The ball stayed close to Yusuke's feet.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Short touches. Clean. Controlled.
The field was quiet again. Early. Same as always now.
Yusuke moved forward, cut slightly to the left, then pushed the ball out and struck.
The shot hit the net.
He walked forward, picked it up, turned.
Reset.
"…You've been doing that for a month straight."
Yusuke didn't look up.
"…Yeah."
Riku jogged onto the field, hands resting on his hips for a second.
"…You ever get bored?"
"…No."
"…Right."
Riku grabbed a ball and rolled it toward him.
"Run it."
Yusuke stepped forward.
Riku moved.
They started slow.
One touch.
Return.
Movement.
Again.
Not perfect.
But better than before.
Then
the ball disappeared.
Yusuke's foot hit nothing.
"…Huh?"
He stopped.
Looked down.
Gone.
"…What gives, man?"
His head snapped up.
A figure stood a few steps in front of him.
Holding the ball.
No
not holding it.
Playing with it.
Tap.
The ball bounced off his foot.
Tap.
Up again.
Controlled.
Effortless.
Like it weighed nothing.
Yusuke stared at him.
"…What gives?"
The guy didn't answer immediately.
He kept bouncing the ball.
Then caught it on his foot, letting it settle perfectly.
Only then did he look up.
Up close
he was… strange.
Lean build.
Not bulky.
Not weak either.
Just… sharp.
His hair was long.
Neat black hair that flowed all the way down his back, barely moving even when he shifted.
His eyes
stood out immediately.
Bright red.
Not dark.
Not dull.
Bright.
Like they didn't belong.
His expression looked young at first glance.
But the longer you looked at him
the less it felt that way.
Something about it was off.
And then
his mouth curved slightly.
Fangs.
Sharp.
Visible.
"…What the hell…" Riku muttered from the side.
"…Are those fangs?"
The guy stepped closer.
Still holding the ball on his foot.
Then he let it drop.
Caught it again.
Perfect control.
Yusuke frowned.
"…Who are you?"
The guy tilted his head slightly.
Studying him.
Then
he stepped closer.
Too close.
"…Oi," Yusuke said.
"Back up."
The guy didn't.
Instead
he leaned in.
Close.
Really close.
And then
he sniffed.
"…What the hell are you doing?" Yusuke snapped.
Riku took a step forward.
"…Yo, back off."
The guy pulled back slightly.
Not far.
Just enough.
Then smiled faintly.
"…Interesting."
Yusuke's expression tightened.
"…Answer the question."
The guy finally straightened up.
Rolled the ball lightly with his foot.
Then spoke.
"…The name's Aka."
A pause.
"…A K K A."
Riku blinked.
"…You had to spell it?"
Aka ignored him.
His eyes stayed on Yusuke.
Locked.
Focused.
"…I've taken an interest in you, Yusuke."
"…What?"
That came from Sora, who had just walked onto the field with Yuma behind him.
"…Who the hell is this guy?"
Aka didn't even glance at them.
"…I saw your most recent play," he continued calmly.
"…With Riku."
Riku's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…And?"
Aka tilted his head again.
"…I could tell."
A pause.
"…That was ninety nine percent your work."
Silence.
Yuma blinked.
"…What?"
Riku frowned.
"…You serious?"
Yusuke scratched the back of his neck slightly.
"…Uh… sure, man."
He shrugged.
"…If you say so."
Aka stepped closer again.
Too close.
"…It wasn't just movement."
"…It wasn't just timing."
"…It was control."
Yusuke didn't move.
Didn't react much.
Just listened.
"…You shaped the play."
Aka's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You didn't follow it."
Another sniff.
Closer this time.
"…Oi," Yusuke said flatly.
"…Stop that."
Riku stepped in properly now.
"…Yeah, seriously, what's your deal?"
Aka finally glanced at him.
Just for a second.
"…You're useful."
"…Excuse me?" Riku said.
Aka looked back at Yusuke.
"…But he's the core."
Kaito had arrived now too.
Standing off to the side.
Watching.
Not interrupting.
Just observing.
"…You talk a lot," Kaito said.
Aka ignored him completely.
"…You're still incomplete," Aka said to Yusuke.
"…But that's what makes it interesting."
Yusuke exhaled slightly.
"…You always this weird?"
Aka smiled again.
Just slightly.
"…Only when I'm right."
A pause.
"…What do you want?" Yusuke asked.
Aka finally stepped back.
Just a little.
"…Nothing."
The answer came too easily.
"…For now."
He turned.
Walked a few steps away.
Then stopped.
"…Keep growing."
He didn't look back.
"…I'll be watching."
Then
he left.
Just like that.
No explanation.
No reason.
Just gone.
Silence sat on the field for a second.
"…What the hell was that?" Yuma said.
Sora shook his head.
"…Nah, I'm not dealing with that guy."
Riku looked at Yusuke.
"…You attract weird people now?"
Yusuke stared in the direction Aka had walked off.
Quiet.
Thinking.
"…Guess so."