promptly kicking him hard enough to give him a bloody nose. When Igaguri tries to call this a foul, Bachira reminds him that only handballs were forbidden revealing that he was listening the whole time and kept faking his slumber to gain an advantage.
- Shortly after, Isagi is about to hit Igaguri with the ball when the latter sprains his ankle. But he hesitates announcing that he doesn't want to become a striker this way...he needs to defeat someone stronger than him or else he can't be the best. Bachira agrees and he then steals the ball thus making himself "it", and goes after Kira. With the time running down, he makes a pass to Isagi who kicks the ball rather painfully into Kira's face resulting in his shocking elimination.
- In Team Z's first match, the field is absolute chaos as the players' egos cause them to clash and fight over the ball. But Barou Shouei steamrolls through everyone, heel flicks the ball over Isagi when he tries to stop him, and pulls off a double nutmeg before scoring a clean goal. He takes it a step further by proceeding to lecture that when he's on the field he's the king, the ball is his servant, and his own teammates even start cheering for him not unlike worshippers.
- As the match nears it's end with Barou having all but decimated Team Z, Bachira comments to Isagi that they've almost certainly lost at this point; but maybe they can at least get one of those goals back. The two make a quick play and Bahira successfully passes the ball to Isagi, only to be tailed by Barou. An intimidated Isagi freezes up, but Raichi and Kunigami catch up to him each asking for the ball. Isagi subconsciously pulls off a no look pass and Kunigami scores Team Z's first goal.
- In their next game with Team Y, Isagi realizes that Niko is the one coming up with all their plays and heads back during a corner kick to block him from getting the ball. He then tries to score but is surprisingly blocked in turn by Niko, only for Gagamaru to leap in and just barely get it in the goal. Even after this results in him injuring his ribs on the goal post, he walks it off and announces the comeback is on. A wild child indeed!
- When it looks like Team Y might score the winning goal, Isagi cuts in and sweeps the ball into his possession. He then dresses down Niko for passing at the last minute instead of taking the shot himself, which is exactly what he did at the beginning of the series when he wasn't thinking like a striker. With the assistance of Kunigami and Bachira, Isagi gets into position and scores his first goal of the series with fire in his eyes.
- Chigiri's establishing moment doubles as this. After spending most of his screentime being rather standoffish and more or less refusing to play due to the fear of permanently re-injuring his leg, he sees Isagi trying his best even after Kuon betrays them in the Team W match. He does get the ball briefly, but Isagi roughly pushes him down and his glimmer of passion fully ignites. He unshackles himself from the past, visually presented beautifully by imaginary chains, and uses his speed for the first time in years. Isagi finally smells a goal and makes a pass that seems to get picked up by Kuon, only for Chigiri to appear right beside him and burst ahead with the ball. The Wanima twins are simply unable to catch up to him and he kicks the ball so he can run to the pass himself, and tip it over the goalie; tying the game and saving Team Z from elimination.
- Raichi earns his keep in the match against Team V where he gets to show off as an incredible defensive player who kept Reo locked down. So much so that despite Reo having been built up as the second best scorer of Team V, he ended the game without a single goal due to how much Raichi was latched onto him.
