บท 55: #55 Match...?

Although I said that I had no experience with soccer, I still played it a bit during my school days in my past life.

I quickly stretched myself and we were ready to start the practice game.

"I am sorry about this, Walker-kun" Hirata approached me and apologized with a guilty expression.

"It's not your fault, but since you think that you dragged me into this, let's win this match" I said jokingly with a confident smile.

"Of course! By the way, was what you said to Nagumo-senpai the truth? About having no experience with soccer." Hirata asked me with a suspicious yet friendly smile.

"Are you perhaps judging it from my physical appearance? Well, whatever, maybe I lied a bit hehe. But don't expect too much alright? I highly doubt that I am better than you." I laughed a bit after seeing his suspicious look.

"Since it's like that, how about you play Central Midfielder?" You will be able to quickly return to defense and it will also allow more teamwork between two of us since you will also be able to go more forward. Oh...do you know the positions?"

"I think I vaguely remember but I will quickly recall everything once the match starts. You are the striker, right?" I asked just to be sure.

"Yep and Shibata-kun is usually the striker too but that's because we are usually against each other. since we are on the same team now, he will be together with me playing offense so all 3 of us can make use of the good teamwork." Hirata said with an excited smile.

"Is everyone ready?" Nagumo asked all of us but it was more directed at me.

"Yes!" Everyone shouted in unison.

"Before we start, can you quickly tell me how strong our defense is?" I quickly asked Hirata before he could move to his position.

"Hmm, I think we have average defense while they have a much better defense than us but we have better offense so I would say it's pretty balanced. But be careful of Nagumo-senpai, considering your position, you will be mostly playing against him." He threw a quick glance at our team and explained.

"Ok, thanks" I thanked him and he nodded at me with a confident smile.

...

It was as Hirata said, the person who was always against me was Nagumo. Whether it was defense or offense, he was there to stop me and my job was exactly the same.

"You quite surprised me by playing the center." Nagumo said when I stopped him from advancing any further.

"I am a fast learner." I said with a confident smile.

"Good! You said that girl who is currently watching isn't your girlfriend, right?" I didn't like the way he emphasized the word 'your'. As if he was talking about her as a thing or some toy.

"What about it?" I asked with sharp eyes.

"Nothing much, I am just interested and I must know if there is any free flower waiting to be plucked." He said this while acting like he wanted to get past me. He was observing my expression.

"I see" To the opposite of his expectations, I threw him a calm mocking smile.

He was slightly surprised by my reaction.

Now! I tried to steal the ball from him, of course, I wasn't using my full speed.

"Tch!" He clicked his tongue and quickly passed the ball behind him, making me fail to steal the ball from him.

His teammates gave him a surprised look, they were distracted only for a few seconds but that still gave enough time for Shibata to steal the ball from them.

When Nagumo saw this he wanted to turn around at me so he can properly hinder me, unfortunately for him, I wasn't there because I was already a few meters behind him.

I used his blind angle when he was turning around so he didn't see me when I run past him.

"What?!" I was still able to hear his surprised voice behind me.

I threw a quick look behind me and saw him running after me. I sneered at him and focused on what was happening before me.

Although Hirata said that he was usually playing against Shibata, I couldn't help but commend their teamwork inwardly when I saw them almost in synchronization with each other.

But even if their teamwork was extremely good, the defense wasn't bad at all and hindering just 2 players wasn't hard task no matter how their teamwork was good.

Hirata had currently the ball but he was having a hard time keeping it since there were 2 guys trying to steal it from him. And passing it to Shibata was an even more impossible task than just breaking through alone.

"?! Walker-kun!" He shouted and passed the ball to me when he saw that I was all alone with just Nagumo a few meters behind me.

I was at most 30 meters away from the goalkeeper so I thought that it was good enough position so I kicked the ball but just when I was about to kick it, my expression changed to a bit worried one. I should have at least tried to kick the ball before the match started. I don't know how much I need to hold back my strength...

I thought while gritting my teeth but it was already too late for me to do anything so I just used barely half of my strength in my legs to kick it.

The ball flew extremely fast and hit the crossbar and got deflected high into the sky.

Maaan, what an embarrassing situation. I thought while looking at the rapidly rotating ball in the sky.

Hm? Is it coming back? I moved a bit forward so it won't hit me.

"Huh?" The goalkeeper barely had any time to react and when he looked at where the sound came from he didn't see the ball. He was looking all around himself with a confused expression to find the ball but in vain.

It was a sunny day so no one was able to find the ball high in the sky with the strong sun-rays bombarding the soccer pitch, well except for me. My eyes were somehow more resistant to it but if I stare for too long then I start to feel stinging pain.

Those who were able to register what exactly happened immediately protected their heads with their hands but Nagumo who just caught up to me didn't imitate them. But he was still surprised by my speed and strength of my legs.

"Where is the ball?" He asked with a slightly confused expression while looking around, he probably didn't see what happened and felt confused about what was everyone doing.

Just when he finished his sentence something hard hit his head, knocking him on his butt.

...Just...Don't...Laugh...

This was probably even harder then suppressing my killing intent while talking about my aunt and uncle. This is good training. If I can overcome this, I will be qualified to turn to a completely emotionless person.

"Ugh" He groaned in pain while clutching his head.

Well, I didn't want to make him my enemy without investigating him first but I guess misfortune is all around me...Pfft.

"Nagumo-senpai?!" Shibata ran to him and helped him to stand up.

Hirata came to me and looked at me with a surprised expression.

"Well...that was something else. What now?" He asked everyone around while looking at Nagumo who was being lead away from the field with Shibata's support.

"That must have hurt a lot, considering the time the ball took to fall down..." One guy muttered but everyone was able to hear it.

Everyone was looking at each other with confused expressions, having no idea what to do now.

Now we are back at 21 players...

"Well, I am an outsider so I should leave and let you at least play 10v10" I said with an apologetic smile.

"Don't say that, we can somehow work it out" The senior from my team said that and Hirata nodded too.

"Even though I would like to play with you guys, I still have a job to walk someone 'home'" Soccer isn't really my favorite sport and if I don't have to be here, then I don't see any reason to remain.

When they heard my words, they redirected their gaze at Kei who was sitting on the bench the entire time.

When she saw so many people look at her at the same time she tilted her head to the side with a confused expression and slight blush.

Everyone except Hirata threw me a hateful look.

"I understand, do what you must!" The same senior patted me on my shoulder and said with a serious expression and tear coming out of his eye.

He is the same idiot as Ike...

"Hahaha" Hirata released helpless laugh while scratching back of his head when he saw his club member's behavior.

"I am going back, good luck with the practice. Can you also apologize to Nagumo-senpai for me?" I was getting ready to leave but I didn't forget to ask them to apologize, however, I doubt that it would change anything. I don't know that guy much but just a few minutes around him told me how arrogant he is and he probably won't take this humiliation silently.

"No problem here plus it wasn't really your fault."

Everyone waved to me and I went to the changing room to quickly change my clothes and return to Kei's side.

...

"Hehe, you did that on purpose, right?" She giggled.

"What? Why are you suspecting me? And how would I be able to calculate and predict all of that? You are accusing me of the crimes I never did." I had an impulse to defend my innocence.

"But you weren't sorry for what happened, right? You don't like that guy." She said with confidence in her voice.

I was slightly surprised by this...She knows me better than I thought.

"Maybe..." I gave her a half-assed reply.

...

When we were going through the park, I spotted an interesting person sitting on the bench but since I was with Kei now, I decided to first walk her to the dorms before coming back to join that person.

Hopefully, she will still be here when I return.

"See you tomorrow?" Kei asked me when we arrived at our destination.

"Well, I don't have anything to do but you should consider studying for a bit." I mercilessly told her right to her face.

"Hey! I am smart I just need a bit of time to catch up to people like Hirata. I will have much more points on the exams than you in a few weeks, just watch me!" She stuck out her tongue at me before turning around and running up the stairs.

I chuckled at her behavior.

Now, let's make a small stop at my room so I can leave there the things I bought today and then I can return to the park.

...

When I returned to the park I noticed that person still sitting there.

I approached that person and casually sat down right next to her.

"What a fine afternoon, wouldn't you say, teach?"

"Hm? Oh, it's you, Walker" She didn't even notice me sit next to her until I talked to her.

"Is something bothering you? Perhaps it's someone?"

"Please don't be like Chie...And when have we started talking to each other like friends? Even if I am not your teacher right now, I am still older than you." She said with a strict expression.

Come on, I am even older than you so stop lecturing me. How much I would like to say it aloud but I guess no one would believe me.

"Anyway, what are you doing here?" She asked me while drinking her coffee.

"I noticed an interesting person sitting here and I couldn't help but approach." I answered with a smile.

"Hm? How am I interesting?" She asked me with a dull expression.

"Well, you are a beautiful teacher, how are you not interesting?" I grinned when I said this.

"If you are looking for a beautiful teacher to talk to, you could just go to Chie who is usually more friendly due to her being constantly drunk." She frowned but she still blushed a bit which made her only cuter.

"And that's exactly what I like about you, teach. Your professional attitude." I honestly admitted with a genuine smile.

She glanced at me with a surprised expression.

*sigh* She sighed and took out a cigarette from her pocket.

"You shouldn't do this, teach. Don't you remember the last time we were together and you tried to smoke? Don't you remember my warning?" I said with a wide smile across my face.

"You know, I can report you and expel you for smoking." She tried to intimidate me but I noticed a small smile on her face.

"You can't, it would be you who would lose the job. They are your cigarettes after all." I replied with a confident smile.

"You took it right from my hand. I didn't give it to you." She was referring to our last meeting on the cruise ship.

"Heh, but you never said anything, neither you resisted. If I were to suddenly kiss you and you wouldn't resist, would you consider it as sexual assault?" I said with a playful grin.

"What?!" She exclaimed in surprise with her cheeks fully red.

I guess it's enough of teasing for today...

"Anyway, I wanted to ask you if I can still join the club."

"Hm? You actually want to join the club right now? It wouldn't be impossible if you can get my and coach's approval of the mentioned club. What kind of club piqued your interest? She asked me with a curious expression.

" I still don't know if I will join but I am considering the basketball club. But if I decide to join it seems that I only need to get a coach's approval, right?" I asked her with a confident smile.

When she heard my words, especially the part how I only need the coach's permission, she frowned.

"...*sigh* I guess I wouldn't make it harder for you but you still need to show a good performance to gain the coach's approval."

Now the question is whether I should join or not. I guess I will ask Sudo for more information. He already participated in a few tournaments and practice matches against the other schools.