"This is probably what you call the passionate, burning youth of adolescence, huh? I'm honestly a bit envious."
Yukinoshita Haruno stretched lazily. Seeing her little sister still intently watching the stadium erupting in cheers, she teasingly patted Yukino's shoulder and asked, "What's wrong? Even you've been affected by this lively atmosphere?"
Yukinoshita Yukino didn't reply; she only turned her head slightly to stare at the delicate white hand resting on her shoulder.
"Even when pretending to be serious, my little sister is still so cute."
Smiling cheerfully, Haruno withdrew her arm, seemingly ignoring her sister's look of disgust. Her eyes scanned the crowd, quickly spotting her target. "Ah, I see Shizuka-chan. Want to come with me?"
"No," Yukinoshita Yukino refused flatly.
"Eh? Then you'll stay here watching alone?"
"No, I'm going back now."
Yukinoshita Yukino calmly withdrew her gaze. "As long as Shirase-san isn't a complete idiot, he'll put your information to good use. Which means that from now on, the outcome of this match is already decided."
She spoke with absolute confidence. When Shirase's team celebrated that goal moments ago, she had noticed the opposing players' gloomy faces—especially that "genius" whose parents bought media coverage—his gaze toward his teammates was now openly hostile.
Given that situation, combined with Haruno's intel about the team's internal tensions, it wouldn't take much provocation from Shirase's side to ignite conflict.
Therefore, Yukino saw no further reason to keep watching the game.
Besides, she'd only come here in the first place because her sister dragged her along. She had no interest in soccer at all.
However…
Before leaving, Yukino took another glance at Shirase, surrounded by cheering teammates. Watching him sprinting with every ounce of his strength was indeed quite captivating. Even from afar, she'd clearly sensed the burning determination emanating from him.
"I want to become number one in school."
Unconsciously, she recalled what Shirase had previously said to her.
A faint smile gently curved at the corners of her lips, elegant and captivating.
"In that case, we'll find out at the end-of-month exams, Shirase-san."
...
Compared to the Yukinoshita sisters' relatively calm exchange, Kojima Kana, who had been watching intently from the sidelines, was beside herself with excitement.
She'd even completely forgotten to maintain her usual stern façade, enthusiastically clinging to Kirisu Mafuyu's arm, squealing, "Did you see that? That kid single-handedly tore through their entire defense! Isn't my little brother amazing?"
"Indeed he is." Kirisu Mafuyu nodded slowly, her expression subtle.
She, too, felt pleased by Shirase's goal. After all, he was from her own school, and she'd played a role in getting this friendly match approved.
However, as Kojima Kana hugged her tightly, Mafuyu gradually felt her earlier happiness become overwhelmed by astonishment.
Why…are hers so big?
Just what did she eat growing up?
Is it really okay for them to be this massive?
As a woman, especially one similarly endowed with graceful curves, Kirisu Mafuyu had always known her own figure was considered quite voluptuous.
Yet she also understood clearly that having a full figure wasn't necessarily a good thing.
At least, she'd personally suffered from it. Standing upright for too long often left her chest and shoulders painfully sore. And if she ever wore a bra that didn't fit just right, the straps would inevitably dig painfully into her shoulders—sometimes even causing marks or bleeding if she wasn't careful.
Now, Mafuyu stood utterly astonished by the sheer volume pressing against her arm.
...
On the field.
After Shirase finished celebrating with his teammates, he intentionally took a route toward where Fujita Shuu was standing.
Just as they were about to pass each other, Shirase turned his head casually toward Hayama Hayato and asked clearly, "How many goals did he say they'd score against us before the match?"
Hayama paused briefly, then smiled knowingly. "Four."
"Oh. Then we'll score four goals as well," Shirase stated matter-of-factly.
"You…!"
The opposing player whipped around in rage, knowing full well Shirase had said it on purpose.
Yet Shirase didn't even spare him a glance, continuing as if talking to himself, "Your teammates are pretty good, at least they're willing to fight hard. But you? Playing so timidly, why even bother being on the field if you're that afraid of getting hurt?"
Hayama chuckled helplessly. Only after they'd walked a little further did he whisper, "Won't provoking him like that make our match harder?"
"Nope." Shirase nodded slightly toward the back.
Hayama looked back in confusion, only to see Fujita Shuu openly yelling at his own defenders, criticizing their incompetence. Those teammates, not willing to just take it, fired back heatedly.
"You predicted even this?" Hayama asked, astonished.
Shirase glanced toward the crowd. "Someone gave me advance intel. That's why I dared to provoke him like that."
"Yukinoshita-san, right?"
Hayama had also noticed the Yukinoshita sisters earlier. He chuckled lightly. "Then when you said 'score four goals,' that was deliberate too?"
"Yeah," Shirase admitted openly.
"Those who play strategy always have dirty hearts," Hayama quoted someone's famous words.
Leading by just one goal in soccer wasn't a huge advantage, but for Shirase's rookie teammates and their anxious captain, it was a tremendous morale boost.
Shirase's overwhelming speed posed a massive threat to Koshigoe High, and combined with the internal friction he'd cleverly triggered, the match's rhythm fell firmly into Shirase's control.
With Shirase constantly drawing defenders, Hayama—one of the soccer club's aces—finally got freed up. While not on Shirase's level, Hayama's personal skills were still outstanding among normal high school players.
As Koshigoe High grew increasingly desperate and frustrated, Fujita Shuu utterly failed to perform due to Hayama's relentless physical pressure, letting Shirase's team dominate the rest of the match.
Final score: 4–1.
Shirase scored twice himself, and after pulling defensive focus, assisted Hayama for two more goals.
Every single goal was related directly to him.
If not for Kojima Kana quietly requesting Shirase to ease up midway through the second half—suggesting they let the opponents score once to avoid humiliating them—the final score would have likely been 6–0.
During the post-match handshake, Koshigoe's players wore grim, gloomy expressions. Shirase and Hayama remained perfectly composed.
However, the captain and other rookies weren't as restrained, their grins wide as blooming chrysanthemums, making the opponents even more annoyed.
Since it was merely a friendly match, there was no post-match interview. After showering, Shirase came out and immediately noticed several bright figures waiting at the edge of the field.
Not only were the Nakano sisters there, but Isshiki Iroha had also joined them.
From their smiling expressions, they'd clearly just chatted together, and apparently gotten along quite well.
"Congratulations~!" Nakano Ichika greeted him first, smiling brightly.
Next came Nakano Yotsuba and Nakano Itsuki.
Then Nakano Miku softly offered her congrats as well.
Only Nakano Nino didn't immediately speak.
Because after responding to her sisters, Shirase walked straight toward her.
As the distance between them closed, Nino's heartbeat accelerated rapidly, her cheeks heated up, and suddenly she felt too shy to meet Shirase's eyes.
Just as she gathered the courage to casually congratulate him, she heard Shirase ask playfully with a gentle smile, "Did I look cool when running out there just now?"
Nino froze momentarily, her face rapidly flushing bright red.
"Ohhh~?" Her four sisters all simultaneously fixed their teasing gazes upon her. Without even looking, she knew it was definitely Ichika who had started the teasing noises.
Isshiki Iroha, who'd raised her hand to congratulate Shirase, awkwardly stopped halfway and quietly withdrew.
This guy—why'd he have to ask me something like that in front of so many people? Couldn't you just let me congratulate you normally?
Nino's face was burning hot. She wanted to reply sharply with a tsundere-style "Not at all," but when she lifted her eyes and saw Shirase's handsome face and the openly intense gaze fixed warmly upon her, her expression softened unconsciously. Her eyes began to glitter with faint, tender affection.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, her flushed cheeks glowing prettily, her glistening lips parted almost against her will:
"…Really cool."
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T/N: I DONT THINK ANY OF YOU READS THE THOUGHTS SECTION SO IM GONNA JUST TRY POSTING IT HERE
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