CHAPTER 43: GREATNESS

Jiho was staring at him with wide stunned eyes until his expressions twisted with fury and with a roar he threw himself at Kurogami with dangerous intent.

But before he could reach Kurogami, all his teammates rushed in, held him back just in time.

Izaya, holding Jiho tightly from behind, shouted, "Hey! no violence! you wanna get kicked out!"

"Yeah, get a grip man!" said Ichimaru, one of the center backs, holding Jiho.

"Let me go! I’ll kill this arrogant brat!" Jiho spat out in fury, thrashing against the hold, but his teammates kept their grip firm.

Standing next to Haruma, Itsuki let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head in disappointment.

Raya clenched his jaw in fury and stepped forward, standing between Kurogami and Jiho.

"That’s enough!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade, "You two need to get along before the tournament otherwise we won’t stand a chance of winning! and I’ll not let this team fall apart just because of your arrogance!" He snapped his eyes at Kurogami... "Or your temper!" He snapped his eyes at Jiho.

"Wow... This is the first time I’ve seen Raya losing his calm!" Itsuki muttered, still standing next to Haruma.

Haruma remained silent, watching the scene with steady and unreadable eyes.

Raya’s commanding stand seemed to break the tension, as the fire in Jiho’s eyes began to fade.

Turning to teammates holding Jiho back, Raya said, "Take him to his room!"

Without any word, they led Jiho away, his resistance faded into a shimmering frustration.

Raya then turned to Kurogami who remained standing tall, a slight smirk tugging at his lips.

Raya held his gaze for a moment, then shook his head in disappointment, before turning around and walking away.

Kurogami’s smirk grew slightly as he turned to find Haruma and Itsuki still standing nearby watching him.

"What?" Kurogami scoffed, "He shouldn’t have challenged when he can’t handle losing!"

Without a word Haruma turned and started walking away, followed by Itsuki. Leaving Kurogami behind all by himself...

The next morning, the training ground was buzzing with activity, with some players stretching, some performing cone dribbling, each busy in their drills.

Haruma along with Raya was standing watching Itsuki juggling the ball, while Jiho was stretching his legs a short distance away.

Itsuki finishes juggling and nudges the ball towards Haruma, "Here Haruma, you try now."

Haruma trapped the ball under his feet, and just as he was about to start juggling, Raya intercepted saying, "Haruma, your lace is untied."

Haruma glanced down and nodded, crouching down to tie it. Just as he finishes looping the knot, a familiar voice called out.

"Hey Haruma."

Haruma looks up to find Kurogami standing tall before him. His presence quickly drew everyone’s attention at him.

Jiho quickly pauses in his stretching, and sharply turns his attention to the interaction between them.

Looking down at Haruma, Kurogami spoke calmly, "Can you help me with stretching?"

There was a brief silence on the scene. Jiho shoots a fierce glare at Haruma, while the others slowly turn his attention to him, waiting for his response.

Aware of everyone’s eyes on him, Haruma sighed and gave a small nod, "Yeah sure." he said with a composed tone, prompting Jiho’s jaw to clench in frustration, while a flicker of disappointment crossed Raya’s face.

Kurogami gave him a smile and offered him his hand. Haruma accepted it and pulled himself up to his feets, then the two began walking away together.

Watching them go, Itsuki sighs and raises his hand, calling after him "Be back soon, our training is not done yet!"

The two now separate themselves from the team where Kurogami was training alone.

Standing with their backs on each other, Kurogami and Haruma locked elbows. As Haruma leaned forward, lifting Kurogami on his back in a controlled stretch.

Kurogami smiled faintly, "You know what" he said casually, "After me, you are the best out here."

Haruma let out a sigh and lowered Kurogami to his feet who now took his turn and lifted Haruma onto his back.

"After this stretching, let’s work on your shooting." Kurogami said casually.

Haruma flinched slightly, "Shooting?" he whispers under his breath

Kurogami set him down to his feets and turned to face him, "Yeah, whenever you shoot you don’t seem confident enough, your body tense alot, it will cause you trouble in big matches!"

Haruma looked at him, slightly taken aback, "And why exactly should I train with you?" he asked.

Kurogami gave him a playful smile, "Well aren’t we friends?"

Haruma’s brow furrowed in confusion, "What’s your problem with everyone else? especially with Jiho?"

Kurogami let out a chuckle, "Haruma? Do you really think I have a problem? it’s Jiho who has problems with me!"

"He’ll not have any problem, if you just put your ego aside and actually try to help the team grow strong!" Haruma replied calmly.

Kurogami just responded with a quiet smile in response, when suddenly Minato sensei stepped onto the field drawing everyone’s attention. Next to him was walking another new face... A young man seeming to be in his late twenties, a bright confident smile playing on his face.

"Alright everyone, line up!" Minato sensei said in a commanding tone, prompting everyone to quickly gather and stand shoulder to shoulder in a neat row

Once they were in a row, Minato sensei then gestures towards the Young man next to him, "Meet Raon." He announced "He’ll be joining us as the new assistant coach."

All eyes turned to Raon, and the team began giving him slight bows of their heads in display of respect.

Raon gave them a bright smile and waved at them, "Hey everyone! I’m confident that we’ll get along pretty well." He said warmly, "You all will call me Raon, no sir no sensei... I’m here as your friend, and I hope you’ll see me as one." He finishes with a respectful bow.

The team responded with smiles and nods, impressed with his friendly behavior.

Minato sensei then turned to Haruma and Kurogami, "Haruma, Kurogami... your training jerseys are here!"

Smiles spread across both of Haruma and Kurogami’s faces as Roan with a smile walked forward and handed out two brand new Jerseys to each of them.

They accepted the jerseys with a nod of gratitude. Roan’s smiles grew as he gave a pat on each of their shoulders.

"Respect this jersey." He said "And feel honored to wear it, best of luck."

"Alright, it’s time for the training!" Minato sensei called out, snapping the team’s attention back to him.

Roan stepped aside, allowing everyone to focus their complete attention all on Minato sensei.

With a firm commanding tone, Minato sensei began, "Tomorrow is the day when we’ll get the schedule of our matches... and for today, I’ll be choosing our captain and also the starting eleven."

A wave of excitement and anticipation washed over everyone. All smiling, exchanging confident looks. But amid the rising excitement Haruma’s face got darkened with shadows, his heartbeat slightly raising.

Speaking further, Coach Minato added, "The selection will be based entirely on your performance throughout this training period, and to close it, Raon and I have decided to put you all in a final test!"

Everyone’s focus sharpens further, listening to coach Minato carefully.

"This is your another chance, give your very best in this test, Only if you want to get selected!"

Minato’s words ignited a new fire in the heart of every player, with all seeming confident and eager to give their best and prove themselves. But, on the other hand, Haruma stood sweating bullets, his heart beating like a war drum, his breaths coming in shallow gasps, having horror flashbacks of him failing miserably in the selection match of Hanaka High.

"Haruma?" Minato sensei’s voice called out sharply, snapping Haruma back to reality who quickly looked up, blinking rapidly.

Realizing that every eye was fixed on him, Haruma hurriedly began to wipe his sweats, forcing himself to stand straight.

"Are you okay?" Minato sensei asked in a low yet firm tone.

Haruma gave a quick nod, but his heartbeat was still not getting in control.

Noticing his state, Raon’s concern grew and he quickly reached Haruma placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Hey Haruma you okay?" He asked, "Someone bring him some water, quick!"

Izaya quickly responded, grabbing a water bottle and handing it to Haruma, who took a long sip before lowering the bottle, taking deep breaths.

Minato sensei was watching him with narrowed eyes, "Haruma you can play, right?" he asked in a serious tone.

Haruma’s eyes snapped open, as quickly looked up, saying, "I can coach! I definitely can... It’s just maybe I got a bit nervous, I’m fine, trust me!"

"Alright, alright we get it," Roan said in a polite tone, "We heard you, but for now you should sit and relax abit."

"I’m fine, I’ll play!" Haruma said in a quiet, determined tone.

His words were hanging heavy in the air, as the rest of the team were looking at him with slight confusion and concern in their eyes. While Kurogami was observing him with steady and sharp eyes.

Coach Minato gave him a nod, "Alright then, the test will begin in half an hour, prepare yourselves." The team responded with determined and confident nods.

"Let’s go, Roan." Minato said already turning to leave.

Roan, still concerned for Haruma, turned to Kurogami, "Take care of him." With that, he jogged after Minato sensei, leaving the team for their preparations...

All the players were gathered together in the center and each one of them were engrossed in their training drills. On the sidelines, Haruma was sitting alone, holding a water bottle.

Suddenly a flicker of frustration crossed over his face as he smashed the bottle on the ground.

"Damn it!" he muttered under his breath, "What is wrong with me, why is my body getting nervous!" He clutched his chest, "Stupid heart... stop beating so fast!"

He shuts his eyes trying to compose his heartbeat, but the flashbacks of the previous selection match kept repeating in his mind.

"Haruma?" a voice came through his ear, causing him to snap open his eyes to find Raya standing before him.

"What happened? you okay?" Raya asked.

Haruma slowly nodded, "Yeah, I’m fine." he voice barely above a whisper.

Raya smiled and said, "Alright, come on, you need to do some final drills before the test."

Haruma nodded and rose to his feet, heading towards the center where everyone was doing warm ups. Except for Kurogami, who was standing apart from the team, stretching alone, yet his eyes were locked on Haruma.

Noticing Haruma approaching, Itsuki smiles and calls out, "Hey Haruma, here!" before gently passing the ball at his feet.

Haruma trapped the ball under his feet and saw a row of cones placed ahead. Taking a deep breath, he began dribbling through them, with everyone observing him.

Maneuvering through the first two cones, but just as he reached the third one, he suddenly fumbled the dribble, losing the control of the ball from his feets, failing in a basic drill.

Gasps of disbelief ripple through everyone, with Itsuki’s smile faded into shock. Raya was stunned, Jiho was watching with his brow slightly frowned in confused disbelief.

Watching this Kurogami got taken aback too, his brow drawing together in confusion.

Haruma himself was shocked, his head bowed, holding his position with the ball nowhere near his feet.

His heartbeat began raising,

"I failed?"