The field was almost empty.
Most of the team had already finished cooling down. A few sat on the grass, some stretching, some just lying there, too tired to move.
The noise from earlier had faded.
Now
it was quiet again.
Yusuke stood near the edge of the pitch.
Hands in his pockets.
Looking out.
Not thinking about anything specific.
Just… there.
Behind him
footsteps.
He didn't turn.
"…You're still here."
Kaito's voice.
Flat.
Yusuke shrugged slightly.
"…So are you."
A pause.
Neither moved.
The air between them felt heavier than usual.
Not loud.
Not explosive.
Just tense.
Riku noticed immediately.
"…Of course," he muttered, walking over.
He stopped a few meters away from both of them.
"Oi."
No response.
"You two gonna keep doing this?"
Kaito glanced at him.
"…Doing what."
"Acting like you're the only striker here."
Silence.
Yusuke didn't react.
Kaito clicked his tongue.
"…Not my fault."
"…Yeah?" Riku said. "Then fix it."
Another pause.
Riku looked between them.
Then
"…Settle it."
The words landed.
Clear.
Simple.
Kaito's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…Fine."
Yusuke tilted his head.
"…Whatever."
That was enough.
"YO!" Yuma's voice cut in from across the field. "ARE WE DOING THIS OR WHAT?"
Sora practically ran over.
"No way, a 1v1?!" he said. "This is gonna be good."
Hiroto walked over slower.
"…Yeah, I'm watching this."
Takumi stayed back.
Quiet.
Observing.
Daniel stood near the sideline.
Watching.
But didn't interfere.
Riku stepped back.
"Simple rules," he said. "You take turns attacking."
"Score more goals."
"That's it."
Kaito stepped forward immediately.
"I go first."
"…Do whatever," Yusuke replied.
The ball was placed.
Kaito stood over it.
Yusuke stepped in front.
Defending.
A new position.
Unfamiliar.
"…Try to keep up," Kaito said.
He moved instantly.
Fast.
Direct.
No hesitation.
He pushed the ball forward
Yusuke stepped in
Kaito shifted.
Sharp.
Explosive.
He slipped past.
Clean.
Shot.
Goal.
"…One," Kaito said quietly.
He turned.
No celebration.
Just a statement.
Yuma whistled.
"Okay, that was clean."
Sora grinned.
"He's serious."
Yusuke walked forward.
"…My turn."
Ball reset.
He stood over it.
Calm.
Kaito stepped in front.
Aggressive stance.
Ready.
Yusuke moved.
Slow at first.
No rush.
Kaito stepped forward
Yusuke feinted.
Kaito didn't bite.
"…Good."
Yusuke pushed forward.
Then
sudden shift.
He dragged the ball across his body.
Kaito reacted
Half a second late.
Yusuke slipped past.
Shot.
Goal.
"…One."
No reaction.
Just equal.
Hiroto nodded slightly.
"…Simple."
"Again," Riku said.
Kaito stepped up again.
This time
faster.
More aggressive.
He drove forward.
Harder.
Yusuke stepped in
Kaito used his body.
Shoulder.
Contact.
Yusuke lost balance slightly.
Kaito broke through.
Shot
Goal.
"…Two."
Yuma shouted.
"DAMN!"
Sora laughed.
"He's cooking you."
Yusuke stood still for a second.
Then walked back.
"…Alright."
Ball reset.
He stepped forward again.
This time
no delay.
He pushed forward immediately.
Kaito stepped in
Yusuke stopped.
Dead.
Kaito adjusted
Too early.
Yusuke burst past him.
Clean.
Shot.
Goal.
"…Two."
Tie.
The tension shifted.
Sharper now.
Heavier.
Kaito exhaled.
"…You're annoying."
"…You're predictable."
Silence.
"Next," Riku said.
Kaito moved again.
But this time
different.
He slowed.
Slightly.
Yusuke noticed.
"…Changing."
Kaito stepped right
Then instantly cut left.
Yusuke reacted
Just enough.
Blocked.
Ball loose.
Yusuke cleared it.
No goal.
"…Tch."
First stop.
Yuma reacted.
"OOOH!"
Sora laughed.
"He stopped him!"
Kaito clicked his tongue.
Walked back.
Yusuke stepped forward.
"…My turn."
Ball rolled.
He approached.
Slower.
Reading.
Kaito stayed tight.
Aggressive.
Yusuke pushed forward
Then delayed.
Just slightly.
Kaito stepped
Too soon.
Yusuke slipped past.
Shot.
Goal.
"…Three."
Now ahead.
Riku nodded.
"…He's adapting."
Hiroto crossed his arms.
"…Yeah."
Kaito stood still.
Breathing heavier now.
"…Again."
Ball reset.
He attacked.
Fast.
Explosive.
Yusuke stepped
Kaito shifted.
Yusuke followed
Kaito cut again.
Too fast.
Shot
Saved.
Yusuke got a foot in.
Deflected.
No goal.
"…Damn."
Still close.
Still intense.
"Last round," Riku said.
Silence fell.
Everyone watching now.
No jokes.
No noise.
Just focus.
"Finish it," Riku added.
Kaito stepped up.
Ball placed.
He exhaled.
Then
moved.
Fastest yet.
Full speed.
Yusuke reacted instantly.
Matching him.
Step for step.
Kaito pushed forward
Then cut inside.
Yusuke followed.
Barely.
Kaito shot
Blocked.
Yusuke got there.
"…Not happening."
Silence.
Then
Yusuke stepped forward.
Final turn.
Ball at his feet.
Kaito in front.
Everything still.
"…Come on," Kaito muttered.
Yusuke moved.
Slow.
Measured.
One step.
Then
feint.
Kaito reacted.
Yusuke didn't move.
Delayed.
Kaito adjusted
Too late.
Yusuke pushed past him.
Clean.
Inside.
Shot.
Goal.
Silence.
Then
"OOOOOH!"
Yuma lost it.
"HE COOKED HIM!"
Sora laughed.
"No way!"
Hiroto nodded.
"…That was clean."
Riku exhaled.
"…That settles it."
Yusuke turned.
Walking back.
No celebration.
Just calm.
Kaito stood there.
Still.
Breathing heavy.
Then
"…Next time."
Yusuke stopped.
"…Yeah."
"I win."
Yusuke looked at him.
"…Then do it."
Kaito turned.
Walked off.
But not fast.
Not angry.
Just… thinking.
Daniel stepped forward.
"Enough."
Everyone quieted.
"That's what I wanted to see."
A pause.
"Competition."
Another pause.
"But don't let it break you."
His eyes moved between them.
"You both matter."
Silence.
"Train smarter."
That was it.
The group slowly broke apart.
Talking.
Laughing.
But still thinking about what just happened.
Yusuke stayed for a second.
Looking at the field.
"…That was good."
Not boring.
Not empty.
Good.
His foot shifted slightly.
Like before.
But now
there was no doubt.
"…I want to win."
He turned.
And walked off.