Domination on the Field

Kayden: —Good morning, Hirata.

Hirata: —Good morning, Osawa-kun —replied Hirata as he entered the soccer club's locker room.

The holidays were over, which meant returning to classes. Although I regularly attended the club, I didn't usually talk much about it. After all, there wasn't much to tell.

A while later, my club mates and I finished our warm-up and were ready to start our morning practice.

Kayden: —Hirata, how about a one-on-one?

Hirata: —Sure, though I doubt I'll manage to take the ball from you —he laughed as he got ready.

We positioned ourselves opposite each other, with tension and excitement in the air. I tossed the ball upwards, calculating so that it would fall right between us. The duel was about to begin.

The ball fell between us, and as soon as it touched the ground, we both rushed for it. Hirata, as quick as ever, moved forward with good control, shifting to his right. But as soon as he took the first touch, I was on him.

With a quick move, I stole the ball in one swipe, sliding it inward with the sole of my foot. Hirata tried to block my path, but a soft touch to the left left him off-balance. He adjusted his position well, but had already lost ground.

I advanced with the ball glued to my feet, making small feints, just enough to confuse his mark. Hirata, despite his effort, couldn't get close enough to try and take control. It wasn't a lack of skill but a difference in pace.

He tried to pressure me with a break to my right side, but I anticipated it. With a quick spin on my own axis, I passed the ball behind me, changing direction before he could react. The ball flowed as if it were an extension of my feet.

Hirata was breathing heavily but didn't give up. He approached again, throwing a leg to cut my advance. I dodged it with a gentle touch over his extended foot, making Hirata stumble a bit.

The morning practice hadn't officially started yet, but this small competition felt like a personal duel. Hirata smiled despite his frustration as he tried to keep up. But it was clear that every one of his movements was a reaction to mine.

I passed the ball through his legs with an unexpected nutmeg, and when he realized, I was already running behind it, giving it light touches. I let him come close enough to make him think he had a chance, and when he tried to steal the ball, I had already changed direction again.

After several minutes of keeping control without Hirata being able to touch the ball, I decided it was enough. I stopped abruptly, placing my foot on the ball and watched Hirata, who was just a couple of steps away, breathing heavily.

Kayden: —Not bad, Hirata. But you'll have to try harder if you want to take the ball from me.

Hirata laughed between breaths, shaking his head. He knew he hadn't been close.

Hirata: —How are you so good? —he asked while taking a sip of water, still trying to catch his breath.

Kayden: —I've been playing soccer for a long time.

Hirata: —I have too, but I'm nowhere near as good as you. Look at you! You're not even sweating after everything we've done.

Kayden: —Well, I'm pretty athletic. It takes more than this to make me sweat —I replied with a smile.

Just then, a voice interrupted us.

???: —Hey, guys! How's practice? —said a blonde student, approaching with a confident smile.

Shibata: —Nagumo-senpai, everything is going great —Shibata replied, bowing slightly.

Nagumo: —I'm glad to hear that. I hope you're improving because last time you couldn't take the ball from me —Nagumo said with an air of confidence.

Shibata scratched his neck, uncomfortable: —Well, I'm not as good as you, Nagumo-senpai.

Nagumo came to the club a few times a month to play soccer, but I had never played with or against him. Still, everyone knew of his skill. Nagumo looked at Hirata and me, but his attention was more on Hirata.

Nagumo: —Hirata, I see you haven't finished your practice yet. How about we do a 7 vs 7?

Hirata: —A 7 vs 7? Will you join us, Nagumo-senpai?

Nagumo: —Of course. I'll take Shibata with me on my team, and you two can be on the same team —he said, looking at me with an arrogant smile.

Hirata: —I'm fine with that. What about you, Osawa-kun? —Hirata asked me.

Kayden: —Of course, I'll join. I'm a bit bored, after all —I replied, accepting.

Nagumo: —Bored, huh? Don't worry, your boredom will disappear once we start —he said with a confident expression that bordered on arrogance.

Kayden: —I hope so.

As we finalized the details of the match, some of my teammates joined to complete the teams. Once both sides were complete and ready to play, Nagumo spoke again.

Nagumo: —How about we make a bet?

Hirata: —A bet? —he asked, intrigued.

Nagumo: —Yes, the winning team will give 10,000 points per person to the other team. It's not a huge amount, but enough to make the game exciting. What do you think?

Kayden: —I don't mind.

Hirata: —Then I'm in too. What do the others think? —Hirata asked our teammates, who agreed without hesitation.

Nagumo: —Perfect. Since everyone agreed, let's start —he said as he threw the ball into the air, ready to kick off the match.

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The match began with Nagumo blowing the whistle and tossing the ball into the air. Kayden and Hirata were well-positioned, but from the first touch, the difference was clear. Shibata received the first pass, trying to control the game, but the tension in the air was palpable. Nagumo wanted to prove his superiority, and his teammates tried to keep up, though something in their eyes reflected doubt about facing someone like Kayden.

The first minutes of the match were intense, with quick passes and constant pressure. However, it didn't take long for Kayden to start standing out. As soon as Shibata attempted a long pass to Nagumo, Kayden had already read the play. He anticipated the move with ease, intercepting the ball in mid-air with a subtle touch. The speed with which he reacted made it clear that he was on another level.

Without wasting time, Kayden started his advance. Three players from Nagumo's team rushed at him, trying to close the spaces, but with a quick twist of his hips, he left them behind as if they were barely there. The ball control was impeccable, moving it from one foot to the other with a smoothness that seemed natural, almost choreographed.

Nagumo watched from a distance, his eyes fixed on Kayden. He knew he was facing a formidable opponent, but he hadn't yet seen the best. Just when one of the opposing defenders tried to cut his path, Kayden performed a perfect roulette, spinning around and effortlessly getting rid of his opponent. Arriving at the area, he was alone in front of the goalkeeper.

Without hesitating, Kayden shot with the outside of his right foot. The ball flew towards the corner, unreachable for the goalkeeper. The first goal of the match, 1-0, and Kayden didn't even seem to have exerted himself. The difference in skill was too obvious.

Nagumo smiled, though his pride was slightly touched. —Nice goal, Osawa, but the match is just beginning —he said, more to convince himself than anyone else. But even he was beginning to notice the overwhelming superiority of Kayden.

The match continued, but it seemed like a chess game for Kayden. Every pass the opposing team attempted was anticipated, every movement predicted. He stole the ball with the precision of a surgeon repeatedly, and every time he did, Nagumo's team retreated in fear, knowing they were at the mercy of a much greater talent.

In a key play, Nagumo and Kayden faced off. It was the duel everyone was waiting for. Nagumo, determined to show his skill, advanced for the ball, but Kayden was not intimidated. With a slight smile on his face, Kayden made a feint to the right. Nagumo fell for the trap immediately. He barely had time to react when Kayden changed direction to the left, leaving him completely out of play. But it didn't end there. In a display of skill, Kayden lifted the ball and passed it over Nagumo's head, executing a perfect sombrero. Nagumo turned with frustration, but when he looked back for the ball, Kayden was already in front of him, ready to shoot.

The ball shot with power, and the goalkeeper barely moved his hands before it was already in the back of the net. 2-0. The humiliation on Nagumo's face was evident. Kayden had played with him as if he were a beginner.

The control of the match was absolute. Kayden wasn't just dominating the game; he was doing so with an insulting ease. In another play, he took the ball from midfield and, without a second thought, shot from over 30 meters out. The ball flew with precision into the top corner, and the field fell silent for a few seconds before everyone grasped what they had just witnessed. A stunning goal. 3-0.

Murmurs around the field reflected the players' disbelief. Kayden wasn't merely winning; he was demolishing Nagumo's team. It wasn't just a matter of skill but also mental control. The opposing team no longer had the same energy; they knew any effort would be in vain.

Determined to involve his teammate, Kayden looked at Hirata. With calculated calm, he stole the ball again and advanced toward the opposing area. Instead of shooting, he lifted his head and saw Hirata well-positioned. Without hesitation, he made a chip pass over the defenders. The ball landed perfectly at Hirata's feet, who wasted no time volleying it straight into the net. 4-0.

The match was over, and Nagumo, with a slightly furrowed brow, approached Kayden, who hadn't broken a sweat throughout the game.

"Good game, Osawa," Nagumo said, trying to mask his frustration.

Kayden looked at him with a smile that exuded arrogance. "Good game?" he replied, tilting his head slightly. "Honestly, I expected something more exciting... I'm a bit disappointed."

Nagumo clenched his fists tightly, feeling the sting of humiliation burning inside him. Disappointed? The word echoed in his mind like an irritating echo. He watched Kayden as he walked away, his posture relaxed, as if the match had been nothing more than a trivial game.

This isn't over, Nagumo thought, his gaze fixed on Kayden's retreating back. Osawa, you may have won today... but I'm not finished with you.

As Kayden walked away from the field with his usual calm, the atmosphere around was still charged with tension. The players exchanged uneasy glances, while Hirata, still surprised by how easily they had won, tried to process what had happened. In contrast, Nagumo remained still, silently observing as Kayden disappeared into the locker rooms. Defeat still weighed on his pride, but deep down, his mind was already scheming. The match was over, but the rivalry between them had just begun. With a wry, twisted smile, Nagumo vowed to himself that his revenge would be inevitable.