CHAPTER 55: SOON

Haruma was standing motionless, his gaze fixed on Shiori sitting on the stands.

She caught Haruma’s gaze and offered him a smile, and gave him a thumbs up with both her hands.

watching her, Haruma got flashbacks of how Mio and her mother cheered him in the finals of the All-School Cup.

Minato sensei stepped forward and called out, "Alright let’s continue, everyone to their positions!"

His commanding words, caused all players to scatter across the field, taking their positions. But, only Haruma stood still, his eyes still locked on Shiori.

Noticing Haruma, Minato sensei called out, "Come on Haruma, move!"

Haruma clenched his fist and without any words he began jogging toward his position. While Shiori watched with admiring anticipated eyes.

Itsuki fired a pass forward at the right side of the field, collected by Izaya, who remained calm and focused as Haru was covering him, not giving him space.

Minato sensei standing nearby was energetically guiding all the players, about their positioning and game awareness. As all the teams were having a friendly match.

Izaya, having the ball, tried to dribble past Haru but his focus on the ball was unshakeable, not letting Izaya find any opening.

Izaya clenching his teeth passed the ball where Jiho collected it and began moving forward towards the nets, where stood Subaru.

"Forward! Forward! Forward!" Minator sensei roared out loud guiding everyone.

Jiho found a few defenders before him, as he tried to get any openings, finding none he began moving forward.

"Keep your eyes on your Center Mids! Jiho!" Minato sensei roared again.

Jiho’s eyes swiftly swept across only to find Nagisa in a fine position ahead of him.

Smirking, Jiho steps back and shoots a long pass overhead of everyone.

Nagisa sensing the pass sprinted towards it, followed by Kabuto and Rei to block.

The moment Nagisa collected the pass, he saw Kabuto storming over him, causing Nagisa to turn his back on him, guarding the ball.

But Kabuto came slamming himself on Nagisa’s back, pushing him. But Nagisa kept his hold and footing balanced.

"Push him! don’t let him get past you!" Minato again roared commands.

Listening to the commands, Kabuto began pushing him, towering him like a wall.

Nagisa with wide eyes, slightly nudged the ball forward and tapped it up, sending it overheads near the nets, hoping any of his teammates would be there, but the place was guarded by the opposing defenders, Makoto and Zora.

Makoto and Zora began positioning themselves to collect the ball. But suddenly they felt a rush of energy making their eyes wide.

Between the opposing defenders Haruma came sprinting, gliding past their defending walls, positioning himself perfectly to have the ball.

Makoto remained frozen in his stance, eyes widened, before slightly moving his eyes back.

"Haruma! what the fuck is he doing here!"

Haruma’s eyes snapped open glowing with Golden Aura. Watching the ball, he slightly jumped, raising his foot.

Minato, with wide stunned eyes unbelievable to believe brilliant positioning and speed, his words caught in his throat.

Besides him, Raon watched with his jaw hanging open, eyes wide with anticipation.

From the stands, Shiori was watching Haruma with wide eyes, left in complete awe.

The ball came gliding at Haruma’s feet, who tapped the ball sending it straight inside the nets where Subaru’s dive wasn’t enough.

Haruma landed smoothly and without any word or emotions jogged back towards his position getting patts or appreciation his way back to his positions.

Minato sensei applauds out loud, "That was great Harumaaa!"

Besides him, Raon applauded with a big smile playing on his face. While Shiori from the stands was still in awe...

The ball was resting on the center before Haruma slightly nudged it ahead, and moved forward with the ball. Front of him was an open goal with only Haru defending it moving towards Haruma for a one on one.

Closing the distance, Haruma and Haru came face to face.

Haruma slightly nudged the ball, gliding it from Haru’s left, who slightly moved his foot to left foot at the ball, all while keeping his right foot planted, in case Haruma switches to right. But, Haruma didn’t switch, he nudged the ball more to the left, shifting his entire body to left.

Haru’s eyes widened as he outstretched his left foot more to the left. Catching him off guard Haruma pulled the ball back and in one Swift movement glided the ball from his right shifting his body to right, finding a clear opening, leaving everyone watching in awe.

Haruma from a distance shoots the ball hard, sending it soaring through the air, curving through the air to enter the nets.

His teammates from the sides erupted into cheers and applause. While a big proud confident smirk spread across Minato’s face.

Shiori from the stands sprang to her feets, applauding out loud with clear excitement.

Haruma with a smile offered a hand to Haru, who returned the smile and clasped his hand, coming back to his feets. Both exchanging smiles and nods of genuine respect...

Raon was sitting on the grass, drinking water and nodding in a vibing rhythm, "That’s right, get going, thirty more is what I want!"

All the players were lined up in a row, all shirtless doing pushups, with sweats forming all over their face and body.

Jiho with fierce expressions, performing the push-ups energetically.

Izaya and Kabuto, seeming exhausted yet determined, kept going on.

Raya and Itsuki’s breathing heavy, yet no sign from them to stop.

Nagisa’s face was hardened with fury, his wide, yet not slowing down on push-ups.

Haruma with his teeths gritted, eyes wide with fury and determination wasn’t slowing either, matching everyone’s pace.

Raon smirking stood up and roared "That’s right! we are going another twenty! get going!"

His words fuel everyone’s fire as they fasten their pace, their breaths and furious growls echoing...

Now it was the afternoon when the sun was setting, casting a light glow on the middle of the field, where all the players, shirtless, were gathered, some lying on their backs, some sitting, some standing.

Haruma, covered in sweat, was sitting on the grass breathing heavily, holding a water bottle, taking sips after an interval of time.

Just then Shiori walks over to everyone wearing a smile, holding a big plastic bag, "Hey everyone!" she called out politely.

Everyone quickly turned to her, sitting on the grass. Raya with a smile said, "Shiori? we thought you left!"

Shiori smiles, "Ohh no, I went out to get these" she replied, showing them the plastic bag filled with popsicles, "I thought I should treat you all for letting me watch your training session."

Everyone’s eyes lit up watching the cold popsicles of different flavors.

Izaya’s eyes beamed with excitement, "Woohoho! Popsicle!" he said, springing to his feets, and reaching out to take one.

All the players with smiles all around began taking each, Jiho took one with a bright smile, "Thanks! I was craving it!"

After Jiho, Kurogami stepped forward taking the popsicle, seeing him her eyes slightly widened, "You?" she said in a low tone.

Izaya with a slight smile, "Yeah, he’s the one who ate that final goal from Haruma!"

Kurogami shoots his cold gaze to Izaya, who looks away, blowing a whistle casually.

Kurogami turned his gaze back to Shiori who was looking at her with wide eyes, still seeming surprised.

"Thanks for the treat!" Kurogami said in a cold tone, before walking away.

Once all the players had their popsicles, Shiori watched them enjoying every bit of it.

Shiori then with a smile turned to Haruma who stood up, walked to her and took one, "Thanks!" he said with a slight smile.

"I really enjoyed watching you train!" Shiori said politely.

Haruma’s heart slightly skipped a beat, looking down with wide eyes. Meanwhile all the players were looking at them, eating their popsicles.

"Thanks." Haruma replied with a low, serious tone.

Licking her popsicle a wide smile spread across Raya’s face, "Hey, Shiori, you have transport or anyone coming to pick you?"

Shiori smiles warmly, "Not really, I live nearby, I’ll walk, thanks for asking."

"Of Course not," Raya replied with a smile, "it’s about to get dark, so we can’t let you go alone, Haruma will drop you!"

Haruma’s eyes widened, appearing to be taken aback.

Everyone quickly turned to her, sitting on the grass. Raya with a smile said, "Shiori? we thought you left!"

Shiori smiles, "Ohh no, I went out to get these" she replied, showing them the plastic bag filled with popsicles, "I thought I should treat you all for letting me watch your training session."

Everyone’s eyes lit up watching the cold popsicles of different flavors.

Izaya’s eyes beamed with excitement, "Woohoho! Popsicle!" he said, springing to his feets, and reaching out to take one.

All the players with smiles all around began taking each, Jiho took o

Licking her popsicle a wide smile spread across Raya’s face, "Hey, Shiori, you have transport or anyone coming to pick you?"

Shiori smiles warmly, "Not really, I live nearby, I’ll walk, thanks for asking."