The Rise of the Iron Wall!-Chapter 44: The End of the Game!
"Thank you for the match!"
In the end, the game ended with the score 3-0 for Hakodate Nishi. Right in the 89th minute of the game, just a moment away before the game was over, Hiroshi once again showed his magic, sending a long pass pinpointing straight at Hori’s feet.
The right back sneaked from behind without anyone noticing, and he didn’t even need to adjust his stance, just swinging his left foot as hard as possible to seal the win for the team.
This, and the first goal by Yuji, showcased Hiroshi’s insane talent in vision and playmaking, always able to find his teammates wherever they were and could deliver any kind of pass that would arrive straight at their feet.
Once again, this made Higo wonder, how in the hell did such a brilliant boy end up in a school like this? Not to belittle Hakodate Nishi, but he would’ve thought that with Hiroshi’s talent, he would be able to get into Sappotani’s first team easily, and yet, here the boy was, fighting as an underdog with everyone on the team.
’Oh, well, as long as Kumiko-chan doesn’t make a big deal of it, who am I to complain here?’ Higo just shrugged, being curious but not wanting to deal with the aftermath of it.
While they shook hands with the opponent’s players, Higo also found out that not a lot of Sapporo Kita players were that sad. Hell, none of them shed tears here, as if this were not a big deal. It was a contrast scene compared to when they won against Engaru High, so Higo couldn’t help but ask Makino about it.
"Well, how should I say it..." The captain pondered for a moment. "Not every team is seriously joining this tournament. I mean, most that are eliminated in the first and second rounds usually are just a hobby team to fill the quota. So, if they didn’t really try that hard, why would they be sad for losing the game?"
That was a logical answer, yet also a cold one, nonetheless. As they were on the journey back to Hakodate, Higo kept pondering those words, thinking, ’Does that mean we who are not trying hard don’t deserve to be sad? But... I mean, who decides if we try hard enough or not?’
It seemed that Kumiko also noticed his confusion here. She also overheard their conversation before, but out of respect, the girl let the captain explain things first. Now that they were back in Hakodate, and those two walked alongside each other to go back home, Kumiko finally asked a question.
"So, what is bothering you here, Ryukkun?"
Higo blinked for a moment, looking at Kumiko’s big, round eyes hidden behind the glasses, before shaking his head quickly. "No, it is nothing."
It wasn’t like Higo didn’t want to talk about it, but he himself didn’t know what the problem was. He knew that Makino’s answer was logical, and yet... He didn’t really like it.
Seeing her friend go quiet like this, a soft smile spread on Kumiko’s face, as she spoke again, "Don’t worry, everyone deserves to be sad after losing the game. It is just... If you don’t try hard enough, you will not feel too attached to the game or your team, right? Usually, that is the reason why they are way too nonchalant after losing the game. It is not like they don’t deserve it, even though I will say that, but it is also because they themselves don’t really... Care, I guess?"
"...Yeah, I get it..." In the end, Higo just nodded.
"Wait, really?" Kumiko blinked in surprise. "Even I myself don’t understand what I am saying before, you know?" She poked Higo’s waist playfully.
"Yes, truly. Even though the explanation is abstract, I can still get what you mean." Higo snorted, dodging the sneak attack from the girl. "It is like when I try a gacha game, right? If the spin is free, even though the reward is zonk, I will not be that mad at it. But if I paid a certain amount of money and still got a trash reward, I would be fuming. I think that’s what you want to say, right?"
Kumiko paused for a moment, staring at Higo with the corner of her lips twitching amusedly. "You and your game..." She shook her head in exasperation.
They kept walking together, getting through the crowd of the street market as most of the sun was already below the horizon. It was 18:47 already, and yet, the market was still bustling from the working people going back from their work, some even in a half-drunk state already.
It was definitely not safe for them to stroll around this place at this time, and yet, they just walked through it like they owned the road. Hell, some people even greeted them, with the older ones teasing them relentlessly.
"Oh, it is so good to be young!"
"Ryusuke-kun, what about buying something for your girlfriend? I am sure she will be ecstatic!"
"Hey, Aizawa-san, don’t be shameless like that! What do you think I am, four? You cannot scam me like that, you know?"
"Wait! Higo-kun, does that mean you admit that Kumiko-chan is your girlfriend?"
"Eh?! Nani?! Nani?!"
All the aunties came out of the stall they used to sell things, eager to hear the latest gossip here. Some old men also perked up while pretending to be nonchalant, and for that, Higo just felt the corner of his lips twitching madly. Kumiko herself just giggled, finding this situation to be amusing.
This street market was just one alleyway away from their house, and this was a part of the place where they grew up together. Almost everyone knew who they were, and it didn’t help that those two were the only children in this neighborhood. That was why they were treated as everyone’s grandchildren here.
After chatting for a while, they were finally able to escape from the crowd, and Higo couldn’t help but let out a relieved sigh. Somehow, getting through this market was more exhausting than the game that he played earlier, and Kumiko just stiffened her giggle at the boy’s wary expression.
"You know... I don’t know why you are so reluctant to accept the boyfriend-girlfriend thing here..." She suddenly whispered.
Higo choked, snapping his head quickly in disbelief. When he saw Kumiko holding back his laughter, he knew that she had gotten him here, and he couldn’t even get mad at her laughing at him right now.
"Let’s... Just go back, okay?" He sighed.
"Sure!" Kumiko chirped happily, satisfied after teasing her childhood friend once again.
In the end, they finally reached their respective houses, and after saying goodbye to each other, Higo staggered toward his house, half of his eyes shut already. However, before he could enter his house, Kumiko’s shout from the next house woke him up instantly from his daydreaming.
"Ah! I didn’t notice it!"
