Chapter 27: Now It’s My Rise!

Chapter 27 - Now It's My Rise!As the ball was soaring to the left, Toru came charging in, his face set with unrelenting focus, leaving Hanaka crowd's in immense anticipation Kurogami slightly flinched and with a quick fluid movement, he shifted his feet to the left and sprinted towards Toru. Already in the three final minutes of stoppage time, the ball reached Toru, his face set with sheer determination, he swung his right foot with all his might, his mind racing with thought. "This time I'll score! for Hanaka, for my team, for Rukia! I will score!" With a furious roar of rage, Toru connects the ball with brute force, sending it flying towards the nets. All the crowd's eyes intently fixed on the ball, watching it going towards the exposed net. Toru was still in shooting posture, his gaze nervously fixed on the ball sailing towards the exposed net. Just as the ball reached the goalline, Kurogami came diving in the air, his arm outstretched wide, his face a mask of calmed focus. The crowds gasped, their collective breath caught in disbelief, while Toru remained in his shooting stance gazing at Kurogami with wide eyes. Kurogami, with an outstretched arm, hit the ball hard with such power that the ball went flying far back to the play. The entire Hanaka crowd fell in stunned silence, Rukia, Masaru, Shino, the coach, everyone's breath caught their throat. The moment hanging heavy in the air. Toru, unable to face the reality, closed his eyes, causing the scene to consume into darkness. "I failed? we lost?" his voice thick with sorrow, echoed in the darkness. "Not yet!" Shattering the darkness, Haruma, from the center of the field, threw himself forward high up in the air with his leg outstretched for a perfect volley, the ball and his foot closing the distance. (Time Slowed!) The commentators were on their feets, leaning over the desk, eyes wide and mouth agape, watching Haruma's incredible jump. From the stands, Kento was frozen in awe, his jaw slack and eyes almost popping out, struggling to believe the sheer brilliance from Haruma. Rukia's heart was pounding fiercely, gazing at Haruma with a blank face of disbelief. Haruma's mother was watching with wide, teared up eyes, her hands covering her mouth was trembling with emotions. overwhelmed by the sight of his son. Haruma's face etched with intensity beyond belief, locked his eyes on the ball hovering in mid-air alongside him. Suddenly, the scene dimmed, consumed by darkness. "Harumaaaa!" a firm male voice thundered through the darkness, "You are just as miserable as your mother is!" "After all, a pathetic, worthless woman could only give birth to a pathetic, good for nothing son, like you!" Seven year old Haruma was standing quietly before her mother, who was huddling in the corner of the room, her head hanging low with her shoulder shaking with silent sobs. Haruma with his eyes wide with uncertainty was gazing at his mother. Haruma then began extending his small hand towards his mother. Just as his hand was about to reach his mother, that man's cold, harsh voice echoed in his mind. "Your mother's belief in you is nothing but just a hollow dream! A pathetic delusion to cover up her own shame!" Seven-year-old Haruma's trembling hand reached under his mother's chin and he slowly raised her head. Her face was a canvas of brutality, bruises, cuts, and marks of violence were all over her face, her silent sobs wrecking her fragile frame, her tears mingling with blood, a haunting testament of her pain. Haruma stood frozen, eyes wide with shock, gazing at his mother with his face blank and pale. World around him began to darkened, until the darkness consumed everything. "No!" Haruma's cold firm voice echoed through the darkness. "My mother's belief is not a hollow dream! I will prove you wrong! I will prove you wrong even if it means giving up on my life or even tearing apart my soul! I'll prove you wrong! You hear me? I'll make you remember that I am a Striker like no one else! I am Harumaaaa!" With a furious, soul ripping scream Haruma struck the ball in mid-air with such strength and raw power which bent the ball's trajectory, the impact behind the connection sent shock waves of energy across the stadium, leaving every spectator with a spine-tingling sensation. Haruma, holding his volley kick pose in mid-air with his foot still bending the ball, In that instant, a pair of enormous golden wings emerged from his back, spreading through the field. Kento and Haruma's mother's eyes snapped open in sheer disbelief, as if only they were the only ones able to see the miraculous appearance of the golden wings. With glowing golden wings spread wide across his back, Haruma's face was a mask of raw fury. Striking the ball in a perfect volley, he swung his foot, sending a missile of a shot, back towards the net. The ball was traveling the distance, carrying the weight of Haruma's tears, his struggle, his suffering, his failures, leaving them all behind. And in the next moment, the ball crashed into the back of the nets, leaving Kurogami with wide stunned eyes, still lying on the ground, in the posture of his recent save. He couldn't even react. The ball dropped inside the goal line, and the final whistle sliced through the pin drop silence of the stadium. Kento was paralyzed in shock, his jaw dropped, beads of sweat trickling down his face. Haruma's mother remained seated, with her eyes wide open, hands covering her mouth, tears filling her eyes. Rukia was stunned into silence, her eyes popping out, her entire body still numb with the intensity of that final goal. One of the commentators slammed his hand on the desk with all his might. 'Harumaaaaaaaaa!' he shouted out loud, his voice bursting with all the energy he had left. Haruma landed on his feets, clenched his both fist tight, and in swift motion he snapped his head up at the sky. "Yaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" He roars out loud with his might, as if releasing all the frustration he was carrying for years, his roar had such raw intensity that it could shake the earth beneath him. The silent stadium was echoing with his roar, and before his roar could end, the Hanaka crowds erupted in bursts of fervent, enthusiastic roars, blending with Haruma's roar in a surge of pure unbridled energy. Kento stumbled back and collapsed on his seat, unable to believe what he just witnessed. Rukia, her emotions surging erupted into ecstatic cheers, with tears streaming down her cheeks she was fervently bouncing on her feets, celebrating the victory with every ounce of her energy. Haruma's mother was still on her seat, sobbing her heart out, her head hung low, hand pressed tightly against her face, her sobs muffled and lost in the sea of celebration and cheers around her... Inside an office, laughter was echoing when a fist got shot up high. It was Takinami laughing out of joy, holding a phone in his hand which covered the game live... Back to the field, Haruma's roar halted and he lowered his head, side-raising his hands in a cold silent celebration. Just then Masaru came running, leaping on Haruma's back and wrapping his arm around him in a tight embrace. While Haruma was still in his cold celebration's stance. Toru, Shino and the entire team surged in engulfing Haruma in fervent group embrace, their laughter and roar filling the air. And in the end, Milo, the white haired boy leaped on top of the pile, raising his arm high and let out a thunderous roar of victory, his celebration igniting the already charged atmosphere... The shiny winning trophy was now presented to Toru, who took it with a big smile thanking the presenter. While the entire Hanaka team stood behind Toru, excited and ready to celebrate. As the presenter walks away, Toru's team rushed forward, joining their captain. Now Toru in the center of the excitement raised the trophy high, cheers erupted from Hanaka crowds, echoing throughout the stadium. But amid the celebrations only one thing was missing, Haruma wasn't there... "Yeahhhhhh!" The unified cheers of Hanaka players shook the walls of the dressing room, where all the players were gathered in their casual attire with a mix of chatter and laughter filling the air, and at the center of it all stood Toru. Holding the trophy in one arm and Rukia leaning on the other, her smile as bright as his. With a smile Toru raised his voice above the chatter, "Alright guys, it's time to leave, and don't be late for tomorrow's celebrations. It's all on the captain!" A roar of cheer erupted from the team, the players clapping and exchanging excited high-fives all around, began their preparation to leave, the room was buzzing with excitement. Amid the lively atmosphere, Rukia with a smile glanced at Toru, "What about Haruma?" she asked warmly Toru turned to her and replied, "He's going to be a special guest and I'll personally pick him up from his house." Rukia smiled and nodded softly, though her eyes still held a hint of worry... Exchanging laughter and lighthearted banger, Toru's friend circle along with Rukia and Masaru came out of the stadium. The winning Trophy was still in Toru's hands as they made their way to their cars. As they walked ahead, their laughter faded as their gaze landed on Haruma, silently leaning on a wall not far from them. Confusion spread among the group, as they were gazing at Haruma with an uncertain look. Haruma, sensing their presence, turned his head to them with a serious look. Toru and his friends then began approaching Haruma, who stood straight, maintaining his gaze on them. They all came and stood before Haruma. Rukia's gaze immediately fell on his chin which was still temporarily bandaged up with blood slightly trickling down. A wave of worry washed over her, as she quickly looked up at Haruma who was locking eyes with Toru.