Six hours later.
Night had settled in.
The streets were alive.
Neon lights reflected off glass windows, cars rolled past in slow lines, and voices filled the air in a steady hum. It wasn't loud enough to be overwhelming, but it wasn't quiet either.
Just… alive.
Southside United walked together down the street.
All eleven of them.
Not in formation.
Not serious.
Just walking.
"I'm still hungry," Yuma said.
"You just ate," Sora replied.
"That wasn't enough."
"You had two meals."
"And?"
"…You're insane."
Riku laughed lightly, hands in his pockets as he walked beside Yusuke.
"…Feels weird."
Yusuke glanced at him.
"…What does?"
"…This."
Riku gestured ahead slightly.
"…Just walking around like nothing happened."
Yusuke shrugged.
"…It didn't."
"…We literally won."
"…Yeah."
"…With a last second goal."
"…Yeah."
Riku stared at him for a second.
"…You're boring."
Yusuke smirked faintly.
"…You're loud."
Kaito walked a few steps ahead, quiet as always.
Takumi stayed off to the side, calm, observing.
Hiroto walked near the middle, still thinking about something.
Ren and Daichi talked quietly at the back.
Tsubasa followed behind, relaxed.
Everything felt normal.
For once.
"…Oi."
A voice cut in.
Not from the team.
From the side.
"…Wait."
"…Is that him?"
Yusuke's eyes shifted.
A small group stood near a storefront.
Phones already out.
Focused.
Locked.
On him.
"…That's him."
"The striker."
"The one from earlier."
They stepped closer.
Excited.
Not loud.
But intense.
"Can we get a photo?"
Yusuke paused for a second.
Then nodded.
"…Sure."
The group gathered around him quickly.
Phones raised.
Smiles.
Energy.
"Wait, move a bit yeah, right there!"
"Bro that goal was insane!"
"How did you even hit that?"
"Do it again next game!"
Click.
Click.
Click.
More photos.
More angles.
More voices.
All directed at him.
Riku stood just slightly to the side.
Not far.
Close enough to hear everything.
But no one looked at him.
No one asked.
No one mentioned him.
"…This is weird," he muttered quietly.
Yuma stepped in from behind.
"YO MAKE SURE YOU GET HIS GOOD SIDE!"
Sora laughed.
"…He only has one side."
The group kept going.
Talking.
Laughing.
Asking.
All eyes on Yusuke.
"Are you going pro?"
"You're definitely going pro, right?"
"Bro you're crazy."
Yusuke didn't react much.
Just small nods.
Short answers.
"…We'll see."
"…Working on it."
After a minute
it ended.
"Thanks!"
"Good luck!"
"We'll be watching you!"
They stepped back.
Still looking at him.
Still excited.
Then they left.
Silence.
The team started walking again.
"…Damn," Yuma said.
"…That's crazy."
Sora grinned.
"…You're getting famous."
Yusuke didn't respond.
Hiroto spoke quietly.
"…That's how it starts."
Takumi added,
"…Recognition."
Kaito glanced at Yusuke.
"…Don't let it get to your head."
"…It won't," Yusuke replied.
Riku stayed quiet.
Walking beside him.
But not saying anything now.
No one brought it up.
No one pointed it out.
But it was there.
Eventually
they split.
One by one.
Different directions.
"Later," Yuma said.
"Yeah."
Sora waved.
Takumi nodded.
Hiroto turned without much of a word.
Kaito left without looking back.
Riku paused for a second.
Then
"…See you."
"…Yeah."
Then he walked off too.
Yusuke was alone.
The street felt quieter now.
Lights dimmer.
Noise fading.
His footsteps echoed lightly as he walked.
"…Aka."
That name again.
The way he looked.
The way he moved.
The way he talked.
"…Weird guy."
But it wasn't just that.
"…Ninety nine percent…"
Yusuke frowned slightly.
"…Incomplete…"
He reached his place.
Opened the door.
Stepped inside.
Quiet.
He dropped his shoes.
Walked into his room.
Closed the door.
Sat down.
No noise.
No voices.
No pressure.
Just him.
He leaned back.
Stared at the ceiling.
"…He's so strange."
A pause.
"…But…"
His eyes shifted slightly.
"…He wasn't wrong."
The final play replayed in his head.
Every movement.
Every touch.
Every decision.
It wasn't perfect.
Not yet.
Yusuke closed his eyes for a second.
"…Next time…"
He exhaled slowly.
"…I'll go further."