Chapter 9: Roughly Okay, your level

The day after some incident with Fujiwara.

I was alone with Miyuki in the student council room.

I explained yesterday’s events to him.

Miyuki listened to the rough story, stroking his chin and nodding.

“…So that’s what happened.”

“Yeah, not what you’re thinking.”

“Hey, what do I think? I always trust you, Hotaro!”

Miyuki grinned uncharacteristically, patting my shoulder.

My thought—

‘This guy totally doesn’t believe me…’

Resisting the urge to slug him, I sat on the couch.

The door opened, and an unexpected face appeared.

“…Kei?”

“Oh, Hotaro-oppa. Long time.”

Shirogane Miyuki’s sister, Shirogane Kei.

Unlike her dark-haired brother, her silver hair stood out, but their looks and vibe screamed siblings.

She wore a Shuchiin Middle School uniform.

Unlike Miyuki, an external admit, she’s been at Shuchiin since childhood, if I recall.

I’d seen her a few times at Miyuki’s house in middle school, but it’d been a while.

Miyuki seemed surprised by her visit.

“Kei…? What’s up?”

“…Need some documents reviewed.”

“Alright, let’s see…”

Miyuki took the papers, scanned them, and quickly pointed out improvements.

It didn’t take long.

“That’s it? Need anything else?”

“Nope, I’m good. I’ll head out.”

Kei turned to leave, cool as ever.

Miyuki looked a bit disappointed.

I think he mentioned her being distant lately.

Well, I get feeling let down by a sibling.

‘…If you’re gonna be cold, a sister’s better than a brother.’

Kei’s polite and cute in public.

I’d trade my rebellious brother for her in a heartbeat, no hesitation.

As she reached the door, two people entered.

One was Fujiwara Chika, the other a girl in a middle school uniform with pink pigtails.

Fujiwara and Kei lit up upon seeing each other.

“Hey, Kei-chan!”

“Chika-unnie!”

They locked eyes and—

“Hello-law!”

“Ah! Hello-law counter!”

“……!?”

Their weird signature greeting left me and Miyuki stunned.

Cool, composed Kei doing that?

Miyuki, rarely seeing his sister so lively, scribbled on a Post-it, shocked.

“Ugh, Hello…law…memo…”

What are you writing, dude? Please stop.

If you try that to bond—

‘…Gross, bro, just die.’

That’s what you’ll hear.

For family peace, I’ll warn him later.

“Not fair, just you two! Include me!”

“Moeha, let’s make one next time!”

“Okay!”

The pink-haired girl with pigtails, who came with Fujiwara, chatted warmly with Kei.

She looks a lot like Fujiwara—hair color, face, and… other ways.

“Kei-chan, got anything urgent?”

“Not really…”

“Then hang out and chat with us!”

“…Sure, why not?”

The girls clicked and approached the couch.

Girls’ talk right beside me felt awkward, so I started to leave.

But the pink-haired middle schooler bowed politely.

“Hello! I’m Fujiwara Moeha, Shuchiin Middle School student council vice president! Nice to meet you!”

“Shuchiin High student council general affairs, Suzuki Hotaro. Nice to meet you.”

So, Fujiwara’s sister.

Two Fujiwara surnames might get confusing.

I’ll use their first names for now.

After the quick greeting, I tried focusing on my book.

Chika rummaged through her bag and handed me something.

“Suzuki-kun! The shirt I promised!”

“Oh, thanks.”

As I took it, Moeha grinned and whispered to Chika.

“…Unnie, is this the buff-back guy you mentioned…?”

“Tch! Tch! No crude talk, tch!!”

Chika frantically pinched her sister’s cheeks.

“S-Sorry…”

Didn’t catch what she said, but that looked painful.

Chika, oddly flushed, fidgeted and turned to Kei.

“Ugh, Kei-chan… any fun middle school gossip lately?”

“Fun stuff? Hmm…”

Kei pondered.

Moeha clapped her hands.

“Oh! That Suzuki Rin thing!”

Flinch!

That name sounds way too familiar.

Did I mishear?

“Oh, that chuuni…”

“Huh? Kei’s never liked Suzuki. Everyone else thinks he’s cool.”

“Hmph, cool? That jerk needs to drop dead.”

“Maybe because he called you ugly…?”

“Totally unrelated!”

Kei snapped, and—

“…”

Miyuki’s burning glare hit me.

Hey, why the look? I don’t know that guy.

“So, what happened?”

Chika’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Kei hesitated, then started.

“Last Monday, I think? Our soccer team had a friendly with another school…”

About a week ago.

Shuchiin Middle School has a strong sports legacy, including soccer.

Even for them, Raimon Middle School, a soccer powerhouse, was a tough opponent.

A friendly match was set up between the two schools.

It was rare for Shuchiin to host, so students swarmed to watch.

But…

Shuchiin: 1, Raimon: 4

Early in the second half, Shuchiin gave up another goal.

Down by three, Raimon dominated.

“Typical nerd school, huh? Weak.”

“Man, this is boring. Not even worth our time… Go study or something.”

Raimon’s players, sure of victory, didn’t hold back their taunts.

As Shuchiin’s team and students despaired, he was subbed in.

A boy with a cold but handsome face, long limbs.

His jersey bore number 10 and “Suzuki Rin.”

At kickoff, he stepped forward, tapped the ball, and faced the other team calmly.

“Enough.”

“…?”

His resonant words drew every eye on the field.

“I get it now. Your level.”

“What?”

“…So boring, I wanna die.”

The field went dead silent.

Raimon’s ace, Renji, broke it.

“Huh? Some no-name punk running his mouth.”

Renji checked the boy’s number and scoffed.

“What, you’re number 10? Hiding on the bench till now? Shuchiin’s pathetic.”

Renji smirked, confident after scoring three goals today.

The boy, unfazed, tapped his head with a finger.

“Don’t try understanding with that decorative brain.”

“Hey, what’s that nonsense…!”

“Feel it with your body.”

“Quit your crap and bring it—”

The boy’s shoulder tilted slightly.

“……!!”

In a flash, he blew past Renji with explosive speed.

Renji, a supposed national-level ace, couldn’t react.

Defenders rushed him, but one by one, they were outplayed.

“Hey, what’re you doing—! Double-team him!!”

The coach’s yell.

Sure, he’s breaking through alone.

Double-teaming should stop him, common sense says.

One layer of defense remained near the goal.

The left fullback and center-back closed in together.

“No further…!”

“Don’t get cocky, you nobody…!”

“…Hmph.”

The boy snorted.

To him, it was laughable.

“Too bad…”

“What…!?”

“That pathetic defense, relying on numbers—”

Thwack—

“Can’t stop me.”

“……!!”

Two defenders changed nothing.

He slipped the ball through a tiny gap, blasting past them with fierce momentum.

“Ugh…!”

Now a one-on-one with the keeper.

The result—

Smack!

His shot ripped the net without mercy.

Shuchiin’s stands erupted in cheers.

Raimon’s players couldn’t process it.

Always at the top, they’d never been so thoroughly outclassed by one person.

Every player felt it.

[He’s on another level.]

This guy could flip the game single-handedly.

Plenty of the second half remained.

If he kept playing…

The outcome was clear.

Facing the stunned, collapsed keeper, the boy spoke.

“You still don’t get what soccer is.”

“What’re you blabbering! Not know soccer?!”

These players lived and breathed soccer since childhood.

Even after that crushing goal, they weren’t soft enough to take insults lying down.

“You still think soccer’s just a sport? Play house at home.”

“Shut up! What’s soccer to you—!”

“Me?”

“Yeah—!”

“…To me, soccer’s murder.”

“M-Murder…!?”

“This is a battlefield. You don’t get that, so you’re boring.”

“What nonsense…!”

The boy tossed the ball from the goal’s corner to Raimon, beckoning.

“Come at me. I’ll slaughter you.”

The final score: Shuchiin 6, Raimon 4.

Suzuki Rin’s five solo goals sealed Shuchiin Middle School’s comeback victory.

“That’s so chuuni!”

“…Haha, what a weird guy.”

“Right, right!”

I forced a laugh, agreeing with Kei.

Why do I feel so embarrassed?

My head’s pounding.

I don’t know whose kid that is, Suzuki Rin-san.

No, little brother…

What the heck are you doing out there…?