Nishida was sitting on the wooden bench, facing the open cupboard with his elbows on his knees and his head down. He had already taken off his boots and changed, but he still couldn't convince himself to leave. His eyes were fixed on the ground, but his mind was reliving every moment of the game, every shot, every pass, every small decision that could have made a difference. Finally, with a heavy sigh, he stood up, slowly picking up his backpack with a tired expression.
The promise he had made to himself to carry the team to victory echoed in his head like an invisible scar. However, there was a nagging certainty in his chest: it hadn't been enough.
As he slung his backpack over one shoulder, his fingers tightened on the strap.
The other players were slowly leaving to go to the bus.
