Beyond the Pitch

As the group split up, Gabriel found himself walking alongside Ayane. The streets were quieter now, the neon glow from convenience stores and vending machines casting long shadows on the pavement.

"You sure you don't want one of the others to walk you home?" Gabriel asked, hands stuffed in his pockets.

Ayane shot him a dry look. "What, you don't think I can handle myself?"

Gabriel smirked. "Didn't say that. But considering what just happened in the arcade, you seem to attract trouble."

She scoffed. "Its my fault some guys don't take a hint."

They walked in silence for a moment before Gabriel casually said, "Ryota seemed pretty fired up back there."

Ayane raised an eyebrow. "Obviously. He's always like that, especially when it comes to Tsurumaru. You should've seen him after last season's match—he wouldn't shut up about it for weeks."

Gabriel hummed. "Must suck, losing to them."

Ayane glanced at him. "You sound like you care."

He shrugged. "Im just curious."

She studied him for a second before smirking. "You thinking of joining the team?"

Gabriel scoffed, looking ahead. "I never said that."

"But you're not denying it either."

He didn't respond, and Ayane just grinned knowingly.

As they reached her street, she slowed down. "Well, this is my place," she said, nodding toward her house.

Gabriel exhaled, turning back toward his own route. The night felt longer than usual, and by the time he reached his house, it was already past the hour he normally got home.

He stepped inside quietly, but the second he closed the door, he noticed the dim glow from the living room.

His mom was sitting on the couch, arms crossed, her expression unreadable.

"You're late," she said simply.

Gabriel swallowed. "...Yeah."

"Sit down."

He hesitated before stepping forward, feeling the weight of the conversation that was about to come.

Gabriel sat down across from his mom, the tension in the room settling between them like a thick fog. She didn't say anything at first, just studied him with that unreadable expression that made his stomach twist.

"You never come home this late," she finally said.

Gabriel shifted in his seat. "I was just out with some people."

His mom raised an eyebrow. "People?"

He exhaled through his nose. "Friends."

That made her pause. Her expression softened just a little, but the concern in her eyes didn't fade. "You could've at least called."

Gabriel looked away. He hadn't thought about it. It had been a long time since he had go somewhere with 'friend'.

"Sorry," he muttered.

She sighed, leaning back on the couch. "I'm not trying to control you, Gabriel. But it's late, and I was worried. I don't know what you're up to these days."

Something in her voice made his chest tighten.

"I'm not doing anything bad, if its what you think." he said, quieter this time.

She studied him for a moment before nodding. "Good."

Silence settled between them again, but it wasn't as heavy as before.

Gabriel hesitated, then asked, "Did you… pack me a bento this morning?"

His mom blinked, surprised at the sudden change of subject. "Yeah. You never take one, but I figured you might actually eat it this time."

Gabriel scratched his cheek, feeling strangely awkward. "I did."

She smiled a little. "Good."

He stood up, feeling like the conversation was over. "I'm going to bed."

"Alright," she said. "Just… try to let me know next time, okay?"

Gabriel nodded before heading to his room.

As he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind drifted back to the arcade, to the fight, to the feeling of being with Ryota and the others. And then to Ayane's words.

"You thinking of joining the team?"

Gabriel scoffed to himself.

Maybe.

Maybe he was.

The next day, Gabriel stood at the edge of the football field, watching the team practice. The familiar sounds of cleats scraping against the turf, the rhythmic thud of the ball being passed around, and the sharp commands from the captain filled the air. His fists clenched as he exhaled, steadying himself before stepping forward.

He walked past the sidelines and straight onto the field, stopping near the coach, who was observing the players with a stern expression. Without hesitation, Gabriel spoke up.

"I want to join the team."

The coach turned to look at him, eyes narrowing slightly. Recognition flickered across his face before he crossed his arms. "You're that kid who always watched from far away."

Gabriel didn't deny it, only standing firm as he awaited an answer.

The coach exhaled, shaking his head. "I already told you. I'm not taking any more players."

Gabriel frowned. "Why?"

"Because I said so." The coach's tone was final, offering no room for argument.

But Gabriel wasn't backing down that easily. "That's not a reason. If you're rejecting me, at least give me an actual answer."

The coach remained silent.

Frustration bubbled inside Gabriel, and before he could stop himself, he grabbed the coach by the collar. "Say something!"

The field went silent. Several players stopped mid-drill, turning toward the commotion. The coach, unfazed, simply stared at him.

"Gabriel!" Ryota's voice rang out, but before he could step in, another figure appeared between them.

The team captain.

In an instant, the captain grabbed Gabriel's arm, yanking him back with a forceful shove. "Who the hell do you think you are, putting hands on our coach?"

Gabriel staggered but held his ground, glaring. "I just want answers."

"That's not how you get them." The captain's voice was cold, his eyes sharp as he stood tall. "You want to be part of this team? Then show some damn respect."

Tension crackled in the air as the other players gathered, forming a circle around them. Ryota, Kenta, and Daichi had pushed through the crowd, watching cautiously.

Gabriel clenched his fists. "Fine. Then let me prove myself."

The coach sighed, adjusting his collar before finally speaking. "Alright. Five-on-five. First to five goals."

Gabriel smirked. "Fine."

Without hesitation, Ryota stepped forward. "I'm in."

"Me too," Kenta added.

Daichi cracked his knuckles. "Guess I can't sit this one out."

A moment later, another student stepped up, a younger player Gabriel hadn't spoken to before. "I'll play."

The opposing team was quickly formed including the captain himself. The energy on the field shifted—this wasn't just a friendly scrimmage.

Gabriel rolled his shoulders, stepping onto the field. The ball was placed at the center.

Gabriel stood at the center of the field, his gaze shifting between his teammates. If they were going to do this, they needed to think.

Before the game began, he turned to the others. "Alright, tell me your positions, it will easier things for me."

Ryota smirked, rolling his shoulders. "Striker, obviously."

Kenta shrugged. "I can play in the midfield."

Daichi cracked his knuckles. "For the defense count on me."

The last player, the one who had added himself to their team, stepped forward. He had short, sharp black hair and a lean build. "My name is Takechi," he introduced himself. "I'll be the goalkeeper."

Gabriel nodded. "Alright, we'll run a 1-2-1 formation. Ryota up front as our striker, Kenta and I in midfield, Daichi has our sole defender, and Takechi as our goalkeeper."

The others listened, but Ryota frowned. "That sounds basic. Why not just go all out?"

Gabriel shook his head. "5-a-side isn't just about attacking. Everyone needs to know their role in both attack and defense. We're not just rushing forward—we have to play smart."

Kenta crossed his arms. "So what's the plan?"

Gabriel exhaled. "As soon as we lose possession, we fall back into a defensive shape. We press lightly, not recklessly."

Daichi raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Gabriel's expression was calm, but his mind was already working. "Because I need time to read them. This isn't a 1v2 like our duel of last time. It's been a long time since I've played football for real. I need the first few minutes to watch them, see how they move, how they pass, what patterns they rely on. Once I get that, we adjust."

The others exchanged glances, not fully understanding, but they nodded.

"Fine," Ryota said. "But don't take too long to figure it out. We're winning this..I want you to join our team."

Gabriel smirked. "Obviously."

The players took their positions. 

As the whistle blew, Gabriel steadied himself.

This was different. 

He wasn't just testing himself against Ryota and Kenta anymore. This was a real match.

And it was time to see just how much of himself he had lost… and how much he could get back.