The Next Day

With the sun just barely beginning to rise, the day after Seiryuu High's unexpected victory felt different. Sota's phone had been buzzing non-stop, notifications flooding his screen, but he couldn't bring himself to check. His return to the field had caught the attention of the football community—his name plastered on message boards, trending hashtags, and speculative articles. But all the noise outside couldn't compare to the storm of emotions brewing inside him.

After all, today wasn't about what the world thought of him. It was about continuing what they'd started yesterday—pushing beyond their limits.

The journey back to Makuhari Messe loomed ahead. Everyone felt it, the weight of what lay ahead. As Sota walked up to the school's courtyard, his eyes scanned the faces of his teammates already gathered, the tension palpable in the air. Aiko stood near the van, clipboard in hand, her usual calm expression replaced with something more intense.