On the sidelines, Jotaro stood near the fourth official, bouncing slightly on his toes to keep his muscles warm and ready to be subbed in…
Inside the hall of the mansion, seated on a couch, Toru, Masaru, and Rukia were watching the broadcast in utter silence. Their body language was, as their anxious eyes remained firmly locked on the screen, feeling every ounce of the pressure from thousands of miles away.
Back on the pitch, the electronic board flashed. Jotaro subbed into the match, replacing Izaya.
The two shared a quick, supportive hug at the touchline before Izaya jogged off and Jotaro stepped onto the field, bringing fresh energy to the midfield.
Watching the substitution from the balcony of the VIP lounge, Itsuki clenched his fists. "Come on, sub in Haruma..." he muttered under his breath, his eyes desperately tracking the manager's movements.
"Yeah, I don't understand why Haruma is still benched!" Haru said, his voice laced with clear frustration.
