"Ugh…" I groaned, picking up a tissue beside me.
There were some used tissues beside me that were stained with blood. I looked up at Suzune, who held out another tissue to me.
"Are you okay? Does your head hurt?" She asked, looking at me pitifully.
"My nose does." I answered, taking another tissue.
"I'm really sorry about that." She said.
"It's okay. It's not like it's your fault. You should go back."
"N-no, I can stay here." She said.
*But you look like you could throw up at any minute.* I thought, sighing before resting my back on the headboard.
"Okay." I said.
FEW MINUTES AGO:
"Okay, you guys, let's do this!" Kiichi shouted as we stood in our positions, ready for the game to start.
WHISTLE…
"Here." Tanaka said, passing the ball to Watabe.
"Thanks." Watabe said, making a run forward.
"He's coming. Get ready, guys." Nakamura said as Atsushi and Kimishita nodded, ready to defend at any moment.
"Hey, watch my moves." Ryuto said, lifting the ball with the outside of his left foot and tapping it above his head, making it land on his back.
*Wow." Atsushi thought, looking at Watabe.
"You're too confused, man." Kiichi said, hitting him slightly, making the ball lose balance.
"Agh!" Watabe shouted angrily, as Kiichi controlled the ball with his right leg before sprinting forward with it.
"Hey! Pass here!" Nakamura shouted.
"I can score them alone." Kiichi said, still sprinting forward.
"I won't let you." Kisho said, running towards Kiichi.
"Hehe." Kiichi laughed, sprinting past Kisho.
"What?!" Kisho asked.
*As if.* He thought, stretching his right leg backwards, letting him make contact with the ball.
He tapped the ball two times against the ground, making it bounce off the ground. Kiichi stood on.
"What?!" Kiichi asked as Kisho controlled the ball and ran a little before playing a long pass to Tanaka, who stood before Atsushi.
"Hey! Don't let him get further into the box!" Kiichi shouted.
"A-Alright!" Atsushi shouted, moving towards Tanaka.
"Jump!"
*Jump? Alright!*
*Hmph!*
They both jumped to get control of the ball as Atsushi hit it slightly before feeling a sharp pain in his ribs.
"Argh!" He screamed, falling on the floor as Tanaka trapped the ball and made a pass to Ryuto, who scored a goal.
WHISTLE…
*Hm…? He fouled Oshiba-kun when he saw that I wasn't looking. There's no evidence of the foul, so nothing can be done. He's smart, but…* Coach Haruya thought, looking into the tablet and back at them.
*Argh… it kinda hurts. But I think it's manageable.*
"Hey! Why'd you let him get the ball?! You could have hit it away easily!" Kiichi shouted as Atsushi stood up.
"I'm sorry…" He managed to say.
"Hey, it's not his fault." Nakamura said, pushing Kiichi aside.
"How's this not his fault? He made us concede a goal! How's he so weak? He just fell like a…!"
"Shut the hell up, Kimishita!" Nakamura shouted.
"Dammit!"
"It's just practice. Don't fight over it." Tanaka said, smiling and walking towards them.
"Tsk."
"How are you feeling? Atsushi-kun?" Tanaka said, his eyes open and smiling at him.
"I'm fine." Atsushi said, walking back to his position.
*Ugh… I knew I was gonna drag the team down. These guys know what they're doing. What am I even doing here? I think I'll just be a pain.* Atsushi thought.
* Hmm, and here I thought he was really good. His stats look kinda odd, though.* The coach thought, looking at his tablet and back at Atsushi before sighing.
*These guys are really good. In just a few minutes, they've scored a goal, and it's all my fault. Ha… was I thinking this was gonna be easy?* Atsushi thought, his eyes fixed on the floor.
"I can't… do it…" He mumbled, his mouth shaky.
{"You want to play soccer?"
"Yeah."
"That's cool! I'd love to see you play."
"Really?"
"Mmn!"
"Th-then, I'll… I'll make sure to become better than I am now. Make sure you come watch me then!"
"I will, promise!"}
*I… can't give up now.* He thought, looking up immediately.
"A loose ball! Hey! Atsushi-kun, the ball's coming towards you, kick the ball towards the middle!" Nakamura shouted.
"Okay!" Atsushi shouted, sprinting towards the ball.
*It's not too far away, I can get it first!* Ryuto thought, sprinting towards the ball too.
They both got to the ball at the same time as Atsushi ran past Ryuto and the ball.
*Does he have serious eye problems?* Ryuto thought about to trap the ball.
*Now!* Atsushi thought, stretching out his left leg and tapping the ball two times against the ground, making the ball bounce hard on the ground and go over Ryuto's head.
"What?!"
Atsushi trapped the ball before making a pass to Kiichi, who had already created a passing opportunity.
"Nice one!" Kiichi shouted, running forward.
*Did he just use the move Kisho Akatsuki used recently? How did he…?* The coach thought as Atsushi smiled, looking at Nakamura as Kiichirun forward.
*Tsk…*
~~~
"Hey, the ball is coming your way! Make sure to get it this time." Kiichi shouted as Atsushi and Tanaka jumped at the same time.
*I will!* Atsushi thought, jumping.
*I'll get it first!* Tanaka shouted on the air, too.
"Ouch!" Atsushi moaned.
Tanaka had elbowed him in his nose.
"Atsushi-kun!" Akatsuki called running towards him.
"Atsushi!" Nakamura and Kiichi shouted, running towards him.
"Ow…"
"You're bleeding!" Suzune shouted.
"Ah… sorry, that was a mistake." Tanaka apologised as the others surrounded him.
"Hey Suzune!" The coach shouted.
"Y-yes coach!" She answered.
"There's a first aid kit in the exercise room. Take him up for now." The coach said.
"O-okay." Suzune said, helping Atsushi up.
"B-but, I can still play. It's just a little blood!" Atsushi said.
"It's just practice. You can join some other day."
"But…!"
"Take him away."
"Yes coach. Let's go, Atsushi-kun." Suzune said as they left the field.
*Tsk, why?*
NOW:
*All that happened.* I thought, looking out of my window.
"You can sleep for a while."
"I will." I said, lying on the bed.
"I'll sit here."
"Okay."
"Hey, we are back." Kiichi said, knocking on our door.
"How's your nose?" Nakamura asked as they walked into our room.
"It's alright." I answered.
"Thank goodness."
"Sorry about your nose, Atsushi-kun." Tanaka said.
"It's cool."
"I see."
"Looks like we won this time around." Watabe said.
"Yeah, good luck to you guys next time."
"Tch, we'll win next time."
"You wish."
*Ha… I'd like to sleep now.*