Yuto Nakamura stood frozen on the football pitch, hands on his knees, gasping for air. His muscles ached, sweat dripping down his forehead and stinging his eyes. He could barely hear the shouts of his teammates over the pounding of his own heartbeat.
The school finals. A match that had meant everything to his team—until now. The scoreboard read 2–0 in favor of the opposition, with only ten minutes left to play. His school, Koganei High, was on the verge of humiliation, and Yuto, who had always dreamed of being a star on the field, was watching it all fall apart.
"You're slacking off, Nakamura!" the team captain, Ryota, shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos of the match. Ryota had always been the best, the one everyone looked up to, and Yuto...well, he wasn't.
Yuto's heart sank. He knew it was true. He wasn't a standout like Ryota or his other teammates. Sure, he loved football, but love didn't make you good. He wasn't fast enough, wasn't strong enough, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to keep up when it mattered most.
The ball whizzed past him, intercepted by the other team. Yuto sprinted after it, legs burning with every step. The crowd roared, but all Yuto heard was his inner voice, mocking him.
Why are you even here? You're holding everyone back.
He could feel it—the disappointment, the frustration from his teammates. The match was slipping away, and it was his fault.
"Come on, Yuto, move!" His friend, Sora, called out as he darted past him. Sora was always there to encourage him, but even he was starting to sound desperate.
Yuto forced his legs to move faster, but it was no use. The ball was a blur, moving between players like they were dancing while Yuto stumbled through the motions.
The crowd cheered again—another goal for the opposition.
3–0.
The final nail in the coffin.
Yuto collapsed to the ground, gripping the grass as though he could hold on to something real, something that wasn't slipping away. He clenched his fists, the weight of his inadequacy crushing down on him. This was supposed to be his moment, his chance to prove himself. But instead, he had failed.
[ Do you wish to change this? ]
Yuto's head snapped up. The voice was strange, cold, and emotionless, but it seemed to echo inside his head, not from the outside world.
He blinked, looking around. No one else seemed to hear it. His teammates were still moving, the game continuing without him.
[ Do you wish to change this? To become more than what you are now? ]
A dull beep echoed in his ears, and suddenly, something flashed in front of his eyes. At first, Yuto thought it was the sun reflecting off the stadium lights, but no—it was clearer than that. He saw text, hovering in front of him as if displayed on an invisible screen.
[ Quest: Change the Game.
Objective: Score a goal within the next 10 minutes.
Reward: Speed Boost (Level 1). ]
"What the…?" Yuto muttered, blinking hard. The text remained, sharp and clear, as if it were something real.
Another beep.
[ Do you accept the quest? ]
Yuto's heart raced. Was he hallucinating from exhaustion? What was this? But something in him stirred—a flicker of hope, or maybe desperation. He needed something, anything, to change the tide of the match.
His fingers twitched in the grass. He didn't know what this was, but…what if it was real? What if this was his chance?
"I accept," he whispered under his breath.
Another beep. The text flashed.
[ Quest accepted. Speed Boost (Level 1) applied. ]
In an instant, Yuto felt it. His body, which had been screaming in pain from exhaustion, suddenly felt lighter. His legs, which had been sluggish and heavy, now thrummed with energy. He stood up, eyes wide, heart pounding not with fear, but with a newfound surge of adrenaline.
The ball was coming toward him again. His body moved on its own, darting forward faster than he ever had before. It was as if time had slowed around him—his vision sharpened, the movements of the other players seemed sluggish, almost predictable.
He reached the ball before the opposing midfielder, cutting in sharply. For the first time in the game, Yuto felt like he was in control. He could feel the ball at his feet, and it felt…right.
He pushed forward, weaving past one defender, then another. Their reactions were too slow, as if they couldn't keep up with him. It wasn't just his speed—he could see the field differently now, like paths were opening up in front of him, showing him where to go.
"Yuto!" Sora shouted from the left, running into space.
Yuto glanced at him, his mind racing. He could pass it to Sora, let him finish it, but the quest echoed in his mind—
[ Score a goal. ]
No. This was his moment.
He pushed forward again, heart pounding as the goal came into view. The final defender came charging at him, but Yuto sidestepped him easily. The goalkeeper was the only obstacle left.
The crowd roared. Time seemed to freeze as Yuto drew his foot back, aiming for the top corner of the net.
This is it.
With a burst of power, he struck the ball.
It sailed through the air, spinning perfectly, past the outstretched fingers of the diving goalkeeper, and into the back of the net.
The stadium erupted into cheers, but Yuto barely heard them. He stood there, frozen, staring at the ball in the net, his chest heaving.
He had done it.
[ Quest complete. ]
[ Reward unlocked: Speed Boost (Level 1). ]
The text flashed again, but Yuto ignored it. He was still trying to process what had just happened. The roar of his teammates snapped him out of his daze. Sora ran up, slapping him on the back, grinning like a madman.
"Yuto! That was insane!"
Yuto managed a shaky smile, but his mind was racing.
What…what just happened?