I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 107 He got away with it again! (5600 words)

Sakuraba Yuki's voice rang out somewhat forlornly.

Compared to the cheerful laughter on the other side of the classroom, the atmosphere was relaxed.

Standing up, Sakuraba Yuki looked like a general fighting a lone battle. However, she was so thin that her figure appeared incredibly small.

However, the boys from Class 3 on the field clearly heard the sound.

They never expected that, when they had almost lost their fighting spirit, it would be this female teacher who stood up and raised her voice.

A strange sense of shame welled up inside them.

Especially when they saw the other students in the stands staring at Sakuraba Yuki with strange expressions, as if they thought it was a very embarrassing scene. Was it really necessary to make such a fuss over a small friendly match? It was like some important international competition.

Even under these circumstances, Yuki Sakuraba continued to cheer them on.

This made the boys feel even more ashamed.

Miura Akihiko immediately reacted and shouted at them, "No matter what, we can lose, but we can't lose too badly, right?! Give it your all, brothers!"

Suzuki also adjusted his mindset, and he immediately said, "That last shot was my fault, but it proves that we're not completely without a chance. I don't want to lose, what about you guys?"

"Give it your all!"

"come on!!"

It seemed like a time to regroup, and most of the morale was lifted again.

But Suzuki knew very well that the real problem remained unsolved. If everything could be resolved through mindset adjustments, then there would be no such thing as difficulty in the world. The real issue lay in hard power.
We've got the passion, but how do we win?

and many more.

Who passed that ball just now? I think I was in too much of a rush and didn't see it clearly.
Just as Suzuki was slowly walking towards the center circle with the ball, preparing to tee off again, he suddenly saw a figure walking towards him. It wasn't Miura Akihiko, who was supposed to tee off with him, but Tsukino Gen, who was barely sweating.

"I was the one who passed that ball."

He said so.

Suzuki was taken aback. "I-Is that so? I'm sorry, I..." He was somewhat surprised. That long pass, with such precise placement and speed, was actually his? Was he here to interrogate him?

But Tsukino Gen shook his head. "It's okay, I'm not here to blame you. You've already tried your best, just pass the ball to me from now on."

"Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh?" What does that mean?
How come the main character appears and says to his underlings, "You've done enough; leave the rest to me"? The dialogue is almost identical.

Why does it feel so familiar?
How dare you say such a thing?
"It's starting, don't just stand there."

Gen Tsukino had already kicked off, passing the ball directly to Suzuki's feet before heading towards the opponent's half.

The pace was slow, and it didn't attract much attention, seemingly no different from its previous performance—a leisurely stroll, a aimless run. It appeared to be running simply for the sake of running, a foolish waste of energy.

Of course, this is how he is seen by one group of people.

Suzuki, who received the ball, hesitated. This boy, undeniably handsome and almost unique in the school, was quite charismatic when serious. But... was being serious enough?

It's not Pro Evolution Soccer, so you can't lower the difficulty, and there's no way you can turn the game around by changing the player.

But he spoke with such confidence that it was almost like he was filming a shonen anime, bordering on childish and pretentious.

As he started dribbling, someone was already closing in on him. Although only twenty minutes had passed, being on the defensive was clearly taking a toll on his stamina. He could no longer easily shake off his persistent opponents and looked around.

Those students who didn't know how to position themselves were in very bad positions.

And the balls falling to their feet would probably just be kicked randomly.
"This way!"

Akihiko Miura waved his hand, standing in what he considered a good position to wait for the pass.

Just stand there and wait! Why don't you come and pick it up?

Oh no, where's Tsukino Gen?!
When Suzuki tried to find Tsukino Gen's location, he discovered that the boy had already pierced the enemy's ribs.

He's slightly off to the side, but in a good position. If he continues to move forward, he can create an opportunity to coordinate with the opponent!
"boom."

Suzuki made a pass and immediately distributed the ball to the wing.

However, the ball wasn't very powerful, so it wasn't very fast. Tsukino Gen immediately realized that he had to run back to receive it, otherwise he risked being intercepted.

As he ran toward the ball, a figure attacked from the side—it was the opposing midfield maestro, number nine.

"Want to catch the ball? Dream on!"

He rushed over, only to find that Tsukino Gen, wearing number seven, was faster than he expected and was about to touch the ball. Number nine was somewhat annoyed; this bastard was running so slowly before, how come he's suddenly so fast?

It seemed like there was no turning back, so he decided to go all the way. He hadn't originally planned to go for anything too intense, but the surge of adrenaline and the heightened sense of excitement made him forget all that.

He slid in and attempted to steal the ball the instant it reached the opponent.

He's going for the ball anyway, unless he's willing to risk his life to get the ball and protect it before he can kick it.

otherwise
"careful!"

Upon witnessing this scene, Kazama Sakura clenched her fists nervously, while Asagiri Rin, who was also watching, frowned slightly.

Is such a move necessary for a friendly match?
But there's not much to worry about.

After all, he is Gen Tsukino.

Just as number nine slid in, Tsukino Gen didn't give up on the ball, nor did he use his legs to block it. He made a move that number nine had never expected.

Before his toes arrived, Tsukino Gen touched the ball and flicked it from the spot.

As the ball bounced slightly, to the astonishment of number nine, his foot brushed past the ball, unable to even touch the opponent's body!
What kind of action is this? But this is not the end, it's just the beginning.

Gen Tsukino didn't put his foot down at all; instead, with a very smooth movement, he stretched out his foot again and hooked the ball before it hit the ground.

As the boy turned around, revealing his number seven on the back, the ball leaped high, passing over his head from behind before landing a short distance in front of him.

He controlled the ball with his knee and poked it with his toe.

He instantly created distance between himself and the defender in front of him, directly threatening the opponent's penalty area!
What kind of move is that?!
Wasn't he a streetball player? Although the move doesn't look difficult, and I think I could do it myself, to execute it so perfectly and smoothly in a real match is definitely not your average skill level.

Soon, his already astonished eyes widened even more, and before he could even shout, "Stop him!"

Just then, the boy at the edge of the penalty area pulled away from a defender, and without any adjustment, he unleashed a powerful shot with the outside of his foot.

"boom!!!"

The ball's upper right corner bulged high, making the net look like it was about to be breached by the cannonball-like football.

"drop!!"

"Goal stands! Class 1 leads Class 3-1!"

"A goal?!"

"Holy crap!! He's so handsome!!"

"Tsukino!! You're fucking my god!!"

Not only did the teammates on the field start cheering, but even the spectators on the sidelines couldn't help but shout when they saw this extremely smooth scene, comparable to a 'receive, neutralize, and release'.

"Tsukino-kun is so handsome!!"

"Aaaaaah, I can't take it anymore! Sisters, does anyone understand?! I'm suffocating, I can't breathe!"

When Tsukino Gen brought the ball back to the center circle, Suzuki seemed to snap out of a daze. What had he just seen? Was that even human? No, wait... was that even at a high school level?!
Gen Tsukino simply patted Suzuki on the shoulder.

"The counterattack begins now, keep it up!"

He doesn't need any celebratory gestures; he's already showing off enough.

This is how a protagonist should be introduced. As for why it wasn't done this from the beginning? Duh, what's the point if it was like this from the start? If you insist on dragging me into this, then I have no choice but to put on this show.

He must appear like a hero when the team is in dire straits, single-handedly turning the tide. Otherwise, why bother playing the game? As for why the team is in trouble, don't ask.

Seeing this, Kazama Sakura was very excited and cheered with Sakuraba Yuki next to her.

After a while, the competition resumed, and she turned to look at Asagi Rin, who seemed to have no surprise, and said, "How come A-Xuan seems to know everything?"

Asagiri Rin glanced at the girl. "You're his girlfriend, don't you know that?"

Sakura Kazama's cheeks immediately flushed red, and she said shyly, "Not yet."

"."

It's not like that now, but it definitely will be in the future, right?
Look how smug you are! You're even shy about serving tea!
She turned her gaze back to the court and saw the boy who seemed completely different. She understood what he was trying to do.

He really lived up to his own assessment: childish, boring, and loves to show off.

He can still act so childishly pretentious. He uses all his skills to show off and seduce girls. What a scumbag!
Meanwhile, Sakuraba Yuki, standing next to her, was all smiles.

Although it was only a counter-attack goal, it was clear that a key player had emerged.

"Oh my, Mr. Fujii. How can there be such a student? Not only is he always in the top three of the grade, but he's also so good at soccer and handsome. It's like he's making life impossible for others."

The homeroom teacher, named Fujii, had a twitching mouth.

Good grief, you've started being sarcastic now?

She forced herself to remain calm and smiled slightly, "It's okay, there are still fifteen minutes left. I wonder if being two goals behind is a big deal."

She soon realized whether the difference between the two goals was significant in front of a boy wearing number seven.

The situation on the field took a sharp turn for the worse. The boys in Class One who knew how to play soccer quickly realized that this handsome young man who had suddenly appeared was their primary focus. They also discovered that they had to use various methods to keep an eye on him.

However, they still underestimated the boy's abilities.

"Stop him! Don't let him receive the ball!"

Someone tried to block Tsukino Gen from getting the ball. Or they positioned themselves behind him, forcing him to receive the ball with his back to the goal.

However, whenever Suzuki makes a decent pass, this boy will seize the ball first with overwhelming power and astonishing speed. And once he gets the ball, it's a nightmare for Class One.

"boom!"

He dribbled past four players, then outmaneuvered the goalkeeper, and easily slotted the ball into the empty net.

"drop!"

"Goal! Class 1 leads Class 3-2!" "You fucking grab him!! Don't let him go into the penalty area! Damn it!"

With only one goal separating them and more than ten minutes remaining, Class One was already panicking. How could they let this friendly match turn into a personal showcase for Tsukino Gen?! Soccer is a team sport, you bastards!!

But even if they have to touch him, they have to hold onto the boy regardless of whether it's a foul or not.

Tsukino Gen's response was simpler and more direct than they expected. The instant someone made contact, he used a simple shoulder drop feint, creating just a slight distance. That was enough for the boy to cut inside, pull back horizontally, and create a gap, about twenty meters from the goal.

Volley!

"boom!"

Everyone stared at this scene blankly.

Is that a cannonball? It's a homing missile!! Fast, accurate, and requires almost no adjustments!
If you wear a size 7, you really become a size 7, right?!

"Goal! Class 1 3-3 Class 3!"

The gap was narrowed almost entirely thanks to Gen Tsukino's efforts.

This situation is unimaginable and seems rare even in professional sports. The impact on their mentality is particularly evident; those school team members are no longer able to play with ease. They are now struggling even to get possession of the ball.

Almost everyone was seething with anger. They couldn't understand how this boy had suddenly become so powerful, nor could they understand why the situation had turned out this way. But their obsession was deeply ingrained.

"We can't lose!! Send more people, two if two aren't enough, three if three aren't enough, four! If you can't hold him back, then tackle him, tackle him!!"

He seems to have gone mad.

Now Suzuki has fully realized just how terrifying this boy is, and he immediately adjusts his strategy.

"Go! Create some space for Tsukino! Stop those people!!"

For a moment, it was unclear whether they were playing soccer or rugby. Someone tried to stop Tsukino Gen, and someone else stopped the person trying to stop him.

The scene immediately descended into chaos, with the referee's whistle blowing repeatedly and physical altercations escalating. Both sides seemed to be getting heated, and there were even threats being exchanged between them.

"Are you blind?!"

"You've grown? You've grown, haven't you?!"

"Try pulling me again."

"I'm fucking pulling you!"

However, as the match was nearing its end, Tsukino Gen stopped making exaggerated moves as before, seemingly having exhausted all his energy.

"Give it your all! Number seven's exhausted, that's our chance!"

"Don't let your guard down. At worst, we'll go to penalties. What's there to be afraid of!"

But at this time.

"boom."

Akihiko Miura was knocked to the ground.

After rolling awkwardly twice on the grass, Suzuki immediately rushed over, yelling, "Are you kicking a ball or a player?! Don't you have any manners?!"

The other side retorted, "You have a problem with normal physical contact? You can't take a joke! Is this a game of football or child's play?"

Thankfully, the referee arrived in time and separated the two sides. Since it was just a friendly match, there were no red or yellow cards. However, the other side's actions were indeed a bit too aggressive.

"Class 1 commits a foul, Class 3 gets a free kick!"

Therefore, it was relatively fair to award a free kick to Class 3.

At this moment, Akihiko Miura, who had been rolling around on the grass, stood up, cleanly brushed the grass clippings off his body, and came over as if to ask for credit.

"How was it? Was my acting okay?"

Suzuki resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He wasn't good at football, but he certainly knew a lot about shady tactics.

He said, "This free kick might be our last chance. But the distance to the goal is at least 25 meters. It's difficult to shoot directly. Should we play a tactical game?"

As she finished speaking, she subconsciously glanced at Tsukino Gen, who was standing right next to her.

"Wait, when did you get there?"

No!

How did he end up standing with his hands on his hips and legs spread apart in front of the free kick?!
The boy stood there, clearly the center of attention, and turned to look at Suzuki beside him.

Do you know why I didn't score just now?

".Why?"

He smiled and said, "Because I've been waiting for this opportunity. Watch closely, this shot is going to be awesome."

"."

What on earth is he going to do!

At this distance, he's not planning to play the hero to the end and shoot directly, is he?!

Although the draw was largely thanks to the opponent, can he really withstand the pressure? Wouldn't it be better to let me take a tactical free kick and give it to him instead?

Wait.

Does he think it would be cool to end with this ball?
Suzuki suddenly realized he had guessed the truth: this boy didn't care much about winning or losing; he only cared about how cool he looked and whether he was putting on a show!

Meanwhile, the team members from the other class were still busily arranging the human wall.

"Come closer! Don't leave any gaps!"

"Don't block the goalkeeper's view! He can't shoot accurately from this distance! Don't let anyone slip through!"

"Also, lie down here in case he sneaks up on the ground to steal the chicken!"

Under the sunlight, the boy stood quietly in front of the lone soccer ball, waiting for the human wall to be formed. He didn't see the human wall or the countless pairs of eyes staring at him nervously.

They couldn't see where their teammates were standing, what formation they were in, or whether they might reveal any opportunities.

The number seven white jersey was almost completely free of dust.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he was already the center of attention, the absolute focus.

Ms. Fujii was very nervous, as only a sliver of hope remained.

Sakuraba Yuki, her hands clenched tightly, was also very nervous.

Having watched some football matches and witnessed higher-level competitions, Kazama Sakura gripped the hem of her pleated skirt tightly.

Only Asagiri Rin, standing to the side, stared intently, almost gritting her teeth.

You have to put on airs like this? Are you even human?
You absolutely must not shoot it in! You absolutely must not shoot it in! You absolutely cannot let him get away with this!
"drop!"

When the referee blows the whistle to signal the start of the serve.

All eyes were fixed on them.

They saw the boy put his hands on his hips, spread his legs, and take a deep breath. In the sunlight, he started walking slowly, then gradually accelerated.

accelerate.

accelerate!
Arriving in front of the ball, he fully stretched his body, perfectly showcasing the tense muscles in his legs at that moment.

"boom!"

The wall of players leaped high, almost closing their eyes, not intending to dodge the ball at this moment. Meanwhile, the player lying on his side was prepared for a possible sneaky, low-hitting shot from the opponent.

And that black and white soccer ball was seen by Suzuki, by Miura Akihiko, and by the inexplicably nervous members of the opposing school team.

Isn't that leaping a bit too high?!
Wait!

He was knocked away!

This signal appeared in many people's minds, but their smiles didn't even have time to bloom.

The joy of surviving the disaster has not yet been born.

The ball, which had leaped high over the wall of people in mid-air, suddenly plummeted downwards at an astonishing speed!
"An elevator ball?!"

The exaggerated arc is not a crescent moon, but an even more unpredictable elevator-like ascent and descent!
The goalkeeper didn't even have time to change direction.

"boom!"

The football hits the net.

"drop!"

The whistle sounded.

"Goal stands! Class 1 3-4 Class 3!!"

"We won! Holy crap!!"

Suzuki, Miura Akihiko, and the others belatedly realized what was happening, and they ran like madmen toward the number seven boy who was standing still watching the ball go into the net.

The hope in the eyes of Mr. Fujii, the homeroom teacher of Class 1, was completely extinguished, and his face turned ashen.

After cheering with extreme excitement, Sakuraba Yuki tried to suppress her smile and looked at Fujii-sensei beside her.

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry, Mr. Fujii. We won by a narrow margin. The dinner party will have to be arranged by your class!"

".hateful!"

Sakura Kazama had forgotten to cheer; she stared intently at the boy on the court, who was practically being lifted high into the air by everyone. Her gaze seemed capable of melting the ice of January. She couldn't pull herself out of the vortex the boy had perfectly created.

Asagiri Rin stood up and looked at Morita Kaoru, who seemed to be equally captivated and had forgotten her duties.

"Bored, let's go home!"

I'm so annoyed, he got away with it again!

……

(End of this chapter)