Chapter 25: And Rise!

Chapter 25 - And Rise!Haruma, staring at that kneeling defender, began walking towards him with deliberate steps until he stood directly in front of him, their eyes locked in tense unspoken confrontation. Fixing him with a cold, serious gaze, Haruma spoke in a chilling calm, "If I wasn't worried about giving you a free kick... I would have broken your ankle in an instant." That striker's eyes widened in shock, he was seeing the dark, menacing intensity burning in Haruma's eyes. Haruma then turned his back on that kneeling striker and began walking towards the gathered Toru, Shino and Masaru, who were gazing at him with wide stunned eyes. As Haruma was walking towards his teammates, that opposing left winger stepped into his path and intentionally slammed his shoulder on Haruma's. Haruma slightly staggered back but in instant he forcefully shoved that winger back with equal raw power, both players stumble back but quickly regain their footings, standing firm, both locked eyes in tense, defiant face to face Both the Ryugen and Hanaka crowds erupted in roars, their voices a mix of curse and cheers, the atmosphere got charged with energy. 'Now there's the heat! The aggression! something Hanaka was desperately missing!' The commentator's voice echoed with energy. "Absolutely, and the fans are definitely loving it. This game is definitely heating up in its final minutes!" Haruma and that winger then began walking away, each still maintaining their intense stare at each other, giving each other a silent send-off. "What the hell!" One of Rukia's females exclaimed, her gaze filled with lust and longing fixed on Haruma, "How did no one ever tell me that Haruma was this hot!" Rukia's eyes snapped open in surprise, her face flushing red. "Yeah, he is really hot and definitely my type!" another one of her friends chimed in, lusting over Haruma. Haruma now walked over and stood before the big three of Hanaka, who were staring at him in disbelief. After a moment Masaru broke into a smile and playfully punched his shoulder. "Why didn't you tell me you were such a beast of a defender!" Masaru said with a smile. With a serious look, Haruma replied, "I didn't know myself, Maybe it was my destiny to play as a defender!" Toru slightly smiled and said, "I'm glad to have another solid defender on our side!" Masaru smiled warmly before saying, "Yeah, but we still need a plan for that Kurogami!" Both Toru and Masaru's faces turned a bit concerned and serious, thinking something. Just then Toru's expressions softened, his concern fading into a warm smile, "I don't know if we will win or not," his voice filled with sincerity "But I'm just very happy that I've got to play with you all, I'm enjoying playing with all of you, and I want to keep playing together." Masaru and Shino gave Toru a warm smile and a nod. Suddenly, Haruma made a sharp turn, turning his back on them, causing their expressions to shift into confusion. "Haruma?" Masaru muttered, puzzled by the unexpected move. Haruma then glanced over his shoulder and with a sharp tone he coldly began, "I'm not here to enjoy! I'm here to win! and that's exactly what I'm gonna do, with... or without any of you!" Masaru, Toru and Shino's eyes shot open in disbelief, gazing at him with wide stunned eyes, feeling the raw intensity emanating from Haruma... The whistle blew, signalling the corner kick, as the opposing player took the corner kick and launched the ball towards the nets, all the players leaped attempting a header, but Haruma rose above all, heading the ball away from the nets, sending it flying clear, earning a big cheer from crowds. Haruma landed firmly on the ground, and quickly shifted his eyes on the clock with only eight minutes left, his expressions hardened with resolve. "I have to do something!" he thought, "I can't hold them back for extra time! I have to win this in eight minutes!" he looked up with his eyes burning with determination, fixing his gaze at the weak play of his teammates. Without another thought, Haruma began sprinting forward, raising his hand silently asking for the possession. The Hanaka player with the ball, quickly spots Haruma and sends the ball at him, who controls it with perfection. 'Haruma has the ball again! he must've some plan!' Haruma's mothers and Rukia were watching Haruma with bated breaths, their nervous gaze solely fixed on Haruma. Haruma was charging forward with the ball, when suddenly an opposing player slid his foot in, attempting for a tackle, but Haruma effortlessly dribbled past him, leaving the frustrated defender in his wake. Without missing a beat Haruma continued his sprint at the net. 'Is Haruma going for the goal? A defender going for a goal?' The commentator's voice rang with excitement. Noticing many players ahead, Haruma's face hardened, "I can't dribble past them all!" he thought, just then he spotted Toru charging towards the nets. Clenching his jaw in frustration, Haruma unwantedly launched a pass to Toru. Toru effortlessly seized the ball and charged at the nets where Kurogami stood ready. Charging at the nets Toru dribbles past a few defenders along the way. Hanaka's crowds, players, and the coach were watching Toru with tense silence. As Toru was charging forward, a few defenders began closing in on him, but determined Toru, kept charging at the nets. Suddenly a defender appeared, blocking Toru's path, but with quick feet, Toru skilfully dribbled past him, seeing an opening at the nets. He took a swing at the ball, but just as the shot was about to be made, another defender appeared out of nowhere intercepting the ball with a sudden tackle. Toru was momentarily stunned by the unexpected tackle. While Haruma's face hardened with frustration. That defender launched the ball soaring through the air, before it landed on the feets of an opposing striker who was standing in the center. With a smirk that striker glanced over his shoulder, fixing his eyes on Haruma, who was staring back at him with a frustrated look. Maintaining his smirk, the striker sprinted towards the nets. Haruma's frustration flared, and without missing any second he broke into an explosive sprint, chasing after him. Both sides of the crowds erupted in cheer, each side fervently backing their players in a tense moment. 'The chase is on! Both players are pushing past their speeding limits here at the final minutes of the finals' Haruma's mothers was sitting anxiously, her eyes fixed on her son with a mix of nervousness and hope. Meanwhile, Mio, filled with the same energy, was passionately cheering for Haruma. As the striker was charging towards the instinctively glanced over his shoulder, expecting Haruma running behind him but suddenly his smirk faded when he saw no sign of Haruma. Before he could process it Haruma emerged from the sides, sliding on his one leg, tackling the ball away from the striker's feet. The crowds, Commentators and coaches were watching the moment with their jaws hanging open. Fueled by rage, that striker let out a furious roar and swung his foot... not at the ball, but at Haruma! who was still down in a sliding position. With brute force, the striker's foot connected with Haruma's chest, the studs of his boot digging deep into the fabric of Haruma's shirt. The striker didn't stop there, following through the swing, ripping the shirt, his foot grazed Haruma's chin, splitting his skin open, causing the blood to spatter into the air.