chapter 1: Trash everywhere

It was already 75 minutes into the game and we hadn't scored a single damn point yet. "DAMMIT" At this rate, we might actually lose again.

The score was 1-0 and they seemed committed to playing full defence. Not something we could break through… easily.

It was the semifinals for the yearly u18 nationals, our team had contested for the past 3 years but this is the furthest we've got.

I was a midfielder, so it was my job to give balls that's could get goals, but our ace striker Isagi Yoichi was being heavily guarded. The other team must've done their research as the only reason we came this far was due to my assists and Isagi's goal.

noticing the ball coming in my direction I quickly stopped my thought and caught it with a light trap; 'Isagis being 2 manned and the rest of this team is nothing but air'.

There was no way to score. 'Are we really going to lose?'

'I CANT ALLOW THAT' passing the ball to one of the cannon fodder I dashed to the left wing.

"GIVE IT" it seems my team wasn't completely useless as I received a hard and inaccurate pass, but it was good enough.

Trapping it with my chest I got the ball under my control, I looked up to see a defender already looking to take the ball away from me.

'Fuck, if I want any chance of scoring I'll have to get past him by myself'.

'So be it.' slowly jogging towards the defender I did a few stepovers to pull him in but he wouldn't bite. So in a split second, I decided to go further up the field, thinking I was attempting to go for a cross into the box he followed.

'Good.' i quickly sped up but the defender wasn't slow either right on my tail.

I made a wide swing of my arms looking as if I was going to cross the ball, the defender finally jumped in to stop the cross.

'This is it' dragging the ball from my left foot to my right I quickly dashed toward the box.

Another defender quickly came to take the others place.

'It's not impossible... I can score.'

My body felt on fire yet so cold, I could see the paths necessary for this goal.

"And the path I need to take is right through this defender!"

He took an open stance right in front of me looking as if he was ready for anything. Maintaining eye contact with him I passed the ball through his legs and quickly went around him.

This was it, I could score here. Not wasting another second thinking I shot toward the top right corner.

There seemed to be only silence in those few milliseconds as the ball travelled towards the net before a loud BANG sound woke me up from my trance.

'I...I missed?' but before I had any time to wallow the ball rebounded to the right side of the box. Where Isagi stood, not even attempting to trap it he banged it into the top left of the goal.

"HELLL YEAHHHHHHHH" Isagi cried out before the rest of the team jumped onto him.

I simply stood, watching.

I was supposed to be happy, and proud but all I felt was anger, jealousy and disgust. Like a stone was in my throat.

Not wanting to participate in the celebration I grabbed the ball and went back to our half wanting to begin the kickoff.

The timer was at 82 minutes, so we had 8 minutes plus overtime to score another goal.

Doing a few stretches Isagi came up to me. "Hey, Sitashi that was a great pass dude! One more of those and we win!" he said with a determination almost flowing out of him.

'P-pass???' gritting my teeth I was about to speak before I heard the coach shouting that kickoff was starting.

"Yeah, you're welcome." Now wasn't the time to be angry we had to win!

*Fweeeee*

And it began, they kept passing the ball around in their half until their ace, Ryosuke Kira took the ball into the midfield himself.

He was the most dangerous on this team, so I took it upon myself to guard him.

'He has gotten far enough' he seemed to want to take it to the goal himself but I wouldn't allow it; forcing him to pass to his teammate.

After he passed he ran directly toward the box, I wouldn't let him have any free goals.

My team also recognized Kira's threat and proceeded to triple-guard him.

"FUCKING IDIOTS GET BACK ON YOUR MAN" but before we could react an overhead pass came right in front of the box toward a tall brown-haired striker: William Lee.

'Fuck! I forgot about him!'

He had to turn around to receive the ball with his chest. He took a glance behind him seeing isagi right behind him.

'Thank God isagi has some intelligence' but before I could continue thanking my lucky stars the brown-haired player kicked the ball above both their heads, ran into the penalty area and copied Isagis shot right into the goal. Too fast for the goalkeeper to even react.

"It's over" he said turning to look Isagi in the eyes.

"DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMITTT" I raged without a care in the world.

We had 3 fucking minutes to score.

'With a team like this, it's impossible'.

Wallowing in the thought of our certain loss I didn't notice Isagi running to grab the ball.

A hand suddenly touched my shoulder effectively cancelling my thoughts.

"Sitashi, me and you. We can score this goal."

I turned around to see Isagi with even more determination in his visage than before.

I wanted to tell him to stop, to quit acting like it was possible. But just seeing him acting this way made me discard any such thoughts.

'If he thinks it's possible... It might just be…'

"Phuuu, alright lets win this!" I said putting my fist out.

"Yeah, let's win." he declared punching his fist against mine.

Rather than playing in midfield as I had before I played on the left wing with Isagi in the center.

*Fweeeee*

With that kickoff began with Isagi passing the ball. The other team high pressing seemingly wanting to get the ball back.

We were still in the midfield so I decided not to dribble passing the ball forward to isagi a few meters in front of me.

Quickly leaving my check I sprinted up the left side of the field ready for any pass Isagi gave me.

Giving a high pass I received it with the back of my heel kicking in front of me, effectively leaving the defender behind me in the dust.

"We can win!" with my blood pumping I sprinted with the ball toward the goal.

But out of nowhere 2 defenders began to press me.

'Tch…This isn't something I can beat' checking my surroundings I saw Isagi running toward the goal.

"Hahaha, perfect Isagi!" crossing the ball into the box Isagi had one defender to rid of before being able to score.

I knew Isagi wasn't a dribbler so I ran to back him up.

"ISAGI PASS" I shouted breaking him out of whatever trance he was in.

He looked to his left then his right and seeing an open teammate to his right he made a split-second decision to pass to cannon fodder #7.

Being completely open, even I assumed we had finally tied the game.

"Yosh just one more goal now!" but before I could celebrate the cannon fodder somehow missed the net and hit the post. Allowing a defender to clear it into midfield.

The person to pick up the ball was Ryosuke Kira.

Dribbling the ball further up he saw an open William Lee who he passed to, there were 2 defenders inside the box seemingly waiting for whatever play he made but instead of dribbling he simply shot from where he was scoring their third goal of the game leaving the goalie with no time to react.

*Fwee Fweee Fweeeeee*

On the other side of the field, I fell to my knees and gripped the grass hard enough for my nails to dig into my skin. But I didn't care, we lost; largely at that.

'Is my soccer career really finished? Like this?'

I looked toward Isagi to see him idly standing by the goal frozen.

"DAMMIT ALL BECAUSE OF THAT TRASH," I said angrily under my breath.

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After going through the mandatory after-game pleasantries I went to the locker room, grabbed my shit and was about to leave.

"Wait Sitashi, I-im sorry about what happened in the game today..."

'ugh… i don't wanna talk right now… i'll make this quick.'

Turning around to look Isagi in the eye "I don't blame you Isagi; if it wasn't for the trash littering the field we would've won" I said grimly.

"Yeah uh right, we'll get it next year though!"

This was starting to piss me off, Isagi scoring, and him cheering for me like I'm some child... It was Disgusting.

"Don't you get it? There won't BE a next year Isagi, this is my last high school year. I'm done playing soccer, I've got to figure out my life." I said with more anger and grit than Intended.

"I'll see you around, Isagi." I said before turning around and promptly leaving.

Having my back turned I wasn't able to see the many emotions littering Isagi's face.

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Hey so lmk what u think, btw the Mc isn't a reincarnation or has a system. Uh yeah!