The resolve of the ace

“Please sing my song!”

Sengoku bowed for a while before he got his answer. His head lifted to see her reaction, when he did he was face to face with her, close enough to smell her perfume. He shot back, tripping over and landing on his backside.

“Are you okay?” She asked as she leant a hand. Sengoku reached for it and she pulled him to his feet.

“I-I’m fine.” He assured her. The pure embarrassment was the only hurt he had, he managed to hide the red on his face while patting the dust from his pants. When he turned back she held a sparkly, violet phone, the case alone was so bedazzled, it looked more expensive than half the parts they’d just bought.

“Uhh, Saki-san?”

“Sorry, I’m just checking my schedule.” She responded. Sengoku just watched awkwardly.

“I’ll be busy for a while with the new album

*-*-*

“Class dismissed,” she announced with a cigarette already between her lips.

The tech geek was second out of class, wasting no time getting to his projects. Usui was similarly busy, student council duty called. Miyamura was surrounded by his teammates and fans, leaving Natsuki staring out the window bored out of his brains. None would come to his class and save him from his apathy.

The desk next to his fell and took him by surprise, one of the students pushed another into it playfully. They were a noisy bunch, the popular group of class, joking around and talking about shit no one other than they would care about.

There were 3 of the school’s top 20 guys there, 2 of the top 10 girls. How they were ranked was something he had always wanted to know, was it a beauty thing? Or was it just based off how popular they were? Who even comes up with this shit? He thought.

“Yo, Natsuki!”

They called. He approached without saying a word.

There was rank 9 Souta, a member of the go home club that was a born leader. His daddy owned the local baseball team and liked giving tickets to his son’s friends, so it’s safe to say, the rich boy had it easy.

“Can you do me a favour? I was gonna get us all some drinks but I think I tweaked something when I fell earlier. You don’t think you could go get some if I give you the money, do you?”

“Uhh, sure. But the machine down the hall’s broke. I’d have to go to the store.”

Rank 8 Kaito was a dangerous one, or at least that’s what he would like you to think. He got into a tussle with a guy claiming to be from Muto (truth was he was a lackey), and won.

“Yeah? Can’t be helped can it?”

“No no, I just…”

He knew going would ruin his time. Break time between first and second classes at Hosokai were half an hour. The store wasn’t close at all. On foot, it was a good 10 minutes there and back, and he had already sat in the classroom for the other 10. There goes his relaxation time.

“C’mon Natsuki, it’s only around the corner. I haven’t had anything todrink since last night” The most annoying one spoke, Rank 3 Daichi. He and Hiro hated each other’s guts, as both believed themselves superior to the other… all the while Miyamura claimed first place without even noticing.

Rank 10 Makihara Keika groaned, “Pleeeeease Natsuki? Kei-chan might just die without a drink…” she leant forward, trying to act like she was weak but he knew it was so he would try to look down her shirt.

Keika was the happy go lucky one, spending her time similarly to how Natsuki did, partying and skipping classes. She was flirty, some say she’s had a fling with almost every ranked boy and aims to complete the list.

“Well… I guess I could…”

The other girl, Obata Ami handed him a list as she walked past. She didn’t even look at him, “here. If you could go now? I’ve got an interview at 3 so I need to be away from here sharp.”

Ami was the gorgeous 3rd year that, despite being the same age as Natsuki, made him feel like he was beneath her. A model, through and through. She was serious, but just the radiance of her pulled people close. At one point, Natsuki had a massive crush on her, all before a student confessed to her and she laughed at him continuously for a full year until he moved away.

He reluctantly took the money from Souta. “Alright, I’ll get going.”

“Thanks Natsuki” Souta smiled, “you’re a lifesaver. Make sure you get yourself something too!”

Though he didn’t want to go, maybe this was a good thing. It’s not like they were asking him to pay, they were his friends!

All the while, Eri had been standing by their class listening in, it didn’t sit well with her.

When Natsuki got to the store, he realised, the cash given to him by Souta was enough for 5… Natsuki was left out.

*-*-*

The game against one of the top teams in the country, Reizen, was right around the corner, and the boys of Hosokai gathered with their coach for a pep talk on the field. The students sat together in a huddle facing the bald, fitness coach turned high school football instructor. “Alrighty~” he sung, “so, looking back on the match against Keiya, it’s clear what went wrong. We got comfortable, and they shifted their gears which knocked us on our asses. You boys got too focussed on getting level as quick as you could you rushed your passes and tried going Hollywood runs, only to lose the ball before getting past the halfway mark!”

The team looked around at each other and mumbled. “We got by thanks to pure dumb luck. Jin’s cross got deflected into the net and then Miyamura managed to sneak past their defence to win. We can’t rely on luck in the next match”.

A match was set up with all the players, substitutes and a few of the backups so that it could make up for 11v11. Each side needed 3 goals and had just 30 minutes to get them. It was to make them feel urgency but teach them to keep a calm mind, see their surroundings instead of the scoreboard.

As expected, Miyamura’s side didn’t have much trouble getting the first. It was a quick pass through the middle. Miyamura was occupying something called a half space. Cutting a field into sections lengthwise, there were lanes between the edges and the centre, these were half spaces. Miyamura knew how dangerous these spots were, he could pull a defender out of position which in turn left a gap in their line, perfect for one of his teammates to slip by, like opening a door. A pass back to the centre space and then to that teammate that cut through the defence’s line unlocked the system, and the attacker slotted the shot past the keeper, aiming low and clipping the post on its way in.

But they got sloppy, time was running out, and they let the other team get one back. With just 5 minutes remaining both teams had 2 goals and one to get. The looming punishment frightened them, they needed this last goal.

Miyamura was quick off the mark, but he was triple teamed. Even when he managed to escape, they surrounded him, blocking his path, when he got caught, he messed up his footing and lost the ball.

They were pushing far into the defence, the player on the ball got caught but he simply lofted the ball to the other side of the field, to the opposite wing. One man to beat, he was quick, add a stutter step and a cut back, the defender on the ground. He crossed it in and the attacker got his head to it. The keeper swiped and only felt contact on his fingertip but it didn't matter.

Back at the line up after the game, Miyamura’s team were gloomily expecting their punishment. The other side were all smiles and high fives, the goal scorer noticed their ace staring at him.

“Hmm? Is that our pride and joy over there pouting at little old me?”

He didn’t take kindly to that. “Ah, there’s that famous Issei smug face.”

Issei chuckled, “Come on now, you’ve got to admit that was a hell of a goal.”

“Yeah, I’ll give it to you it was nice.” He agreed, “Now imagine if you did that in an actual game…”

“Oi!” Issei shouted, “I’m our top goalscorer this season I’ll have you know. Watari! Ain’t that right!?” He shouted to one of his teammates currently cleaning up. He cupped his hand around his mouth “Actually that’s Gen. You’re on 15, he’s on 16.”

Gen was laughing maniacally in the distance.

“Well, you’re the top goalscorer to me.” Miyamura placed his hand on Issei’s shoulder to console him, though he was struggling to not laugh.

They lined up once again, with the coach facing them, walking down the line.

“Congrats to team blue. Team red, chins up, take this as a lesson. Before we continue, I want to announce the team for the next match.”

“So soon?” Miyamura blurted out.

The coach didn’t react, “indeed. Sanshoku are a dangerous team and we’ve been struggling against teams far worse. If you are second string, fight hard enough and prove you deserve a spot ahead of the starters. For those whose names I call, fight harder to keep it.”

“So. We’re playing an offensive 3-4-1-2. That means 3 defenders working together, two on the wings pivoting between attack and defence, two in the centre linking up play, an attacking midfielder as the sort of quarterback and two strikers to get the goals. We aren’t used to this formation but it should solve our issue of being slow to track back for counter attacks. The team is as follows.

In goal, Tenma, you’ve done well this far, don’t let me down.

Our defence will be: Eizo, Goro and Yusuke in that order, well done Yusuke for your first start.

Gen, Akihito. I need you to be a little bit further back this time, you’ll be pivotal in the coming game and it will be a lot of running.

Shuzo and Nezuma will cover the centre.

I want Watari and Issei in the attack.”

Issei fist pumps, with Watari mouthing “idiot” when he sees it.

“And, Miyamura, you’ll be our attacking focal point, our point guard, our quarterback… whatever you call it. Either way, we’re counting on you.”

Miyamura seemed a little glum about that.

“Alright, dismissed, hit the showers and get home. Remember, rest is practice too, and Issei, if I find out you’re skipping class again, yes I do know, I will personally kick you off the team!”

“Coach, what about the punishment?” Tenma asked.

“Punishment?”

“Yeah, we lost the match. You said the loser would be punished.”

His brow furrowed, he seemed a little confused. “I don’t recall saying that.”

They thought back, no, no he didn’t say that.

“Blue team, your reward is knowing that you kept your calm when you had little time. Red team, your punishment will be more training. Now then, dismissed!”

It was time to hit the showers-

“Oh, Miyamura, I need to talk to you, do you mind?”

Miyamura agreed and they waited for the other players to head back in.

“What do you need, coach?”

“Well, firstly. I’ve heard you’re working hard on your studies so good work on that.”

“Does that mean I can stay on the team?!” Miyamura looked hopeful.

“Don’t get too excited just yet. You’re still a ways away from that. But, other than that, I need to talk to you about your form.”

“My form?” Miyamura looked confused

“You’ve been sluggish since the last game, you’re slower off the mark and your passes aren’t as accurate. If you weren’t you I’d say you were having a few off games, maybe it is, but you’ve only ever improved since you joined the club.”

“But, I’m still putting up numbers! I’m still needed on the team, right?!”

“Relax. Yes, you are still the ace of the team. But, don’t take this the wrong way, I’m a little worried about you. I don’t know if you’ve got something going on at home or if your studies are taking a toll on you, but you need to rest up. If the next match wasn’t so important I’d have you sitting in the stands watching.”

“I’m fine, coach, and I won’t let you down.” He vowed. His coach looked into his eyes, all he saw was determination and he knew he had to back down.

“Alright, if you say so. Just know, if you need anything my door is always open. You are a student first, player second…

Go on, hit the showers.”

“Yes sir!” He bolted off, his coach stayed to contemplate. Little did he know that Miyamura’s ankle was getting worse, and each wrong movement sent shockwaves up his leg.

It was Miyamura’s little secret.

*-*-*

The library was quiet after school. They could hold their meetings without interruption.

It was a few days ago that Aida had gathered the courage to offer her help. They were in this very room just before class, right before he walked out.

“Let me help you study!” She cried out. He accepted happily.

She was finished making her preparations, the library was to be stock checked, cleaned and organised (should any books be out of place). She was a diligent worker, it should be too much for one person but she loved this place and wanted to take care of it herself. It was a place she felt comfortable, a room filled with tiny portals to other worlds where she could be anything or anyone.

Sharing it with the boy she was in love with was a daunting feeling, it was an extension of herself after all. What would he think if books were thrown about, missing or haphazardly organised? If even a single speck of dust lay on these shelves, surely he’d see her as lazy, or unclean, and that was something she couldn’t abide!

The door opened while she was mid thought and it’s thud caught her off guard, she let out an oddly cute squeak.

*-*-*

“The equation 1/a + 1/|a| = 0 has…?”. The two sat on opposite ends of the table, books splayed out. She waited for his answer, it was usual for her to wait but, it felt different.

…

“Miyamura?”

He snapped out of his daydream “Oh, sorry. What was the question again?

She put the book down, “maybe, we should call it a day?” She asked.

“No, no it’s fine. I’m, Just a little tired is all.”

She could see it was something else.

“Miyamura. I hope you don’t mind me asking, but did something happen at training?”

“What? No, is there something wrong with me? First the coach now you…I, I just…”

She didn’t want to push too much. “You can tell me, if it’ll make you feel better”

He sighed quietly, “I just, feel a little overwhelmed. Here I am wanting to just enjoy my time with my team, and yet I know if I don’t play well it all ends. Worryingly, it’s making me not want to play.”

Aida hung her head, she wanted to help but she was still searching for the right words.

“It’s still fun, don’t get me wrong but, sometimes you realise how daunting it is. You fall in love with something, you surround yourself with it, and fantasise about it. It’s like rowing out into the ocean at night, it starts off exciting, and beautiful. But when you get far enough, far enough to understand how deep the water is, you realise just how easy it can be to lose it all.”

“Is it scary?”

“Huh?” He responded, the speed at which startled her.

“Ah, sorry. I mean, with it being something you love so much, I was thinking it must be scary, feeling that way.”

Miyamura thought about it, her words resonated with him. “Something like that… I just want to play on this team forever, but it’s all going to end, isn’t it?”

She couldn’t really put her thoughts into words. Miyamura’s head lay on the desk, Aida wanted to help him but, how could she? It was true that it was all coming to an end, it was just a matter of when…

“I, I think that… It’s sad that we’re moving on but… that’s life, isn’t it? I think that people spend too much time thinking about what’s to come that they don’t know how to enjoy the present.”

His head raised.

“I think that’s true for you, Miyamura. I think that, if you spend too much time thinking it’s going to end, you won’t get to enjoy your time with the team you love and the sport you love.”

She continued, “If it’s going to hurt this much…”

“I think you should quit.”