Interlude: The Star's Guardian 21

Rain fell in a light drizzle, and the clouds covered the sun like a blanket, blocking out any rays of light. The pitch was slick with wetness, and the grass glistened as cleats dug into it time and again.

Football in Shinrin was something akin to breathing. Something ordinary. Yet something that its people couldn’t live without.

In the faraway island of Hoshikage, it was all but the same. The 10 thousand that filled the island stadium time and again, after each and every win, each and every defeat, thirsted for more every time.

When Nagareboshi was playing, everyone stopped, and watched.

Their team had the name of a shooting star, a fleeting dream. It was probably a name that reminded one’s love for the club all over again. Like seeing a star falling from the night canvas. Always wishing, longing, dreaming.

87th minute.

Nagareboshi against Kujiroshima. 0 – 0

As the rain poured, the fans dared not leave the stands for shelter. Instead, they gave their all to cheer for the final few minutes towards the 90.

Clad in their purple jersey, with the orange-yellow streak running through its chest, the players of the shooting star desperately searched for a goal that would delight their supporters.

Kujiroshima, in their own white shirt, streaked with thick gray stripes, managed to defend well against their opponents. They were in fact, a defensive team to their core.

“More to the left!”

Nagareboshi had won a free kick just outside the box after a reckless tackle, and the tall, white haired goalkeeper commanded the wall of players that guarded his net with his shouts. He was undoubtedly their man of the match today, besting the best of the Shooting Stars.

But Hoshikage’s brightest hadn’t had his last say.

With his wavy orange hair, and trained sparkly purple eyes, Shuuji Hoshina set the ball on the grass neatly, and took a couple long steps back.

“Hoshina! Hoshina!”

Sensing the team’s chance to finally score, the crowd began to chant the name of the player that had saved them more than once in recent years. Nagareboshi was never a strong team in the league, and their constant struggle was to keep playing in it. However, since Hoshina came, a radiant light of hope shined upon them.

Despite their lacking tactics, they now held a shot at victory. “Give the ball to Hoshina, and he’ll score!” Was their motto, and believe it or not it worked more often than one would believe.

Shuuji Hoshina, exhaled, and looked at the goalkeeper waiting patiently behind the wall of players he’d formed between them.

“You can do it, Shuuji!”

A short young man, with a short curly brown hairdo reassured him with a thumbs up next to him. Nozomi Bushida, always believed in his best friend. And there was good reason for it.

Hoshina made the run-up to the ball with small calculated steps, positioning himself on the right side of the ball, he swung fiercely with his left, and the ball soared over the wall. Time seemed to stop as the ball hovered in the air, over the human wall, but it wasn’t long before it dropped in altitude. With a clean, refreshing sound, the ball dropped precisely as much was needed to land perfectly in the keeper’s goal. Droplets of water flew in the air, as the ball smacked them away from the net.

“GOAAAAAAAAAAALLL!”

The mighty goalkeeper and the ironclad defense of Kujiroshima were finally defeated, by none other than the star himself. The supporters finally erupted like a volcano, cheering high into the sky for the goal they so desperately wanted.

The referee soon blew the whistle after that, and the game finished with the Shooting Stars claiming their victory. Once again, just like last year, the island sung its hero’s praises, as he was enveloped in his teammate’s embrace.

❖ ⚽ ❖

Bushida Nozomi wasn’t great at football. He wasn’t technically gifted and he’d even trip over himself when he first started playing. He had a very rare case akin to the opposite of talent. No matter what, he just couldn’t play football well no matter the training. Yet he kept going. Kept running. Kept trying his very best.

“Nozomi, you can go to school now.”

“Okay, mum, I’ll be back after practice!”

The short young man waved at his mother, as he dashed down the road so he wouldn’t be late.

In the mornings he had to wake up early and assist his single mother with their shop, before he joined his teammates for practice. After class, he’d have more practice, and later on even more work with the cleanups, as he was the one and only son she ever had.

Somebody would even say he was working too hard. If he’d just quit football everything would be made easier…

A sport he had no talent for.

But at the mere thought of quitting, Nozomi’s gut turned uncontrollably.

He couldn’t quit.

“Oh, Nozomi!”

His handsome, tall friend with the orange hair smiled at him from the gates of the school where he waited. Shuuji Hoshina, his best friend.

Despite the already exhausting morning he had, Nozomi managed to smile back vigorously. He was normally reserved around others, but towards his best friend, those reservations managed to die down

“Good morning, Shuuji-san! Ready for practice?”

“As ready as ever!”

The two friends beamed on their way to the training ground.

There was no way he would quit.

Nozomi told himself over and over.

Shuuji was talented. Exceptionally so. He showed it from a young age, and it was clear he’d go on to lead Nagareboshi one day. Nozomi always looked at him with wonder, and was proud to stand by his side as a friend.

On top of all that, Shuuji was very kind to him, and everyone around him. He was a true role model.

But there’s just so much one player can do by himself. Football was a team sport after all, and one would reach their limit sooner or later if their team held them back.

Nozomi knew how much Shuuji wanted to win. And perhaps he himself wanted his friend to shine.

Thus, he took up football. He wasn’t good at it, but tirelessly worked towards the things he could improve. He upped his stamina, and trained day and night to hone his physical condition.

“Doesn’t he ever get tired?”

“Yet he’s so lousy with the ball…”

People’s comments about him weren’t far and few in between.

“Ah… He lost it again…”

“One more! Just one more!”

But Nozomi didn’t care. He kept calling for the ball. Kept trying. All he had to do was run and run. All he had to do was chase the ball around, retrieve it and then…

Give it to Shuuji Hoshina. His best friend.

“Nice one, Nozomi!”

Shuuji would smile back at him no matter the outcome. No matter the result. And that drove him to work even harder.

If Shuuji had no supporters or equals to him in football, all he had to do, to stand next to him and help was keep running. Keep fighting. And he did just that.

All that so his friend could play to his heart’s content.