Not Alone 19

The days in Hinami were consumed by rigorous training sessions and meticulous preparations for the upcoming match against Nagareboshi. The coach pushed the players to their limits, drilling them with training drills and simulating game situations. For Reo, it felt reminiscent of his early career days in the prestigious middle school where he once harbored dreams of a glorious footballing career. Little did he expect that in Hinami, of all places, football would once again take center stage in his life. Even if he was roped into it…

“Yuusaki Reo, you listening?”

“Eh?”

When Reo finally snapped out of his thoughts, a glaring Shuna raised a brow at him. Inside the Hinami locker room, his teammates’ gave him their own set of glances.

“Daydreaming?” Totori grinned, as Reo exhaled and shook his head.

“Sorry. Go on.”

“You’d better listen this time.” Shuna exhaled wearily, while Gonda leaning against the table eyed everyone to make sure they wouldn’t have any more mishaps.

“Nagareboshi doesn’t boast any standout strengths. Their strategy primarily revolves around tight defense and not giving their opponents space to attack. However, they do have their very own secret weapon,” Shuna remarked, flipping through her notes in her characteristic manner.

“As we’ve already talked about during practice, the team’s…. star, no pun intended, is Shuuji Hoshina. Number 7. Can play as a midfielder, attacker and even striker when the situation demands it. He’s highly intelligent, very technical and very difficult to get ahold of.” As Shuna briefed everyone, the ones dedicated to marking him, Ayase Ishiguro, and Takasaki Housen gave a determined nod each.

“Of course a “lord” on the field such as him, cannot do without his samurai. Nozomi Bushida is also one to look out for. He’s fast, and untiring. High pressing and relentless marking are his sole strong points. While not a threat during their attacking phase, he’s very good in hindering his opponent’s play.” Turning to her father, Shuna took off her glasses and placed them back in their case.

“That’s all.”

“Thank you, Shuna. Now for the starting 11.”

Gonda cleared his throat and retrieved his familiar small football board. Interestingly, the starting lineup for this match mirrored that of the previous Sunday's encounter against Mizushima Clovers. Despite the defeat, the coach maintained confidence in the same players, believing they could produce a different result this time around. They would after all, have the support of their home crowd this evening.

“I know last match’s result was disappointing. But that’s an even bigger reason for us to win today. Make things right. We worked hard for this all week, so let’s go out there and win!”

“1 - 2 - 3! HI - NA - MI!”

When the captain, Housen, gave his speech, and the players roared in newfound enthusiasm, it was finally time to step out to the field.

The air on this Sunday evening was crisp, charged with anticipation as the crowd roared with excitement. Finally, Hinami would play a league match in their home ground after 3 long years. The defeat against Clovers last week finally felt like a distant memory. Hinami and its players could focus on the here and now.

Reo stood ready, waiting for the referee's whistle, as the teams took their positions on the lush green pitch.

Nagareboshi (Shooting Star 流れ星) hailed from Hoshikage Island, a small patch of land shaped like a star. While one of the smallest islands in Shinrin, their passion for football rivaled that of any other. Their usual attire was predominantly purple, but for tonight's match, they opted for a full orange kit with purple and white accents to avoid clashing with the home team's jet black attire.

The "Shooting Star" had a brief stint as one of the league's top teams during its early years, but has since failed to secure any silverware. A team by that name, naturally, couldn’t do without a star.

And Shuuji Hoshina was exactly that, and even more.

Milling about the middle line of the field was a young man with wavy orange hair. Reo recognized the number etched on his shorts and his chest.

Number 7.

That’s him. Reo nodded to himself.

Shuuji Hoshina.

And the short player with the darker skin and curly hairdo Reo recognized as Bushida, by the number 5 on his kit.

The lord and the samurai… let’s see.

When the referee placed the whistle between his lips, Reo got into position and focused only forward.

I won’t let it end like last time.

When the whistle was finally blown, all of the nerves, the pent up emotions, seemed like they had flown away. All Reo and his teammates could feel and think about, was the moment in which the ball glided through the field. Right here, right now.

Nagareboshi took the kick-off to start the game. As Shuna and Gonda had previously analyzed, the Shooting Star didn't seem like a well-drilled team. Reo could tell from their hurried passes and movements.

“URAAAAH!”

Totori ran around in the opponent’s half, trying to disrupt their passing.

“Crap!”

And he succeeded somewhat, when one of the defenders frantically kicked the ball out of bounds towards the right side.

Reo was playing on the right wing, thus he pressed up and asked for the ball. Wataru, one of the two twins, took the throw in and gave it straight to the number 10. The stadium roared with excitement, remembering his accomplishments in the last home game.

“GO!”

He felt the crowd urge him on. Like a mighty tree extending its roots through the soil, the black jerseys surged down the field, pressing forward to mount an attack.

“Yuusaki!”

“Yuusaki-kun!”

“Reeoooo!”

Kaoru, Akihiko, and Totori all demanded the ball, each making their own aggressive run forward. Nagareboshi's defense appeared incapable of containing all three of these advances, particularly the one piercing through the middle

Reo drove the ball forward, and dribbled past the nearest opponent.

“Nice! Now pass!”

Reo looked up and remembered the match against Clovers. How he had been denied more than a few chances. But this time would be different. I can’t let it end like last time.

“Damn it!”

Reo nutmegged past another opponent, flicking the ball between his feet, and freeing up more space for himself.

“Reo!”

Totori raised his arm. He was in a great position to receive it. Akihiko too was in the clear outside the box. Should he pass it? Reo, always the egoist wavered.

But what if they missed? What if they weren’t good enough?

Reo had learned that when he wanted to get a job done, he’d have to do it himself.

And thus, he pressed on.

“!”

Just when he was about to serve another razzle dazzle to the remaining defenders in front of him, a speeding short young man came barreling down towards him.

“You little…!”

Reo gritted his teeth, as their shoulders collided. That Bushida was fast, no doubt. He could keep up with Reo no sweat.

Reo knew he had to shake him off, or pass the ball away. But he wasn’t fast enough.

A hard tackle came, and the ball soared out of bounds by the right side once more. As a result, Reo found himself face-planting the grass, his arms barely cushioning the fall.

“Nice tackle, Nozomi!”

Hoshina, their captain, gave a thumbs up to his friend. Who dusted himself off after the tackle and returned a small smile.

“Thanks, Shuuji-san.”

From the position he lied in, Reo looked on between the two. So that was what Shuna warned them about. The young man clicked his tongue.

Even so, he couldn’t let a repeat of last week happen no matter what.

No matter what.

“Hey, don’t mind.” Totori, who had trotted over to his friend offered him a hand.

Reo looked up at him, and took his friend’s hand.

“Thanks.” The blonde number 10 nodded and looked around the field once more. Nagareboshi were raw, but these two players certainly made a great pair. If he wanted to avoid the same outcome, Reo had to up his game.

Despite himself, in the next play he decided to press forward, and dashed alongside Totori as they ran around Nagareboshi’s half, eager to disrupt their play and win back the ball. Reo was pressing relentlessly too.

I can’t let it end like last time.

Was all Reo could think.

Run, run then run some more.

His teammates saw that as a peculiar change, but supported him nonetheless. Yet, the energy alone didn’t seem to be enough.

Reo won the ball in midfield and pressed on. This is the moment, he felt deep within him, and didn’t dare look up. Instead, he fired with his left, from the same spot he did against Kame Hama.

“AH!”

But the low driven shot bounced off the post and out of play. The crowd that had risen to its feet, sat back down, but still kept up the cheers. Even so, Reo could feel the disappointment in the cries, and the stinging stares from his teammates. Had he missed another opportunity to pass?

Hinami kept up the pressure. But their energy was dissipating. Soon, Nagareboshi found their chance to attack.

“Shuuji!”

Straight from defense, Hoshina received the ball a few steps up from the halfway line. The tall, slim number 7 controlled the ball perfectly, and ran forward without an ounce of hesitation.

Like a gazelle, his long legs propelled him onwards, the ball seemingly glued to his feet.

Ayase, the one marking him in midfield, bumped shoulders with him in an attempt to stop him in his tracks, even if it meant a foul.

“Wha—?”

But the nimble attacker was too fast for the mountain of a midfielder to catch. He passed the ball to his winger, who clumsily stopped the ball, but still found the space to get a cross into the box.

A dashing Shuuji Hoshina charged into the penalty area. With a powerful leap, he propelled himself off the ground and met the ball squarely with his forehead. Housen and Junya stood transfixed, unable to match the towering player's leap as he caught them off guard.

Kyogo Haneda dove and stretched, but he only managed to graze the ball with his fingertips.

The ball nestled into the back of the goal with a resounding stretch of the net.

“GOAAAAAAAL!”

The away fans that had made the trip to Hinami jumped up from their seats much like their star player had to do to win the header, and flung their arms in the air with a roar.

“SHUUJI YOU MONSTER!”

“WHAT A GOAL!”

“Haha, thanks guys!”

His teammates run up to him as he laughed in clear delight and celebrated alongside his team and fans. Soon they were all a mix of orange and purple at the far side of the pitch, celebrating their beautiful goal.

“Damn it!” Housen kicked at the grass, portraying the frustration of a whole island in such a simple gesture.

“That was amazing, Shuuji!”

“Couldn’t have done it without your help. Nozomi.”

The two friends shared a brief moment, as they made their way back to their own half, all smiles.

Reo looked on from the side, catching every bit of the exchange. Couldn’t have done it without him?

Please.

The Hinami number 10 wanted to scoff. He did that all himself. The run, the pass, the header. It was all him.

But why…

Why did he say that?

He didn’t need anyone else to score that goal.

Sure he received a cross but…

If he hadn’t been there to finish it, it would have been just a plain old cross. If he hadn’t the prowess to jump that high, Hinami would have easily cleared it away.

Right as Hinami kicked off the match once more, the referee looked at his watch. Before the Pirates could string a few passes together, the man in the bright yellow jersey blew the whistle for half time.

Just like that, Hinami were 1-0 down.

❖ ⚽ ❖

Amidst the silence of the dressing room at half time, as the players waited for Gonda to speak, Reo grabbed a bottle and started chugging some water. Maybe that would be able to cool him down.

The thoughts he wish he didn’t have all week were now coming true right in front of him. They were losing 1- 0 and Reo couldn’t do anything about it.

At this rate, it would all be repeat of last time. Hinami would lose. The fans would leave the stadium dejected. The bakery lady would have to close up shop for the morning again. Everyone would refuse to speak about it, and even…

Shuna would be sad once more.

Reo gritted his teeth. He didn’t want to see anyone looking like that again. Especially not her.

Reo couldn’t pinpoint what his exact feelings on the matter were, but he sure as hell knew one thing.

He didn’t want to witness that look on her face ever again.

Amidst the silence, a red-haired young man, stood from his seat. He clutched his water bottle tightly and exhaled.

“Yuusaki.”

Reo raised his eyes to meet his. There it was. He knew that look all too well. He was about to be called all sorts of things. An egoist. Self-centered. Spoiled. Reo knew what it was like to be on the spot at times like these. It was always like that after all. His teammates always blamed him…

Thus the young man awaited for the barrage to come. Maybe today would be the last time his teammates ever tolerated playing alongside him.

Maybe…

“Stop that.”

“Stop what?” Reo asked, setting his jaw in anticipation.

“Stop going at it alone.”

The next one to speak was Housen, much to everyone’s surprise.

“Yeah, because you’re not. We’re all in this together.” Akihiko’s words caught Reo completely off guard. His mouth gaped open, unable to form words.

“You don’t want to lose, right?”

Yuusaki Reo felt his chest tighten at those words. Everyone was looking at him just like he thought they would. But they weren’t glaring. They weren’t angry. They looked at him like every other time.

“It hurts, right?” Magowski, the usually stoic, bespectacled left back stretched a grin too.

“Sucks to not have fresh bread in the morning, that’s for sure.” Umio sighed, as a chuckle erupted from the others.

“Well, as you can see, we don’t wanna lose either.” Akihiko gave a nod, and soon everyone followed.

“Hell yeah we don’t! I mean, hell no we don’t!” The most hot blooded of the two twins, Isamu raised his fist in the air.

“Reo.” Totori tapped his shoulder. “You can rely on us.”

Rely on… them?

Caught between everyone’s gaze, and Totori’s smile, Reo seemed lost for words.

He had never been told that by his teammates. Back in his old team everyone was out for themselves, trying to be recognized and make it as a pro. There were only some rare moments of mutual understanding but none even came close to this…

Comradery. Kinship.

The kids he played alongside wanted to show they were special. It was a free for all out there. Each pass was strained, and felt like they were all trying to use each other as a step to climb higher in their career. Even if it meant stomping on them on the way.

But here… it was different. There was nothing like that. His teammates… they wanted to win alongside him. And Reo too…

Didn’t want to lose.

“You’re right.” Reo nodded with a smile, despite himself. “Thanks guys… I guess, I’m not alone…”

As Reo stood up and shook Akihiko’s outstretched hand, an inexplicable weight off his shoulders seemed to be a mere afterthought.

A weight Reo didn’t know he was carrying.

“You never were, man. And as long as you’re here in Hinami…”

“…You never will be.”

Gonda finished Toraichi’s sentence, before clearing his throat.

“Now that we wrapped up our bonding moment, let’s talk tactics, kiddos.”

A small chuckle erupted from around the locker room, before Gonda pushed the glasses up his nose, and flipped on his inner switch.

“…Because we’re going out there to win!”

“Aye, sir!”