Chapter 83.

We all walked into the field, ready for the match against Team S.

*OK! I'm starting today, I can't hold the team back.* I thought, rubbing my palm against my shorts.

"Nervous?" Akatsuki asked.

"Me? Nervous? Nah."

"You sure?" Teijiro asked.

"Mm-hm. I'm good."

Suzune was out with a cold, so she couldn't join us for the match. It was kind of reassuring since I had both Akatsuki and Teijiro at my side.

"This time around, okay." Akatsuki said, clenching his fist and holding it out for me.

"Yeah, of course." I said, bumping my fist against his.

"Let's go then. The game will be starting."

◇◇◇

"I heard you guys almost made Team Z lose it." A guy said to me when we were waiting for a goal kick.

"Hm?"

"You see, they were really good. They came in seventh in the second set." He continued.

*Seventh?! Those guys?!*

"We were just ahead of them with one goal, hahaha."

"…"

"I'm sorry but… you guys will be losing today."

"…"

"You're not taking me serious now, are you?" He asked, a hint of anger in his voice.

*This guy's annoying.* I thought.

"Tsk!" He uttered as the ball came towards us.

"Hm?" I asked as he pushed me.

*Hehe, you think you stand a chance?* I thought.

As I was going down, I used the heel of my foot to play the ball over his head. I placed my left hand on the floor to avoid falling down before doing a forward flip.

"Huh?" He asked as I stood up immediately and began running forward with the ball.

*Sorry but… I have no time to play your games. I must grab any chance I see to score.* I thought, still running forward.

Two guys ran towards me and slid for the ball at the same time.

*Someone's behind me.* I thought, flicking the ball over them and jumping slightly.

I looked at my right and then my left.

*Someone's behind me. Akatsuki is still behind, but if I play a through pass, he'd get the ball. Teijiro would be outwitted if I made a pass to him. If I keep going, we'd still have a chance since I can dribble past them. The problem will be their keeper and that guy by the left. He looks problematic.*

"Then…" I said, playing a lobbed through pass towards my left.

"Got it." Akatsuki said, controlling the ball and running forward.

*Teijiro is free now. His marker isn't too focused. If I make a pass to him, he'll probably score…* I thought as Akatsuki passed the ball to me.

*Draw them in.* I thought, going solo.

"He'll shoot!"

"I've got it." The goalkeeper said.

I made a through pass, and Teijiro got the ball before shooting it into the net with his second touch.

"Goal…"

*Yes!* I thought, clenching my fists.

◇◇◇

"It's the second half, and Team C is still in the lead. It's a fragile lead, though, 1-0."

"Whew!"

*These guys are actually pretty tough. Luckily, the guys are at their best today. No one wants to lose.* I thought as sweat rolled down my neck.

WHISTLE.

*Koenji, good job.* I thought, smiling and looking towards the box as Koenji got ready to kick the ball forward.

He passed the ball to Akaji, who ran forward a little before making a low and straight pass to Yusuke.

"Yusuke." Akatsuki called, runnubg forward.

He passed the ball to Akatsuki, but someone intercepted the pass.

"Get back, guys!" I shouted.

He ran forward with it, dribbling past Kimishita and Ryuto.

He shot it to the net, but Koenji was fast enough to catch it while diving.

*Lucky.* I thought, moving backwards.

He played a long shot to me, which I controlled and passed to Teijiro, who kept running forward.

*I'll assist him.* I thought, running forward.

We made consecutive passes to each other while running forward.

When we finally reached the box, he made a through pass to me.

*It's too far. The keeper's gonna get it.* I thought, sliding for the ball and hitting it into the net.

"Ow…"

*I just bruised myself.* I thought, looking at my ankle.

◇◇◇

"And the game's come to a close. The score, 2-0."

*We somehow made it.* I thought, trying to avoid falling down.

"Atsushi! We made it!" Akatsuki said, running towards me and jumping on me.

*And down I go.* I thought, falling on the floor and losing consciousness.

◇◇◇

"Atsu-kun."

"Yes mom."

"Eat your vegetables, okay."

"But I don't like them."

"You should. They're good for your health."

"But…" I looked down at my plate and back at my mom as tears began falling from my eyes.

"You finally looked at me, Atsu."

"Mom…"

"You did well, okay. Just rest for a while. Everything's gonna be alright now, okay. I'll always be here." She said, smiling at me.

"Mom… mom…"

"Atsushi-kun! Atsushi-kun!"

"Mom, don't go. Please, don't."

"Atsu… shi…"

"Mom… mom!" I opened my eyes immediately, looking at the roof.

I dried my eyes with the back of my palms while forcing back the tears that tried escaping my eyes.

*Mom.* I thought, biting my lips and curling myself under the sheets.