The ball rolled out for a throw-in.
For the first time all match, the stadium wasn't watching the ball.
It was watching the sideline.
Yusuke stood frozen.
His eyes refused to leave the figure standing near the touchline.
"...Riku..."
The others followed his gaze.
Hiroto's eyes widened.
Ren blinked twice.
Takumi's mouth fell open.
"...No way."
Standing calmly beside the Southside bench was Riku.
His blue jersey was on.
His boots were laced.
His hair swayed slightly in the evening breeze as he stared at the field with the same cold expression he'd always worn.
Coach Daniel D slowly turned around.
For a brief moment...
he looked genuinely shocked.
"...You came."
Riku didn't answer immediately.
His eyes remained on the match.
Then he spoke.
"I'm playing."
The words were simple.
Matter-of-fact.
Like there wasn't another option.
Coach Daniel stared at him for another second before the corners of his mouth lifted into the smallest smile.
"...About damn time."
The coach stepped aside.
Riku walked toward the substitution line.
Pambara noticed him first.
He frowned.
"...What are you doing?"
Riku stopped a few steps away.
His eyes met Pambara's.
"I'm taking my position back."
Silence.
The words echoed louder than the crowd.
Pambara's jaw tightened.
"...Excuse me?"
"I said..."
Riku took another step forward.
"...I'm replacing the useless guy."
The air froze.
Pambara clenched both fists.
Everything he'd put up with flooded back at once.
The insults.
The disrespect.
The comparisons.
Being treated like he never belonged.
His breathing grew heavier.
"...Useless?"
Riku didn't even blink.
"You heard me."
That was enough.
Pambara stormed forward.
"You've got some nerve showing up after abandoning us!"
Players nearby turned immediately.
The referee glanced toward the bench.
Even the crowd began noticing something happening on the touchline.
"You disappear for weeks," Pambara shouted, "then walk back like you're some kind of hero?!"
Riku sighed.
"...Finished?"
"No!"
Pambara shoved him.
Hard.
"You don't deserve to wear that jersey!"
For the first time...
Riku's expression changed.
Not anger.
Annoyance.
A tiny sigh escaped his lips.
"...You talk too much."
Pambara swung first.
His fist flew toward Riku's face.
Riku leaned slightly to the side.
The punch missed completely.
Then—
CRACK!
Riku's right hook landed square across Pambara's jaw.
The sound echoed around the nearby stands.
Pambara's eyes rolled back as he crashed onto the grass beside the touchline.
The entire stadium gasped.
Silence spread through the bench.
Yuma stared in disbelief.
"...He... actually punched him."
Takumi swallowed.
"...Damn..."
Even Nocturne's players had stopped watching the match.
Theo blinked.
"...Did that guy just get knocked out?"
Réservoir folded his arms.
"...Interesting."
Aka looked toward the sideline.
His serious expression softened ever so slightly.
"...So that's Riku."
Coach Daniel looked down at Pambara.
Medical staff immediately rushed over.
The coach let out a long sigh before looking at Riku.
"...You're paying for that after the match."
Riku shrugged.
"...Fine."
"But..."
Coach Daniel reached into his pocket.
Pulled out the substitution card.
Then raised it high.
"...Get out there."
The fourth official lifted the electronic board.
OUT: Pambara
IN: Riku
The stadium exploded.
Southside supporters couldn't believe what they were seeing.
Some cheered.
Some booed.
Some simply stood there in complete shock.
Yusuke felt his heart pounding.
After everything...
After all those weeks...
After begging him in the street...
He was finally back.
Riku stepped across the touchline.
Slowly.
Calmly.
Like he'd never left.
He adjusted the captain's armband hanging from his pocket, then looked toward the field.
His eyes met Yusuke's from across the pitch.
For just a second...
Neither of them spoke.
Then Riku smirked.
"...Don't screw this up."
The referee blew his whistle.
Play was about to resume.
And for the first time since the match began...
Southside's strongest player...
was back where he belonged.
To Be Continued.