Chapter 71 – Unknown Field
The field was smaller than Southside's.
Cleaner too.
Artificial turf instead of uneven dirt patches, bright white lines instead of faded paint barely visible against the grass. Tall fences surrounded the entire place, keeping the ball from rolling too far after shots.
It felt professional.
Temporary.
Cold.
Riku stood near midfield quietly, one hand resting in his pocket while the other balanced the ball lazily against his hip.
He didn't know anyone here.
And nobody knew him.
"…You joining or not?"
Riku looked up slightly.
A tall guy near the center circle stared at him impatiently.
"We're starting."
"…Yeah."
Riku tossed the ball down.
Walked forward.
The teams weren't official.
Just random older players renting the field for the night. Some looked experienced. Some looked exhausted from work. A few smoked near the benches between games.
Nobody cared about names.
Just football.
The whistle blew.
The game started immediately.
Fast.
Physical.
Messy.
Riku moved quietly through it.
Not forcing anything.
Not calling for the ball.
Just watching.
A midfielder received near the sideline under pressure.
Riku drifted closer slightly.
The player noticed.
Passed.
One touch.
Riku turned instantly.
The defender stepped in late.
Too late.
Riku slipped past him cleanly.
"…Oi."
Someone reacted from the side.
Riku ignored it.
Another defender approached.
Bigger.
More aggressive.
Riku slowed slightly.
Then accelerated.
The defender stumbled.
Gone.
"Pass!"
Riku looked up.
Saw the run.
Ignored it.
Shot.
GOAL.
The net shook violently.
Silence hit for half a second.
Then—
"…Yo."
"Clean finish."
"Not bad."
Riku stood there breathing lightly.
Waiting.
Nobody said anything else.
The goalkeeper grabbed the ball immediately.
The game restarted.
Riku's eyes lowered slightly.
"…Right."
The match continued.
This time he passed more.
Simple.
Accurate.
Smart movement.
A teammate received one of his passes perfectly and scored immediately.
"YES!"
"THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!"
"GOOD RUN!"
Everyone rushed toward the scorer laughing.
Shouting.
Excited.
Riku stood near midfield.
Watching.
"…I passed that."
No one heard him.
Or maybe—
they just didn't care.
The game continued again.
Riku received near the center circle.
Three defenders around him immediately.
Pressure from every angle.
For the first time all night—
he smiled slightly.
The ball moved.
Fast.
One touch.
Body feint.
Acceleration.
Gone.
The first defender got left behind instantly.
The second lunged too early.
The third tried grabbing his shoulder.
Didn't matter.
Riku burst straight through the middle.
The field opened completely.
"…What the hell?"
Someone shouted from behind him.
Riku ignored that too.
The goalkeeper stepped forward nervously.
Riku slowed slightly.
Then chipped the ball lightly over him.
GOAL.
The players on the sideline reacted louder this time.
"YO!"
"WHERE'D YOU FIND THIS GUY?"
"That was filthy!"
Riku turned slowly.
Finally.
Recognition.
But the moment barely lasted.
"Oi, what was your name again?" someone asked while jogging back.
Riku opened his mouth slightly.
Then—
another player interrupted immediately.
"Whatever, hurry up!"
The moment disappeared.
Just like that.
Riku's expression flattened again.
"…Yeah."
Hours passed.
Games rotated.
Teams changed.
Players came and went.
Riku dominated every match.
Goals.
Dribbles.
Interceptions.
Passes.
Movement.
Control.
Every time he touched the ball—
people reacted.
For a moment.
Then forgot again.
"…Nice shot."
"…Good play."
"…Pass earlier next time."
Nothing stayed.
Nothing lasted.
Late into the night, most players finally started leaving.
The lights above the field buzzed softly in the darkness.
Riku sat alone near the fence with a bottle resting beside him.
Sweat cooled against his skin.
The empty field stretched quietly in front of him.
A player from earlier walked past him.
"…You're good."
Riku looked up slightly.
"…Thanks."
The guy nodded casually.
"…You should play somewhere serious."
Then kept walking.
Riku watched him leave.
Waiting.
No name question.
No introduction.
No interest.
Just another moment passing by.
The gate shut behind the last player.
Now the field was completely silent.
Riku leaned back slightly against the fence.
His eyes drifted upward toward the dark sky overhead.
"…Even here."
The words came quietly.
Almost emotionless.
"…Still nothing."
He thought leaving Southside would change it.
Thought maybe somewhere else—
someone would finally see him first.
Not after the goal.
Not after the win.
Not after the play.
Him.
But it kept happening.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Recognition without memory.
Praise without attachment.
Attention without meaning.
Riku clenched his jaw slightly.
"…Then what am I missing?"
The empty field didn't answer.
A cold wind swept across the turf, rustling the loose net behind the goal softly in the darkness.
Riku stood slowly.
Picked the ball up again.
Walked toward the center.
Then—
he started dribbling again.
Alone.
To Be Continued.