The atmosphere on the field was tense as the players took their positions for the second half. Seiryuu High was down 24-0, and the pressure to perform was immense.
Sota's heart pounded in his chest as he walked with Kaminari to the 50-yard mark. And yet, he felt extremely calm. They were losing, but that didn't discourage him at all. Instead, it lit a fire within him, the embers of his legacy now burning a bright flame.
To top it all of, there were a lot of students watching, and they observed him with careful eyes. It's as if the world was on top of his shoulder, and yet he felt weightless.
A smile appeared on his face as he walked forward, not noticing a familiar face slip through the crowd. For the last time, he had stepped into the pitch, and he would pour his heart out on this game.
Nothing else matters. His anxiousness, his injury, the expectation of people, none of it. He was there to play the game, and he would do his best to fly one last time before he lands on the ground.
"Make it count, Sota, make it count." He repeated to himself, adjusting the shin sleeve on his right leg, and making sure that both his legs were properly K-taped.
Steeling his resolve, he placed a firm hand on Kaminari's shoulder, his blue eyes locking onto his teammate's.
"Run with your hand tucked to the side," Sota instructed, his voice calm but filled with determination. "Just tuck your right hand as if you're carrying the ball. Trust me and just run to the end zone."
As someone who prided himself as a wide receiver, Kaminari was always up to the challenge. While he had no idea what was going on in Sota's mind, he decided to trust him for this one.
For the first time in a while, the quarterback is calling the play. How could he not say yes?
Kaminari nodded, his expression serious. "I trust you."
As they reached their positions, the anticipation in the air was palpable. The opposing team, Kogane High, was confident after their dominant first half, but Sota knew they were in for a surprise. The whistle blew, signaling the start of the play. The ball was snapped, and Sota caught it with practiced ease.
He glanced at Kaminari and nodded, giving him the signal. Kaminari took off like a bolt of lightning, sprinting down the field with astonishing speed. The defenders scrambled to keep up, their eyes widening as they realized just how fast he was.
"What on earth!" one of the Kogane defenders shouted, trying to adjust his position, but Kaminari slipped past him with ease.
No matter how hard they tried to outrun him, he would just speed up even faster, creating a whirlwind of chaos in the opposing side of the field while he darted here and there.
Then there was Renji and Takeru who were unfazed by Kaminari's display of agility and speed. Instead of focusing on him, they decided to rush towards Sota. As long as they pull his flag, it would be a turnover.
"Now... let's see if you still trust me, my right hand." Sota said to himself, slamming the ball with his left hand.
Heart racing, Sota arched his back, preparing for his special technique—a low pass thrown with the precision and speed of a javelin. This technique had always been his secret weapon, a move that few could anticipate or intercept. He pulled back, his muscles coiling like a spring, and then released the ball with all his might.
"Barrier Breaker." He said in a serious tone. This was one of the special techniques he had honed over the years, practicing it ever since he was a child.
It was muscle memory for him, that's why his right hand obeyed him despite not having performed the action for the past couple of months.
Shhh—vwooosh~!
The ball shot forward, a blur of motion that seemed to cut through the air like a knife. The defenders saw it coming but couldn't react in time. It was a perfect pass, too low and too fast for them to intercept.
Kaminari reached the end zone, feeling the adrenaline surge through his veins. He felt something slip into his hand—a low, powerful pass from Sota. The ball was tucked securely in his arms, but the impact was so intense that it momentarily slipped.
A gasp erupted from the crowd as the ball started falling, pulled by the gravity that seemed more relevant than normal. Kaminari fel the ball, and the split second of throbbing pain was more than enough to tell him that Sota had perfectly passed the ball towards his tucked hand.
"What the... how did he do that?" He asked himself.
But there was no time to lose! The ball was falling towards the ground.
In that split second, time seemed to slow down. Kaminari's eyes widened as he saw the ball slipping away, falling towards the ground. But his reflexes were lightning-fast. He reached out with his left hand, snatching the ball just before it could hit the ground.
Touchdown!
A momentary pause occurred as everyone stopped in their tracks. The whistle of the umpire echoed throughout the field, marking the touchdown, and everyone stared at each other, trying to figure out what just happened.
Shaking, Kaminari dropped the ball to the ground. He couldn't believe that something so miraculous just happened. No, it wasn't a miracle, it was pure talent, surfacing into the world.
It was a birth of a new age for Seiryuu High— or so that's what occurred in his mind. He looked at the ball, and steam seemed to come out of it (he was just overexaggerating though).
Aiko, who had been carrying towels for everyone, dropped the towels as well as her jaw. She couldn't believe what she had just witnessed.
"WHOOOOAAHHHH!"
The crowd erupted into cheers as Seiryuu scored their first touchdown. It was a moment of calling, and Sota was in the midst of it.