25th March 2025
Ren has the ball, next to his own net. Itoshi is still shaking slightly from the shock.
'I need to dribble up the whole field and score?
That's impo-
NO!
I can do it... Fuck that! I will do it! I will become the best striker!'
Ren starts dribbling it slowly, before cutting it around Itoshi. Itoshi slips trying to get to it-they're both physically tired.
He gets up and starts running at Ren, who tries to cut again, he pulls it off but barely.
'I need variety in my moves, he can read them. But my legs are too sore to do anything fancy...'
Ren continues with the slow dribbling. Itoshi guarding him.
Ren has managed to move up to the halfway line at this point.
'If my legs were better I'd slot one home and win this, but I can't score from here.'
Ren continues with simple dribbling, not daring to run.
But it all catches up to us...
Ren collapses on the ground, his legs emanating pain.
"AHHH!" He shouts as cramps shoot through both of them.
The ball rolls to Itoshi's feet. He moves his legs to shoot.
'What would Zephyr think!? Get up! Just because you're in pain doesn't mean you should give up!'
"GET UP REN!!!!"
Hearing Nobu shout that at him, awoken something.
The red aura returns as he slide tackles Itoshi.
He gains the ball, but his calves are visibly red from convulsions.
Ren starts running with it, not caring for the pain, only thinking of winning.
Itoshi manages to get back to his net just barely in time.
'He can read the Gyro Shot and Knuckleball... There is one more shot type that I'll try, the Screw Shot! Inbetween the Gyro Shot and Knuckleball... It's perfect!'
He hits it with rotational spin. It starts high, but then gets close to the ground, like a lob or chip, but it suddenly changes direction.
'I've wo-'
Itoshi blocks it with his foot.
"I WILL WIN THIS REN!"
'Wha-?'
Ren runs as fast as he can, but since he's not feeling pain he realises just how much damage has been done. He's running at less than half his top speed without pain.
'Come on adrenaline! Speed me up! I don't care about the cost!'
He barely manages to reach the ball before Itoshi.
'Time to go back to basics... Who cares about shot types, and physics like that. All I care about is winning!'
"SEISEN KNUCKLE! 聖戦ナックル"
Ren's signature technique is released, curving around Itoshi and slamming into the top of the net at lighting speeds.
3-2
"YESSSSS!" Ren shouts.
Ithoshi falls on his knees, and stare at his hands as his eyes begin to water.
"YESSSSS RENNNNN!" Nobu runs in.
"FUCK THIS!" Coach Suganuma kicks over a trashcan and stomps away.
Nobu hugs Ren, "Good job buddy!"
"It's funny how..." Itoshi says inbetween tears, "...Losing a simple football match hurts so much!"
Ren smiles, "Itoshi, I don't really know how to say it... But you're amazing man, I'll remember this forever..."
They both smile at eachother...
"AHHH AGHH AGHHHHH AHHHH!!!!" Ren screams on the ground from cramps.
"We should probably take him to the nurse..." Nobu says.