Chapter 24: Rise!

Chapter 24 - Rise!A Ryugen player charged forward with the ball at his feets, dribbling past the shaky defending of Hanaka. Spotting his teammate in the open, he sent a sharp pass to him, who skillfully received the ball and surged towards the nets. Rushing forward, that striker saw a few Hanaka defenders in front who appeared frozen in fear. Wearing a confident smirk, that striker surged forward, effortlessly dribbling past those defenders who didn't even attempt to tackle him. Spotting the goalkeeper in the open, the striker drew his foot back aiming to strike. The goalkeeper, overcome with fear and nervousness, dived at the right side, causing that striker to shoot the ball at left, sending it traveling towards the wide-opened left side of the net. Toru, Masaru and Shino's eyes widened in shock, watching the ball traveling towards the net, its trajectory seemingly unstoppable. The Hanaka fell silent, holding their collective breaths. At that very moment, A defender came soaring through the air, executing a stunning bicycle kick before the nets, his golden boots connecting with the ball, stopping it just before it could cross the goal line. Toru, Shino, Masaru, coach, Rukia and the entire Hanaka crowd were left stunned, their jaws dropped in utter disbelief as they watched the defender was none other but Haruma Kusaka! The coaches, the commentators and even the Ryugen high team were in utter shock, unable to believe the sheer brilliance of the moment. Time seemed to be slowed, with Haruma, still in mid-air, holding the breath taking pose, the ball still at his foot, blocking it from crossing the goal line. With a slow pace, Mio joyfully bounced on her seat, her smile radiating brightly. Haruma's mother cheered aloud with her tears flowing uncontrollably. Both Mio and Haruma's mother's voice rose together, letting out the chant, "Ha-ru-ma" In a heartbeat the time snapped back to its usual pace, and with a burst of power Haruma swung his foot, sending the ball soaring away from the nets, back into the play. 'What a saveeeee! Haruma just saved the entire Hanaka from a certain defeat!' 'That substitute has just pulled off a blinder of a save!' Masaru, standing in the center, watched the scene with wide eyes, when suddenly a realization hit him. He immediately sprinted towards the ball, taking a leap, controlling the ball with his chest before letting it drop at his feets. Claiming the possession Masaru noticed a few Ryugen players already closing in on him, he quickly glanced to his right then left, only to find Haruma with a powerful slide, sliding into the action, his face set with immense focus. The Hanaka crowd was left in total awe, unable to believe such speed from Haruma covering a big distance in seconds. Rukia was in stunned disbelief, standing on her feets, her wide opened eyes fixed only on Haruma. "Is he teleporting?" One of her friends gasped, stunned by the spectacle. Masaru immediately passed the ball to Haruma who surged at the ball and struck it with overwhelming power, sending it soaring through the air, heading straight to Toru. At first Toru hesitated but then began taking a step back to position himself but then stopped in his tracks, realizing the ball was heading straight at him with perfect precision and blistering speed. Some Ryugen players leaped into the air, desperately trying to intercept it with a header, but their efforts were in vain. Toru, standing near the net leaped up into the air aiming for the header, the ball coming right towards him. He connects the ball with a header sending it hurtling towards the nets, but Kurogami reacts in an instant, moving with lightning speed and deflecting the ball away. The Hanaka crowds with visible frustration sank back to their seats. But Haruma, still focused, immediately sprinted back to his position. With 15 minutes remaining in the game, a determined Ryugen winger sent a quick pass to the striker who was ready to collect it, but just as the ball was about to reach him Haruma came sliding in from the side, his leg outstretched, intercepting the pass, leaving both wingers in frustration. The winger, furious at losing the ball, gritted his teeths and shouted "Give it back!" He slid his foot in for a tackle, but before his foot could reach the ball, Haruma controlled the ball on his feet and took a sharp turn around that winger, beating past that winger, leaving him in his dust. The Hanaka crowds watched Haruma in awe, before erupting into cheers. Haruma's face was set with intense focus as he calmly sent the pass forward to his teammates. That winger, along with the rest of the Ryugen team was staring at him in frustration, but Haruma remained unfazed by any of their stares. 'This substitute player named Haruma is actually giving a tough time to Ryugen High!' 'Indeed. The Ryugen High strikers now have to push themselves, if they really want to get past this boy!' The game continued with a Ryugen High left winger charging at the net, smoothly dribbling the ball past defenders, as he neared the nets he noticed a few defenders still in his path, he slightly glanced over his shoulder and saw Haruma charging at him with a sharp focused gaze. The winger flinched before sending a pass to his striker. As the ball was heading to the striker Haruma's focused gaze followed the ball, and as he noticed the striker preparing to take a shot. In the middle of his run, Haruma changed his direction and charged towards the striker. As that striker's foot reached the ball, Haruma's foot shot out, swiftly blocking the shot. But that striker faked, and firmly held the ball under his foot. "You fucking fool!" The striker yelled with seething anger, before swiftly passing the ball back to his left winger who was already charging towards it. As Haruma tried to sprint at the winger, the striker firmly pressed his arm on Haruma's chest, halting his sprint. Turning his intense eyes on Haruma, that striker smirked and said, "If you try to move, I'll kill you... just like your buddies!" Haruma remained still, his eyes cold, his face completely expressionless. With a furious roar, the winger charged at the ball and struck it with all his might sending it soaring towards the nets. The Haruma crowds rose to their feet, holding their breaths in anxious anticipation. Rukia's gaze followed the ball, watching it soaring towards the net, her eyes wide with tension. The panicked goalkeeper scrambled to position and made a weak dive. As the ball neared the net, a pair of golden boots stomped on ground and leaped up high soaring high into the air into, heading the ball far out of the play. The boy landed effortlessly on the ground, settling in a crouched position with both feet firmly planted on the ground, his back displaying the name Haruma. The striker, Toru, Shino, Masaru, and the rest of the Ryugen high players were frozen with their jaws dropped and face frozen in disbelief. Meanwhile, Kurogami watched the game with cold serious eyes. Tears of overwhelming emotions streamed down Haruma's mother's face, and with a trembling smile she let out a big chant of "Ha-ru-ma!" Immediately after her, the entire Hanaka crowd erupted, jumping to their feets in thunderous roars of cheers. Mio was enthusiastically bouncing up and down on her seat over and over, cheering for Haruma with pure joy and uncontainable excitement. Her father, sitting beside her, was watching Haruma with a bright, wide smile. Rukia was momentarily frozen with shock before her emotions exploded and she joined the others in the storm roars and cheers. 'It's Haruma, once again at his very best!' 'Where did he even come from? I didn't see him anywhere near when the shot was taken' The commenters voice filled with amazement. Haruma rose to his feet, and glanced back, over his shoulder, spotting that striker down on one knee, drenched in sweat, gasping for air, his face etched with utter disbelief.