NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 12: Introspective
[Post-Match Analysis]
Goals: 4
Assist: 3
Stamina Management: A
Decision Making: A+
Overall Performance: A+
[Performance Reward: Level-Up One Skill]
Nice, an A+. That's pretty good. The skill level-up is awesome too. Now what to level up?
Who am I kidding? I only use one skill.
[Would You Like To Level-Up The Skill: One For All?]
I pressed 'yes' the moment the prompt appeared.
[Congratulations To The User For Leveling-Up Skill: One For All]
(Stats)
Host: Shizuka Haiji
Team: Team V
Position: Forward
[Rank: SR]
STR: B
AGI: B
SHO: A
SPE: A
VIS: B
END: A
[Skills]
One For All (Lv.3): When the going gets tough, you have to go beyond! PLUS ULTRA!
(Raise all stats by a single rank for 10 minutes) [Cooldown: 7 minutes]
Fa Jin (Lv.1): Build momentum, unleash power!
(Raises shooting stats by one rank for 5 seconds) [Cooldown: 3 minutes]
Smokescreen (Lv.1): Disappear in the chaos, reappear in control!
(Opponents within 5 meters lose track of you for 3 seconds.) [Cooldown: 2 minutes]
[Perks]
Resilient Frame: Resist minor fouls and physical challenges, making it harder for opponents to knock you off balance.
My eyes bulged at the upgrade. Half the cooldown time? That is insane! I'm boutta be malicious on the field.
I can feel my grin going wider and wider at the thought. Started to rub my hands and shit. I can't wait to test this on the field.
Then a thought occurred to me, why wait? Let's test this out now.
I walked over to the training field to see Tsunzaki practicing his shooting. "Yo Tsunzaki, wanna train together?"
Tsunzaki turned to me, surprise evident on his face. "Haiji? You always train by yourself. Why the sudden change of heart?"
"Oh, just wanted to try something different. You can say no," I said, fully aware he cannot in fact say no, actually. You see, as his declared rival, anything I ask of him, he will consider it a challenge. And Tsunzaki is not the type to back down from a challenge. Especially against his rival, i.e. me.
Tsunzaki punched his fist into his palm, "And backdown from a challenge by my rival? You would have to put me down first!"
Perfect victory. We prepared ourselves. First to score five wins. The ball was in my possession. With the ball at my feet, I took a deep breath before letting it out.
-----
(POV Change: 3rd Person)
They trained for 2 hours. After every five goals, Tsunzaki would always ask to go again and Haiji obliged. Haiji won most of these bouts. It didn't matter. It was thrilling to him. To play with and against someone so talented. It lit a fire under him. Although he was getting tired, he still wanted to continue. Maybe Haiji noticed it, or maybe not, but they had to stop because he called for a rest. So they rested there on the pitch.
It brought him great joy to train in these conditions, with such talented and driven players. He's always heard about talented people never working hard and he was glad Haiji wasn't that kind of person.
Glad that a no-name kid from a fishing village in Iwate was chosen for such a prestigious program. He was glad for the day that he fell in love with the sport. He was most glad to his father for always telling him to do what he loved.
His father was his hero. His father, the fisherman. The fisherman that scrounged up every bit of money he can get, so that his son could have cleats to play football. The fisherman that retired from amateur boxing due an injury to the head. A boxer that was left traumatized because of that injury.
When his father retired, seeing the broken man that it left him. Tsunzaki vowed to become a boxer for his father's dream. To fight in his father's place. But his father put a stop to that. Telling him to not fight for another man's dream, but to fight for his own. To become the man he wants to be. The man that he'll be proud of.
So Tsunzaki quit boxing. His father's words in his heart, Tsunzaki chased his dream to become a football player. To be the man he wants to be, the man his father would be proud of.
That's why, whatever happens in this program, he will survive. He is a fisherman's son and he will weather any storm that comes.
-----
(POV Change: Haiji's POV)
Whew. I'm telling you. Training with Tsunzaki can be mentally exhausting, but he's a great training partner.
Makes me sadder to remember that in the original story, he didn't get much limelight. Then a lightbulb popped over my head.
"Hey, Tsunzaki. How about I help you improve in some areas you want to improve?" I asked. I see his eyes shine like the sun.
I mean, me being here should've already changed a lot of things. Why not change it some more?
Why didn't I think of this earlier? Well duh, cause you're an idiot Haiji, that's why. Too wrapped in trying to do everything yourself that you forgot, these people you interact with are, well, people. People with backstories, their hopes and dreams. Their passion.
Honestly, I should kick my past self in the ass for not thinking this earlier. So dumb.
-----
We were in our locker room, preparing for our match against Team X. A team that, so far, has lost every single game. Each one a thrashing. Against Team Z, 3-0. Team W, 4-1. Their recent match against Team Y, 7-1.
Yeah, our confidence was through the roof. This would be a walk in the park.
Despite this, we still hyped each other up. In all the matches we've played so far, we never get a clean sheet. They don't really care about that. As long as we win, it's fine for them. But I no likey that. That's why I promised that if we get a clean sheet, I'll get everyone on the team, a steak dinner.
That seemed to do the trick, as everyone was pumped and ready. We walked out of the locker room, brimming with confidence. Ready to put Team X to the sword.
-----
The game ended 12-0.
Anti-climactic I know. Team X just didn't seem to have an answer to our counter attacking football. Well, they mostly didn't an answer to me spamming One For All throughout the match. So there's that. Not their fault they had to play against someone with a system.
I scored 9 in the match. Got 3 assist. Feels good to bully people sometimes.
I hope this feeling doesn't become a thing for me. Or has it already? I'm not sure.
Oh well, technically, we've already passed the first selection. Nine points out of nine. First place.
So now we're celebrating. Not for getting first place, for getting a clean sheet. I stuck to my promise and now everyone is enjoying a steak dinner.
All that's left is playing Team Z. And we've solidified ourselves for the second selection.
Woo hoo, go team!
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{Authors Note}
Hello people, short chapter today. Originally, this was supposed to be a full on Team V vs Team X, but I decided to explore a little more of Tsunzaki's character. I feel like his character wasn't fleshed out enough. Plus, I didn't really consider anyone for Team X. So they became fodder instead. Although I do feel that this chapter a little lacklustre, why do you guys think? Leave a review.
Until then, see ya'll soon. Ciao~