Chapter 224: Opportunity, Yukinoshita

“It… we got surpassed?”

“How is that possible?”

“This can’t be real!”

The Meiwa High School team could hardly believe their eyes.

This friendly match… wasn’t going as expected!

Weren’t they supposed to win just by casually kicking the ball around?

Unable to accept this harsh reality, the Meiwa guys looked dark-faced and dead in the air.

Amidst this atmosphere, only Number 7 Beast remained full of fighting spirit—

“It’s alright, don’t lose heart! There’s still plenty of time!”

“Just one goal behind!”

“Hime… I mean, that shirtless pervert on the other team, he’s done for!”

“Next, the match will definitely swing back under our control!”

18-17!

Counting stoppage time, there were still seven minutes until the end.

A full seven minutes!

For Toyosaki, now without Himekoji, those seven minutes left were nothing short of doomsday!

Number 7 was absolutely confident he could smash several more goals past them before the final whistle.

One goal every two minutes!

Or even more!

…

Himekoji was helped off the pitch by Hayama.

Tobe went back on.

Since it was a friendly match, the rules were lax, and no one was being too strict.

Technically speaking, Tobe, having already been substituted off, shouldn’t have been able to come back on as a substitute.

“Cult Leader-sa… Himekoji, are you alright!?”

Kaito, seeing Himekoji apparently injured by a Meiwa player’s tackle, rushed to the sideline, asking with concern.

Seeing this, the other teammates followed suit, gathering around to shower him with questions and well-wishes.

Even though at half-time they had scoffed at this pervert, now their attitude had done a complete one-eighty.

Part of the reason was certainly newfound respect for Himekoji’s skills and drive. As for the other part… well, they were trying to run down the clock by stretching this out…

They knew their own limitations perfectly well. The fact that they had dominated the second half, even managing to take the lead just before the end, was almost entirely due to Himekoji alone.

To put it bluntly, they had essentially just sat back at the ‘fountain’ the whole time, spectating!

Now, their golden goose Himekoji had been taken out by a tackle. What chance did they have?

Weren’t they about to get brutally shown up by Meiwa again?!

Once you’ve tasted the feeling of completely crushing your opponent, who wants to go back to struggling through an uphill battle?

…

“I-I’m fine,” Himekoji waved them off. He was just exhausted.

The Meiwa players who tackled him weren’t holding some deep grudge, so they’d pulled their feet back at the last moment. Although it seemed like he’d been sent flying and landed badly, he actually wasn’t badly hurt.

He thanked the “teammates” for their concern.

“Tobe.”

Then, Himekoji suddenly spoke up, stopping Tobe Sakura, who’d spent half an hour on the bench and was now about to come on and replace him.

“A-ah… y-yes?”

Because of their earlier disagreement, Tobe felt awkward facing Himekoji.

“I was too harsh during halftime. I apologize.”

“Huh?”

Tobe never imagined Himekoji would apologize to him right now.

The guy who scored 17 goals and made one assist, carrying the entire team’s offense and pulling them back from the brink, absolutely didn’t need to apologize to anyone…

“N-no, not at all! It was me! I should be apologizing… it’s my fault!” Tobe stammered, his emotions jumbled. Was this feeling flustered excitement?

Dammit! Was he actually feeling excited, even nervous, just because a pervert apologized?

Hayama, standing nearby, hesitated for a moment before finally making his decision. He placed a hand on Tobe’s shoulder and spoke up.

“Tobe… you know, the worst aren’t the people who lose, but those… who didn’t really want to win in the first place.”

…

During the first half, the only ones who had truly played hard and wanted to win were Hayama… well, and Kaito.

Though for the latter, it didn’t seem to make much difference.

…

“The worst…?”

Tobe hung his head in shame.

“I… huff… puff… I apologize to all of you. Not just Tobe,”

Himekoji, supported by Hayama and half-sitting at the sideline catching his breath, steadied himself, expression serious.

“Soccer is never a one-man game. Everything I said earlier like ‘I can do it alone’… that was just empty boasting, nonsense, and words spoken in anger.”

“No! It wasn’t empty boasting! It wasn’t nonsense! You truly did do it alone!”

“Right, right! You saved Toyosaki! You’re the hero! We’re the ones who should apologize…”

The players who hadn’t really pulled their weight on the pitch still had enough self-awareness to blush bright red with awkwardness.

“Cult Leader-sama! How could you apologize?”

Kaito Shun clenched his fists passionately.

“You cannot apologize! You must not apologize! You must never apologize! You are the Cult Leader-sama! It was my fault! If only this accursed seal upon my power…”

“Anyway, making you step in to solve things personally, that alone is my failure!”

“Now, just watch! I swear upon my name, I will go absolutely all-out!”

Himekoji automatically tuned out the chuunibyou’s impassioned nonsense. He really didn’t want to know what level Kaito’s “all-out effort” really was.

Himekoji scanned the crowd, figuring it was time to wrap up this morale-boosting speech.

After nearly two minutes of dragging it out, Meiwa High School—desperate to reclaim their momentum—was frantically urging them to hurry up…

Alright then—

“Everyone, sorry! There’s something I need to ask of you!”

“We’ve fought this hard—I don’t know how you feel, but I’m not giving up!”

“So—”

“Please! Let’s work together to win this match!”

“Meiwa isn’t as unbeatable as they seem!”

“Right now, it’s us from Toyosaki in the lead!”

“Someone has to win—why can’t it be us?!”

…

“Toyosaki! Victory is ours!”

Hayama was the first to respond, shouting the rallying cry!

Like an echo—

“Victory is ours!”

All the Toyosaki players huddled into a tight circle. Himekoji, who’d collapsed on the ground barely holding himself up from exhaustion, was lifted like the moon cradled by stars.

[Ding!]

[“Group Encouragement” activated!]

[Morale MAX!]

[“Encouragement” skill advanced—]

[“Charismatic Presence”!]

…

From this moment on, Toyosaki’s former benchwarmers were completely transformed!

Like different people… no, like different fish!

…

“Damn it, they just wasted two whole minutes!”

“It’s fine, five minutes is enough!”

“True! Without that monster, they’re just worthless trash!”

Meiwa kicked off.

Their formation surged forward immediately, abandoning all defense for an all-out attack!

However, unlike the expected easy sweep, this time they met Toyosaki’s fierce resistance.

“Holy crap, did they take something?”

“How are they all bursting with energy like beasts just starting the game? And we’re in overtime—they should be drained!”

Of course!

Toyosaki’s energy reserves at this final stage far outstripped Meiwa’s!

Because the only ones who’d genuinely run the entire match were Himekoji, Hayama, and Shun Kaito!

The others? They’d merely been strolling about earlier.

Leisurely walks for a thousand days, a frantic sprint for one!

It was time for them to pour out their sweat and youth!

Someone had to win—why couldn’t it be them!

The worst aren’t those who lose, but those who never wanted to win in the first place!

Their desire for victory had never burned brighter!

Toyosaki! Victory is ours!

…

Tireless running. Annoying, close marking.

Not just that—faking cramps, pretending injuries, re-tying boots, stopping to drink water—Toyosaki’s veterans pulled out every trick to stall.

The five minutes vanished in a blink.

“Peeep—”

The referee’s whistle pierced the air, signaling the end of the match.

“18-17!”

“Toyosaki wins!”

The score held until the final second.

…

“We won! We won!”

“We won!”

“We beat the favorites, Meiwa!”

Even the usually steady Hayama shouted excitedly this time.

He even took the lead, ripping off his jersey and hurling it skyward, then charging shirtless into the bench area.

The others followed suit, each turning into an exhibitionist.

Jerseys soared above the field like triumphant banners, fluttering in the wind.

A pack of shirtless guys charged towards the bench, grabbed a startled Himekoji, and hauled him up.

“Lift him high!”

“Hurrah!”

“Hey! What are you doing? No! Don’t! Put me down!”

Totally unprepared, Himekoji was tossed roughly into the air.

“Let him fall!”

Someone started the chant.

…

“PONG—”

It sounded painful just watching.

…

The impact made Himekoji see stars.

“Ow… y-you lot! Is this how you treat your hero?!”

Himekoji sucked in a sharp breath. It took a while before he could finally open his eyes.

“This is precisely how one treats a pervert.”

A cool, crisp voice answered. Accompanied by a subtle, somewhat meaningful glance towards his chest.

“Yukino-chan… Is Akito alright?”

“He’ll be fine. Not dead.”

Yukinoshita stood up.

“What are they thinking? They just threw him up and didn’t catch him? This could be fatal! Boys are so reckless!”

Yuigahama stood nearby alone, brows furrowed as she mumbled complaints.

“Yukinoshita!”

Seeing Yukinoshita about to leave, Himekoji—for some inexplicable reason—called out.

“Hmm?”

Himekoji was still sprawled on the ground, unable to get up immediately. Yukinoshita looked down at him.

“Ah… n-never mind.”

“Oh.”

“Congrats. On the win.”

Spoken abruptly, without warning, as she turned to walk away.

…

[Ding!]

[Quest Completed!]

[Reward—]

[“Chance to Conquer Yukinoshita” Unlocked!]

[Only One Attempt Available! Please Seize the Opportunity, User!]

…