Chapter 21: Unstoppable Force

Chapter 21 - Unstoppable ForceThe Hanaka crowd were in stunned silence, their jaws dropped, unable to believe what they had just witnessed. Haruma stood in utter shock, his expressions blank with confusion, his forehead drenched in sweat. The coach remained still, eyes wide in disbelief, arms still folded crossed. Rukia was in stunned silence covering her mouth with her hand, her eyes filled with disbelief, the female friends around her were on their feets, leaning forward their jaws dropped in shock. Just then, The silence got shattered with deafening roars from Ryugen High School. The commenter with their jaws dropped shouted into the microphone. 'Kurogami just saved it all!' 'This monster has stopped three shots within seconds, and all of them came from the best Hanaka had, the three best Hanaka could offer!' 'Is this the future?' 'Is he the next big thing in Japanese football history?' 'And the answer is... Yes!' Kurogami lowered the ball with his expressions still serious, showing no signs of emotions. Shino, Masaru and Toru remained standing on their spots, unable to move or speak, staring at Kurogami in stunned silence. Kurogami then took a few steps forward, dropped the ball to the ground and struck it hard, sending it flying back to the game. Just then the referee's whistle echoed, signalling the end of the first half... On the sidelines, Toru was sitting on the ground, his head dropped in disappointment, clearly dejected, a heavy silence hung over the team. The coach, deep in thought, broke the silence with a steady voice "There is no doubt that their goalkeeper is way much tougher than we ever expected!" The team turned their eyes on the coach. "But that doesn't mean that we can't score!" The coach said firmly, "It's a game, and no goalkeeper can stop every shot!" "We just need to keep trying and trying," The coach continued, "And I'm sure in the next 45 minutes, we'll find a way to score!" Still, there was silence and doubts cleared on the players' faces. The coach's gaze then turned to Toru who sat in silence, his face still lowered with disappointment. "Toru!" The coach said, his voice softer now, "You are our captain, our hope. You just can't lose your spirit." Toru let out a quick sigh before standing back on his feet, looking up at the coach he said "We haven't lost anything yet!" His words instantly drew the attention of every player including Haruma's. "Not our spirit, and certainly not this game!" Toru's voice filled with determination, turning to his players he said, "We may have lost many chances, but that doesn't mean that we are playing bad football!" his team's eyes fixed on him. "We are clearly the better team!" Toru continued with a confident tone, "We have taken several shots at the nets, and I know we've failed to score, but at least we are trying relentlessly! It's just their keeper who is in our way, and I know he can't keep up with all of us, and if we keep this game going and keep trying for the next 45 minutes then I'm sure we can score!" The team watched him, still uncertain, doubts were clear on their faces. "Come on guys!" Toru urged, "We can't give up! We've come too far to lose, our school is believing in us, we have to keep pushing ourselves!" Shino's jaw tightened and he quickly rose to his feet, "Toru!" he snapped, determination burning in his eyes, "I'm with you! I'll keep playing! keep pushing myself till the very last second, I'll give my everything in these last 45 minutes!" Masaru slowly rose to his feet, his expressions focused and intense, "This Kurogami is getting on my nerves now!" he muttered in a cold voice, "Now it's become necessary to break that monster into pieces, I'll do whatever it takes to squash that monster!" Toru couldn't help but smile, seeing his best players standing with unbroken spirits. Nara then stood up next and began with a steady voice, "Their strikers are weak, It's clear that this team is only being carried by their goalkeeper, I'll try to push forward and give my best to score, or at least I'd do anything to support you guys." Another winger stood tall, "If Toru's struggling against that keeper then it's clear that I don't stand any chance, but I'm still not backing down, I'll keep fighting!" One by one all the players rose to their feets, confidence began to return to their eyes, and the fire within them reignited. Toru and the coach broke into smiles of satisfaction, watching as their team got back their confidence and spirits. With a confident smile, Toru stepped forward "It's time we all become one! and together we all will crush that monster!" A collective smile spread across every player's face, a newfound determination took over them. Meanwhile Haruma was standing among them, hearing their every word in silence. The second half of the final was about to begin, with all the players on the field, taking their positions. Toru, Masaru, And Shino stood ready in their positions, waiting for the whistle to blow, their gaze locked on the opposing player standing still at the center of the field, the ball resting under his foot. Everyone was waiting for the whistle to blow. The air was thick with anticipation, silence was over the field with everyone waiting for the referee to blow the whistle. Standing on the nets, Kurogami let out a brief yawn, before looking ahead, "Oiii!" He yelled out loud to his team, which also drew the attention of the Hanaka players. With an unsettling calm, Kurogami said out loud. "I'm done playing with them, now you all can enjoy them!" Toru, and his team's eyes snapped open, as a chilling sensation swept through the field. One by one all the Hanaka players turned their eyes on opposing players who suddenly started emanating a dark aura. Toru stood frozen in disbelief, slowly he looked at the opposing player with a ball, who suddenly flashed a wicked smile. The referee blew the whistle, and in a blur of movement that opposing player passed the ball to his teammate before sprinting towards the nets, leaving Hanaka players reeling in astonishment. In a matter of seconds, that opposing player was already near the nets, and another opposing player launched the ball in that player's direction. Toru gritted his teeth in anger, "Stop him!" he yelled. Nara and the other defender's instantly shifted their attention towards that player and began rushing at them determined to stop them. That player with the ball at his feet charged the nets, and just as he was about to take the shot, Nara surged forward, attempting to tackle, but that player faked the shot and effortlessly dribbled past Nara, leaving him and others in stunned disbelief. Haruma was stunned, watching the game with wide wide eyes... "Their game changed!" he thought, unable to process the sudden shift. With a wicked smile, the opposing striker saw the opening and swung his foot at the ball, but just as his foot was about to connect a Hanaka defender's foot lunged in blocking at the ball, but that opposing player didn't pull back, causing his foot to slightly brushes that defender's ankle, who screamed in agony and collapsed to the ground, holding his foot he cried in immense pain. 'That was some serious kick by Zetsuya, it looks like the other player has injured his foot!' Toru and the rest of the team was stunned, frozen in disbelief, shock etched on their faces, with their teammate's agonizing screams echoing around them. While Haruma watched the scene with his mouth agape, appearing stunned.