Friday came like a drumroll.
The air was thick with something unspoken—tension, excitement, fear. By noon, the whole school buzzed with rumors. The "unofficial" match had somehow become the event of the month. Kids whispered in corridors. Teachers pretended not to hear. Even the janitor asked me if we were ready.
We were.
I tied my laces slowly, deliberately. My teammates gathered behind the old gym: no locker room, no anthem, just cracked concrete and dreams. We wore mismatched jerseys, but our hearts beat the same rhythm.
System Sync: Match Readiness Protocol Initiated
Status: Peak Focus
Boosts Active:
Team Chemistry +3 Calmness Under Fire +2 Morale +2 Bond Bonuses: Erwin (Coach), Ana (Stabilizer), Observation (Maria)
Coach Erwin stood in front of us, arms behind his back. "No trophies today. No headlines. Just pride. So go out there, and earn it."
We jogged out to the court. The crowd had already gathered—students, upperclassmen, even some alumni who'd somehow heard about it. Bluetooth speakers on both ends blared hype music. At center court, Randy stood like a street king waiting to reclaim his throne.
His team was bigger. Cleaner kits. Shin guards. They looked like they belonged on a poster.
But we looked like we'd bled for this. Because we had.
The ref was a senior from the varsity basketball team. Neutral enough. He raised a hand.
"First to 3 goals. Fair play. Game starts on my whistle."
The whistle blew.
Quest: The Underground Match – ACTIVE
Objective: Defeat Sun Valley Hoopers FC
Win Condition: Score 3 Goals Before Opponent
Bonus Objective: Trigger "Counter Press" Move Successfully
The game was chaos and beauty, all at once.
Randy came out fast. Their striker—a lanky kid named Brix—blasted down the wing, nearly scoring in the first minute. But I tracked him, stayed tight, and nudged the ball away at the last second.
Skill Triggered: Calm Under Fire – Success
+1 Focus
+1 Tactical Awareness
We countered. A quick triangle pass—me, Kenneth, Marco—then back to me. I saw the gap.
Flicked it forward. Shot. Bottom corner.
GOAL. 1–0.
The crowd erupted. A wave of noise crashed around us. Maria stood near the sideline, clutching her red notebook, eyes wide. Ana gave a subtle nod from the edge, arms crossed, calculating.
But Randy wasn't done.
He barked orders like a general. They pressed high, doubled me every time I got the ball. At minute eight, they broke through—Brix curled one just past our keeper's glove.
1–1.
System Alert: Momentum Shift Detected
Tip: Call Leadership or Activate Special Move
"James!" Coach Erwin yelled. "They're reading you. Make them pay for it."
I saw it then. Their aggression. Their arrogance.
I stepped toward Marco and whispered: "Lose the ball on purpose."
He blinked. "What?"
"Just do it."
He passed weakly. Their midfielder pounced.
Triggering Special Move: COUNTER PRESS – Tier I
Effect: +20% Team Recovery Speed, -1 Opponent Stamina
We swarmed.
Kenneth blocked the next pass. I intercepted. One touch, two touches—I nutmegged their right back and shot before the keeper could react.
GOAL. 2–1.
The noise was deafening. Some kids climbed the fences. The ref almost forgot to blow the whistle.
Then came Randy.
Angry. Desperate. Dangerous.
He barreled toward me on the next play, boots high, no finesse. I dodged, but not fast enough. His shoulder caught my ribs.
Warning: Minor Collision Detected
Status: Pain – Manageable | Focus – Holding
I staggered, but stayed up. He sneered. "You think this is your comeback story?"
"No," I said. "It's our revolution."
I passed wide. Ana, standing on the sidelines, shouted, "Overlap!"
Kenneth ran in behind. A perfect pass.
Crossed to the middle.
I was there.
Volley. Net.
GOAL.
Final Score: 3–1.
Quest Complete: The Underground Match
Rewards Unlocked:
+2 Reputation (Campus) Special Move: Counter Press (Permanent) Bond Strengthened: Rebellion FC Title Earned: "The Restarting Star"
We collapsed into a pile of shouts and laughter. It wasn't a stadium. It wasn't pro. But it mattered. For the first time, football had mattered here.
Randy stood off to the side, fists clenched. But he didn't say anything. Just nodded, once. Respect or resentment—I couldn't tell.
As the crowd dispersed, Ana jogged up beside me. "Told you you'd win."
"You always did have the better prediction stats," I said, grinning.
From the other side, Maria watched quietly. She didn't say anything this time. Just wrote something in her notebook, then walked away.
Maybe her story wasn't finished yet either.
But mine? Mine had just kicked off again.