Title Race with Racing Heart

~~~⛩️~~~

Takachiho lost.

Nobody in the stands could believe it, but that was reality. Kadogawa's unexpected win in the final match shattered Takachiho's championship dreams. Heads hung low, displaying the disappointment of not being able to secure a victory they had within their grasp.

"Poor Haruki," Nao said as she rose from her seat among the Tsuno team in the stands. "Haruki, you played wonderfully!"

The rest of the crowd also stood, showing their wholeheartedly appreciation for those who defended their city.

"PLAYERS!"

The chants echoed, making Nao wince as she knew what was to follow.

"That was a great game!" they cheered jubilantly.

Then, she sighed in relief, grateful for being wrong.

"Great! It's time, let's warm up!" Shiraito commanded.

"Yes!"

Takashi didn't need Nao's hand touching his thigh to know she wanted to tell him something. She did it anyway.

"Are you going to wish me luck?"

"If you want, but I wasn't going to say that. I want you to give me your jacket." Nao wore an unusual mischievous smile as she made the request.

"Huh? Okay."

Takashi handed over his jacket, a hint of affectionate stubbornness in his gesture. Nao didn't wear it; instead, she held it between her legs and hands.

"And also..." Nao's hand gently touched Takashi's heart, feeling his heartbeat. "Here, you'll find the solution. You can do it, Takashi."

Nao's sweet smile once again made Takashi yearn for one last kiss. He attempted to connect lips, but Nao gently pushed him away.

"No!" Nao turned with her smile still intact and a new blush. "My parents are nearby!"

Takashi was so mesmerized by her beauty that he occasionally overlooked Nao's shyness in public.

"Alright, alright..."

Disheartened by his missed shot, Takashi walked toward the locker room, stopping a few steps later.

"You owe me, then."

The request reached Nao like a pleasurable sigh, and she hugged the jacket as if it were Takashi's head. Enchanted, she watched Takashi stroll away, her gaze filled with affection.

"As many as you want, silly."

~~~⚽~~~

"Are you scared?"

Takashi swore Nobeoka's players gave him menacing looks from the field. Their tall forms, like he had seen on the first day, briefly unnerved him. It wasn't just him; Jun had asked for a reason.

"It's normal to feel a bit scared," Takashi said, glancing at Jun briefly.

Jun returned a concerned look, knowing what had happened the day before. Fortunately, it didn't last long.

"But what's important is knowing that fear is meant to be overcome," Takashi continued. "And I intend to do just that. You know, I've been thinking about tonight's Obon closing ceremony."

That day not only marked the end of the inter-high tournament but also the festival itself. And Tsuno would be there to light the traditional lanterns, filled with their wishes and hopes for those who have passed away.

"Tonight, we'll light our lanterns, and I realized something. Pressure is just fuel. If it burns poorly, you can get hurt. But if it burns well and you use it as power to achieve your goals, nothing is impossible. So no matter how the match turns out, I want to come back next year and play against Takachiho again. Together."

Jun's eyes sparkled as he saw Takashi's determined and joyful face, ready to face Nobeoka with determination. He couldn't help but smile and mirror the gesture.

"Wow, you really changed here. It's amazing the power that love holds."

"And friendship."

Their eyes met. Takashi's heart brimmed with both emotions. He cherished Nao's backing, yet it didn't eclipse the fact that his friends would fight with him until the end.

"Indeed. I hope now you can change the score."

"I hope so too..."

Inevitably, Takashi turned one last time to the bench to see Nao. She clutched the balled-up jacket he had given her, the tension of the upcoming match evident. He guessed half of the reasons, not realizing that Nao also greatly enjoyed the warmth and scent of the boy she liked.

Then he shifted his focus ahead. The moment had arrived.

"I hope it more than anyone."

Nobeoka kicked off, and the final was underway.

Initial minutes were a fierce contest, both teams displaying eagerness and will to triumph. Especially Tsuno, who was determined to obtain the mandatory win.

"Ueda!"

Takashi's first chance arose through a Yoshida pass, now centrally positioned. The ball neared him for a right-footed shot, angled towards the far post.

You're going to miss.

It's better to pass.

Do you want them to lose because of you again?

Takashi didn't listen.

"Breathe. Think. Shoot!"

The shot excelled, evading the entire opposing defense, destined for the goal. Takashi aimed with greater precision and urgency, turning it into a real threat. The ball was about to enter the far post, giving Tsuno the lead...

Goalkeeper. Nobeoka's goalkeeper stretched as never before, deflecting the ball for a corner.

"Uh!" echoed throughout the stadium, followed by applause and cheers.

"No... not again..." Everything started to feel cold.

"It can't be!" Nao closed her eyes and clenched the jacket, surrounded by angry shouts from those around her.

"Não!"

Nao turned at the shout from the stands. Behind her was a dark-skinned man clutching his head. He was a tourist, sporting a red jersey.

"Não, amigo!" he shouted, looking up at the sky.

He was speaking in Portuguese.

The real Nao couldn't help but laugh at the misunderstanding, just after realizing something by looking to the rest of the crowd. Applause echoed, spectators clapping with enthusiasm, anticipating the corner kick. Takachiho was rallying behind Tsuno, the underdog team on paper.

"Oh! Taka..."

She fell silent upon witnessing numerous players converge on Takashi, moving toward him.

"Well tried!" Kenjiro shouted.

"We’ve got this!" Yoshida patted his shoulder.

"That was a good attempt!" Jun ruffled his hair twice, compensating for Hiroshi, who had gone to take the corner kick. "The next one’s going in!"

Takashi stood frozen, ironically, because the cold he had felt vanished. "I'm not failing... I'm trying."

After briefly lowering his head, he locked onto the corner kick with determination. "Let's do this!" He didn't score, but time remained.

And at the thirtieth minute of the second half, the miracle felt possible.

"Ueda!"

Kenjiro delivered a pass to Takashi's chest, marked by a towering center-back.

“I’m not going to make it!”

Takashi controlled the ball with his right thigh, yet it strayed too far and wide rightwards. He couldn't reach it.

At least not on his own.

"I've got it!"

From behind, Jun took the ball, leaving the chasing defender and center-back in his wake. Before the goalkeeper, he centered the pass, and Hiroshi gently tapped it into the vacant net.

"GOOOOOOAL!"

The corner kick celebration was frenzied. They first hugged the three of them, and then the rest of the team joined in for about thirty seconds.

"Great pass, Jun!"

"Thanks, Hiro! Taka, great control! It landed perfect to me!"

Jun left Takashi's hair disheveled after the hug and vigorous head patting. Not that Takashi minded.

"Thanks! Let's keep it up!"

Of course, he wanted to keep it up. With ten minutes left, Tsuno were about to be crowned champions.

~~~🌟~~~

And with five minutes left, Nobeoka were about to be crowned champions, as they equalized the match A hush descended over the stadium in response to the jubilant players adorned in purple and white. The players were silent, and Takashi was exhausted. He inhaled deeply after exerting himself intensely in pressing, but it seemed insufficient at that moment.

"Damn it!"

"Ueda!" Takashi turned to see Shiraito calling from the sidelines. "Can you continue?"

Shiraito intended to substitute him. His tournament journey was coming to an end.

"Ah... so, in the end, I couldn't do it."

He gazed upwards with resignation, but only after a few moments did he realize what he was looking at.

The sky. It was there, inmense and with no intention of hurting him.

That gave him the strength to take a necessary deep breath. "Why do you get angry like this? It doesn't make sense. Just believe in yourself." Shiraito repeated the question. Takashi looked at his teammates. "They cheered you, supported you, laughed with you. No one truly wants to harm you..."

And thinking about the words ‘harm you’ made him look at Nao, who was gazing at him. Takashi had been the one to reassure her that no one wished her harm. This might explain the wink she had exchanged with him earlier, akin to his gesture hours ago. It conveyed, ‘Everything will be alright.’ And Takashi required nothing more.

Shiraito was astonished by the turn of events. The initial surprise transpired when he witnessed Takashi giving a thumbs-up, signifying his readiness to continue. He remained uncertain about the match's outcome, but he remained resolute in battling alongside his teammates until the end.

A greater surprise, however, ensued from Kenjiro's signal. Prior to Takashi restarting the game, everyone observed him raising three fingers, pointed skyward.

"They're going to execute... the kick-off set-piece play. The Special Strike" the coach realized.

Although Shiraito had insisted that they forgo tricks, the boys knew it by heart, after him insisting over and over they should learn it. They all perfectly knew what to do to score.

Takashi's eyes kindled with hope upon seeing the signal. "There's still a chance," he contemplated.

The whistle sounded, Takashi recommenced the game, and the concluding five minutes unfurled.