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https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093087122434729/episodes/16818792437160145043
“Let’s resume. Red Team will take the corner kick.”
The match resumed after a five-minute break.
The kick will come from the corner flag, about thirty meters from the goalpost.
“We’re at a disadvantage in the air.”
At this point, as soon as the ball is kicked high, it’s Aota’s domain.
At the very least, we have to get the numbers right, or we won’t even have a chance to win.
I abandon the counterattack and head toward my own goal. Or rather, I was about to do so.
“Hayami-san! Don’t come back!”
Amagamiin front of the goal holds up his palm, signaling for me to stop.
“Are you serious?”
It didn’t seem like a very realistic idea.
After all, if we concede another goal here, there’s no going back.
“We’ll stop it, even if it kills us. Absolutely. And we’ll pass it on to you. So please wait there.”
I was genuinely surprised by the look in his eyes. The realist Amagami was being so stubborn and childish.
[My dream isn’t wrong! Let me prove it!]
The words Amagami had just spoken flashed through my mind.
“…What the hell is going on?”
My heart was racing. I felt unusually uneasy.
“Hayami! Leave this to us! Even we beginners know you’re an amazing person!”
“In exchange, if we fail, we’ll buy everyone drinks!”
“…Even you guys…”
I clenched my teeth tightly. Why? Why does everyone expect so much from me?
I’m not really that great. I’m not really that strong.
It’s annoying to be expected so much. It’s irresponsible to put so much pressure on me.
“There’s no way I can win. Not me.”
＊＊＊
“Why does he have such a low opinion of himself?”
Sanada Tsubaki muttered to no one in particular. For some reason, those words stuck in my ears.
Sanada Tsubaki and I happened to be standing side by side in the space next to the field.
Of course, we hadn’t invited each other to watch together, nor had we been invited. We had simply ended up in the same spot because we were looking for the best place to watch.
“Studying, sports, music. He can do anything, he can accomplish anything, but his heart is always lacking confidence.”
I couldn’t deny those words, nor could I affirm them.
It was the truth, and it was both his strength and his weakness.
But there was one thing I could say.
“Because he has been working hard. He has been working hard all along, that’s why he can do it. Studying, sports, music. So, even if he doesn’t have confidence, it’s okay.”
“Huh?”
It was intriguing. Sanada Tsubaki looked at me with that expression.
“Because if he doesn’t have confidence, I’ll give it to him. I’ll tell him over and over again that what he has done is right.”
“I see.”
“If it’s tough, I’ll lend him my shoulder or chest. If he is scared, I’ll hug his head or chest. So, in exchange…”
I took a step forward. I touched the fence mesh and took a deep breath.
—To fulfill the promise.
＊＊＊
“The ball’s coming!! Don’t let the mark slip away!”
With the sound of the whistle, the corner kick was taken.
As expected, the target was Aota’s head. It was a good kick. The ball drew a gentle curve as it headed toward Aota.
“Yes! Nice ball!”
It was perfect. It matched Aota’s outstanding jumping ability perfectly.
However.
“Ugh!”
“Huh!?”
Just before it reached Aota’s head, a white, stubby hand wearing a glove reached out.
“What!? No way!”
Though it didn’t catch the ball, its fingertips grazed it, causing it to veer slightly off course.
“Get the ball forward!”
Amagami shouted, and the player who picked up the loose ball kicked it hard.
The ball soared high into the air and slowly flew toward me.
“…You guys are the amazing ones.”
To be honest, I never thought I could fight this hard with this team.
Compared to them, I’m really weak.
I stopped the swaying ball with my chest. It spun slightly, and I felt my jersey being pulled.
There are many reasons why we might lose. The opposing team has more experienced players, including Aota, and I have a two-year gap in my experience.
There are elements that make it impossible to win and an absolute gap in ability, so how am I supposed to face this?
Whether we win or lose here, it doesn’t really matter. In fact, Friend A would probably step back to let the protagonist take the spotlight.
After all, I’m not special or anything, just…
“Is that okay with you, Hayami Ren?!”
“Huh?!”
It was an incredibly loud voice. It was slightly hoarse, and despite its confident tone, there was a hint of anxiety mixed in.
At the same time, a promise came to mind.
[If you slack off when it matters, I’ll give you a kick in the butt, and I’ll decide whether you’re cool or not.]
The moment I heard that voice, I knew who it belonged to.
“…Did I look that weak to you?”
She would forgive me for slacking off, for my foolish antics, for my selfishness.
But it seemed that…
“You won’t forgive me for lying to myself.”
At that moment, the darkness that had been weighing heavily on my vision suddenly lit up.
＊＊＊
I had heard from Aota that Hayami Ren was skilled.
Dribbling, passing, shooting. He was said to be as skilled as any professional.
But.
“What the hell?! What’s going on?!”
Those were the words spat out by a player closing in from behind Hayami Ren.
The moment he trapped the ball with his chest and dropped it to his feet, a gap opened up. So, he cut it off. That was his move.
But.
“Why?! Why are you behind me?!”
In an instant, he had already been beaten. That was the reality. What should have been an advantage had turned completely upside down. It was completely unexpected.
“Just today…”
A small voice could be heard. Hayami seemed to have muttered something. But that didn’t matter.
“Damn it! I’ll get it next time!”
He regained his composure and went for it again.
“A sliding tackle!? That’s dangerous! You’re coming from behind!”
The outfielders said that. It was indeed a dangerous move. But he wasn’t aiming for the legs. If he could touch the ball through the gap between the legs, that would be enough.
But Hayami had probably anticipated that as well.
He elegantly dodged the ball by scooping it up with the top of his foot, and said firmly.
“──Just for today, it’s okay to be the protagonist, right?”
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