Semifinal day.
From the moment they arrived at the stadium, the atmosphere was different.
Since this was the final match before advancing to the championship, the stands were packed with students from other schools too, and the players on both teams looked more tense than usual.
Even while warming up, I-han kept looking toward the bench.
Riu still had a brace on his ankle.
He couldn’t run, but today he was looking at the tactics board with a more serious expression than anyone else.
I-han walked over.
"Senior."
"Mm."
"Really can’t play?"
"Mm."
"Not even a little?"
"Not even a little."
"...That’s a shame."
Riu laughed.
"Why? If I’d played, you would’ve felt pressured."
"No."
I-han looked at Riu.
"I just thought it would’ve been better if you could’ve played too, senior."
For a moment, Riu was at a loss for words.
Then he patted I-han on the shoulder.
"Today I’ll help from outside the field."
"Then I’ll make you a promise too."
"About what?"
"I’ll make it to where you are."
Riu laughed.
"The final?"
"Yes."
"Okay. I’ll be waiting."
The game began.
As expected, the opponent was strong.
Until the 20-minute mark of the first half, both teams kept attacking, but no goals were scored.
Then the other team started a counterattack.
Our defense collapsed for a moment, and their forward came straight in front of the goal.
Shot.
Goal.
0-1.
Cheers erupted from the stands.
I-han clenched his teeth.
"It’s okay! There’s still time!"
Riu’s voice came to him.
I-han looked up.
Riu, on the bench, was gesturing at him.
Slowly.
But I-han grew impatient.
He thought he had to score a goal somehow, no matter what.
As soon as he got the ball, he drove between two defenders.
He beat one of them.
The moment he tried to get past the second defender too, bodies collided.
He lost the ball.
"I-han!"
He heard Riu’s voice.
I-han gritted his teeth and ran again.
End of the first half.
The score was 0-1.
The locker room was quiet.
The coach was explaining tactics, but I-han couldn’t really take it in.
One thought kept circling in his head.
I have to score a goal.
Riu sat down beside I-han.
"I-han."
"Yes."
"I know what you’re thinking right now."
I-han looked up.
"What is it?"
"You think you have to win by yourself, don’t you?"
"……."
"No."
"But we’re losing."
"So you have to do everything alone?"
Riu’s voice dropped.
"Is it that hard to deal with me not being out there?"
I-han couldn’t answer for a moment.
"It’s not that……."
"Then what is it?"
I-han bit his lip.
"Because you’re injured, senior."
"Yeah."
"I thought I should take your place."
"Why should you take my place?"
"Because you can’t run."
Riu looked at I-han for a long time.
Then he said quietly,
"I never told you to run in my place."
"……."
"What I want is for you to play your own soccer."
I-han couldn’t say anything.
Riu grabbed I-han’s shoulder.
"And you don’t need to feel sorry for me either."
"……."
"Getting hurt was my choice, and it’s not your responsibility."
I-han’s eyes wavered.
"So this time, trust me and go play."
Riu smiled.
"Don’t try to win by yourself."
A little later, I-han nodded.
"Okay."
And he added softly,
"I’ll trust you, senior."
"I trust you too."
The second half began.
I-han’s play changed.
When he got the ball, he didn’t just charge forward.
He checked around him and passed to a teammate.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
As the attack continued, the opposing defense began to wobble.
15 minutes into the second half.
I-han received the ball in the center.
Two defenders closed in on him.
I-han laid the ball back.
A teammate worked the ball around again.
And I-han moved into the open space.
"I-han!"
The pass came in.
I-han didn’t shoot.
He passed once more to a teammate in front of the goal.
Goal.
1-1.
His teammates cheered.
I-han looked toward the bench first.
Riu was laughing hard.
Then he mouthed,
Good job.
I-han understood the words.
3 minutes left until the end of the game.
The score was 1-1.
At this rate, it would go to extra time.
The opposing team launched their final attack.
Our defense cleared the ball.
The ball drifted toward the center.
I-han ran and took control of it.
Three opposing defenders were in front of him.
No one was behind him.
The old I-han would have driven straight through.
But this time, it was different.
He raised his head.
A teammate was on the left.
Another was on the right.
And far away, Riu was gesturing to him.
I-han smiled.
"This time, let’s go together."
He laid the ball to the left.
And ran forward as he was.
The teammate passed it back.
I-han got past one defender.
And at the last moment.
He pushed the ball to the teammate in front of the goal.
Shot.
Goal.
2-1.
End of the game.
The moment the whistle blew, all the players rushed onto the field.
I-han collapsed right there too.
All the strength drained from his body.
But then he stood up immediately.
He had to run to Riu.
"Senior!"
Riu was already standing too.
As I-han approached, Riu smiled.
"We’re going to the final."
"Yes."
"Good job."
"You told me to trust you."
"So you trusted me?"
"Yes."
I-han caught his breath and said,
"Because you were there, I could trust it."
Riu’s expression stiffened for a moment.
I-han looked at him, his face slick with sweat.
"I think I finally understand now."
"What?"
"Why I want to be here."
Riu said nothing.
"Other schools might be good places too, and it might even be a good opportunity for me."
I-han paused to catch his breath.
"But I still want to be here."
"……."
"I want to keep playing here, where I got to play with you, senior."
Riu smiled quietly.
"Then I’m glad."
"Why?"
"Because I want you here too."
I-han looked at Riu for a moment.
Then he asked carefully,
"Senior."
"Yeah."
"Why are you so good to me?"
Riu’s expression changed.
"Why are you asking that all of a sudden?"
"I’ve been curious for a while."
"Because I’m the captain."
"I don’t think that’s it."
"Why not?"
"You don’t treat the other juniors like this."
Riu couldn’t answer.
I-han took a step closer.
"And I know now too."
"Know what?"
"That I think of you as someone special."
Riu’s eyes wavered.
"I-han."
"Yes."
"Let’s talk about that after the final."
"Why?"
"Because I have something to say too."
I-han looked at Riu for a moment, then smiled.
"It’s a promise?"
"Yeah."
"Then after the final, please tell me for sure."
"I promise."
That night.
After returning to the lodging, I-han checked his phone.
There was a message from Riu.
I’ll head in first because of my ankle. Sleep well.
I-han thought for a moment, then sent a reply.
Senior.
Yeah?
If we win the final, you’ve got something you have to say to me, right?
A long while later, a reply came.
Yeah.
What is it?
I’ll tell you after the final.
I-han smiled.
I have something to say too.
What is it?
That too, after the final.
A little later, Riu sent another reply.
Then we definitely have to win tomorrow.
I-han stared at the screen, then slowly replied.
Yes.
We’ll win together, senior.
After putting down his phone, I-han lay down on the bed.
Tomorrow, the tournament would be over.
And tomorrow, he felt like he’d finally be able to answer the question he’d been thinking about for so long.
Whether he liked soccer, or whether he liked Riu.
Maybe he already knew the answer.
He just didn’t yet have the courage to say the final words out loud.
And then, the next day.
For the two of them, along with the tournament’s final match,
the moment to bring out the feelings they’d kept hidden until now was drawing near.