Chapter 252: Peak Performance

Watching Hiori read and deny Rin's shot, Isagi hails his teammate's foresight and calls the whole match insane, noting that all twenty-two players are performing at maximum output.

Karasu brings a loose ball down on his chest, complimenting Hiori's growth as the defender bears down on him. Just as Isagi tries to anticipate the next move, Karasu surprises both by rolling the ball backward to Charles. From the touchline, Loki is delighted, sensing it is time for Charles to work some mischief. Charles slots a tight pass through several defenders that looks bound for Rin, who is shadowed by Isagi. But after traveling more than thirty meters, the back-spinning ball climbs and veers toward Shido, who is not even watching it as he sprints ahead.

Even Shido is startled that the ball arrives at his perfect sweet spot. As it drops over his head, he heads it home, leaving Gagamaru no chance. Isagi, struck by how much the goal resembles the one he and Hiori engineered against Ubers, marvels that this was pure improvisation, an ultimate resonance between Charles and Shido.

Karasu lays a backward pass to Charles, and Loki relishes the coming mischief. Charles disguises a pass toward Rin that curves up to Shido instead, and Shido heads in the opening goal of the fixture.

Isagi likens the strike to the goal he built with Hiori during the earlier clash against Ubers in Chapter 238. Titled Peak Performance, read as Besuto Pafomansu, this is the fourth chapter of Volume 29 and the 252nd overall. Paris X Gen now leads 1-0.