Chapter 66 – After Training
The field had emptied out nearly thirty minutes ago.
The sky above had already darkened slightly, the orange glow from the setting sun fading into colder colors as the evening crept in. The air felt heavier now, quieter without everyone yelling over each other every five seconds. Empty bottles sat near the benches. A jacket someone forgot rested near the sideline.
And in the middle of the field—
Pambara was still there.
The ball rolled away from him again.
Too far.
Too weak.
Wrong angle.
"…Ah."
He jogged after it quickly, scratching the back of his head with an awkward laugh.
"…Still off."
No frustration.
No anger.
Just observation.
He placed the ball down again carefully.
Took a few steps back.
Looked toward the wall beside the field.
Then passed.
THUD.
The ball bounced back unevenly.
Pambara trapped it.
Almost lost control.
Adjusted awkwardly.
Then passed again.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
Over and over.
Simple passes.
Nothing flashy.
Nothing impressive.
Just repetition.
"You're still here?"
Pambara jumped slightly.
Turned around.
Yusuke stood near the fence with his bag over one shoulder, staring toward him quietly.
"…O-oh," Pambara said quickly. "Yeah. Just practicing a little."
Yusuke looked at the ball.
Then at the wall.
Then back at him.
"…Passing?"
Pambara smiled weakly.
"…I figured I should at least get the basics right first."
Silence.
THUD.
The ball hit the wall again.
Pambara trapped it cleaner this time.
Not perfect.
Better.
"You don't get pissed off?" Yusuke asked suddenly.
Pambara blinked.
"…About what?"
"Everyone treating you like trash."
Pambara looked down for a second.
Then lightly tapped the ball upward before catching it against his chest.
"…Not really."
"That's weird."
"…Probably."
The wind moved lightly through the field.
Loose grass shifted near the sideline.
The sound of distant traffic barely reached them.
Pambara set the ball down again.
"…I get why they're upset."
Yusuke frowned slightly.
"…Do you?"
Pambara nodded.
"They lost."
A pause.
"They lost one of their teammates too."
THUD.
Another pass.
This one slightly cleaner again.
"And now some random guy shows up trying to replace him."
A small laugh.
"…I'd hate me too."
Yusuke didn't answer immediately.
Because the worst part was—
that made sense.
Pambara stopped moving for a moment.
His eyes drifted toward the goal.
"…Riku was important, huh?"
The question sat in the air quietly.
"…Yeah," Yusuke answered.
His voice came out lower than expected.
Pambara nodded slowly.
"…I could tell."
THUD.
Another pass.
"…You know," Pambara said carefully, "I watched your match against Nocturne Eleven online before coming here."
Yusuke's eyes shifted slightly.
"…Why?"
"You guys were interesting."
Yusuke scoffed softly.
"…We got destroyed."
"Yeah," Pambara replied honestly.
"…But you still kept running."
That shut Yusuke up for a second.
Pambara trapped the ball again.
Cleaner.
Again.
Again.
Again.
"You especially," Pambara continued. "Everyone else looked scared eventually."
He looked up slightly.
"…You didn't."
Yusuke stared at him.
"…I was terrified."
Pambara smiled faintly.
"…Then you hide it well."
Silence returned.
But it wasn't awkward anymore.
Just quiet.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
Pambara suddenly stopped.
His eyes narrowed slightly toward the goal.
"…You shoot left when you're frustrated."
Yusuke blinked.
"…What?"
"When you're emotional," Pambara said casually, "your shoulders tighten before you kick."
He pointed slightly.
"…Then the shot drifts left."
Yusuke stared at him.
"…How do you know that?"
Pambara rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"…I noticed during the match."
Silence.
"…You noticed that from one game?"
Pambara paused.
"…I notice a lot of things."
The answer wasn't arrogant.
If anything—
it sounded apologetic.
Yusuke looked at him properly for the first time.
Not as a replacement.
Not as some weak extra body.
But as… something else.
Something strange.
Pambara suddenly smiled again.
Bright.
Friendly.
Completely unaware of how weird he sounded.
"…Your right foot opens slightly too when you're aiming top corner."
Yusuke narrowed his eyes.
"…You're creeping me out."
"…Sorry."
THUD.
Another pass.
Cleaner again.
The sun dipped lower.
The shadows stretched across the field.
And for the first time since Riku left—
the field didn't feel completely empty.
Not fixed.
Not healed.
Just…
less empty.
Yusuke adjusted his bag slightly before turning away.
"…Don't stay too late."
Pambara looked up.
"…Oh. Okay."
A pause.
"…See you tomorrow?"
Yusuke stopped walking for half a second.
Then—
"…Yeah."
And for some reason—
that single word made Pambara smile wider than anything else had all day.
THUD.
The ball hit the wall again as Yusuke disappeared down the street.
And alone on the darkening field—
Pambara kept practicing.
Again.
And again.
And again.
To Be Continued.