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Jun couldn't believe it. His name was on the list. He had made it.
He dropped to his knees on the damp grass, running his fingers through the earth.
—"I did it… I broke that curse…"— he whispered, a mix of exhaustion and relief washing over him.
Around him, the setting sun painted the sky in shades of orange as the selected players gathered at the center of the field.
—"Congratulations to those who made it this year. As for the rest, you can try again next time,"— the coach announced in a firm voice, scanning them all with his sharp gaze. —"For those of you who were selected, I'll see you tomorrow after school for your first training session. But let me warn you—it won't be easy."
Some players exchanged uneasy glances. Jun, however, couldn't be more excited. This was his first time being part of an official team, but instead of nervousness, he felt pure exhilaration.
From a distance, Ren, who had been listening to the coach's words, glanced at Jun with clear disdain.
—"I'll personally make sure you get kicked out of here,"— he muttered with a cold smirk.
—"That's all. You're dismissed,"— the coach finished.
Toru, one of the selected players, passed by Jun and gave him a pat on the shoulder.
—"See you tomorrow."
Jun grabbed his things and headed toward the school's entrance. However, when he arrived, he saw Ren waiting for him.
He tried to walk past, but Ren clapped his hands slowly, speaking in a mocking tone.
—"Congratulations, shorty."
Jun stopped in his tracks.
—"I have to admit, that last move of yours surprised me… but let's be honest, that was just luck,"— Ren's voice was as cold as ice.
Jun hesitated. For a moment, doubt crept into his mind.
—"You won't last. Why push yourself so hard for something that doesn't make sense? Just quit now and spare yourself the humiliation."
Jun clenched the straps of his bag. Memories of the past crashed into him like a storm.
"Give up, shorty!"
"You don't have what it takes to be a football player!"
"Son, why don't you just quit?"
His own insecurities clawed at him from every direction. But this time, he refused to let them win.
—"Maybe you're right… maybe I should give up."
Ren raised an eyebrow.
—"But I want to play. I know that dreams alone won't get me anywhere, but if I don't try, I'll regret it for the rest of my life. I won't waste this opportunity."
His eyes burned with unwavering determination.
Ren stared at him for a moment before letting out a scoff.
—"Pfft… those are just words. I'll prove it to you tomorrow."
Jun didn't respond. He simply kept walking, his resolve stronger than ever.
The Journey Home
On the train, Jun rested his head against the window, watching the city blur past him. His headphones blocked out the noise, but in his mind, Ren's words kept repeating.
When he got off, he stopped by a small bakery and bought a red bean bun. He walked home, taking slow bites in silence.
That night, before going to sleep, he was reading a book on football strategies when his phone buzzed on his nightstand.
Sakura.
Jun answered with a smile.
—"Hey."
—"Hey…"— she responded, her voice carrying a slight nervousness. —"How was your day?"
Jun sighed.
—"Terrible."
—"Oh… I'm sorry, Jun. If you want, I ca—"
—"I got accepted."
There was a long silence.
—"WHAT!? Jun, don't mess with my emotions!"
Jun chuckled.
—"It's true. I start training tomorrow."
—"That's amazing… I'm so happy for you."
—"Thanks. What about you? How did it go?"
—"Great! Actually, I'm going to the inter-school tournament with the girls."
—"That's incredible!"
—"Yeah… but I won't distract you any longer. You need to rest. Sleep well, okay? Bye, sending you a kiss."
—"Yeah, same to you."
Jun hung up with a smile.
But on the other end of the call, Sakura let her phone fall onto her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
She bit her lip, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions.
—"I… didn't get selected."
First Training Session
The sun was at its peak. The football field felt like an oven as the players lined up, sweat already forming on their brows. The coach, standing under the shade of an umbrella, looked at them with a calm but firm expression.
—"We'll start with a test of endurance. 20 laps around the field."
Some players groaned internally, but no one dared to complain out loud.
Jun swallowed hard, surprised at the amount, but he didn't hesitate and began jogging.
Around him, his teammates were already struggling. From the bench, the coach drank water, making small gestures for them to keep going.
—"This guy…"— one of the players muttered between ragged breaths.
Not even 10 laps in, and many were reaching their limits.
Ren, however, continued as if nothing had happened. Beside him, Toru matched his pace effortlessly.
—"I can't give up now,"— Jun told himself, pushing forward.
But with only two laps left, his vision started to blur.
At that moment, Ren ran past him, speaking in a taunting voice.
—"Didn't you say yesterday that you wouldn't give up? What happened to that attitude?"
Jun wanted to reply, but his body refused to move.
His world turned black.
He felt nothing. He couldn't move. He could only see.
As if he were just a spectator in his own body.
Then, suddenly, his body stood up.
His breathing was steady, his posture perfect. His gaze—empty, devoid of emotion.
Everyone turned to look at him, confused.
The coach, however, seemed unsurprised.
—"Again…?"— he muttered under his breath.
Ren frowned.
—"What the…?"
Moving with eerie precision, Jun completed the remaining two laps with flawless form, as if his body was moving on its own.
Once finished, he collapsed onto the grass, gasping for air. Blood trickled from his nose.
The coach smiled with interest.
—"Alright. Next, we'll have a 6-on-6 match. Grab a vest and form teams."
—"This is worse than military service…"— one of the players groaned.
Jun and Ren ended up on opposing teams.
Kouta, the team's number 9, approached Jun.
—"You'll play as a defender."
—"Alright!"
Toru walked past, flashing a grin at Jun.
—"Looks like we're facing off."
Jun took a deep breath. His body was exhausted, but his mind was set.
—"This is where I prove I deserve to be on this team."
And with that, Jun's first real match was about to begin.
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Launching the project! Here's the first chapter. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed creating it. Follow me on Instagram and Threads: @Jaiderlara11
for more updates!
See you soon! 🖐