Two Gazes from the Stands (1)

Matsuoka Moxia stood to one side, now fully understanding the core idea behind the captain and coach's words: concentrate their firepower on Aida Hikohiko and tear open Ryonan's defense.

But he still had one last concern and could not help asking, "But Coach, what if Number Fourteen uses that sudden-disappearance move again in the second half?"

"He used it to steal the ball from us several times before. What if he ambushes us again?"

As soon as he said this, the Great Wall players, who had been somewhat excited, instantly fell silent. Their gazes all turned toward Takeda Shinkai. They were clearly worried about the same issue; after all, Ryonan's Number Fourteen appearing and disappearing so strangely had left quite a shadow on them.

Takeda Shinkai lowered his head and thought for several seconds before slowly shaking it. He said with certainty, "If he could still use that move, he wouldn't have been defending so passively throughout the latter half of the first half."

"I paid close attention to the timing. He first used that move one minute after the match began, then frequently used it for surprise attacks over the next four minutes. But from the fifth minute onward, he never used it again."

"I think it isn't that he doesn't want to use it. He simply can't."

"Can't use it?"

At that, everyone on Great Wall froze, their faces full of surprise.

Banshen Dahan repeated it instinctively, his eyes filled with confusion. "Why can't he use it?"

"Does that move have some kind of restriction?"

"Most likely, a time or stamina restriction."

Takeda Shinkai explained, "Any special tactic or move consumes a great deal of stamina. On top of that, that move requires intense focus and predicting our actions, so it is difficult to use again within a