Chapter 74 – Final Whistle
The second half barely felt different from the first.
That was the problem.
The opposing team had already mentally surrendered. Their movements lacked urgency now, passes rolling weakly across the field before getting intercepted almost immediately by Southside. Even their defenders stopped pressing properly, backing away every time Yusuke or Takumi pushed forward.
Normally, that would've turned into a slaughter.
Normally, Yuma would've been screaming after every goal.
Normally, Sora would've been laughing while embarrassing defenders.
Normally, the entire team would've fed off the momentum until the match completely collapsed in their favor.
But today—
everything felt restrained.
Yusuke received the ball near midfield and accelerated through the center. Two defenders moved toward him too slowly, letting him slip between them with ease before entering the final third.
Space opened.
A clear lane toward goal.
The goalkeeper stepped forward nervously.
Yuma shouted immediately.
"PASS!"
Yusuke ignored him.
Shot.
GOAL.
4–0.
The net rippled softly behind the keeper.
Silence followed.
Not literal silence.
People still clapped outside the fence.
The referee still pointed toward the center.
The opposing players still groaned in frustration.
But Southside itself—
felt quiet.
Yusuke jogged back toward midfield without expression.
No celebration.
No excitement.
Nothing.
Yuma stared at him while walking backward.
"…You could've passed."
"…I know."
That answer somehow annoyed him more.
Play restarted again.
The weaker team tried forcing one final attack, pushing numbers forward desperately now that the game was already out of reach. Their midfielder launched a long pass toward the wing.
Ren intercepted easily.
Daichi cleared immediately.
The ball rolled toward Pambara near the sideline.
He blinked slightly.
"…Me?"
Yuma shouted instantly.
"DON'T FREEZE!"
Pambara panicked slightly and pushed the ball forward too hard.
A defender stepped toward him.
Pambara's body stiffened—
then stopped.
Instead of dribbling, he passed immediately.
Simple.
Quick.
Correct.
The ball reached Takumi cleanly.
Takumi looked slightly surprised.
Only slightly.
Southside moved forward again.
One touch.
Two touches.
Clean passing.
Fast movement.
For a brief moment—
they actually looked connected again.
Takumi slipped the ball toward Sora.
Sora crossed first touch.
Yuma leapt.
HEADER.
GOAL.
5–0.
"YES!"
Yuma finally shouted properly for the first time all match.
But even that energy faded quickly afterward.
The opposing team looked exhausted now.
Completely done.
The referee checked his watch.
Only a few minutes remained.
Pambara slowly jogged back into position, breathing heavily.
Not from intensity.
From nerves.
Yusuke glanced toward him briefly.
"…That pass was good."
Pambara blinked.
"…Huh?"
"You heard me."
For a second—
Pambara genuinely looked shocked.
Like he didn't know what to do with praise.
"…O-oh."
A small awkward smile appeared.
"…Thanks."
Then Yuma immediately ruined the moment.
"Still can't dribble though."
"…Yeah."
Sora laughed quietly while jogging back.
"…You really just accept everything."
Pambara scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"…It's usually true."
The final minutes passed slowly after that.
The game had already ended emotionally long before the whistle came.
Now everyone was just waiting for permission to stop running.
Yusuke stood near midfield again as the opposing side pushed one last hopeless attack forward. Their striker attempted a desperate shot from outside the box.
Tsubasa caught it easily.
No reaction.
Just routine.
He rolled the ball forward lazily.
The team moved again.
Mechanically.
Then finally—
the whistle blew.
Full time.
5–0.
The match ended exactly how it should've.
A complete victory.
Total control.
No danger.
No suspense.
And yet—
nobody looked happy.
The opposing players thanked them quietly before leaving the field one by one. A few spectators clapped politely before disappearing into the streets.
Within minutes—
the field was emptying again.
Yuma stretched his shoulders aggressively.
"…At least we crushed them."
Takumi zipped up his bag quietly.
"…Didn't feel satisfying."
"Winning doesn't always need to feel satisfying."
"…It kinda does."
Pambara sat near the bench quietly again, notebook resting on his lap.
Watching.
Thinking.
Hiroto stopped nearby.
"…What're you writing this time?"
Pambara hesitated slightly.
Then slowly turned the notebook around again.
Winning without purpose feels the same as losing slowly.
Silence.
"…That's depressing," Sora muttered.
"…Sorry."
Yusuke stared at the words for a long moment.
Then looked toward the now-empty field.
The fading sunlight.
The abandoned goalposts.
The spaces where people had been standing minutes ago.
Everything felt temporary lately.
Like the team was moving—
but not progressing.
Running—
but not arriving anywhere.
And somewhere out there—
Riku was still gone.
The wind swept lightly across the empty field.
Cold.
Restless.
Yusuke clenched his fists slightly.
"…We can't stay like this forever."
Nobody answered.
Because nobody knew how to fix it.
To Be Continued.