Chapter 73 - 404 7

Haruma’s blood sprayed through the air, as he winced silently on the ground holding his bleeding chin. The referee’s whistle echoed sharply through the stadium before he sprinted towards Haruma. ’That was a vicious foul! This could lead to serious repercussions for both player and the team.’ The referee hurried to Haruma’s side, kneeling to check on him, who was wincing in visible pain. That striker stood nearby, watching Haruma with a slight smirk, "Die you Moron!" he spat Haruma’s mother clasped her hands over her mouth and tears began to stream down her cheeks, "Haruma..." she whispered, her voice breaking with emotions. Mio was in stunned silence, watching Haruma with wide shocked eyes. Suddenly her father quickly picked her up in his arms, turning her face away from the scene, holding her tight, not letting her see. Rukia was standing motionless, her mouth slightly open in shock as her eyes remained locked on Haruma, she blinked and instinctively touched her cheeks, realizing there were tears streaming down her face. Toru and Shino with worried faces rushed at Haruma, checking in on him. At the same time, Masaru came running and shoved that striker backwards with visible anger. "Hey! what the fuck is wrong with you! Why can’t you play clean and fair you bastard!" Masaru shouted furiously. The striker, unfazed, simply stared back at him with a smug smile. The referee stepped in, positioning himself between them, he immediately pulled out a red card holding it up for the striker. Maintaining his smirk, the striker started walking backwards, off to the field, unbothered by the card. As the medic was examining Haruma he urgently called out, "Hurry, he needs immediate treatment, send in the substitution now!" The referee nodded, and raised his hand to signal the coach for his substitution, but just as his gesture was about to be made, Haruma grabbed the referee’s arm mid-motion, leaving him stunned. The medic, Toru and Shino were stunned, gazing at Haruma. Masaru fiercely stared at that striker, who was retreating with a smirk constant on his face. But suddenly that striker abruptly stopped, his smirked vanished and his eyes widened in shock. leaving Masaru momentarily puzzled. Rukia’s eyes grew wider in disbelief, her heart got heavy, as she let out a sigh of disbelief Haruma’s mother’s eyes widened in shock and her sobs abruptly stopped, replaced by a heavy silence. Mio’s father stood in stunned disbelief, his face expressionless, eyes slowly widening in horror, his jaw hanging open as he was observing the unbelievable sight before him. Masaru, visibly confused, scanned the crowds in front of him only to find everyone in stunned silence, mouths hanging open, their eyes locked on something behind him. Masaru slowly turned around and his eyes began to widen in disbelief. Haruma was now sitting on his one knee, his head bowed in a maniac way, his fist pressed against the grass, blood dripping from his face. With a slow deliberate motion, Haruma pushed himself up, rising to his feet, his head still lowered with blood dripping from his chin. Haruma slowly lifted his head up revealing his face carved with intense focus and determination, his chin was split open with blood trickling down onto his torn jersey, which was ripped open at the chest. With a deep sigh Haruma released a big cloud of fog into the cold air. The sight sent a chill down Masaru’s spine, witnessing Haruma in such a raw, intense condition. The commentators, completely shocked and unable to process the sight before them, stammered in disbelief, ’This boy... How is he back on his feets?’ 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. "Mother," Haruma’s voice was soft, yet carrying a quiet intensity, "Start counting!" he said in a determined voice. The mother’s sobs deepend, her body trembling more with each passing moment, as if the words of his words left her unable to stand still. Toru, Masaru and the others were watching the scene with wide stunned eyes. While Rukia was watching with a look of quiet concern, tears slightly welling up in her eyes, her heart heavy as she took in the raw emotions between mother and son. Haruma’s mother, overwhelmed with desperate sobs, began to shake, her body struggling to stay upright under the weight of her emotions. Rukia, noticing Haruma’s mother’s struggle, immediately moved towards her, and with gentle hands she supported her, gently guiding her to a nearby bench. Once there, Rukia carefully helped her sit, her hands softly stroking her back in a comforting rhythm, as the sobs continued to shake Haruma’s mother, her tears flowing freely. Haruma with his expression still stoic, straightened up, holding the trophy firmly in his hands, he began walking back towards Toru. Once there, Without a word, Haruma gives the trophy back to Toru, his eyes locked onto his.