SWEAT, ANXIETY AND SPARE SKATES

As he dragged his feet reluctantly to his position on the field, the weight of the impending game pressed heavily on his already burdened shoulders. Forced to replace an injured player in the second half, he felt a warm bead of sweat trickle down his forehead, navigating the contours of his nose. He couldn't decide the cause of his perspiration, the oppressive heat or his own anxiety. He inspected the spare skates he wore, noting their fit. They were tight and uncomfortable, making his legs ache, but he had no other option. To make matters worse, the match was about to begin.

His fingers interlocked under his chin, his extended index finger and thumb touching at the tips, his chest tightening with each breath. He could win this. Most definitely! His teammates, by the looks of it, were ready for action. He hoped, atleast.

Goodness gracious! What had he gotten himself into?

"So, uh, sir, how does this work again?" He asked, glancing at Orenji, who stood a few meters away.

"TRIAL BY FIRE! We know you're a newbie, so we'll cover you. You just leave it to us,"

The tone said order could prevail over any chaos.

The boy Kaiju let out something of a sigh. He hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath.

"But when you're passed the ball, you're on your own,"

He returned to his stiffened panic as quick as he'd left it.

"You'd better not miss." Orenji added, bringing another wave of pressure onto the boy's shoulders.

As he stiffened at the sentence, he wondered. This was definitely a no-no. But seriously, what the hell...?

And without the slightest warning, a 'PEEP' sounded!

The whistle's piercing sound signaled the start of the game, igniting immediate action with a center jump by both team captains. Unfortunately, the ball fell into the hands of the opposing captain, who swiftly seized control and launched a rapid offensive, racing toward their goal.

"Left to right! Then right to left again! Post up! Stop them! Get through!" The chaotic chorus of commands rang out, but the Kaiju stood motionless, his face a blank canvas amidst the flurry of activity. While his teammates scrambled to regain possession, he remained rooted, an awkward figure in the midst of the fray. A pass came his way, only to smack him squarely in the face.

With just an hour elapsed, his team lagged behind, the scoreboard glaring at 1-3.

The opposition now had possession, and all the Kaiju's team needed to do was block the goal. It seemed a simple enough task, or so the Kaiju thought. He was quickly proven wrong as the offensive players effortlessly sliced through Orenji's best defenders. It was now up to the Kaiju to intercept. He wasn't the greatest Photonballer, far from it. Coordination wasn't his strong suit, and though he could throw a ball with some accuracy, on the track, he was a bumbling mess.

The opposing captain, a boy the Kaiju had noticed earlier chatting with a girl with orange hair, sprinted wildly down the court, dribbling the ball with unerring precision.

"Don't stand in my way, or I'll kill you," the blonde boy threatened, his eyes alight with frightening determination. The words jolted the Kaiju to his senses. Huh? What? What's he talking about? The Kaiju wondered. The blonde continued his relentless advance, the ball bouncing rhythmically as if mocking the Kaiju, daring him to close the distance and make a move.

He was the epitome of a complete forward, a player best given the freedom to play instinctively rather than follow rigid instructions. His powerful, muscular physique allowed him to hold up the ball and physically dominate even the strongest opponents. His charging abilities enabled him dribble far and create his own chances, and his finishing was golden. All of this, the Kaiju observed keenly from his first few goals.

I'll stop him. Is he going left or right? He's big and he's got skills, definitely. Is it even possible to beat a guy like that? Restless from inaction, the Kaiju lunged ahead, embracing the challenge head-on. What is it am even saying? Of course, it's possible! I surpass ordinary human abilities. This should be over quick. A bad play, of course.

The Kaiju fell prey to the blonde's trick.

With a wry smile, the forward blew past him with a roulette, a move so skillful yet unexpected it made the novice fall flat on his rear end.

Such a rapid turn with speed out of nowhere! How had he--?

"How comical! Losers like you do deserve the defense role. Just learn your place and watch like the rest of the NPCs," the blonde taunted. What an incredible dribble that was! The slight mistake on the Kaiju's end handed the captain a clear opportunity for a goal, one he seized without hesitation.

The Kaiju watched, bewildered.

He got past me. How?

Wide-eyed, the Kaiju tried to process the events of what just unfolded. How had he done that? What is he? Some kind of Kaiju on this field as well? He's not just incredibly fast; his acceleration and deceleration are phenomenal as well. If they score any more, we might not be able to turn this around, most likely. Everyone else here is so much better than me. Their stamina is off the charts, too...

From the outside, the game looked pretty much the simplest thing ever. Could plays like this be what I'll contend with in this strange new world?

Oh boy.

This is not going to be easy, he thought, a weary sigh escaping him as the opposition celebrated.

And yet, here I am, getting a little excited, myself.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing?" Orenji's voice echoed across the field. "Don't stop now!"

What, oh, sure, now he tells me. Whatever happened to covering me? The Kaiju spat out dirt, glancing down at his newly issued mouthpiece, now gritty with dirt and saliva. He shook his head in frustration. "Do you always get this way when you're competitive? And by 'this way' I mean insane?!" His hands gestured wildly in a flurry of signs and complaints.

Orenji laughed, not understanding a word. "One more time," he said, "let's focus on not losing this time, okay?"

The Kaiju blinked twice in silence and said nothing, his expression alone revealing the unspoken frustration of his condition. There was nothing he could say if he wished; Born with an inability to articulate anything but the most violent expressions, he relied solely on his hands to convey his thoughts.

Yet, deep down, he knew the truth in Orenji's words.

After all, it's the strong who survive. That's how the world works. No more, no less.

He took a deep breath, the air filling his lungs, and wondered again how he had ended up here, what in hell he had agreed to. With a long, suffering sigh, he got back on his feet. Breathe. Calm yourself, the Kaiju told his whole being. The second half of the match had only just begun. Regardless, we have to win. As long as that guy, the blonde one, doesn't get his hands on the ball, we'll be okay. We'll be fine. I'll shadow him, make sure he doesn't get a chance for a goal. If I beat him, then that makes me better than him. One step closer to being number one.

As the game progressed, everything became clearer, simpler.

Mastering the skates had proven a daunting task, his initial struggles evident as he wobbled precariously. Gradually, though, he found his balance, learning its nuances by observing others. With growing confidence, a genuine excitement bubbled within him, akin to a child on Christmas morning.

"All right! Enough playing around," he would have exclaimed, had he spoken, his fist meeting his palm with resolve and determination. "Let's give this one more try!"

He breathed heavily through parted lips, his gaze unwavering yet devoid of expression. With unwavering determination, his mind was fixated on rejoining the game and giving his all.