Chapter 69: NICE Pass

The adrenaline coursing through Ryuji's veins felt weird, unlike anything he had ever experienced. The cheers of the crowd reverberated in his ears, but it was the internal rush that left him stunned. For the first time in his life, he felt truly alive in a sport. He had always been the jack of all trades, excelling at everything he tried but never finding anything worth sticking to. But this—this was different. Flag football was different.

As he jogged back to the sidelines, the grin still plastered on his face, a memory flashed before his eyes, pulling him back to a time when running was the only thing that kept him safe.

"Get him!"

The voices of his bullies echoed in his mind. He could still feel the burn of his lungs as he sprinted through the narrow alleys of his old neighborhood, the thud of footsteps close behind. Ryuji had never been the biggest kid, but he was fast—faster than any of them.

He had always hated being chased. The taunts, the jeers, the sense of helplessness—they all pushed him to find a way out. That's when he discovered parkour. At first, it was just a way to escape, to dodge the bullies who took pleasure in tormenting him. But soon, it became more than that. He trained obsessively, leaping over fences, scaling walls, vaulting over obstacles with a fluid grace that surprised even him.

"You can't catch me!" Ryuji would shout over his shoulder, the wind whipping past him as he darted away. The thrill of the chase, the exhilaration of outmaneuvering his pursuers—it was his way of taking back control.

But no matter how fast he ran, the feeling of being a coward clung to him like a shadow. No matter how many times he escaped, it was just that—running away. Never confronting, never standing his ground. Until now.

Ryuji looked down at his hands, still trembling from the excitement of the play. "I can't believe I could use that skill and no one called me a coward," he muttered to himself, a small smile playing on his lips. This time, running wasn't about escaping. It was about charging forward, about seizing the moment and turning it into something victorious.

Another memory flickered into view—this one less thrilling and far more painful. Ryuji sat on a swing in the schoolyard, his head down, tears silently streaming down his face. He was alone. His only friend, the one person who had made school bearable, had just left. They had moved away without warning, leaving Ryuji to face the world alone once again. The emptiness he felt that day had never really gone away. He had just learned to bury it deep.

But now, as he stood on that field, the roar of the crowd in his ears and the adrenaline still surging through his veins, Ryuji clenched his fists. He wasn't that lonely kid anymore. He had a team, people who believed in him, who cheered for him. And for the first time in a long while, he felt like he belonged.

As Ryuji returned to the huddle, he noticed Koenji standing off to the side, a smirk on his face. Koenji hadn't had his moment yet, but he wasn't worried. In fact, he seemed almost eager, like a wolf waiting for the right time to pounce.

Koenji glanced at Sota, catching his attention with a raised eyebrow. "Hey, cap," he said, his voice laced with a casual confidence, "mind tossing me the ball on the next play? I feel like stretching my legs."

Sota, always one to recognize the fire in his teammates' eyes, gave Koenji a thumbs-up. "You got it," he said, his tone easy but assured. "Give us one, all right?"

Koenji nodded, his smile widening. He was ready. The game was still young, and Seiryuu High was just getting started.

As the team gathered for the next play, Sota laid out the plan, his voice calm but commanding. "We'll go for a quick pass to Koenji. We keep it simple, and block their rushes as much as we can."

The team responded with nods and murmurs of agreement, the tension building in the air. They could feel the shift in momentum, the tide turning in their favor. And Koenji was ready to ride that wave.

The whistle blew, and the players lined up. Koenji crouched low, his muscles coiled and ready to spring. His eyes locked onto Sota, waiting for the signal.

"Hut!"

Daichi snapped the ball into Sota's hands, and in an instant, Koenji exploded off the line, his legs pumping like pistons. He cut through Daikyo's defense with ease, his speed and agility unmatched. Sota's eyes tracked him, waiting for the perfect moment.

"Now!"

The ball left Sota's hand in a tight spiral, slicing through the air toward Koenji. It was a beautiful pass, perfectly timed and placed. Koenji's heart raced as he saw the ball hurtling toward him, but he didn't let the excitement overwhelm him. This was his moment.

With a sharp pivot, Koenji evaded his defender, his hand shooting up to snatch the ball out of the air. The impact reverberated through his arm, but he held on tight, securing the catch.

"There he goes!"

Koenji's feet barely touched the ground as he took off, his mind laser-focused on the end zone. The world around him seemed to blur as he sprinted, the cheers of the crowd fading into the background. All that mattered was the goal, the points that would widen their lead.

Daikyo's defenders scrambled to close the gap, their shouts growing more desperate as they realized they were losing ground. But Koenji was in his element. This was what he lived for—the rush of the chase, the thrill of the escape. He darted left, then right, his movements fluid and unpredictable.

A defender lunged at him, but Koenji sidestepped with ease, his agility leaving them grasping at air. Another tried to cut him off, but Koenji was too quick, slipping past with a burst of speed that left the defender stumbling in his wake.

The end zone was just a few yards away now. Koenji could almost feel the victory within his grasp. His legs burned with exertion, but he pushed through the pain, his mind set on one thing—scoring.

With a final surge of energy, Koenji dove across the goal line, the ball still clutched tightly in his hand. The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices echoing across the field. He had done it. The scoreboard flashed once more, Seiryuu High pulling even further ahead.

Koenji lay on the ground for a moment, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. A wide grin spread across his face as he stood up, raising the ball triumphantly. The team rushed over to him, their excitement palpable.

"That was awesome, Koenji!" Kaminari said, slapping him on the back.

"You made it look easy," Ryuji added, still riding the high from his own play.

Koenji shrugged, his grin never fading. "Just doing my part, guys. We're not done yet."

Sota walked over, his expression one of approval. "Great work, Koenji. You really came through."

Koenji gave a casual salute. "Thanks, Sota. Just keep giving me those passes, and I'll keep making the plays."

"Of course, you're the running back." Sota flashed a thumbs-up, his eyes gleaming with determination. "We're going to take this all the way. Everyone, keep up the pressure. We've got them on the ropes, now let's finish this."

"HAH!" Everyone screamed in unison.

The team huddled together, their resolve stronger than ever. They could feel the victory within their grasp, but they knew the game wasn't over yet. They would have to fight for every yard, every point, until the final whistle blew.

As they broke the huddle and lined up for the next play, Sota couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. This was his team, and they were playing like champions. No matter what Daikyo High threw at them, he knew they had the strength, the skill, and the heart to come out on top.