Chapter 81: A game between boys.
The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the field as the players scattered to their positions. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation, a mixture of excitement and unease hanging in the air. Everyone wore different expressions, ranging from the calm confidence of a seasoned player to the jittery excitement of someone on the edge of discovery. But for one, Tokusake Ren, the field wasn't just a battlefield—it was a place where the shadows in his mind danced, threatening to tear him apart.
Yorita Mikage, his face an unreadable mask, positioned himself at the front, clearly prepared to act as the striker. His teammates, understanding the simple strategy of "pass to Mikage," moved into place, ready to execute the plan. The command must have been given earlier, during their brief strategy meeting. It was simple and effective, and everyone on the team understood it implicitly.
"Let's begin," Mikage's lips moved, his voice too far to be heard, but the intent was clear. He placed the ball on the ground, eyes scanning the field. As if on cue, the opposing team tensed, their bodies shifting into defensive stances. The game was on.
"Boom!" Mikage's powerful kick sent the ball soaring through the air, surprising everyone. The ball seemed to arc in slow motion, a deceptive curve that had everyone moving toward the lower field, only for them to realize too late that they had been tricked. The ball, with a precise spin, was heading straight for the goal.
It was a calculated move, one that only someone with Mikage's experience and instinct could pull off. Two outcomes flashed through ren's minds: either the ball would strike the goalpost and ricochet unpredictably, or it would sail directly into the net. The former would demoralize the opposing team, breaking their confidence; the latter would secure a swift, morale-boosting goal.
But there was a third option, one that Ren's intuition picked up on as if whispered to him by some unseen force. The ball would fall short, landing just meters in front of him, waiting for someone to seize the opportunity. And that's exactly what happened. The ball bounced, rolled to a stop, and for a moment, no one moved.
Ren felt their eyes on him, a thousand unspoken expectations bearing down. Something inside him stirred—an odd, exhilarating sensation that made his heart race and his thoughts blur. Without hesitation, Ren threw the ball with all his might, watching as it soared back to the other side of the field. He felt a surge of strength, an unfamiliar power coursing through him. Was this what it felt like to be one of those larger-than-life characters in the stories he used to read?
But before he could dwell on it, something unexpected happened. Watanabe Rentaro, the opposing team's goalkeeper, intercepted the ball with a determined kick, launching it back across the field. It was a move that caught everyone off guard, including Ren.
'I really envy the ball, being able to fly through the sky so many times,' Ren thought, a hint of wistfulness creeping into his mind. 'Although I don't want to be kicked around like that.'
The ball found its way to Mikage and Hirokima Kagami, who blitzed through the defense, zigzagging like lightning bolts. Their movements were almost too fast to follow, leaving Ren's mind spinning as he tried to keep up. The ball danced between their feet, a blur of motion and intent.
Suddenly, the ball was passed to Mikage, who froze, his eyes locking onto Ren's. There was something in those eyes—a dangerous glint that sent a shiver down Ren's spine. It was an intent that went beyond mere competition, something far more sinister.
'An intent to bring death.'
Ren's breath quickened, sweat beading on his forehead as the world around him seemed to slow down. The sound of the game faded, the vibrant colors of the field dulled, and all that remained was Mikage. His foot moved in slow motion, drawing back for the kick that would surely seal their fate.
But the ball never came.
In a split second, Mikage altered his plan, his foot changing course at the last possible moment. The ball shot upward, soaring high into the air, out of reach. Ren's body reacted on instinct, muscles tensing as he prepared for the next move. The ball descended, bouncing once, twice, three times, each bounce echoing in the silence that had fallen over the field.
Yet Mikage did nothing.
He stood there, unmoving, as the ball continued to bounce. Ren's eyes flicked back and forth between the ball and Mikage, trying to anticipate his next move. The tension was unbearable, a taut string ready to snap at any moment.
And then it did.
Out of nowhere, Miyake Okabe sprinted into action, smashing the ball to the right. It was received by Hashimoto Miyushi, who quickly passed it back to Mikage. The temporary striker was on the move again, his eyes focused and determined. In the back, Akeshi , Chen, and Namakemono held their ground, prepared for whatever came next.
Mikage kicked the ball with all his might, sending it hurtling towards the goal. Ren leaped into the air, stretching out to intercept it, and succeeded in deflecting it—but not far enough. The ball fell to the other side, where another player was already in position to strike.
"If one time doesn't work, then try again," the player muttered, kicking the ball with renewed vigor.
'Fuck!'
Ren cursed inwardly, realizing he wasn't in a position to defend. The ball was about to slip through their grasp when, out of the blue, Wakaba Yuuki threw himself in the path of the ball, using his face to block the shot. It was a move so reckless, so absurd, that it left everyone stunned.
Without missing a beat, Ren kicked the ball away, giving his team a moment to regroup. As the attention shifted elsewhere, Ren picked Yuuki up from the ground.
"Why are you so excited?" Ren asked, the question slipping out before he could stop it. Yuuki's face was lit with a wild grin, his eyes shining with a manic excitement.
"For the longest time… I didn't have much of a challenge," Yuuki replied, his voice brimming with energy. "Even if I did, it was always something where the winner was already decided. But this… this is different. This is a real challenge. The chance of winning or losing—it's not decided yet. That's what makes it exciting!"
With that, Yuuki ran off to rejoin the game, his laughter echoing in Ren's ears. Ren watched him go, the words lingering in his mind.
'Excitement… What a foreign word. An alien emotion.'
Ren felt a pang of something he couldn't quite place, something deep within him that stirred restlessly. 'I wonder if I can ever feel like that, without hiding behind a mask.'
"You should try looking at it from this perspective," a voice interrupted Ren's thoughts. Akeshi appeared beside him, his expression thoughtful. "No matter what happens, you tried your best, and that's all that matters. Nothing else. By doing so, you can have a good look on life."
Ren listened, absorbing the words as Akeshi continued.
"You were called a ｢child prodigy｣ weren't you? Doesn't that title feel old to you? Since there are tons of guys and girls who are called that."
Akeshi's tone was calm, almost casual, but there was a depth to his words that Ren couldn't ignore. "If you want to improve your opinion of yourself, why not try adopting someone else's thought process and work according to it? Then, mix the two thought processes and create a new one so that you can become a much more powerful version of yourself."
Ren nodded, though his mind was still in turmoil. He wasn't sure what to think, what to feel. The game continued around them, but it felt distant, like a noise in the background of his thoughts. And then, slowly, something began to change within him.
The personas that had been battling for control—the child who rejected light and the adult rejected by light—began to separate once more. But this time, the separation wasn't violent or chaotic. It was almost… peaceful. As if they both understood that the battlefield wasn't the field in front of them, but the mind within.
'I am the child who runs towards the light but refuses to embrace it.'
'I am the adult who walks in the darkness but longs for the light.'
Two halves of the same whole, split once again, but now coexisting in a strange, fragile harmony. Ren felt the shift, felt the way his thoughts aligned and then diverged, creating a new pattern, a new rhythm. It was like walking a tightrope between two worlds, two selves, but for the first time, he didn't feel like he was falling.
Mikage, from his position on the field, glanced over at the group of boys chatting animatedly, their conversation punctuated by exaggerated gestures and wild laughter. It was the kind of talk that made Mikage roll his eyes—a mix of bravado, nonsense, and just a touch of zesty humor that seemed to bind them together in their own unique way.
"Yo, did you see the way I blocked that shot? It was pure genius!" Yuuki boasted, puffing out his chest.
"Genius? More like you're a masochist," Namakemono quipped, smirking. "Who uses their face to block a ball? You're gonna need a new nose after that."
"It's called dedication, you dimwits!" Yuuki shot back, wiping a trickle of blood from his nose with a grin that could only be described as borderline psychotic. "I saved your asses, didn't I?"
"Dedication, my ass!" Chen scoffed, shaking his head. "You're just fucking crazy. Who the hell uses their face as a damn shield? It's a soccer match, not a goddamn fistfight."
"I don't know, man," Namakemono chimed in, still laughing from the sidelines. "You looked like you were about to die a heroic death or some shit. What, you think this is your anime moment?"
"Fuck you, namak!" Yuuki threw up a middle finger, but the smirk never left his face. "I didn't see your ass anywhere near the ball! What were you doing, playing patty-cake with yourself?"
Namakemono raised an eyebrow, casually flipping Yuuki the bird in return. "Please, like I'd waste my energy. I'm saving it for when I actually need to make a move. No point in jumping in like a fucking maniac."
Yuuki chuckled, wiping more blood from his nose. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, you lazy fuck."
"Sleep? Who needs sleep when you're this fucking good?" Namakemono replied, grinning as he flexed his arms. "I could take on all you idiots with one hand tied behind my back."
"yeah~, keep dreaming, asshole," Chen shot back. "If you were that good, we would have already gotten another fucking point."
"Hey, how about you shut the fuck up and stop nagging like a bitch?" Yuuki shot back. "We're unable to do so because you, Namak, are about as useful as tits on a bull. How many times did you trip over your own feet today?"
Namakemono laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, keep talking, dumbass. Let's see if that big mouth of yours can actually score us another goal."
"Fuck off," Yuuki retorted, smirking. "I'll score the winning goal with my fucking face if I have to."
Meanwhile, on the Chidori side of the field, the banter wasn't any less intense. Rentaro stood with his arms crossed, watching the Roward boys with a mixture of amusement and irritation.
"Look at those fucking idiots," Rentaro muttered, rolling his eyes. "It's like they've never seen a soccer ball before."
"Hey, at least they're keeping the game interesting," Kagami chuckled, tapping his fingers together. "Plus, that Yuuki guy took a ball to the face like a champ. Gotta give him props for that."
"Props?" Okabe echoed, snorting. "The only thing he deserves is a Darwin Award. Who the hell thinks 'face block' is a legit strategy?"
Miyushi shrugged, adjusting his armband. "Idiots, that's who. But I guess it's effective when you've got no brains to protect."
Keitaro laughed. "It's almost sad. They're so fucking clueless, it's almost like they want us to beat the shit out of them."
"Well, let's not disappoint them, then," Rentaro said, a dark smile spreading across his face. "If they want to play rough, we'll show them just how much they're out of their league."
Back at the goalpost, Akeshi was standing next to Haruto, his eyes on the ball as it zipped across the field. Haruto, sensing the tension in the air, looked up at Akeshi with a calm expression.
"You think they're going to keep up this shit-talking, or will they actually play?" Haruto asked, his tone measured, as usual.
Akeshi shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "They'll play. It's all just part of the game for them. But when the time comes, they'll show their true colors. No matter whhere we are standing , it will always become their stage to play."
"I just hope they don't hurt themselves before we get a chance to win," Haruto replied, his voice even. "This game's close, and we can't afford to lose focus."
Akeshi nodded in agreement, his gaze steady on the ball as it moved between players. "They won't. When it really matters, they'll pull through."
The game continued, with the players exchanging jabs as fiercely as they did passes. The Roward boys, full of bravado and reckless energy, kept pushing forward, their taunts flying as freely as the ball.
"You're gonna regret stepping on this field, fuckers!" Yuuki shouted as he charged forward, aiming for the ball that was now in Okabe's possession.
Okabe sneered, sidestepping Yuuki with ease. "You wish, dumbass! Keep dreaming—you'll never catch up to me!"
But Yuuki was relentless, his focus sharp despite the blood trickling down his face. He lunged at Okabe, his movements wild and unpredictable, forcing Okabe to backpedal.
"Namak! Get your lazy ass over here and help me out!" Yuuki yelled, his voice hoarse from exertion.
Namakemono sighed dramatically but obliged, sprinting over to block Kagami, who was closing in on Yuuki. "You better make this worth my time, you dumb fuck."
"I'll buy you a drink if you stop fucking whining and help me take this asshole down!" Yuuki shot back, his eyes narrowing as he closed in on Okabe.
"Oh, now you're speaking my language!" Namakemono grinned, his eyes gleaming as he intercepted Kagami, using his body to block him from getting any closer to the ball.
"What's the matter, Hirokima
?" Namakemono taunted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Too slow to keep up with us?"
Kagami snarled, pushing back against Namakemono with all his strength. "Shut your fucking mouth! You're all talk, but I'll take you down, you little shit!"
Meanwhile, Miyushi was on the move, weaving through the chaos like a shadow. His eyes were locked onto the ball, his mind racing as he calculated the best angle to intercept.
Mikage, keeping a close watch on the field, saw Miyushi's approach and nodded in approval. "Miyushi's got this. Let's keep them busy while he does his thing."
"Got it," Okabe replied, his focus unwavering as he kept the ball out of yuuki's reach. "Just make sure you don't get distracted by their bullshit."
Miyushi closed in on the ball, his movements fluid and precise. He could hear the Roward boys shouting at each other, their voices blending into a chaotic symphony of curses and threats.
"You better not fuck this up, Namakemono!" Yuuki's voice rang out, full of frustration and determination. "Get your lazy ass in gear!"
Namakemono, who had been lagging behind, grumbled under his breath as he finally picked up the pace. "Fine, fine! Just shut up and let me do my thing!"
But just as Miyushi was about to make his move, a sudden burst of energy from Yuuki threw everything into chaos. Yuuki, with a reckless abandon that bordered on insanity, launched himself at Miyushi, colliding with him in a brutal tackle.
"Fuck!" Miyushi cursed, the impact knocking the wind out of him as he and Yuuki tumbled to the ground.
"You thought you could get away, you sneaky little shit?" Yuuki growled, gritting his teeth as he scrambled to his feet. "Not on my fucking watch!"
The ball, now free from Miyushi's control, bounced across the field, and mikage seized the opportunity. With a swift, powerful kick, he sent the ball soaring toward the goal.
"Nice try, assholes!" mikage shouted, his voice full of triumph as he watched the ball fly.
But at the goalpost, Akeshi was ready. He moved with practiced precision, his eyes locked onto the ball as it approached. With a calculated leap, he intercepted the ball mid-air, sending it back into play with a strong, controlled throw.
"Not today, mikage," Akeshi muttered under his breath, his gaze unwavering as he watched the ball fly across the field.
Haruto, who had been silently observing the chaos, nodded in approval. "Nice save, Akeshi. Let's keep this momentum going."
"Yes," Akeshi replied, his expression calm. "We're not letting them have this one."
The Roward boys, still reeling from the failed attempt, regrouped quickly, their banter continuing even as they refocused on the game.
"Chen, you better fucking move your ass or I'm gonna kick it myself!" Yuuki shouted, still full of adrenaline as he took off after the ball.
"Relax, you crazy fucker," Chen replied, shaking his head as he fell in line. "I'm not about to let those Chidori fuckers show us up."
Namakemono, now back in the game, shot a glance at Yuuki. "You're insane, man. But hell, maybe that's what we need right now."
"Damn right, it is!" Yuuki replied, a wild grin on his face. "Now let's show these assholes what we're made of!"
As the game raged on, the players pushed themselves to their limits, the intensity of the match reaching a fever pitch. The banter and curses flew fast and furious, each player giving as good as they got.
But beneath the bravado and the chaos, there was an undeniable sense of comrade between.
"Interesting..." a man watched the game unfold. He took his gloves off and there was a sun tattoo on his hand.