Because You Were Here

After Charles heads Kaiser's shot away, the loose ball drops for Zantetsu, who chests it down ahead of Ness. Isagi frets that Karasu and Charles can neutralize the logic he and Kaiser rely on, so he forces himself to shut off emotion and wring out a fresh idea. Zantetsu feeds Shido, who is swarmed by a triple press from Hiori, Raichi, and Kiyora and lays the ball back to Rin. Shido suggests that if the opposing aces have paired up, the two of them should mirror it, and Karasu and Charles move to flank Rin on either side.

PXG rally as Rin, Karasu, and Charles combine, working the ball until Igarashi, desperate to become a hero, yanks Shido back by the shirt. Shido still shoots, the ball ricocheting off Birkenstock toward Rin before Kaiser blocks and Isagi tackles it behind the net. Isagi taunts the geniuses that their partnership is far too shallow to outsmart the pair of them. Igarashi is booked and Noa benches him, and as the tearful defender protests that he has no salary value, Isagi pats his head and thanks the 300th-ranked player for making his own place here possible.

The second chapter of Volume 33 and the 287th overall, released in Japan on December 11, 2024 and in the United States on December 10, 2024. Part of the Neo Egoist League arc, this longer installment runs twenty-two pages with the match still tied.