roccoschili Chapter 117 117: His Name On The Screen
Chapter 117 117: His Name On The Screen
Everyone in the room remained frozen, disbelief written across their faces, eyes wide, the shock settling in silence as Masaru sat there, his phone still ringing in his hand.Toru leaned forward slightly. "Put it on speaker," he said, urgency slipping into his voice.
Masaru gave a small nod. Drawing a steady breath, he answered the call and lifted the phone closer, bringing the microphone near his mouth.
"Hey… Haruma?"
For a brief moment, there was only silence.
Then a voice came through.
"Hey, Masaru. How are you?"
It was Haruma.
Masaru's eyes stayed slightly widened, still processing. Beside him, Toru leaned in, intent on every word, while a soft, genuine smile settled on Rukia's face.
"I-I'm fine… yeah, I'm fine. How about you?" Masaru replied, his voice carrying a mix of urgency and nerves.
"I'm good too," Haruma answered, his voice steady over the line. "Just woke up late."
Masaru's expression softened into a warm smile. "Man… I watched you. You really won, Haruma."
His eyes began to glisten, emotion rising faster than he could hold back.
"Not quite yet," Haruma replied, his tone calm, almost gentle. "But yeah… we won."
A quiet laugh slipped out of Masaru as tears began to fall. Rukia, seated beside him, smiled softly and reached over, rubbing his back in a steady, comforting motion.
Masaru managed a smile, quickly wiping at his tears before speaking again.
"I-I… I mean we've planned something." His voice was unsteady, "At Hanaka High… the principal, Toru and all of us, we've planned an event. We'd really like it if you could come. It's… for your return. A celebration."
A brief silence followed. On the other end, Haruma said nothing.
Masaru's grip tightened slightly around the phone, unease creeping in as the pause stretched. Around him, Toru and the others stayed fixed in place, eyes locked on the call, waiting.
"Yeah. Sure." Haruma's response came simply.
A ripple of surprise passed through the group. Rukia's expression lit up instantly, her smile brightening, while Toru let out a breath, a faint grin forming on his face.
Masaru, who had been holding his breath finally exhaled. A smile slowly spread across his face.
"Thank you, thank you, Haruma. It's going to be so much fun," he said with clear joy in his voice.
"Yeah, it will be," Haruma replied. "Honestly… I really missed all of you. The school, that park where I used to train, our drills, playing together, I've missed it."
Masaru's vision blurred as his eyes filled again. A quiet, disbelieving laugh escaped him before he leaned forward, urgency returning to his voice.
"Yeah yeah, I missed it too. All of it," Masaru said, his voice unsteady but bright. "We'll relive those days, I promise."
A small smile stayed on his face. "I really can't wait to see you again. And, Haruma… there's
one more thing."
"What is it?" Haruma asked, casual as ever.
Masaru took a breath, a soft, nervous laugh slipping out.
"Um… the principal wants a friendly match." He paused briefly before continuing, "You know, between the winners of the All-School Cup… and the winners of the U17 JFC."
A faint chuckle followed, unable to hide his excitement.
"Hanaka High against the U17 Tokyo Wolves." He hesitated at the end, the words catching slightly. "So, would you…"
Anticipation built in the room, the air tightening as everyone leaned in, waiting.
After a brief pause, Haruma finally spoke.
"Yeah… it would be fun, but—"
The shift was immediate, the energy dipped, tension slipping in as the word hung unfinished.
Masaru's brows drew together, unease creeping onto his face while the others stayed fixed on the phone.
"But…" Haruma repeated, more quietly this time before continuing, "the problem is, the players left the academy this morning. They've gone back to their hometowns, to spend some time with their families."
Masaru's expression faltered, a mix of disappointment and unease settling in.
"But don't worry," Haruma added quickly, pulling Masaru's attention back to the phone.
"There's still me, and a few others here at the academy. We've got some things to wrap up. So it won't be the full squad… but I can bring a few with me."
The shift was instant as the relief broke across Masaru's face, his expression lighting up with renewed excitement. Toru, unable to hold it in, threw an arm up in quiet celebration, while Rukia's smile widened, her eyes shining with anticipation
"Yeah, that'll be great. Thank you, Haruma… thank you," Masaru said, his voice alive with barely contained excitement.
A soft chuckle came through the line.
"Sure," Haruma replied, "but Friday… We can only make it Friday evening. Three days from now."
"Yeah, yeah, no problem," Masaru answered quickly. "Friday it is. We'll take care of everything… and we'll be waiting. Just don't show up late, alright?"
A faint warmth lingered in Haruma's voice as he replied, "Don't worry. I'll be on time."
Masaru nodded quickly, a bright smile still on his face. "Great. You should get some rest now, our star must be exhausted. I'll go start the preparations… and thank you again."
A soft laugh came through the line. "No problem. See you."
"See you," Masaru replied, before ending the call.
The moment the call ended, Masaru shot up from his seat, a loud cheer breaking from him as he surged with energy.
Toru and the others were on their feet in an instant, rushing in and pulling him into a tight group hug. Their cheers filled the room, a burst of raw excitement spilling out without restraint.
Rukia and the other girls watched from the side, soft giggles escaping as they took in the scene.
Masaru laughed, arms raised above his head, while Toru grinned, holding onto him along with the others as their voices blended into a single wave of celebration…
Two days passed and now it was Friday.
A ball rolled into view, from where Masaru came sprinting forward, striking it cleanly, sending it soaring high into the sky, drawing a wave of cheers from the crowd gathered on Hanaka High's home ground.
The field was packed with students filling every corner of the stands, not a single space left empty. Some held banners marked with the number 22, while others carried signs reading "Welcome Back Haruma."
The air was alive with noise, cheers, chants, and restless excitement building with every passing second.
A large screen had been set up at the corner of the field, playing highlights from the U17 JFC finals, clips of Haruma scoring, celebrating, and driving the match with relentless energy.
As the ball dropped, Masaru positioned himself beneath it, bringing it under control with precise touch before sending a clean pass forward.
Toru received it smoothly, trapping the ball under his foot. A calm, warm smile rested on his face.
Across the field, the Hanaka High team stood together in casual attire, relaxed but clearly energized. Every face carried a smile, their anticipation building as they prepared for what was to come.
The principal, alongside the coach of Hanaka high, Kenta, and several other authorities, sat in a refined yet modest arrangement along the sidelines.
Among them sat Haruma's mother, her posture composed yet her eyes filled with quiet pride.
As the roar of the crowd slowly began to fade into a steady hum, the principal stepped forward.
Standing there for a moment, scanning the sea of students, players, and guests before bringing the microphone closer to his mouth.
"Settle down and keep your calm, everyone," the principal continued, his voice carrying clearly across the field, "the time is almost here. Haruma and the team will be arriving any moment now, and when they do, let's make sure we show them just how welcome they truly are. Raise your hands, and let's give them a cheer they'll never forget."
His words kept echoing through the ground, the crowd remained alive with energy, murmurs rippling through the packed stands, whispers of anticipation passing from one group to another like a current. Every student stood ready, waiting for the moment their voices would erupt together.
On the sidelines, coach Kenta and the other officials watched on with steady focus. Haruma's mother sat with a gentle, proud smile resting on her face, her eyes reflecting quiet emotion.
Among the crowds, Rukia stood quietly, wearing a hoodie, her posture calm, and a bright smile playing on her face. Her eyes shining as she tried, and barely managed, to contain the excitement building within her.
The gathered Hanaka High players spread across the field, easing into their warmup drills, some stretching their legs, others passing the ball lightly between them, while a few exchanged quiet words, their smiles carrying a mix of focus and excitement.
Toru, standing near the center with a calm yet commanding presence, finished his stretches and clapped his hands once.
"Alright everyone, bring it in here!" he called out.
His voice carried across the pitch, and one by one, the team began to gather, jogging toward him. They formed a tight circle, the atmosphere shifting from casual to focused in an instant.
Among them stood Shino, who left the city earlier but just returned for this specific match. His eyes were reflecting determination as he stood alongside his teammates.
Toru let out a steady breath, his gaze moving across each of his teammates before he spoke again, his voice firm and grounded.
"Alright… this is the biggest match of our lives," he began, "the team we're facing isn't just any team, they're the champions of the U17 JFC."
A brief silence followed, the weight of his words settling over the circle.
"So yeah… on paper, we might not have any chance of winning," He continued, his tone unwavering, "But that doesn't mean we're walking out there to lose. We're not going to back down… We will fight."
Around him, the team listened without a word. Masaru stood still, his gaze locked firmly on Toru, every trace of hesitation replaced with focus. Shino gave a small, quiet nod, his expression calm but resolute, fully in sync with the moment.
Toru's gaze moved across the circle as he spoke, his tone sharpening with intent.
"We're sticking with the same strategy we used in the All-School Cup," he said, "no unnecessary risks, play tight, don't give them any openings. Stay close, keep pressing for the ball, and don't let Haruma get comfortable on it."
He paused briefly, letting the weight of his words settle in.
"If we're going to prove ourselves here, I want everything you've got, one hundred and ten percent. Got it?"
A firm silence followed before every player around the circle nodded in unison, their expressions steady, eyes filled with focus and resolve.
Toru's face softened just slightly as a confident smile formed. He gave a small nod, then added,
"And one more thing, don't think of them as National Champions."
His voice lowered, but the message remained clear.
"Don't let that title get to your head. Once you step on that field, they're just another team. Nothing more."
The team stood still for a brief moment, the atmosphere tightening once more, but this time, it was filled with purpose rather than pressure.
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
The principal's voice rang out sharply across the field, cutting clean through the tension and pulling every gaze toward the sidelines.
Toru and the rest of the Hanaka High team instinctively turned their heads, the huddle loosening as all attention shifted to the principal.