Chapter 53 (Extra Chapter) - Skipable! ...! Skip
"Grandma, look how bright the stars are! Are Mom and Dad waving at us?"
Young Suoh Hyogi gazed up at the night sky, his eyes sparkling with a light that echoed the stars. His words were innocent and pure, yet they inadvertently touched the softest and most painful corner of the old man's heart.
The old man's eyes, etched with the marks of time, were filled with a mixture of sorrow, self-reproach, and deep affection. Tears streamed down his face involuntarily, a tender yet heavy expression.
She hugged Hyo-hee tightly, her voice trembling but firm: "I'm sorry, Hyo-hee, it was Grandma who couldn't keep them... but please believe that your existence is the most beautiful gift they gave to this world."
"Child, Grandma has a secret to tell you: everyone who comes into this world is given a purpose in life."
"You have to find it."
The old man's words, though somewhat heavy, also contained endless hope and expectation.
This statement was far too profound for the young Suoh Hyoki.
Suoh Hyo-ki's parents have passed away, and he has no siblings; his only immediate family member is his elderly grandmother. If even this sole support were to perish, Hyo-ki might be plunged into an unspeakable abyss of despair.
Therefore, this complex and profound question can only be imposed on him.
“Our Hyo-hee is a child of God.”
The white-haired grandmother trembled as she held the black-haired child, resting her chin on the child's head and gently patting his shoulders with her hands.
"God will guide you, so you must seek the meaning of life."
Suwang Hyo-hee stared blankly at the old man, but his gaze was drawn to the glistening tears. He reached out and caught the crystal that slid down the old man's face.
Huh? It's gone.
He stared blankly at the crystal in his hand that had turned to liquid, somewhat at a loss.
These are clearly good words, so why do they sound so lonely when spoken?
Young Suoh Hyoki didn't understand. He looked up at his grandmother, whose face was streaked with tears, his green eyes filled with drowsiness. All he knew was that he was sleepy and had to go see his parents.
In a half-dream, half-awake state, Suoh Hyo-ki felt a sudden dampness on his head, as if something shimmering was flowing down from his hair.
He didn't want to delve into it because he was just too tired.
...
Suoh Hyo-hee was a slow-witted child.
He was a slow-witted and inhumane strange child.
He seemed to be isolated by an invisible barrier, unaware of the world's sorrows and joys.
Like a divine child from another world, he carried an indescribable sense of alienation.
But his peers preferred to call him a monster rather than a god.
He was misunderstood; he was out of step with ordinary people.
Suoh Hyo-ki stared hesitantly at the black mist, a strange feeling rising within him, as if his heart were buried in the mist, making it hard to breathe.
"Grandma has been crying ever since she found out you were with me. Aren't you my friend? The other kids won't play with me anymore after they found out about you."
"That's really strange!"
Suoh Hyo-ki's little head was filled with countless questions, but he couldn't find anyone who could give him the answers.
until--
"Did you know? A monster has appeared over at the football field!"
"Could it be that Sumeru King? That freak is always talking to himself, it's terrifying."
"I don't know, we'll find out when we go and see."
"Walk!"
Upon hearing the conversation, Suoh Hyo-ki's eyes lit up, and he immediately set off.
monster?
Is he a monster too?
We are the same, so does that mean he also has "friends"?
Suoh Hyo-ki gazed at the ever-present black mist beside him, his green eyes gleaming with unprecedented joy. The excitement in his heart surged like a tidal wave, almost making him forget everything around him, including the path beneath his feet.
A soft "bang" broke the sudden silence.
A small black and white ball, as if it were a messenger of fate, unexpectedly appeared from a street corner and gently touched his forehead.
Fortunately, this wasn't a standard football speeding towards us on the field, but a small, exquisite football toy, and its force was insufficient to cause any damage.
Suoh Hyo-ki's gaze was instantly drawn to this uninvited guest, but he quickly regained his composure and shook his head.
I'm going to find monsters!
He didn't stop or pay much attention to the innocent little ball, and naturally missed the apology from the innocent-looking boy behind him who was chasing after the ball with a face full of regret.
Suoh Hyoki hurriedly arrived at the football field, his heart filled with anticipation and imagination for the unknown monster, but the scene before him was completely different from what he had expected.
Instead of menacing, gigantic monsters, a group of children of similar age were engaged in a fierce 1-on-3 battle.
Even more surprisingly, the little boy with yellow highlights, who seemed to be at a disadvantage, defeated his opponents one by one with amazing skill and strength.
Isn't this... a monster?
Suoh Hyo-hee muttered to himself, his eyes filled with confusion and doubt.
He looked around, hoping the monster would appear, but all he saw were the children's departing figures and the aloof back of the blond boy.
"What? You're with them?" The little boy with yellow highlights had a hint of post-battle ferocity on his face, but even more so, a formidable resilience. He casually wiped away the small scratches on his cheek that had been left from the fierce battle.
Suoh Hyo-hee gently shook his head.
His legs were trembling slightly from the long drive, so he squatted down to catch his breath for a moment.
Meanwhile, the little boy with yellow and black highlights was playing soccer by himself in a corner. His movements gradually became more complex and elegant, as if he were performing a silent show.
As he approached Suoh Hyo-ki step by step, a subtle tension seemed to fill the air.
Every touch of the ball by the little boy was full of power and skill, and his eyes gleamed with a challenging light, as if he were making a silent invitation to the newcomer.
"Hyo-hee!"
The old woman's voice was tinged with anxiety and panic. She appeared before me, panting, her hands clenched into fists, her eyes filled with worry.
"Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?" She grabbed Suoh Hyo-hee's shoulder without hesitation, looking him up and down carefully, as if to make sure he was safe and sound.
The elderly man rushed over anxiously upon hearing the news of a children's fight near the football field, fearing that his grandson might be harmed in any way.
After confirming that Wang Xiaoxi was unharmed, the old man finally relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief.
"No injuries."
Suoh Hyo-hee gently shook his head, his green eyes inadvertently meeting those of the little boy with yellow and black highlights. A hint of loneliness flashed in the boy's eyes, and then he silently left with the soccer ball, leaving behind a trail of receding figures.
The elderly woman was oblivious to this subtle scene; her mind was filled only with worry and protectiveness towards her grandson.
"We have to transfer schools."
Her tone was firm, as if only in this way could she completely isolate herself from the factors that might harm Hyo-hee.
But nothing changed after I transferred schools.
"This freak, get out of here."
The green-haired boy, who had just called Suoh Hyo-hee his friend, pushed him to the ground.
Suoh Hyo-hee couldn't understand why the person who was supposed to be with him forever had pushed him to the ground.
"Kyoichiro, how could you do this? Isn't Suoh your friend?" The little girl rushed over to stop him from pushing her further.
"I only played with him because I felt sorry for him, but this guy is really strange. He often talks to thin air, it's scary!"
Seeing that the little girl seemed a bit hesitant, Kyoichiro pressed his advantage, "My brother said that kindergarten kids can't grow that tall. They all use their nutrition for height, so their IQ is very low. What if I play with him and my IQ drops too?"
Upon hearing this, the little girl couldn't help but look at Suoh Hyoki.
Indeed, Suoh, who is 1.4 meters tall, is already a giant in front of these first-grade children.
"Moreover, Suoh is a bad child who makes his parents angry every day and talks back to his teachers."
"Really?"
"I don't think Suoh is the kind of person he is."
“But Kyoichiro, who has been playing with Suoh all along, said that, so it’s probably true.”
The children were drawn to Kyoichiro's words and gathered around him. Kyoichiro's voice was full of smugness and provocation, as if he was enjoying the pleasure that his lie brought him.
“Yes! King Sumeru is a freak.”
……Why?
Why fabricate lies about me? Why call me a 'freak' again?
Grandma, what should I do?
Is this the meaning of my existence?
Suoh Hyoki lay sprawled on the ground, as if abandoned by the world in endless darkness. He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. He had many questions to ask, but he couldn't bring himself to ask them.
They could only let Kyoichiro fabricate his lies at will.
Suoh Hyo-ki's confusion was like an invisible thread, wrapping around him, making him feel helpless and with nowhere to escape.
A soccer ball hit Kyoichiro's feet.
"Is this your 'playing house' game?" the little boy with dark blue hair scoffed. "The plot is terrible."
"Huh? What do you know, Tenno? You'll know once you become friends with this kind of freak."
"Really? I would never call a friend a 'freak'." Tenno Minaka looked at him disdainfully.
Kyoichiro was completely enraged by his disdainful look. He threw the ball at Amanominaka, but lost his balance and fell to the ground.
"Hahaha, you can't even get this right, how lame." Tenno Minaka picked up the soccer ball from the ground and shook his head mockingly.
Kyoichiro was extremely ashamed and turned to run away. The other children also left.
Amano Minaka glanced at Suoh Koki lying on the ground. "Aren't you going to fight back? That idiot is bullying you like this."
"They didn't bully me."
The green eyes dimmed slightly. "We are friends."
"Huh? A friend wouldn't give you such an awful nickname. He's not your friend at all!" Tenno Minaka helped him up from the ground.
"What's with that expression? Haven't you already been 'betrayed' by him? Why are you still looking so calm?"
Suoh Hyo-ki asked blankly, "Then what should I do?"
"Really?" Tenno Minaka looked at him suspiciously, seeing that he still looked blank. "You should be angry, like this."
Amano Minaka frowned, raised her eyes, and gave a cute but fierce look. "Did you learn it? If you did, next time that idiot treats you like that, just make this face."
"After all, if you hang out with guys like that, your life is over, right?"
Life?
Will he find out?
What are the answers to those questions?
He asked his "friend" in his heart, but the black mist remained silent.
"Tick-tock—"
The alarm clock on the digital watch went off.
"Ah! It's time, I have to go to training." Tenno Minaka waved to him, "See you tomorrow."
See you tomorrow? See you tomorrow.
Suoh Kōki silently responded in his heart, watching Amanomichi gradually disappear from sight.
The next day, Tenno Minaka did not appear in the classroom.
“Amano-no-Mikoto? Amano-no-Mikoto isn’t coming.” Kyoichiro stood in the center of the classroom, his voice booming. “I told his father yesterday that Amano-no-Mikoto hit me with a soccer ball, and he’s in solitary confinement right now.”
"You're lying! Tenno didn't hit you with a soccer ball. You fell down on your own," the little girl who was at the scene yesterday said angrily.
Seeing someone defending Amanominaka, Kyoichiro became enraged. He grabbed Suoh Koki, "Suoh, you saw it yesterday, didn't you? Amanominaka hit me with a soccer ball."
Suoh Koki did not answer Kyoichiro's question, but silently lowered his head.
Why fabricate lies?
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Kyoichiro questioned.
"If you don't speak, then we're no longer friends. I knew it; being friends with a freak like you wouldn't end well. That Tennoyu isn't any better; he's always carrying that ball around, thinking he's some kind of king on the football field..."
Upon hearing this, it was as if Suoh Hyo-hee had broken some kind of seal.
He suddenly raised his head, strode towards Kyoichiro, grabbed his collar forcefully, and lifted him up.
His tall frame seemed unusually powerful at that moment, and he shouted angrily, "You bastard who spouts nonsense! You're lying! Tenno Minaka didn't hit you with a soccer ball at all!"
The children were shocked by what they saw, and they screamed, "Go find the teacher! Go find the teacher!"
Kyoichiro was intimidated by Suoh Koki's imposing presence. He struggled to break free from Suoh Koki's grasp, shouting, "Let me go! Let me go, you freak!"
Suoh Hyo-ki's gaze involuntarily focused on his reflection in the glass window. He tried to find a trace of familiarity in that terrifying face.
He frowned, his eyes were raised, his chest heaved violently, and his hands were clenched into fists, veins bulging.
Just like Tenno's expression back then... So this is what anger looks like.
The still, stagnant water was broken by the droplets, creating ripples. What followed was a torrential downpour that breathed new life into the still water, and at that moment, the deepest emotions within were awakened, flowing like a spring, nourishing every corner, and surging with indescribable feelings.
He wanted to go find Amanomichi.
Suoh Koki, wailing loudly, pulled his grandmother, who had come to pick him up, to the doorstep of Amanominaka's house.
After learning what had happened, Amano Minaka's mother called Amano Minaka out, "Naka-chan, why didn't you tell your mother the truth?"
Amano Minaka answered bluntly, "Because if I'm put in solitary confinement, I won't have to go to training."
"Why would you have such thoughts?" Mom patted his head, then took out a small purse. "Zhongjiang, go out and play with your friends for a while. We'll talk about training tonight." Then she poured a cup of tea for Suoh Hyo-hee's grandmother.
"Let's go!" Tenno Minaka grabbed her small purse, pulled Suoh Koki along, and ran off. "It's rare to see Mom being so generous."
At the entrance of the convenience store, Tenno Minaka carefully selected 'junk food' that he usually couldn't eat through the glass of the freezer, his golden eyes filled with anticipation.
"What flavor do you want to eat?" Tenno Minaka asked.
"It will be all right"
"How about some popsicles?" Tenno Minaka took out a popsicle from the freezer. "These are delicious, but one person can't finish them all."
After paying, Tenno Minaka snapped the popsicle in half, then compared the pieces and gave the larger portion to Suoh Koki, saying, "Here you go."
Amano Minaka sat in a lounge chair, munching on a popsicle and swinging her legs. "I can't believe I'm so relaxed. Usually, I'm either doing homework or playing soccer at this time. What about you? What do you usually do?"
"...Watch cartoons."
"Huh?" Amano Minaka suddenly perked up, turning to look at Suoh Koki excitedly. "Do you know 'Kamen Rider O1'? That's really good!"
"Kamen Rider Oi? That was a long time ago. They've already released Kamen Rider Ovi."
"I'm so envious! You get to see so much." Ten no Michu said boredly, blowing on the plastic sleeve of his popsicle. "Compared to you, my life is incredibly boring. I'm either playing soccer or on my way to play soccer."
A moment of silence.
"Is football fun?" Suoh Hyo-ki broke the silence.
"It's not fun; football is tiring and dirty."
"Is that so..."
Another silence followed.
A soccer ball bounced right in front of them.
"Hey kids, can you kick the soccer ball over here for me?" the uncle called out to them from a distance.
"good!"
Amano Minaka walked up to the ball, his golden eyes like the blazing sun, his delicate face now sharp and profound.
The black and white ball, under Tenno Minaka's feet, was like a fireball imbued with life, flying straight towards the goal with scorching power and endless speed.
That's a god?!
Is it the god who guides me?!
At this moment, all the questions in Suoh Kōki's heart were answered, and the black mist that had always been by his side began to change, gradually taking on the shape of Amanokinaka.
An indescribable emotion welled up in Suoh Hyo-ki's heart; the new world seemed to be the answer to all his pursuits.
"Can you teach me?"
After taking the shot, Amano Minaka gave a puzzled "hmm".
"football."
Guide me, my God!
Suoh Hyo-hee's green eyes were like new leaves in spring, delicate and full of vitality, brimming with longing and anticipation for the future.
"Teach me how to play football, okay!"
-----------------------
Author's Note: Towards One:
Trigger condition: Attracted by the soccer ball in Beehive.
Achieve CG "Same Kind" and play football with Bee & Joy, forming a flawless two-person football team.
Option Two:
Trigger condition: Receive an apology from Jie Shiyi.
To achieve the CG "correct answer", they fought alongside Jie Shiyi on the court and eventually became members of U-18.
Tomorrow's episode is a side story for Ten no Mi, which you can skip as well.
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