Chapter 40 Football 40 The Unspoken Words
Inside Team Z's rest room, the air was thick with a mixture of tension and anticipation.
There is only one week left until Team Z plays against Team W, the strongest team in Building 5.
Yes, the strongest team.
That's what the players in Building 5 all think.
Yesterday, the team's points were updated on the screen in the cafeteria, a change that made Kuwata Shū uneasy.
Team W won three consecutive games, defeating the higher-ranked Team V and becoming the strongest team in Building 5. The huge point difference made Kujou feel threatened. Facing such a strong opponent, Kujou was undoubtedly under tremendous pressure.
He barely slept last night, repeatedly watching W team's match videos, trying to understand the opponent's tactical essence and the tacit cooperation between the players from every detail.
The deeper he delved into the research, the heavier his worries became.
There's no way we can win.
W team's impeccable passing and shots hailed as "neon gems" made Z team's chances of victory seem slim.
The lopsided scoreline weighed heavily on Kuwon's mind like a boulder, involuntarily bringing back memories of the dark years of his junior high school days under the rule of the Songfeng Black King.
For three consecutive years, Jiu Yuanshe personally experienced the bitter taste of being ruthlessly crushed by his opponents on that green field.
Even now, with Matsukaze Black King's "King" Suoh Koki in Team Z, victory still seems slim.
Looking back at the two matches Z team has played, their record of one win and one loss is not enough to ensure that all members of their team advance to the next round. More pressing is the fact that V team is a potential competitor whose strength should not be underestimated. Every point difference could determine the team's final fate.
Faced with such a grim situation, Kujou decided to hold a meeting specifically for Team W.
He stood in front of the projection screen, skillfully manipulating the computer in his hands. Behind him, the large screen prominently displayed the four characters "W Team Meeting," indicating the importance and urgency of this meeting.
Looking at Hisako's tense and focused expression, Asahi Naruho couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, he's really full of energy!"
Then, he gently poked Suoh Koki, who was sitting next to him deep in meditation, with his finger and asked curiously, "Are they really that strong?"
Kira Ryosuke needs no introduction; his name, "The Gem of Japan," is legendary, and his strength and charisma are deeply ingrained in people's minds. Amano Minaka, on the other hand, is relatively ordinary.
When Team Z suffered a crushing defeat against the four-man group, Asahi Naruhaya couldn't really sense how strong Amanomi was; he only vaguely remembered that Amanomi's passing was impressive.
He tentatively asked, "It seems you're quite close to Amagami and Kira from Team W; I often see you two acting together. Tell me, what's their strength like? Especially Amagami, just how strong is he?"
Despite Hisako's serious demeanor, Asahi Naruho was still somewhat unconvinced.
He also watched W team's game video yesterday and noticed that Tennoyu seemed to prefer initiating attacks most of the time, connecting the whole team through accurate passes.
But football is a sport that relies on scoring goals, so simply passing the ball doesn't seem to pose much of a threat.
Instead of worrying about him, we should worry about Kira Ryosuke.
Cheng Zaocha Ri thought to himself.
Suoh Hyo-ki slowly ended his meditation, stretched out his legs, and his eyes shone with an unprecedented determination and profundity. "Very strong, he will always be number one."
He lowered his eyes, his gaze drifting into the distance, as if recalling his past with Tenno Minaka.
The name Amanomichi holds a special place in Suoh Koki's heart.
He is the only strong person Suoh Hyoki has ever encountered since birth, a true genius.
He started playing football at the age of five, joined the youth training group at the age of eight, became a reserve player for the national team at the age of ten, and was already an outstanding player in the national team at the age of twelve. His outstanding performance on the field has earned him the reputation of "the son of God" in the football world.
Although not many people know this name anymore due to the rapid pace of information change, the fact that he is so highly praised speaks volumes about his abilities.
The title "Child of God" seems to have been created specifically for Amanomiminaka.
Whatever Amano Minaka wants to do, there's nothing he can't excel at. In any project Amano Minaka participates in, he will undoubtedly win first place, while Suoh Koki will always be the close second.
Such scenes repeat themselves so often that they have almost become a law.
Over time, a subtle emotion quietly began to grow in Suoh Hyo-ki's heart.
Under the unshakeable first light of Amenominaka, the rankings seem to have been given another layer of meaning.
Since Amanomichi is undoubtedly number one, his ranking seems less important. Thus, Suoh Koki became the "number one" who wasn't actually number one.
Seeing Suoh Koki's dejected look, Cheng Zaochahi quickly patted Suoh Koki's shoulder, trying to dispel the heavy atmosphere, and said with a smile, "Really? If Ten no Minaka is really that strong, then we should challenge him even more, shouldn't we? Challenging the strong is the only way for us to become stronger!"
“It’s impossible,” Suoh Hyoki replied quickly. “Being a little stronger and being much stronger are both strong, but the difference between them is unclear.”
Just as a small stream cannot comprehend the vastness of a river or even the boundless ocean, the weak cannot perceive the chasm between the strong and the even stronger.
Suoh Koki knew that Amanokinaka was very strong. However, he felt that the true difference in strength between the two was vague and distant.
All of Suoh Koki's training was specially arranged by Ten no Michū based on Suoh Koki's physical abilities. This exclusive training allowed Suoh Koki to improve day by day, and also filled him with longing for the unknown heights.
But we've already...broken up.
A bitter feeling welled up in Suoh Hyo-ki's heart, like a leaf swaying in the autumn wind, eventually falling slowly to the ground with a dull thud.
"We're likely to lose badly in the next match." Suoh Hyoki's words revealed an undisguised sense of desolation, and his green eyes shimmered with a complex light, as if water was gently rippling within them.
Given his personality... would he choose 10:0 or 10:1?
Suoh Hyo-ki's heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, each beat carrying a heavy burden. He tried to maintain a calm facade, but his usually expressionless face involuntarily slumped, the corners of his mouth turning down slightly.
It would be a lie to say I wasn't heartbroken. Years of friendship seemed to be shrouded in a heavy gloom in an instant, even giving the illusion of being erased. This kind of emotional impact would make anyone feel indescribably sad and heartbroken.
I didn't mean to abandon you.
The unspoken words surged and echoed in Suoh Hyoki's heart, deafening like thunder. He felt an indescribable collapse, as if the whole world had lost its color at that moment, leaving only cold black and white.
Why didn't you say it out loud...?
Maybe that's how it should be.
A truly outstanding "son of God" should be equipped with the sharpest sword, not a decaying, dull old object.
"Um?"
Chengzao Asahi stared wide-eyed at Suoh Hyoki with an expression of utter disbelief; such emotional fluctuation was a rare sight on his face. Although they had only known each other for a short time, their relationship was quite harmonious.
Naruho Asahi always regarded Suoh Koki as a child who appeared mature on the outside but was still somewhat childish on the inside, always keeping his thoughts to himself, just like his own little brother who always caused him worry.
Without waiting for a reply, Chengzao Asahi patted Suoh Hyoki on the shoulder and comforted him in an older brotherly tone, "It's alright, just try and you'll see. What if you win?"
After saying that, he looked up at Kujou, who was pacing anxiously back and forth in the room. "Right?"
Taken aback by this sudden question, Kujo stopped and asked blankly, "What, right?"
Then he began to worry about the progress of the meeting.
"Where are the others? Why haven't they arrived yet?"
"Didn't we agree to start the meeting now? Where is everyone else?"
What are they doing?
Iyoumon replied, "Konyu is taking care of his skin, Chikichi is fixing his hair, and Kunishin and the others have gone to catch Chikichi."
The door was suddenly pulled open.
Bee Joy appeared before everyone in an unprecedentedly casual manner.
He was completely naked, with a blue towel casually draped around his neck and a bottle of ice-cold mineral water in his hand, which he was gulping down with loud "thump, thump, thump" sounds, seemingly oblivious to everything around him.
"ah!"
Jiuyuan She was startled, his body stiffened instantly, and his gaze quickly scanned the room before finally settling on Feng Lehui's slightly unruly figure.
For a moment, he was unsure whether to cover his eyes or immediately close the door to avoid being seen. After a brief hesitation, he chose to block Feng Lehui from returning.
"Put some clothes on!"
He instinctively lunged at Feng Lehui, trying to resolve this unexpected embarrassment with lightning speed.
As if he had anticipated this move, Feng Lehui nimbly stepped to the side, easily avoiding Kuyuan She's "hug," leaving a stunned Kuyuan She with nothing to show for his efforts.
“No, humans should come into this world naked and leave naked,” Beehive said, shaking his head.
"What kind of weird idea is this? And closing the door? The other teams will think we're weirdos!"
Kujou quickly closed the door to block the view and whispers from Team X.
Feng Lehui shook his head indifferently, waving the towel in his hand casually, and speaking in accented English.
"I am Fu Rui".
"ha?"
Chengzao Chao Ri stood aside and witnessed everything. The bold words he originally wanted to use to boost morale could no longer be uttered.
The chances of being seen as a freak seem much higher than the chances of beating Team W.
Oh no... I'm really going to be seen as a pervert now.
Cheng Zaochaori could already foresee the strange looks and whispers from other teams when he opened the cafeteria doors the next morning.
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Author's note: My dorm is across the street, and I saw Team X the whole time: 6. It's a pity Team Y left early, otherwise we could have chatted some more.
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