Chapter 50 Part-3 — Teams Chosen, Lines Drawn
The moment the teacher finished announcing the teams, the atmosphere on the field split cleanly down the middle.
Haruya's side erupted first.
screaming—more like restrained excitement that kept slipping through cracks.
"He chose me…" "I'm really on his team…" "No way, this is real, right?"
The girls who stood behind Haruya kept stealing glances at him, some biting their lips, some fixing their hair for the fifth time in thirty seconds, others standing a little straighter than before, as if just being on the same team had raised their value.
Nine girls.
There hearts beating far too fast.
Haruya's Team —all
They naturally gathered closer, almost forming a half-circle behind him.
Amano Ruri – short-haired, athletic, always smiling too brightly. The type who turned nervousness into energy.
"I'll run wherever you need me, Haruya-sama!"
Kanzaki Mei – tall, composed, glasses pushed up calmly. Strategy-minded. Already thinking three steps ahead.
"If you give instructions, I'll follow them perfectly."
Fujimoto Sora – cheerful, loud, clapping her hands nonstop.
"This is amazing! I'm gonna brag about this forever to my sister that a boy chosen me!"
Takase Yui – shy, soft-spoken, hiding behind others but peeking at Haruya whenever she thought no one noticed.
"I-I'll do my best…"
Morino Hana – confident, sporty, clearly experienced in physical training.
"Don't worry. I'll cover the midfield."
Asahina Maki – energetic, competitive grin.
"I'm not losing to the other team. Especially not in front of you."
Shirakawa Noa – calm but observant, eyes always moving.
"This feels… like my dream cometrue."
Oe Chisaki – playful, teasing, leaning just a little too close to Haruya.
"So we're teammates now, huh?"
And finally… Saeko and Reina.
They didn't celebrate outwardly.
But inside?
Saeko's chest felt like it might burst.
Haru-kun chose me.
Her hands clenched at her sides as she tried very hard not to smile like an idiot.
Reina was quieter—but her shoulders squared immediately.
Of course he chose us.
That's how it should be.
She shifted slightly, placing herself half a step closer to Haruya without realizing it.
The girls not chosen stood on the other side of the field.
And their reactions were… very different.
Whispers crawled through them.
"Why her?" "She's not even that good…" "Ugh, lucky shit."
Some stared at Haruya's team with naked jealousy.
Others looked at Saeko and Reina specifically, eyes sharp.
That should've been me.
---
The Other Side's Intent
Team B gathered farther away, forming a tighter, more aggressive cluster.
At the center stood three figures.
Kuroiwa Nana — broad-shouldered, powerful, known for her brutal tackles.
Shindou Rika — fast, sharp-tongued, excellent reflexes.
And Mizuno Ayame — tall, elegant, with a smile that never quite reached her eyes.
Ayame crossed her arms, eyes fixed on Haruya.
Her gaze slid from his face to his legs, then to the way he stood—relaxed, confident, completely unafraid.
Interesting (｡•/// - ///•｡).
She leaned closer to Nana and Rika, lowering her voice.
"When we win," Ayame said lightly, "I'll make sure everyone knows who really deserves his attention."
Rika's eyebrow twitched. "Ayame, don't say stupid things."
Ayame ignored her, imagination already running wild.
I'll humiliate his little team.
Especially those two girls glued to him.
Her lips curved into a smirk.
And then…
I'll invite him over.
Right in front of them.
She pictured it clearly.
Haruya looking surprised.
Confused.
Flustered.
Her heart skipped.
"I'll ask him to join our side," Ayame murmured. "Or maybe… something more personal."
Kuroiwa Nana turned sharply. "You're insane."
Rika nodded immediately. "That's suicide note."
"You know Reina," Nana continued. "She'll break you."
"And Saeko isn't harmless either," Rika added. "You provoke them, and you're done."
Ayame let out a soft laugh, completely unconcerned.
"Relax," she said. "I'll be gentle. Boys like confidence girls."
They don't even know what kind of boy he is,
She glanced back at Haruya.
A boy who doesn't look away.
A boy who doesn't shrink.
Her smirk deepened.
This is going to be fun.
Unseen by her—
Reina's eyes had already locked onto her.
---
Training Field: Before the First round
The training field stretched wide under the afternoon sun, green grass trimmed short, white lines freshly painted. The goalposts stood at both ends like silent witnesses, waiting.
This was no longer just a school field.
It felt like a battlefield being prepared.
The coach walked to the center, whistle hanging loosely around her neck, arms crossed behind her back. Her presence alone silenced most of the chatter.
"Alright," she said, voice sharp and practiced. "This is not a game. This is training for war."
Some girls laughed nervously.
Others straightened instantly.
"You have five days," the coach continued. "Five. If you're weak, you'll be crushed. If you hesitate, you'll lose. If you rely on reputation instead of skill—" she glanced pointedly across both teams, "—you'll embarrass yourself."
Her eyes stopped briefly on Haruya.
Assessing.
"Positions first. No heroics yet."
The teams separated fully now, spreading across opposite halves of the field.
Haruya's Side
The girls on Haruya's team were buzzing with barely contained excitement.
"We're really training with him…" "Don't mess up, don't mess up…" "If I fall, he'll see it—no, no falling!"
Saeko took a deep breath, tying her hair tighter than usual.
Focus.
Just football.
Don't trip. Don't panic. Don't stare.
Enchanting same words like a ritual.
She glanced sideways.
Haruya was rolling his shoulders, stretching his legs calmly, eyes scanning the field with quiet familiarity. No tension. No nervousness.
That calmness hit her harder than anything else.
He looks… comfortable.
Reina noticed it too.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Did he done this before.
She stepped closer to him, lowering her voice just enough.
"Stay behind me if it gets rough," she said flatly.
Haruya blinked. "Huh?"
"I'm serious."
He smiled faintly. "I'll be fine."
That answer made Reina's jaw tighten.
You always say that.
Behind them, the nine girls whispered among themselves.
"Did you see how close Reina is standing?" "Yeah… she's guarding him like a wall." "I wouldn't want to be on the other team…"
Opponent Side
Team B was quieter—heavier atmosphere.
Their movements were deliberate. Their expressions sharp.
Mizuno Ayame bounced lightly on her toes, eyes never leaving Haruya.
So that's the field he'll run on…
She leaned toward Nana.
"Watch him closely," Ayame said. "I want to see how he moves."
Nana grunted. "Don't get distracted."
Rika cracked her neck. "This isn't a fashion show, Ayame."
Ayame smiled. "Of course not."
Her gaze slid toward Saeko, then Reina.
But those two…
Her smile thinned.
We'll see how long they can keep that confidence.
Trash Talk about eachother
The coach hadn't even blown the whistle yet, but voices were already rising.
"Hey, Reina," someone from Team B called out. "Planning to babysit the whole match?"
Reina didn't turn. "Better than watching you trip over your own feet."
Laughter erupted.
Another voice followed. "Careful, weakling break easily, don't they?"
The field went quiet for half a second.
Saeko's shoulders stiffened.
Haruya didn't react ┐(´ー｀)┌.
He simply looked up, eyes calm.
A few girls scoffed.
Ayame tilted her head.
This is Interesting…
Coach's Command
The coach stepped forward sharply, blowing the whistle once.
"Enough."
The sound sliced through the tension.
"This is training. You'll all get your chance to prove something." She pointed at the ground. "Warm-up drill. Passing speed. Precision."
She turned her gaze directly to both teams.
"And no holding back."
Haruya felt it then.
That familiar feeling.
Grass beneath his shoes.
Distance to the goal.
The quiet hum before motion.
His lips curved slightly.
Finally.
Around him, both teams locked eyes across the field.
Some girls licked their lips.
Some cracked their knuckles.
Some stared only at Haruya.
Except him.
Haruya was thinking only one thing:
It's been a long time.
The ball was placed at center.
The coach raised her hand.
---
The First Kick (Reality Check)
The coach raised her hand.
The field fell silent.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
"On my signal," she said coldly. "Show me what you've got."
Haruya stood at the center circle, one foot resting lightly against the ball. His posture was relaxed, almost casual—too casual for someone about to step into a world that believed he didn't belong.
Across from him, Team B spread out.
Kuroiwa Nana stood slightly to the left, shoulders squared. Shindou Rika mirrored her on the right. Mizuno Ayame positioned herself just behind them, eyes sharp, lips curved into a confident smile.
Ayame's thoughts were clear.
I'll take it easy on him. Let him shine a little. Let him notice me.
She imagined stepping in gently, blocking him just enough to look impressive without hurting his pride.
The coach's whistle pierced the air.
"START!"
Everything exploded into motion.
The ball rolled forward—
And Haruya moved.
He surged forward like someone who had been waiting years for this exact moment.
His foot connected with the ball.
A strike.
Too sharp. Too clean. Too heavy strike.
The ball tore forward, skimming the grass so fast it left a faint blur behind it.
Kuroiwa Nana's eyes widened. "Wha—?!"
She stepped sideways to intercept—
Too late.
Shindou Rika lunged instinctively, extending her leg—
The ball slipped cleanly between them, threading the impossible gap between their shoulders like it had been calculated down to the millimeter.
"NO WAY—!"
The goal net slammed back violently.
GOAL.
The impact echoed across the field.
For half a second—
No one breathed.
The coach froze mid-step.
Saeko's mouth fell open.
Reina's eyes widened just a fraction before narrowing sharply.
Team B stood motionless.
Mizuno Ayame's smile vanished.
Her brain refused to process what her eyes had just seen.
That was… a boy.
That speed— That precision— That power—
Fuck that's Impossible.
The ball rolled to a stop inside the goal, spinning slowly, innocently, as if it hadn't just shattered an entire worldview.
Haruya stood still, blinking once.
"…Huh," he murmured. "That went in."
Around him, silence cracked.
Then—
"What the hell was that?!" "Did anyone even see it?!" "That was a warm-up kick?!"
The coach recovered first.
She stared at Haruya.
In Very amazed way.
Ayame's hands trembled.
Her chest tightened—not with excitement, but with something colder.
I didn't even react.
She replayed the moment in her mind.
The ball. The angle. The timing.
She hadn't gone easy.
She hadn't even been given the chance.
Kuroiwa Nana clicked her tongue hard. "That wasn't luck."
Rika swallowed. "…That was trained."
Ayame clenched her fists.
Her fantasy cracked.
The image of gently stopping him— Of impressing him— Of controlling the situation—
All of it collapsed at one's.
Instead, a new thought burned into her mind.
If I face him head-on…
Her lips parted slowly.
…will I even survive it?
On the other side of the field—
Saeko felt her heart slam violently against her ribs.
H-Haru-kun was amazing…
She hadn't imagined this. She hadn't dreamed this.
This was real.
Reina exhaled slowly through her nose, eyes locked on Haruya like a hawk.
So that's your real speed.
Her stance shifted subtly.
Protect him. But also—
Don't underestimate him.
Haruya jogged back lightly, rubbing the back of his neck.
Everyone was staring.
He felt it.
And this time—
He didn't shrink.
He looked up, eyes calm.
"Um," he said politely, "should I… hold back?"
The field didn't answer.
But every girl there understood the same thing at once:
This wasn't a boy stepping into women's territory.
This was a player stepping onto the field.
And the game had just changed.
— To be continued…
--------
Author Note
Okay… confession time.
When I say "I'm lazy 🦥" or "I'm busy" most of the time, it actually means one thing:
My brain just stopped working. 😭
It's not always about being tired or avoiding work. Sometimes I genuinely sit there staring at the screen like an NPC, wondering "Okay… what the hell do I write next?"
No ideas. No flow. Just empty head.
Writing a novel is way harder than people think. Coming up with new scenes, keeping the story interesting, not repeating myself, and not ruining future arcs—it's honestly stressful sometimes. When I feel stuck, I panic a little, then I make excuses instead of uploading something half-baked.
So yeah, chapters come late not because I don't care, but because I care too much and don't want to post garbage.
I'm really sorry for lying with excuses instead of saying the truth earlier.
Thanks for sticking around, being patient, and not giving up on this story (or on me).
I'll keep doing my best.
— king_fuzu_