The morning sun cast long shadows across the stadium as Shun's team gathered on the field for their final practice match before heading back to school.
The air was thick with tension.
Some of the players were exhausted from the past few days, while others were itching to play one last time before leaving.
Shun stood at the sidelines, arms crossed, observing.
Coach had already warned him.
๐น Coach: "You're not playing today. Don't even think about stepping onto that field."
๐น Shun: "Yeah, yeah. I hear you."
But in reality?
He had no intention of just standing by.
The Match Begins
The whistle blew, and the game kicked off.
Shun's team was struggling right from the start.
Their midfield was sloppy. Their defense was crumbling. The other team was pressing aggressively, looking to dominate the final match.
From the sidelines, Rika watched.
Her arms were crossed, her eyes narrowed. She wasn't playing, but she wasn't going to miss this match either.
"Tchโฆ These guys are weak without him."
She glanced at Shun. He was standing unnaturally still. No bouncing on his heels, no stretchingโjust watching.
But thenโฆ
It happened.
A Player Made a Mistake
One of Shun's teammates lost the ball in midfield. A careless pass.
The other team pounced on the mistake, launching a counterattack.
And that's when Shun stepped forward.
๐น Shun: "I can't watch this anymore."
Without waiting for permission, he took off his jacket and jogged toward the field.
The Stadium Fell Silent
Even the opposing team hesitated when they saw who was stepping in.
Shun walked past his coach with a smirk.
๐น Shun: "I know, I know. 'Don't play today.'"
๐น Coach: "โฆTch."
But he didn't stop him.
Because deep down, even the coach wanted to see it.
Shun Enters the Field โ And Everything Changes
The moment he stepped onto the pitch, the atmosphere shifted.
The other team tightened its defense. They knew.
"This is different."
Shun took his position. His teammates looked at him, hope rekindled in their eyes.
And thenโ
The game restarted.
A New Monster on the Field
From the very first touch, Shun dominated.
His dribbling was precise. Defenders lunged at him, but he dodged effortlessly. His speed was unreal. He was a blur, cutting through their formation like a knife. His passes were deadly. Every ball he sent forward turned into an opportunity.
The whole stadium watched in awe.
And thenโ
The moment that shook the field.
Shun received a long ball from midfield. A defender rushed toward him.
But Shunโฆ
Didn't stop.
๐น Commentator: "He's going straight for the shot?! That's insane! There's no way he canโ"
With a single touch, Shun flicked the ball into the air.
And before anyone could reactโ
BAM.
A long-range volley exploded into the net.
The Stadium Froze
Even the referee forgot to blow the whistle for a second.
Everyone was staring.
๐น Spectator: "Did he justโ"
๐น Spectator 2: "From that distance?! That's impossible!"
๐น Rika's Teammates: "I think I just fell in love."
Rika, who had been watching silently, let out a small breath.
"Of course you'd do something ridiculous."
Aftermath โ The Departure Awaits
As the game wrapped up, Shun left the field without even looking back.
He didn't need to.
He had already left his mark.
The next day, the team would finally head back to their school.
But something had changed.
The entire tournament had seen itโa new monster had emerged.
And nowโฆ
The whole country would be watching.