"What the hell is going on here..."

"I don’t know, but that goal is insane, though..."

"Would we lose the game?"

On the home side’s supporters, some people started to feel uneasy. Well, it was understandable, since the goal itself was so world-class that it managed to demoralize them most. However, the calmer side of the stand didn’t show any worry here. They just shrugged it off like the goal was nothing.

"Well, yes, the goal is amazing, but that still counts as one." Someone spoke. "I mean, this is not the first time we are down by one goal! Even against Ritsumeikan a few days ago, the situation seems to be similar, right?"

Hearing this, the people there had a new hope glimmering in their eyes.

"You are right! This is not the first time we are down like this!"

"Yeah, we have Yuwell on the team! With him, we will definitely be able to score two or three more goals later!"

This was the confidence they had in having the best striker in Japan right now to play on their team. They also started to compare the situation with their game against Ritsumeikan High, which was quite similar in hindsight.

Unfortunately, they forgot two crucial things here.

First, unlike Ritsumeikan High, Hakodate Nishi High was a defensive-oriented team, so this was definitely their bread and butter. They could stay patient in their cocoon-style defense for three days and two nights nonstop, and they would still be able to maintain the same level of discipline.

Second, Hakodate Nishi also had Higo, a cheat-code goalkeeper who could see a glimpse of the future. This turned him into a monster goalkeeper, one who could predict any incoming attack from the opponent’s side.

The combination of those two factors was enough to give the home team hell for the rest of the first half, as no matter how they tried to breach the opponent’s defense, they could only meet a break wall, unable to destroy it with brute force.

"Come on, Nori! Push him to the flank! Corner him with Denki! Yes! You get this!"

"Teme, don’t follow Yuwell! Someone is coming to the hole from the left flank! Move back, a chip pass is going!"

Thud!

"Hell, yeah, Teme! Good job!"

Higo didn’t know how long he had been shouting here. The boy even felt like his voice was so hoarse, wanting to relieve it with a big gulp of cold water. Unfortunately, it had to wait, since the team was still under constant attack from the opponent.

His mind kept spinning faster and faster, forcing the clairvoyance ability to appear more and more. His prediction ability was the key in this situation, and with him getting used to watching a bigger picture rather than just the intention of one or two players in front of him, the boy could oversee everything so easily.

Honestly, it was as if he could see what happened in the next two or three seconds from God’s eye perspective. Nothing could be hidden from his sight, no matter how sneaky they were, allowing the team to repel all the threats in front of them.

He himself didn’t make a lot of saves today. Well, not a lot by his standard, of course. So far, Higo managed to get three of the Sapporo Otani’s threats. The first one was from Yuwell’s spinning shot, the second one came from Kenji Harada’s long shot when Jun made a blunder, and the third one was a pitiful attempt from Yuwell, who didn’t really have any angle to aim his shot at.

As for the other threats, any shot taken by the home team’s side would either fly high or just go wide of the goal. So, yeah, in the first half, he was busier shouting and thinking rather than taking an action, which was more taxing mentally, if the boy had to be honest.

"How many minutes are left before the first half is over?" Higo couldn’t help but mutter, wiping the sweat on his neck. "I swear, we have been doing this forever, and yet, we are not even getting closer to the injury time!"

"Don’t worry, it is only three minutes left before a break," Makino answered while patting the dust on his shorts. "I have just received instructions from Kumiko-chan, and she told me to hold on until then."

Three minutes... It was still a lot, but at least knowing how long the game would be before they entered a break was enough to give Higo some relief. Unfortunately, the feeling didn’t last long, as after this, another round of attacks was coming.

This time, on the right flank, Kenji Harada and the winger with the number 23, Kurose, tried to make a combination attack. They managed to catch Jun and Denji off guard, allowing the winger to sneak into the penalty box easily. Seeing this, Higo lowered his stance immediately, protecting the near post while also getting ready for action. In the end...

BAM!

Another shot was launched. It was a low one toward the far post, a shot with good power and precise accuracy. However, Higo was still fast enough here, extending his left foot far forward, enough to appear in the shooting path and deflect the ball far back to the middle, where Kazawa cleared it immediately.

"Yes, Chibi! That’s how you do it!" Makino roared, chest-bumping his friend enthusiastically.

"Good save, Higo-senpai! Come on!" Denji high-fived the goalkeeper with the same excitement.

At this point, all the Hakodate Nishi supporters had already known about Higo and his magical presence on the back, so they also started to chant about him. This was definitely the highest praise that he could achieve today, being remembered by his own crowd not just as a mere NPC, but also as the biggest strength for the team.

However, Higo really couldn’t catch a break to think of something trivial like that. A minute later, another attack came from the same side, and this time, he saw the winger was about to send a cut back to the middle.

Knowing that Yuwell would be able to get there faster than Makino and Nori, Higo gritted his teeth here. He didn’t shout any instructions, just rushed forward even before the pass was coming.

’Damn! I have to get it first!’

However, right before the play unfolded...

Brugh!

FWEEE!

A collision suddenly happened, and for a moment, everyone was confused about what was going on here. It wasn’t until the referee pointed out the penalty spot that players finally realized what had happened.

"A Push foul from Hakodate Nishi’s number 3! A penalty kick!"