บท 32: Chapter 32 – World-Class Specialist
The game paused momentarily as Team Z gathered around Raichi, patting him on the back for his crucial play. Had Raito secured the ball, the situation would have become far more dangerous for Team Z. But now, with the ball in their possession, they had a golden opportunity to turn the match around and score the winning goal.
Kira grabbed the ball, gathering his teammates to discuss their next move. He scanned the distance between the ball and the goal. 'About 35 or 36 meters out,' he calculated. 'My accuracy isn't the best from this range. We'll need to clear some space for Kuon so he can take the header.'
Just as Kira was about to relay his instructions, Raichi interrupted, stepping into their huddle with an unexpected demand. "Give me the ball," he said, his eyes locked intently on the goal.
Naruhaya raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Raichi, what are you talking about?"
Isagi joined in, frustration clear in his voice. "We can't waste this chance to score! We need to do this right."
But Raichi's tone grew sharp and commanding. "I said… Give Me The Ball." His gaze never wavered from the goalpost.
Kira, noticing the seriousness in Raichi's expression, hesitated. Something in Raichi's demeanor made him reconsider. 'If we don't let him take this, we might regret it later,' His gut feeling told him. Against his better judgment, he handed the ball to Raichi. "Fine. But if you mess this up, we're making you play goalkeeper as punishment."
The rest of the team murmured in agreement, but Raichi didn't seem to care. He was already setting the ball down, positioning it just the way he wanted.
Meanwhile, Team W had formed a human wall of six players. The goalkeeper barked orders, directing defenders to mark Team Z's players tightly. Raichi stood a few steps behind the ball, silently taking in the scene. 'Dead ball situation,' he thought. He recalled how, after team practices, he would stay late, training on his own. Since he often practiced alone, he focused on drills he could do by himself—free kicks became his regular schedule. 'The only thing worth practicing when those bastards weren't around,' he mused, taking a deep breath.
Kira approached him, offering advice. "Make sure the ball reaches Kuon. We're opening space for him to score. Ideally, you should aim for—"
"Shut up," Raichi cut him off. "I'm concentrating."
Kira stopped mid-sentence, shaking his head in defeat as he backed off, positioning himself in the box, ready to pounce on any rebounds.
The whistle blew, signaling the restart. All eyes were on Raichi as he stood still behind the ball, focused and unyielding.
'What an idiot,' Raito thought, marking his man in the box. 'They're throwing away their chance.'
Raichi took a few stutter-steps toward the ball, planting his left foot firmly as he swung his right foot through the ball. The inside of his foot connected with the lower half of the ball, applying a sharp spin. Players in the box scrambled, anticipating a rebound as the ball cut through the air.
But instead of soaring high, as many expected, the ball flew low, hugging the ground as it bypassed the wall on their left. It moved at hip height, seemingly defying physics as it curled wickedly toward the right side of the goal. The goalkeeper, caught off guard by the unusual trajectory, lunged for the ball, but it was too late. His outstretched hand met nothing but air as the ball sailed past him and into the net.
Team W: 3 – 4: Team Z.
"YEEAAHH!" Raichi roared, throwing his arms toward the sky as his teammates rushed toward him, piling on top of him in celebration. They couldn't believe it—Raichi had pulled off a miraculous goal, one they hadn't even imagined.
Kira stood off to the side, wide-eyed in shock. 'That curl…' he thought. 'It's the sharpest I've ever seen, even in professional leagues.' He turned to look at Raichi, who was soaking in the praise from his teammates, chest puffed out like a peacock. 'Who would've thought we had a world-class dead-ball specialist hidden in plain sight?'
A grin crept across Kira's face as well. The possibilities of using Raichi's newfound skill in future matches raced through his mind. 'Raichi, you freak-teeth bastard… when did you even get that good?'
He finally joined in on the celebration, relishing the moment and letting the clock tick down.
The sharp sound of the whistle echoed across the pitch, signaling the end of the match. Team Z had won—by the skin of their teeth. It had been a brutal, hard-fought battle, but victory was theirs. In the process, they had unearthed two powerful new weapons in their arsenal: Chigiri's blistering speed and Raichi's mastery of set pieces. The team, elated by the narrow win, could already envision new attacking strategies with their enhanced lineup.
While his teammates erupted in celebration, high-fiving and hugging each other in joy, Raichi remained calm, his eyes scanning the field. He made his way toward Raito, who stood off to the side, hands on his hips, staring bitterly at the ground. His expression was stormy, and it was clear he hadn't yet accepted the harsh reality of the loss.
Raichi extended his right hand toward Raito. "Good game," he said, his tone neutral but firm.
Raito didn't move. His eyes locked onto Raichi's, simmering with frustration. "Don't play nice with me," he sneered. "I know you're gloating. I can see it in your eyes."
Raichi's expression remained steady. "It never hurts to be courteous," he replied, his hand still outstretched. "My mother raised me right."
Raito clicked his tongue in irritation, his pride bruised by the thinly veiled insult. After a tense moment, he reluctantly took Raichi's hand. But before he could let go, Raichi yanked him closer, leaning in to whisper in his ear.
"Thank you for being so predictable," Raichi murmured, his voice dripping with gleeful malice. "This is my win, you one-trick phony!"
With a smirk, Raichi released Raito's hand and walked away, heading toward the locker room, leaving his rival seething in the aftermath. Raito's fists clenched at his sides, his face burning with anger and humiliation. He kicked the grass in anger. Raichi's reminder of defeat cut deep, and it only fueled the fire in his chest.
Despite his fury, Raito couldn't deny the truth gnawing at him. That free kick—the one that had decided the match—was truly remarkable. No matter how hard he trained, he knew he wouldn't be able to replicate the same level of precision and finesse that Raichi had just displayed. It was an infuriating reality.
'I don't know when, and I don't know where,' Raito vowed silently to himself, 'but you won't be the reason Japan wins the World Cup. That honor will belong to me. Your destiny is to be my stepping stone, Raichi.'
As Raichi disappeared into the distance, Raito's resolve hardened. The loss stung, but it also fueled a deeper determination. He would rise again—stronger, sharper, and more relentless than ever. Raichi's victory may have been today's story, but Raito was already scripting his own for the future.
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The locker room erupted with cheers as Team Z welcomed their hero of the match, Raichi. Laughter filled the air as his teammates swarmed him, shaking their water bottles and showering him with drinks in celebration. Raichi, drenched but grinning from ear to ear, was the center of attention.
"I'll be honest, I never expected you to have skills like that in your arsenal," Naruhaya exclaimed, throwing an arm over Raichi's shoulder with a wide grin. "That free kick was unreal!"
"That was sick!" Bachira added, his excitement barely contained as he tousled Raichi's hair. "Guess you're not useless after all!"
One by one, the rest of the team piled in, clapping Raichi on the back, shouting their congratulations. The energy in the room was electric, everyone riding the high of their hard-earned victory.
Raichi, always the loud and bold one, pushed his teammates off and puffed out his chest. "From now on, all set pieces are mine! If any of you disagree—fight me for it!" he declared, his voice booming with prideful challenge.
The team roared in response, clapping and laughing. "If you keep kicking like that, you can take all the set pieces!" Kira shouted, and the room erupted in cheers once more.
As the excitement died down, Kuon raised his voice over the noise, a satisfied grin on his face. "Since we won this match, we've qualified for the next selection," he said, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "All that's left is to beat Team V, and we'll dominate the round robin as the unbeatable champions."
A chorus of agreement followed as the team basked in their victory, content to leave tomorrow's challenges for another day. For now, the locker room was filled with laughter, celebration, and the sweet taste of triumph. They had fought hard, and tonight, they were Kings!
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