Mission Reward

How long has it been since he tasted the cake his father baked? A decade?

Aoi could not remember correctly because before they died, the cake his father baked would always be available and he could taste it anytime, that is he must have to buy it first.

However, ever since he lost them in an accident, he gradually missed the taste of his father's cake.

He did not have a particular favorite flavor, but the chocolate cake before him was something he deeply loved, and his mother was aware of it. That was why she ordered the favorite cake of her son while she ordered a different one, of course, her favorite.

Aoi reached out for the fork and his hand unknowingly trembled.

Suddenly, a milky-white hand grasped his hand, and he turned towards the owner of the hand, seeing his mother staring at him in concern.

"What has gotten over you?" His mother asked, his tone seemed to be anxious.

His mother could not help it, after all, Aoi seemed to be too emotional lately, causing her to be distressed.

Aoi realized it, feeling guilty for making his mother worry about him. He shook his head, and slowly pulled his hand away from his mother's grasp.

He replied, "Nothing. Just that, I've been missing the taste of Father's cake."

His mother was even more perplexed. She clearly saw her son eating a cake just yesterday when they were having dinner, and now…

"What do you mean?" His mother suddenly shook her head, deciding not to press Aoi with more questions as it would only lose her sanity.

'Whatever the truth he is hiding… I hope he is okay.'

She gave a last tight grasp on her son's hand before pulling her hand away from him. Her son focused on forking a piece of cake, watching him in silence.

Aoi closed his eyes and ate the piece of cake grabbed by the fork.

He quivered when he felt the cake explode in his mouth as soon as it met his tongue. He almost melted, the sweetness was overwhelming, but it was just right.

It was simply perfect!

In no time, he finished the piece of cake. All of a sudden, he fancied eating more, but then again, he realized he almost spent ten minutes. If he wasted more time, he might have to wait for Izumi a bit longer and his ego refused for such a thing to happen.

So, he looked up at his mother, seeing her staring at him, not having eaten her piece of cake yet, and he frowned.

He asked, "What are you doing?"

His mother suddenly acted like she had finally awakened from her stupor, stared at her son a bit longer, and then shook her head.

"I'm just having a wonder."

"What is it?"

His mother did not reply, finally forking her piece of cake in silence, munching it while staring at her son again.

Aoi shook his head helplessly and put the fork and knife on the empty plate, still smeared by the chocolate cake, as he grabbed his bag.

His mother was taken aback, and gloomily asked, "Are you leaving your Mother?"

Aoi shrugged, placing the backpack on his back, and stood up.

"I will be having a date with Izumi. I can't waste any more time. I've been bothered by the sweats, so I have to take a quick shower, too."

His mother was surprised, nodding ecstatically, and then rushed off inside the cake shop – perhaps, going inside their house.

Aoi was stunned, baffled by his mother's actions, but then shrugged it off.

As soon as he was ready to take off, he did not dilly-dally anymore and proceeded to his room.

***

Aoi was currently taking a shower, enjoying the rejuvenating feeling whenever the water washed off the sweat on his hair and body.

He closed his eyes, still having his play earlier being played inside his mind like a film.

He analyzed his play, noting his slight mistakes, how he was supposed to act without having a second to waste pondering, and how amazing he was when scoring three goals – a hat trick!!!

He could not hide the grin forming on his face, remembering the awestruck expression of other players when he scored a goal by luck.

But then, when he finally scored the third goal, with all his efforts, suddenly exploding with speed and dribbling past his enemies, and scoring a chip shot over a goalkeeper, he had finally proven himself as the best striker in the team.

He still wondered what Kaga was feeling though, for if Aoi tried to recall – had been trying to ever since he came to know Kaga might probably be the best striker in the club – Kaga indeed, with Oka, brought the high school team to the national.

That was all he could remember, not even recalling Kaga's image when he watched Oka's play before.

He shook his head, putting a shampoo on his quite long hair.

He mumbled, "There's no point. I have stolen his reputation as the best striker in the team. We will see how he deals with the emotional blow I dealt with him."

Not only Aoi stole Kaga's reputation as the best striker in the club, but also the girl he had been admiring from afar.

He clearly saw how devastated Kaga was, but Aoi was indifferent. He was not a people pleaser – he never cared about others to begin with.

Of course, he was talking about strangers.

He shrugged, tossing those unnecessary thoughts at the back of his head, and was soon distracted by random thoughts.

Suddenly, he recalled about the mission initiated by the system, and the latter had not given the rewards earlier.

He was about to question the system, when, as though sensing his thoughts, it suddenly echoed in his mind.

[The Egoistic Ace System has finished finalizing the rewards of the mission!

The Egoistic Ace System offered its commendation to the host for completing the mission – Scoring a Hatrick!

The supposed rewards are as follows: Side-Foot Shot (Placement Shot), Chip Shot, additional one-grade upgrade for Ball Control, Passing, Endurance, and Power.

However, since the host bought the Chip Shot to score a hat trick, the system has decided to change the rewards after careful consideration.

The system encouraged the host to choose one technique out of the three:

Volley:

Striking the ball while it's in the air before it touches the ground.

Ego Points: 10

Half-Volley:

Striking the ball just as it bounces off the ground.

Ego Points: 10

Inside of the Foot Pass:

Short, quick passes to maintain possession.

Ego Points: 10]