The next day, the Asset Minato Soccer Stadium was much fuller than Lucas and the others had expected for a pre-qualifying match. The reason, however, had a first and last name: Shinto Ishikuno.
Ishikuno was known for his extraordinary soccer skills, his unpredictable style of play, and the almost playful way he dribbled past his opponents. The anticipation of seeing him in action had attracted a crowd of fans, onlookers, and scouts.
The atmosphere was much more electric than on the first day of the championship, with anxious murmurs echoing through the packed stands.
Lucas was a little nervous, as were Hidefumi and the rest of the Wushia High School team.
"Hu... I don't know if I can play for a long today. It's too hot..." Hidefumi commented.
Kuwabara, the smallest player on the team and the right back, slapped Hidefumi's back.
A slap!
"Stop being lazy, man! If you start slogging it out on the field too early, the girls in the stands will be disappointed!" Kuwabara said, already looking at a trio of girls in the front row.
At that moment, however, the same girls stood up and held up a large sign with letters that read: "Go, Shinto ! Dribble, Shinto !"
Little Kuwabara felt as if an arrow had pierced his heart and his shoulders slumped. "Ahh... you really can't compete with the talented, even in love..."
Mr. Yamamoto gave them one last motivational talk in the locker room, stressing the importance of discipline, teamwork, and concentration in winning. However, Mr. Yamamoto exuded a sense of a false smile that disturbed everyone.
It was as if losing to the team that was one of the heavy favorites in the championship was something natural.
"You know what to do. Let's focus on the game, play the way we practiced and not be intimidated," Kenji stressed, trying to cheer the team up.
Lucas was more nervous than usual. After his performance in the last game, he was finally getting his chance to start.
The bad part was that he wouldn't be playing a position he was used to. Yukihiro wasn't able to play this game due to a minor ankle injury, so Lucas formed an attacking duo with Nishida, who was a fast player, had already shown that he could play as a striker, and had a good ability to cross. Everything a winger needed, at least a backup.
Lucas' hands were sweaty and his heart was pounding as he stepped onto the field. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves as he mentally prepared for the challenge ahead.
'So this is what it feels like to be a starter in a championship game? I experienced it in kindergarten, but those school championships were too small for me to be nervous.'
"Come on, Lucas!" Tsukada gave him an encouraging pat on the back. "You stole Yukihiro's spot, didn't you? At least try to look confident."
Tsukada had a cynical look on his face. He knew that Lucas wasn't at Yukihiro's place of his own free will.
"It's a pity that Mr. Yamamoto decided that I was better than you and didn't leave you as number 10. I would have loved to play as a winger. You know, just run and cross the ball. There's no secret to it."
Tsukada's words quickly began to irritate Lucas. He didn't mind hearing slander about himself, as he'd gotten used to it from working with such an asshole boss in his previous life, but it was completely different when other people's names were involved.
"Better than me? Don't make me laugh. What did you do in the first game to be better than me?" Lucas asked, looking into Tsukada's eyes without fear of retaliation or debauchery.
Tsukada gritted his teeth. 'How can this idiot, who has never won anything in his life, act like this after scoring only one goal in a championship?' He thought and then said: "It's not in my interest to discuss these things in public, but at least play properly today and pass me the ball so I can score the winning goal."
Lucas didn't answer Tsukada. He simply turned and walked to midfield, where Nishida was waiting with the ball.
On the other side of the field, the Itou High School players were also positioning themselves, and Ishikuno's figure stood out among them, with her tousled hair, yellow eyes, and calm expression.
A coin was tossed to decide who would start with the ball.
Kenji, representing Wushia High School, watched intently as the coin spun in the air, glistening in the intense sunlight. When it finally hit the ground, the referee announced that Wushia High School would have first possession.
Lucas and Nishida waited for the referee's permission to kick off. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It was crucial that he stay focused and execute the game plan to perfection. When he opened his eyes, he noticed that Shinto Ishikuno had tied his boot a few moments ago, as if he was in no hurry at all. The scene seemed strange, almost surreal, considering how tense everyone was at Wushia High School.
"Look at that smug idiot..." muttered Nishida. "He's tying his boots just as the game is about to start. He's got to be kidding us."
Lucas frowned, but couldn't help smiling slightly. Ishikuno really did seem to be in a world of his own, oblivious to the pressures of the moment.
"Maybe it's his way of concentrating," Lucas suggested, trying to stay calm.
"In any case, I'm going to knead him." Nishida declared.
Just then, a window appeared in the champion system for Lucas.
[New Mission!]
[Mission Name: Defeat the Sleeping Monster
Description: Shinto Ishikuno is the star of his second match in the Chubu Region Summer Championships. All eyes and cameras are on this one of Japan's top talents and one of the JFA's biggest bets on the next generation of soccer players. It would be funny if he was overshadowed, wouldn't it?
Goal: Overshadow Shinto Ishikuno's game by drawing more attention to yourself.
Rewards:
+ 1 Epic loot box.
+ 200 Star Points
+ 10 attribute points
+1 Uncommon Mystery Card].
Lucas Tanaka took a deep breath and kicked off after the referee's whistle. The ball rolled smoothly across the field, and the match finally began.