"Welcome everyone to the first day of the group stage, SW 89. This venue, the match between Team A and Team C, venue 2 Team S and C, venue 3 Team I and X, venue 4 Team D and W, Venue 5 Team T and M, Venue 6 Team F and Y, Venue 7 Team H and V, Venue 8 Team K and Q, Venue 9 Team N and B, Venue 10 Team P and E, Venue 11 Team G and L and Venue 12, Team R and U. Your commentator, Ichikawa Kiyotaka." The commentator said as the audience began clapping.
The guys from Team A kept smiling and jumping and stretching their bodies.
"Looks like they're hyped." Akatsuki said as I nodded.
"Looks like it." I answered, looking over at where they stood.
"How do you feel? Are you nervous?" Teijiro asked as I nodded in disagreement.
"Not really, I'm just... watching them." I replied, smiling at him to reassure him.
"Hello, Captain. Looks like you guys managed to enter the group stages." Raizo said sarcastically, his hands on his waist.
"Oh? Piercing-kun, looks like you're still in the team." I said, smiling at him.
"Hahaha, we'll be winning this time around. Don't think you can win us like you did last time." He said before walking out.
We stood in our 4-3-1-2 formation while waiting for the referee to blow his whistle. Akatsuki was to be a sub when Teijiro grew tired, so he stayed back on the bench with the coach and Sugawara.
"Make sure you get my passes." Teijiro said to me.
"Sure, I did get a few when we trained." I said, smiling at him.
"That won't be enough."
"Hmm?"
"A few isn't enough!" He said, raising his voice a bit at the end of his statement.
"Tei- jiro..." I called as he looked away.
"I'm sorry... for raising my voice at you. It's just..."
"I know, I know. I'll get them, I promise." I said as he sighed and smiled at me before shaking hands with me.
"Cool, I won't only assist you. I'll make sure I score, too." He said as I nodded.
*Teijiro... I'm kinda worried about him.* I thought, facing the guys from Team A who kept smiling at themselves.
The referee blew the whistle, and Ryu passed the ball to their captain.
We began running towards them as they passed amongst themselves. They passed to their left winger who ran forward with the ball, dribbling past Yusuke.
"Dammit! Fall back!" Yusuke shouted as they began running back to defend the goal post.
The left winger made a long pass into the box, and then I saw someone jump and control the ball with his leg. The guy then kicked the ball with incredible force, gaining momentum as it soared towards the top corner of the goal.
*Huh?* I thought, looking at the guy land on the floor.
"GOAL!!!" The voices in the stadium vibrated as I stood there speechless.
"That is Yamada Naoki." Teijiro said as I looked at him.
"He... was he in your team?" I asked as he nodded.
"Mm-hm. He's really good you know." Teijiro answered, looking down.
"Was he the one who used to receive your passes?" I asked.
"Yeah, he used to receive my passes. He always got them, too." Teijiro answered, walking back to his position.
*The guy's good. He scored under less than 10 minutes into the game. But still... we'll win!* I thought, walking back to my position.
"Let's regroup and focus, guys! We can't let a single goal bring us down!" I said as they ran back to their positions.
*I wasn't expecting that, and they probably weren't either. But still... this shouldn't bring us down. I'm sure we can still turn everything around.* I thought as Akaji began passing the ball.
"Guys, let's steal one back!"
"Yeah!"
I ran forward with the ball as one of the defenders stood a little farther from me, waiting to collect the ball from me. Teijiro was already being marked by three persons, Akaji, Kimishita, and Yusuke were marked by a person each.
"Tch..." Teijiro clicked his tongue, still trying to break free.
I noticed the other two at the back running towards us, and I knew there wasn't time to think. I continued running towards the defender, who thought I planned on using brute force.
*Idiot, is what he'll probably think I am.* I thought, crooking a little bit before immediately rolling the ball backwards and flicking it over him with the heel of my foot.
"He's fast!" The guy said as I ran forward, passing the ball over to Teijiro, who had already broken free.
He made a high pass towards me as I jumped and headed the ball. The keeper was fast and hit the ball outside the field.
"Nice one, Teijiro." I said as we fist bumped.
"Yeah, thanks, man." He said.
Ryuto walked to the right corner and placed the ball in the marked space. The whistle was blown, and he made a pass into the box.
"GOAL!!! Team C have gotten their goal back!" The commentator shouted as Kimishita ran towards Ryuto and hugged him.
"Thanks for the assist, Ryuto." He said, smiling as we fell back.
*We got one back!* I thought, smiling as we went back to our positions.
The game continued without a turn of events until the whistle was blown for the end of the first half.
We all walked back to the dressing room as few of the audience went out for a break.
"Even though you guys are tied, that doesn't mean you'll be tied till the end of the game. They'll come up with a tactic to win today's game, so you guys should rack up your game. Go out there and win, okay?"
"Yes, coach!"
"Atsushi."
"Yes, coach?"
"You guys are doing well. Just rack up your game. You guys will win, and if you don't, extra training."
"Ugh..."
"We'll win, Coach. The punishment is worse than death." I said as he smiled.
"Get back there, and win!" He said.
"Yes, coach!" We shouted, walking out of the room.