8:00 AM.
Riku's eyes opened.
No alarm.
No sound.
Just… awake.
He stared at the ceiling.
Didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Just lay there.
"…Yesterday…"
The word slipped out quietly.
His mind replayed it.
The match.
The final play.
The goal.
Yusuke.
"…Tch."
Riku turned his head slightly, staring at the wall now.
His jaw tightened.
Something didn't sit right.
"…We won."
He said it out loud.
Like he was trying to convince himself.
"…We won."
A pause.
"…So why…"
His hand clenched slowly.
"…Why does it feel like that?"
The streets.
The fans.
The photos.
The voices.
"The striker."
"That goal was insane."
"How did you hit that?"
His expression twisted.
"…They didn't even look at me."
Silence.
"…Not once."
His fist tightened harder.
His breathing changed.
Not calm anymore.
Not steady.
"…I was there too."
His voice rose slightly.
"…I MADE THAT PLAY TOO."
CRACK.
His fist slammed into the wall.
Hard.
The sound echoed through the room.
A small dent formed instantly.
Paint chipped.
"…DAMN IT!"
He shouted it.
Loud.
Raw.
His chest rose and fell quickly now.
His hand still pressed against the wall.
"…Why…"
Another breath.
Another thought.
"…Why does no one see me?"
The door burst open.
"Riku, what the hell are you doing?!"
His mum stood there, eyes wide, staring at the damage.
"…What is wrong with you?!"
Riku didn't even turn.
"…Get out."
"…Excuse me?"
"I said get out."
His voice was low.
Cold.
"You just punched a hole in the wall!"
"…And?"
"…And? Are you serious right now?!"
Riku turned slightly now.
Just enough.
His eyes were sharp.
"…Leave."
"…Don't talk to me like that!"
"Then don't come in here."
A pause.
Tension.
"…You've been acting weird lately," she said.
"…What's going on with you?"
Riku looked away again.
"…Nothing."
"…That's not nothing!"
"…I said leave."
Silence.
She stared at him for a few seconds longer.
Then—
"…Fine."
She stepped back.
Shook her head.
"…Fix the wall."
Then she left.
The door shut.
Silence again.
Riku stood there.
Still.
Hand slowly dropping from the wall.
"…Tch."
He looked down.
Then—
back at the wall.
"…This is stupid."
But the feeling didn't go away.
"…Why…"
His thoughts shifted.
Back.
Not yesterday anymore.
Further.
He didn't see it clearly.
Didn't replay exact moments.
Just…
the feeling.
Being overlooked.
Being second.
Being… not enough.
"…Every time."
His jaw tightened again.
"…No one sees me."
A long breath.
"…Not this time."
He grabbed his jacket.
Walked out.
The field was empty.
Of course it was.
A random one.
Not their usual spot.
Not where anyone would go.
Perfect.
Riku dropped the ball.
Took a few steps back.
"…Again."
He ran forward.
Struck.
GOAL.
No reaction.
He jogged forward.
Picked it up.
Walked back.
"…Again."
Shot.
GOAL.
Harder this time.
Faster.
Sharper.
"…Again."
Shot.
GOAL.
His breathing got heavier.
His movements more aggressive.
"…AGAIN."
Shot.
GOAL.
The net shook harder now.
"…Again…"
His voice dropped.
But didn't stop.
Shot.
GOAL.
The ball hit the back of the net over and over.
Again.
Again.
Again.
No one watching.
No one clapping.
No one recognizing.
Just him.
"…I'll make them see me."
Another shot.
GOAL.
He stood there for a second.
Breathing hard.
"…I don't care how."
He picked the ball up again.
Walked back.
"…Next time…"
He set it down.
"…They won't ignore me."