Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093087122434729/episodes/16818792435869916678
“Hmm…”
The first match. Finally, it began on the dirt field, but it was already chaotic.
“Hey, pass!”
A guy calling for a pass while surrounded by opposing players.
“Come on! Shoot!”
A guy shooting a weak shot from far away.
“…This is terrible.”
Honestly, I thought it would work out if we just gave it a try… but now, it’s like a school play.
What’s more, everyone is just chasing the ball, with no positions or anything, creating a hellish situation.
“Hey! Hayami! The ball went that way!”
“Oh.”
A pass? Or did it bounce off someone? Either way, the ball rolled to my feet.
“…It’s been a while. Really, kicking the ball.”
“Hey! The defense is coming!”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
Two players are charging toward us from the front.
It’s 1 against 2. No matter how you look at it, we’re at a disadvantage.
However—my body moved on its own.
There is no sport that requires more teamwork than soccer. …I think that’s something my coach used to say when I was in elementary school.
Even if individual skills are lacking, as long as teamwork and tactics are executed, a certain level of strength can be achieved.
That’s what makes it interesting. Irresistibly so.
“—Let’s go.”
I kicked the ball forward with the inside of my right foot.
“Haha! Nice pass!”
The opposing player smiles smugly. His posture tilts slightly. His gaze wavers.
I match that movement with my left foot.
“What!?”
A double touch. The simplest and most effective feint in many situations.
A technique where you lightly kick one foot toward the other and use your body movement to evade the opponent.
“Hey! You’re an experienced player, aren’t you?”
Next is the second player. Instead of directly taking the ball, he makes the decision to control the space I want to use, standing on his toes and watching my movements.
I’ve faced many defenders before, but this is a characteristic of a very skilled player.
“I don’t know who you are, but you’re pretty good.”
“No, no, that’s an overestimation.”
In one-on-one situations in soccer, the advantage depends on the situation, but in this case, it’s the defender.
After all, my ideal scenario is to get past this defender, cut inside, and either pass the ball or take a shot.
On the other hand, the opponent can fulfill their role simply by stealing the ball and kicking it away. Plus, the distance between us has slowed down my speed.
In other words, it’s a disadvantageous situation.
Still.
“Today’s a good temperature. Not too hot, not too cold. Just right. …On days like this, I’m in good form.”
“What are you talking about…!?”
I step over the ball with my right foot. The opponent reacts well. I immediately cut off my words and take a stance.
I was waiting for that.
Turning my back to the opponent, I use the sole of my left foot. From heel to toe, I roll the ball in the direction of movement, kneading its surface.
“Marseille Roulette!? Damn it! Don’t mess with me!”
Now there are two of us. The sensation of touching the ball seems to have returned somewhat.
“Well, for now—let’s form a team.”
I’m not a star or a genius.
That’s why.
“Come on, let’s all score a point together!”
＊＊＊
“Hey, Hayami-senpai… isn’t he damn good?”
“…I don’t know.”
While Hayami Ren played the game, there were many spectators watching. Of course, they were all students.
Among them, two first-year students were paying close attention to Hayami Ren.
They were Tokai and Amagami.
“Wait, he had a break, right? Two years… or something? Wasn’t it?”
“…No, it was a year and seven months. It wasn’t two years.”
“You’re really knowledgeable. You’re a true fan.”
Amagami glared at Tokai, who was teasing him, and clicked his tongue in response.
“Can’t you just watch quietly?”
“Sure.”
It was near the end of the first half. The score was 2-0. Looking at the score alone, it wasn’t impossible for them to make a comeback.
However, Amagami and Tokai knew that it was unlikely to happen.
“The Green Team… At first, they seemed like a bunch of eccentric individuals, but now they’re a proper team.”
“The first goal was big. Hayami Ren dribbled past four players and delivered a sharp pass to set up the goal. That showed the team what they needed to do.”
“Yeah, that made everyone realize they could choose to pass… Though, he said some pretty harsh things this morning, yet he’s getting high praise.”
“Harsh things?”
Amagami looked puzzled and waited for Tokai to continue.
“You don’t remember? You said things like ‘weaklings who quit soccer’ and ‘lousy players,’ didn’t you?”
“That’s not true.”
Amagami denied it categorically.
“Huh?”
“I did say ‘loser’… but there’s no way I would ever call that person ‘lousy.’”
Tokai tilted his head in confusion, wondering what kind of standard that was.
“Just to be clear, which one do you consider the worse insult, ‘lousy’ or ‘loser’?”
“… ‘Lousy’ is synonymous with ‘die.’”
“I don’t get it.”
“Let’s start warming up. Our game is about to start.”
The outcome was already clear. There was no need to watch. With that thought, Amagami turned around and headed for the second field, where the first-year Red Team’s game was being played.
A high-pitched whistle sounded twice in succession. At the same time, the rolling ball quietly sank into the goal.
“Yesss!! We won! We won!!”
On the field, the winners and losers were decided.
The winners, exhausted but basking in the afterglow of victory, and the losers, overwhelmed by the aftermath of defeat.
Even in a mere sports tournament, it’s no different.
The flashback memory overlapped with the scene before my eyes.
“Hayami! You’re amazing! You’re so skilled!”
“Eh, uh, yeah.”
“You’re close with Hasegawa, right? So you used to be on the soccer team?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Building teamwork. That was the goal for the first match. Still, this was too good to be true.
“Alright! Let’s win the next one too, everyone!!”
“Yeah!!”
Somehow… everyone is really excited… It’s awkward.
“Hey, everyone, just one thing. Can I ask you something?”
That’s why I feel like the proposal I’m about to make is unreasonable and self-centered.
“What’s wrong? You don’t look very happy for someone who was instrumental in the victory.”
“Yeah, yeah, we won, so cheer up!”
But I thought that was the only way to beat them.
“Can you guys pass the ball to me in the next game?”
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