Chereads / Devil of the Field / Chapter 4 - Chapter 4 : Rookie's Trial

Chapter 4 - Chapter 4 : Rookie's Trial

Rustle, rustle.

Coach Yamada's words caused a bit of a stir among the players.

"What do you mean? Kisuke has gone AWOL?"

"Yeah, what's going on?"

The players were shocked and confused about the news of Kisuke Shiba's sudden disappearance.

As the team became more unsettled, Coach Yamada stepped in.

"Everyone, quiet down!"

Once the team's mood had somewhat calmed, Coach Yamada let out a small sigh and said,

"Sigh. Coach Sawamura, it's almost time to leave, so let's just forget about Kisuke for now and get going."

"Are you sure that's okay, Coach? We were going to start Kisuke today..."

"Enough. My head hurts too, so let's talk about it later."

"...Understood."

The news of Kisuke Shiba suddenly going AWOL cast a shadow over the team's atmosphere.

As I listened to the conversation between Coach Yamada and Coach Sawamura, a memory I had forgotten suddenly came to mind.

"Tokyo Rebels loses despite rookie addition!"

"...No way."

That article I once dismissed as fiction.

I had never considered the possibility of Yuto starting, so I had simply thought it was someone's prank. But now, it was gradually becoming a reality.

'No, it can't be. There's no way.'

I shook my head.

A strange feeling crept over me, wrapping around my entire body, but I tried to ignore it.

"Huh? Reo, what's with your face?"

Just then, Yuto, who was next to me, noticed my expression and asked curiously.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"No reason. You just suddenly looked a bit pale. Could it be..."

Gulp.

Seeing Yuto trail off his words, I involuntarily swallowed hard.

"Do you need to use the restroom? Is that it? I knew it! You're nervous about possibly starting, aren't you? I knew it!"

As Yuto innocently chattered on, I jabbed him in the side with my elbow. He pretended to be in pain, but I ignored him and turned my head to look out the window.

Soon, the team bus started moving.

When the Tokyo Rebels team arrived at the,Shoda Shoyu Complex, Gunma's home stadium, they immediately entered the visiting team's locker room to change and then headed out to the field.

With about an hour left until the match started, the team spent around 30 minutes warming up and getting a feel for the pitch.

Coach Yamada, looking troubled, kept jotting down notes on his notepad.

Meanwhile, Coach Sawamura and Captain Kaito Chida were in charge of overseeing the team.

Coach Yamada gathered the rookie players.

"The support from Gunma and Ehime fans in the J2 League is famous for many reasons. You rookies might get swept up in the atmosphere created by the opposing home fans. Just stay focused on the game, got it?"

"Yes, Coach!"

"Good. Now go warm up."

Naturally, Yuto and I paired up, kicking the ball back and forth as we warmed up.

However, Yuto's face looked unusually tense as he passed the ball.

I spoke to him.

"Why is your face so stiff, 'Pro' player Yuto Miyahara?"

"Ah, shut up."

"Hehehe. You must be thrilled, getting to start."

Before we arrived here, the coach had announced the starting lineup on the bus. It was unusual, as the lineup was usually announced inside the locker room.

But what was even more surprising was that Yuto was in the starting lineup today.

It was a bold move to put Yuto, who hadn't even made his pro debut yet, in the starting lineup. Typically, players get a few substitute appearances before earning a starting spot.

Since hearing the starting lineup, Yuto's face had been pale with fear. He looked as if he was terrified.

As much as I teased him, I was just as shocked internally.

'Yuto is actually starting.'

This made that news article feel less like a lie. Moreover, just as the article predicted, I wasn't in the starting lineup but rather among the substitutes.

The other players also seemed surprised that I was on the bench.

"Hey, but Daiki is injured. Doesn't that mean Two should be starting?"

"Exactly. I thought Reo would definitely start."

But instead of me, the coach had placed Captain Kaito on the wing and started Mitsuki Honda in the center.

Though Mitsuki was mainly used as a substitute due to the presence of veterans Kaito Chida and Koya Osaka, he was still a solid center-back option.

It seemed the coach trusted the experienced Kaito Chida and Mitsuki Honda more than a rookie like me.

"Everyone, gather around!"

After about 30 minutes of warming up, Coach Yamada called the players together. The team returned to the locker room.

While the starting players were changing, I told them I'd quickly use the restroom and stepped outside.

I entered an empty stall in the restroom and immediately took out my smartphone. I opened the news app and found the article I had seen before.

"Tokyo Rebels loses despite rookie addition!"

The same article was still there. I quickly skimmed through it and then closed the app.

"If this article is true... Yuto will concede a penalty and get sent off. Then I'll come on as a substitute."

I squeezed my eyes shut.

The ominous feeling hadn't subsided. I had a strong sense that things would unfold exactly as described in the article.

"I can't let my only teammate's debut match be ruined... Is there anything I can do?"

At this rate, Yuto was on the brink of crashing out right at the start. The first impression is crucial.

I couldn't let him blow it.

After some thought, an idea came to mind.

"Alright. Let's try that."

Finally, the match was about to begin.

Both teams' players gathered in a long line at the central gate, ready to enter the pitch.

Standing somewhere in the middle, Yuto looked extremely nervous, breathing heavily. He seemed very uneasy.

Captain Kaito Chida approached and patted Yuto on the shoulder, speaking in a soft voice.

"Miyahara, just play like you usually do. Even if you make a mistake, the other players will cover for you. Don't be too scared."

Listening to their conversation from behind, I was startled.

"No! You can't make a mistake! What are you talking about?"

The two of them seemed oblivious to my thoughts, continuing their conversation in good spirits. Yuto began to calm down thanks to Kaito's reassuring words.

I approached the two of them. Kaito looked at me curiously for a moment, then chuckled as if he understood what I was thinking.

Yeah, sometimes it's best for teammates to talk things out and calm each other down.

Kaito stepped aside, leaving us alone.

I bowed slightly to Kaito and then took Yuto's hand.

"W-What's going on?"

Yuto looked startled as I suddenly grabbed his hand. He quickly became embarrassed.

"I'm, uh, not mentally prepared for this yet..."

"What are you talking about? Hey, you seem calmer now. I guess you've relaxed a bit since you're even joking around, huh?"

"N-No, man. I'm still so nervous..."

It seemed he wasn't lying; his hand was drenched in sweat. I looked him in the eye and spoke seriously.

"Yuto, if at any moment you feel like you can't control your emotions, just look at my face on the bench. Got it?"

"What?"

Don't forget! If you feel like you're about to get really angry or do something rash, look at me! Got it? You absolutely have to!"

After patting a bewildered Yuto on the shoulder, I returned to where the substitute players were.

Yuto seemed to want to say something, but just then, the voice of the match official could be heard from the front.

"Both teams! Please enter the field!"

And so, the match began.

Beep!

The referee's whistle blew, signaling the start of the game.

I sat on the bench, calmly observing the match.

The game wasn't intense right from the start.

For about the first five minutes, both teams cautiously engaged in a probing battle.

Then, it was the away team, Tokyo Rebels, that made the first move.

In the 8th minute of the first half, Yuto, who was making his much-anticipated debut, used his physicality to strip the ball from the opposing central midfielder. While the opposing midfielder was caught off guard after losing the ball, Yuto sent a pass to a teammate on the wing who had raised his hand in signal.

The attack initiated by Yuto quickly progressed down the flank.

Alex, who had been selected as the attacking midfielder, saw the ball coming in from the wing and attempted a volley shot.

Unfortunately, the ball narrowly missed the goalpost.

A groan of disappointment came from the away team's stands, while the home fans breathed a sigh of relief.

Our bench also showed signs of regret.

Coach Yamada, who was watching the game with his arms crossed near the touchline, slightly bent and straightened his knees in disappointment.

Alex, who had taken the shot, also looked disappointed.

However, thanks to this one attack, Tokyo Rebels managed to gain the upper hand in the early stages of the game.

"That guy, Yuto, he's doing pretty well."

Yuto, who had been stiff at the beginning, seemed to have loosened up and was moving as usual. Though there were still some rough movements, he was bringing energy to the team with a decent performance for a rookie making his first start.

Coach Yamada also seemed pleased with Yuto's performance. He gave him a thumbs-up in encouragement toward Yuto.

"Yuto, You're doing great! Keep it up!"

Hearing the coach's encouraging words, Yuto nodded. Confidence started to fill his face.

As time passed, he began to show more and more energy. He actively engaged in physical battles, displaying an uncharacteristic boldness for a rookie.

Inspired by Yuto's performance, his teammates also began to move more assertively.

Thanks to these efforts, several opportunities arose by the 30th minute of the first half. Though Kazuya Morita, who was playing as the forward, missed two good chances, Tokyo Rebels had largely taken control of the game.

The atmosphere of the match was much better than in the previous game against Shimuzu S-plus.

But contrary to this, my heart was gradually filling with unease.

I anxiously kept checking the clock on the scoreboard as I watched the game.

Then, around the 34th to 35th minute, it happened.

The midfielders of Gunma, who had been struggling with Yuto's tough play, finally adapted and managed to steal the ball.

Gunma's counterattack began, and it was fast. With quick, short passes, the ball was swiftly delivered to their striker, Leonardo.

Leonardo, a Brazilian striker whom Gunma had ambitiously recruited this season, easily evaded Mitsuki Honda, who was trying to block him.

In an instant, Leonardo found himself in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper.

As Leonardo charged forward with the ball, he seemed to sense something strange and glanced to the side, only to see Yuto quickly closing in on him.

Yuto, who had rapidly approached, initiated a shoulder challenge, making it difficult for Leonardo to take a shot. From Gunma's perspective, they were on the verge of squandering a golden opportunity.

But the seasoned Leonardo cleverly nudged the ball forward and deliberately tripped over Yuto's foot.

Beep!

The referee, who had been closely observing the situation, blew his whistle. His right hand pointed toward the inside of the penalty box.

Waaaaah!

The referee's penalty kick decision!

Seeing this unfold, I jumped up from the bench.

"Damn it!"