Chapter 61: Running Riot!

Chapter 61: Running Riot!Haruma sprinted across the field, leaping into the air, pumping his clenched fist with a fierce, "YAAAHHHHHHH!" ’GOOOOOOOAAAL’ In a flash the stadium erupted into thunderous cheers, the air ignited with wild energy. Takanami threw his both arms high up in the sky, letting out an enthusiastic roar out of overwhelmed pride. Besides him, Haruma’s mother’s sobs grew, covering her face to muffle the sound of her sobs. Out of overwhelming excitement, Kento began bouncing on his feets, waving the cheering sign. Mio on his shoulder raised her signs above her head, her face glowing with a bright beaming smile. Back from the Kento’s residence, Ayane was staring at the screen with wide eyes, jaw slightly dropped, her pen hovering motionless above her notes. Back in the stands, Masaru’s face remained frozen in disbelief when suddenly he clenched his fist and exploded into loud ecstatic cheer. Besides him, a big, bright glowing smile slowly spread across Rukia’s face as she broke into applause, soft giggles escaping out of her excitement. Toru and his friends were left speechless, standing frozen with their eyes wide, jaws dropped still processing what they just saw. Minato stood clapping proudly with a broad smile stretched across his face, while Raon was already on the edge of the dugout, pumping his fists into the air, roaring with excitement feuling the team’s celebrations. Just behind them both, Shiori was standing, watching with wide awe filled eyes, a bright smile glowing on her face. Inside the VIP box, a heavy silence was hanging heavy. Shuya gripping his glass tightly was leaning forward, towards the field, jaw dropped in utter shock. Besides him, Ameha sat frozen, her wide eyes remained locked on the field. Haruma landed firmly on his feets before letting out another fierce roar. Within moments Jiho, Izaya and Nagisa came running in, leaping onto Haruma’s back, one by one the entire team came in as wave wrapping Haruma in a sea of hugs, all ruffling his hair patting his back. With crossed arms, Kurogami was still standing in front of the nets, a wide smirk tugging at his lips, watching his teammates celebrate... The play resumed with Nagisa having the possession, gliding forward with sharp controlled movements, when suddenly a Fukuoka defender lunged in for a tackle, but with effortless finesse, Nagisa dribble past him, leaving that defender behind, in his wake, earning a big round of cheers from the crowds for his brilliant skills. A few defenders kept their chase behind Nagisa, sensing danger, Nagisa sent a beautiful curling pass to his left. Several Fukuoka players stretched their legs to intercept but the ball weaved through everyone, reaching perfectly at Izaya’s feets. Gaining control, Izaya swiftly scanned the field before launching a long, arching pass forward. Fukuoka players jumped to head the ball away. But the ball sailed cleanly over them, hitting the grass and rolling loosely ahead. Just as a Fukuoka defender charged towards it, closing the distance. In a burst of speed Haruma appeared next to that defender slamming his shoulder onto him with fierce momentum. The defender’s jaw tightened in frustration, slightly turning his eyes to Haruma who kept pressing his side on him. In a display of intense speed and raw power, both Haruma and the defender charged ahead towards the ball with relentless intensity, both shoving each other, jostling for dominance, neither willing to give an inch. The crowds went berserk with their cheers watching such an intense duel, the thunderous roars from them shaking the stadium. Masaru, Kento, Takanami were on the edge of their seats, cheering at the top of their lungs, lost in the intensity of the moment. Haruma, straining every muscle to power that defender away all while maintaining his balance, charging forward with a will of not giving up. As he instinctively looked up to find the goalkeeper racing towards the ball at full speed and another, additional defender sprinting to cover the open nets. The commentators caught in the intense moment shot up on their feets, their voices bursting with uncontainable excitement. ’It’s a full blown rush! It’s all out! Everyone’s going for the ball! It’s a collision! an all out collision!" From Kento’s residence, Ayane was now on her feets, her all attention now locked on the Tv, body tensed, expressions carved with intense anticipation. A wave of goosebumps ran down her body as the moment caught him completely. Haruma, that defender and The goalkeeper all charging towards the ball for a furious collision course, neither of them slowing down. The goalkeeper rushed out at full speed, dived low in a desperate attempt to reach the ball. Just then Haruma’s eyes snapped open with intense focus. With perfect timing his foot reached the ball first nudging it upwards, shoving that defender away at the same time. The ball just went flying over that diving goalkeeper, while that defender lost his balance. The goalkeeper, unable to control his momentum, crashed on Haruma’s legs. But just before the goalkeeper crashes, Haruma jumps slightly, barely launching himself above the diving goalkeeper. The goalkeeper’s momentum clipped him mid-air, sending Haruma crashing forward, tumbling over as the keeper slid right past beneath him. Haruma crashed hard onto the turf, his knees and elbows scraping across the grass as he kept tumbling forward, but in one motion he thrust his one leg out forward managing to connect the ball with the sole of his foot, firing it with blistering speed straight towards the nets. That additional defender who was running to cover the nets was assuming it would be easy clearance once Haruma would fall. But panic struck him as he saw the ball approaching the nets like a bullet. He desperately outstretched his leg towards the ball to block, but he missed. The ball blazed past and slammed into the back of the nets. In a flash, the entire stadium erupted into a frenzy of wild celebration. Jiho let out a fierce roar, leaping on his feets before exploding into a full sprint towards the fallen Haruma. From the dugout, Raon with uncontainable joy roared with pure adrenaline, before jumping onto Minato’s shoulder, who was beaming with pride, clapping out loud with unwavering joy. Shiori next to them was completely thrilled, clapping out loud with complete delight, a radiant smile shining bright on her face. Raya, overwhelmed with genuine joy, lowered his head and charged towards Haruma at full speed, a smile of pure pride spread across his face. Overwhelmed with a surge of excitement, Takanami burst into enthusiastic applause, shouting out with joy before a wide smile spread across his lip, reflecting both pride and joy. Back from the Kento’s residence, a big wave of cheers and applause erupted from Ayane’s room, the sound of her celebration echoing across her room. In the VIP box, Ameha shot up at her feets unleashing an energetic roar of celebrations, her face lit up with exhilaration. Besides her, Shuya was slumped small on his seat. Down on the field, Kabuto with a roar of his own ran towards Haruma, hyping the crowds on his way to cheer louder. Kento with his eyes wide, blazing with excitement, erupted into the chants of Haruma’s name with fierce pride, his voice cutting through the noises around. First, the people around him, then row after row joined in, until the entire stadium thundered with just one name. ’Haruma, Haruma, Haruma!’ Nagisa with both hands raised, a smile spread on his face was running towards Haruma. When, just from his behind, Itsuki appeared matching Nagisa’s smile before leaping onto his side, now both of them, side by side, were sprinting towards Haruma, their energy blazing with celebration. Masaru lost in the moment and was cheering at the top of his lungs cheering wildly with immense joy. Next to him, Rukia was clapping with trembling hands, eyes filled with tears of joy. Meanwhile Toru and his friends sat frozen, their faces pale and stunned into silence. Toru with a blank face slowly looks up, scanning the roaring stadium which was buzzing over and over with just one chant, one name. ’Haruma!’ ’Haruma!’ ’Haruma!’ ’Haruma!’ ’Haruma!’ ’Haruma!’ ’Haruma!’ ’Haruma!’ ’Haruma!’ The name was filled across every corner of the stadium, crashing down on Toru from all sides. Between the electrifying roar of the crowds, with his name echoing from every corner of the stadium, Haruma gracefully rose to his feets, raising his arms to his side, looking up at the sky and unleashed a gut wrenching roar. Jiho came running, holding Haruma from his back, and lifted him off his feet, when in a flash the entire team stormed in crashing into them with a wave of joyous energy, engulfing Haruma in a wild energetic celebration. Amid the roaring celebrations from the crowds, Haruma’s mother remained seated, her face buried in her hands, overcome with emotion her tears were streaming silently through her trembling fingers as she struggled to contain her sobs, her body gently shaking, overwhelmed by the moment.