15.CALM BEFORE THE STORM

The locker room buzzed with post-match noise. Shirts flung onto benches, water bottles rolled across the floor, and laughter echoed off the walls.

"Yo, Hyuga," Taira smirked, throwing a towel over his head, "How many goals you score again? Two? Three?"

"Four," Hyuga replied casually, rubbing his neck. "But who's counting?"

"I am." Masaki leaned back, juggling an orange with his foot. "And you missed that one perfect pass from me.Shameful if i know i will just score myself."

"You think I care about stats?" Hyuga smirked. "Scoreboard's what matters."

Taro chimed in with a grin, "Aight, Hyuga, don't get too cocky. There's still one more left."

Coach Himura stepped into the room, clapping his hands.

"Alright, everyone. Pipe down."

Everyone straightened up instinctively.

Coach looked around, wiping sweat from his brow with a towel slung over his shoulder.

"That was a good win. Semifinal done. 5–0. Could've been more if someone—" he looked glance at Nitta "—didn't try that Rabona nonsense in front of goal."

Nitta raised his hand like a guilty student. "It looked cool in my head."

"You're lucky we were five up." Coach exhaled. "Anyway, enjoy this tonight. Tomorrow, we train. Final's in three days."

There was a small hush. Everyone knew what that meant.

Coach turned to Misugi. "You brought the file?"

"Yep." Misugi opened his folder and slid out a report with the emblem of Aomori North High. "Their captain's on the U-17 rep squad. You know him."

Hyuga immediately sat up straighter. "Tachibana Keiji."

Masaki grinned. "Ohhh, Keiji-san. Haven't seen him since that tour."

Jito groaned. "Well i also miss to pair with him. Great we will play against them."

Coach nodded. "Yeah. Center back. 185 cm. He is strong that build like a fridge. As far as i know he reads the game like a chess master."

"And still talks like a 40-year-old uncle," added Jito, drawing laughs.

"Oi, don't underestimate him," Hyuga said, eyes narrowed. "Keiji's not just big — he's tactical. You think you've got a shot, and boom, he's already two steps ahead."

Taira leaned in, munching on a biscuit. "Wait, wait. How do you know so much about him Hyuga-san?"

Masaki interjected with a sly smile, "They've been rivals since who know when. But during the U17 training camp, Keiji-san bodied Hyuga once and wouldn't shut up about it for a week."

"I scored on him the next day," Hyuga muttered, crossing his arms.

"And then he nutmegged you in front of the national coach," Jito added 

"Shut up Jito."

More laughter. The mood lightened, but under it all, the tension remained.

Captain Taro looked around. "Jokes aside, this is no joke. Aomori North haven't conceded a single goal this tournament. Samw with us. Their midfield is disciplined. Their transitions are fast. Keiji anchors that defense like it's a fortress."

Masaki leaned forward, spinning the ball on his finger. "But every fortress has a weak point."

Coach smirked. "That's what training tomorrow is for. Chemistry. Movement. Precision. I want the ball flying so fast their formation cracks before they even realize it."

Taro stood. "Sounds like fun."

"Let's not let all these goals make us soft," Captain Taro said. "Keiji won't give you space. He's annoying like that."

Coach waved them off. "Get rest. I don't want tired legs in training. Dismissed."

⸻

Next Day – Training Ground

"Alright! Pair up!" Coach's voice echoed across the training ground. "We'll do some match today. Four teams, small goalpost with small field. I wanna see chemistry, communication, and control under pressure!"

Team A (Attackers): Masaki Renjirou, Taira Genichiro, Hyuga Kojiro, Misugi Jun, and Taro Misaki.

Team B (Defenders): Jito Hiroshi, Soda Makoto, Himura Kenichi, Ishizaki Shingo, and a freshman.

Team C & D were warming up off to the side, waiting their turn.

Coach blew the whistle. "Game on. No long balls. One-touch if possible. Tight play only. You wanna score? Work for it."

Masaki passed the ball back to Hyuga. "Let's win this."

"You're on," Hyuga smirked

Masaki made a quick one-two with Taira, who then pass it over to Misugi. Misugi tried a through pass but Jito cut it clean with his brick wall chest.

"Still think you all will win?" Jito grinned as he passed to Ishizaki. "Ishizaki, move it!"

Ishizaki swung his foot… and shanked it sideways.

Soda: "Bro, that's not a pass, that's a clearance!"

Laughter burst out from both teams. Even Coach chuckled on the sideline. "Ishizaki! eye exists for a reason!"

Ishizaki scratched his head. "I was improvising thing!"

Taro pulled Masaki close during a throw-in. "Try using the wall-ping more. With this small pitch, one-two on the board gives more space."

"Got it," Masaki nodded.

They restarted. Masaki passed to Taira, who tapped to Misugi. Misugi lured Soda in, flicked it to Masaki, who wall-passed off the small concrete boundary and turned Jito inside out.

"CHEH!" Jito slid in but missed just barely.

"Hyuga!" Masaki cut it back.

Hyuga powered it — BANG! It hit the goalpost

———

"Alright," Jito said seriously. "This isn't just about blocking. We need to understand each other's instincts. Soda, don't rush. Let Ishizaki press, you sweep."

Soda nodded. "Got it, I'll play backline anchor."

Ishizaki added, "We switch if Renjirou drops deep. He's tricky when he pulls defenders out."

 the freshman, raised his hand. "Uh… should I just follow Hyuga or…?"

Jito clapped his shoulder. "Just try as you see fit and dont scare if you make mistake we will try to cover it back."

⸻

Hyuga and Masaki strolled side by side, water bottles in hand.

"You think Keiji-san improved since camp?" Masaki asked.

Hyuga nodded. "Yeah. He's the type who studies every striker he faces. He'll already know how I move. How you cut inside. He's not just strong — he's smart."

"Then we'll have to surprise him."

Hyuga grinned. "Or just beat him at his own game."

"Still salty he clamped you in training?"

"I'm gonna make him bow. That's the plan."

Masaki laughed. "If you do, I'll give you my jersey that have Ibrahimovic sign."

"Alright,that's the deal okey."

"Yeah."

⸻

FINAL THE START OF THE MATCHDAY

Inside the meeting room, the final prep began.

Coach stood by the whiteboard, markers in hand. "This is it. Win, and we punch our ticket to the Nationals."

He pointed at the drawn formation of Aomori North High.

"They play a structured 4-3-3. Classic. But disciplined. Keiji is their rock. He reads passes, sets offside traps, and commands that line. But—" he circled the wide areas "—they leave the wings open when they press."

Misugi nodded. "Their fullbacks aren't fast. If we stretch them wide, we can cut into space."

Coach looked at Captain Taro. "This is where you come in. Playmaker role. Draw Keiji out of position. Make him chase shadows."

Hyuga added, "And when he steps out—boom. I'm running in behind."

Coach smiled. "Exactly."

⸻

Final Words Before Kickoff

In the tunnel, just before the final, Hyuga spotted a tall figure tying his boots.

"Tachibana Keiji," he called.

Keiji turned, stood up, and offered a cool smirk. "Kojiro. Still flopping around up front?"

"Huh,what do you say?!!"

They exchanged a quick handshake. The kind only teammates-turned-rivals understood.

Hyuga walked past and grunted, "Try not to cry this time."

Keiji grinned. "Try not to miss the goalpost again, Kojiro."

Their eyes locked.

It wasn't hate.

It was fire.