Ryuu kept a steady pace as he trailed behind the soccer club members.

He would occasionally hear them whispering about him, but his countenance remained stoic. Internally, he was holding back his frustration.

'I've fallen so low that even mobs can make fun of me. Worse, I can't even refute them. If that isn't bad enough…."

"Yuuto! Don't you dare drop your pace!"

"Eeep! Yes! Ryu-chan!"

'As if I need sympathy. Focus on improving yourself, Yuuto.'

The morning practice continued as usual, with the members performing simple ball trapping skills. Ryuu, paired with Yuuto, focused on every movement he made until the assistant coach called for the regulars.

"Regulars! Gather up!"

"See you, Ryu-chan."

"Don't slack off during practice, Yuuto."

Ryuu accompanied the 1st years in their training exercises. They started with agility and jumping drills, which consisted of jumping diagonally over a rope held by two cones.

During the endurance and strength exercise, which consisted of players giving each other piggyback rides, Ryuu's focus was interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Let's go, Ryu-chan!"

He smirked and gave Yuki a wink as he passed by.

"Is that your girlfriend?" Asked the club member on his back.

"One of them."

"Eh?!?!"

"RYU-CHAN!!!"

For the rest of the morning, Ryuu participated in circuits with the first years. He could feel the lingering gazes of the other members and used the frustration he felt to further enhance his focus.

Interestingly, the more he focused on the exercise, the more his mind drifted. And he recalled parts of his former life as Cameron West.

Somehow, the memories of Cameron West were altered. The names and faces of family, friends, teammates, and the like were thoroughly expunged. What remained was general knowledge and hours upon hours of soccer training. Anything related to soccer remained intact and unaltered, but just about everything else was slowly fading away, even his name.

Ryuu could only feel bittersweet in such a situation. He was glad that he didn't have detailed memories, especially of his family and friends. It made being a transmigrator, or whatever he was, much less stressful on his psyche.

At the head coach's signal, morning practice came to a stop, and Ryuu did his cooldown routine before showering and heading to class.

.

.

.

The sun was just setting over the horizon as the three childhood friends walked back home.

"It's been two weeks since you joined. How is it, Ryu-chan? Is it fun?"

Ryuu gave Yuki a look before turning his head back and sighing deeply.

"Hell no, it's not fun."

The twins were shocked by Ryuu's word choice and the edge in his voice.

"It's frustrating that I can't perform as I envision, and worse…."

Ryuu tightly clenched his fists.

"What's worse, Ryu-chan?"

Yuuto asked as he and Yuki placed gentle hands on his two shoulders.

"That those 4th-rate peons are talking as if they're a cut above me."

"Ryu-chan! You don't mean that!"

"Yeah! That sounds like something that scum, Sakuraba would say."

"…You're both right. They're not 4th-rate, but it's frustrating to be so underestimated.

"…You've definitely changed, Ryu-chan."

"Yeah. But it's not awful."

"Right? It sounds cool when words like those come out of Ryu-chan's mouth. Unlike the trash that comes out of Sakuraba's mouth."

"Hehe, yeah. Isn't it natural for you to have some pride, Ryu-chan? I may not be the best judge, but I don't think anyone we ever played with or against was ever as talented as you were."

"Yeah! Since it's you, you'll surely surpass your former level!"

"He will, Yuki. Since…Since you still plan on becoming a Japanese representative. Right?"

Ryuu turned to face them. Over the last two years, he had grown fond of these two and was glad that the old Ryuu had made such good friends.

'Japanese Representative? That's a start….'

"You're right."

"If it's Ryu-chan, you can definitely do it!"

Yuuto wrapped an arm around Ryuu's neck.

"I agree! You'll get your sense back soon. Because you're always working hard."

Yuki wrapped Ryuu's arm in hers.

"Thanks, Yuuto, Yuki. I won't let you down."

.

.

.

"Ichijyou!"

Ryuu stopped his routine and lightly jogged toward the head coach.

"Go join the B-Team."

"?"

"It's almost the Newcomer League, but we still haven't decided on the bench members. Ichijyou, is the left forward position okay with you?"

"…Actually, coach…."

"Yeah?"

"There's a position I've been thinking of playing."

.

.

.

The Newcomers League was held at a venue with sparse seating. Parents and friends alike were gathered to watch the up-and-coming players.

"Anna-chan, over here!"

Along with her grandfather, Anna had just arrived and was quickly noticed by Yuki, who was standing next to Dr. Takano.

"It's about to start."

"I wasn't really planning on coming. But Grandpa wanted to go, so I had no choice…Even though he'll just be disappointed…."

The last part was said in a small voice.

"Hm. Well. I can't see anything…."

"Oh. Okay! Excuse us!"

Yuki excitedly took Anna's wheelchair and started moving towards the front.

Anna scanned the field but couldn't find Ryuu. Before she could ask Yuki, she spotted a mop of wild black hair sitting on the bench.

"What the…He isn't even playing…."

"He'll get a chance. I'm sure!"

.

.

.

Ryuu watched the match with his chin resting on his fist. He visualized the pitch and watched how the opponents moved and how his teammates responded.

'Close the space, or he'll….'

[SHIMURA MIDDLE SCHOOL SCORES THE FIRST POINT!]

'Score.'

Ooura East, while discouraged, remained focused and started to put more significant pressure on their opponents.

The #10, Miyazaki, held the ball near the center line as he tried to find the space for a through-pass.

"Yuuto! Go! Go! Go!"

Yuuto, wearing the #6, sprinted down the touchline from his deep position as the right wing-back.

The stamina freak desperately ran to catch up but could not reach the ball.

"Argh! Shit!"

Miyazaki cursed as he returned to his position.

Most of the fans were complaining about the poor pass, and so were the bench warmers.

"Miyazaki should really think more about the person receiving it…."

"The success rate for his pass is really low…."

"That pass miss wasn't Miyazaki's fault."

"Huh?"

"Eh?"

Even the nearby head coach was intrigued by Ryuu's comment.

"If there's a problem with the receiver, even a good pass won't connect. That miss was Yuuto's mistake. He needs to pay better attention and time his run better."

'Amazing.'

The head coach couldn't help but compliment Ryuu internally.

'Maybe if it's him…."

"Alright, start warming up! Be prepared to start playing in the second half.

"YES!" Responded the members sitting on the bench except for Ryuu, who stayed silent.

\ \ \

"Ahhh! That first half was so sloppy!"

"I'll be honest, your school sucks."

"Hey!"

Despite her frustration, Yuki couldn't argue with Anna's statement. Thankfully, her negative thoughts were halted when she saw Ryuu.

"Ah! Ryu-chan!"

"Eh?"

"He's warming up with the bench group!"

"Incredible… I've never had a patient who was very focused on rehab. As his doctor in charge, I definitely want to see…How much he's recovered."

Yuki clenched her fists due to Dr. Takano's comment. Ryuu had taken every step of rehabilitation seriously. She also wanted to see him succeed and thus kept her eyes firmly on Ryuu.

{To think that a youth with such talent ended up playing at this level…Is it fate?}

Anna felt mixed emotions listening to her grandfather's words.

\ \ \

"Ichijyou."

"Yes, coach."

"You'll be starting in the second half!"

Ryuu felt electricity coursing through his body, but he maintained his impassive expression and responded in a flat voice.

"Thank you for the opportunity."

\ \ \

"Ryu-chan! Anna, look, it's Ryu-chan!"

Sitting with Ryuu's parents, Yuki's parents also noticed the substitution.

"Look! Look! It's Ryu-chan!"

Gradually even the people in the crowd took notice.

"Isn't that Ichijyou?

"Seriously? Ichijyou?"

"You mean that Ichijyou?"

Yuki, overcome with emotion, couldn't help her eyes from misting up.

"GO RYU-CHAN!"

\ \ \

[Substituting in for #9…]

'Pace yourself. Minimize your movements. Stay centered.'

[#17, Ichijyou Ryuu!]

'And win.'

"Ryu-chan, you're finally he-"

"Yuuto, come here."

"Eh?"

"Listen…."

"…."

"Got it?"

"Yes."

After talking to Yuuto, Ryuu jogged to his position on the pitch while taking note of the head coach's last moment instructions.

The second half started with an Ooura East kickoff.

The boys in blue and white stripes passed the ball around in midfield.

Shimura, for their part, made sure to press the losing team. They eventually managed to steal the ball and start playing passes of their own.

Instead of his former role as a center midfielder and playmaker, Ryuu stayed near the opponent's defensive line in the final third.

He could feel the tension oozing off of the defender marking him.

The #17 watched the ball's movement, and finally, when the Ooura East #10, Miyazaki, received the ball, the center forward called out.

"Miyazaki! Pass it to Yuuto!"

Miyazaki didn't even have time to register that a substitute gave him a command. When he saw Ryuu's expression, he felt compelled to send the pass towards the flank.

"Here!"

[They're making the right wing-back run again! But this time! He caught up!? It connected!!]

\ \ \

{Was he faster than before?} Asked Anna.

{Unlike the first half, his starting position was better. They're fixing up their positioning.}

\ \ \

'When it's our ball, move 5 meters more forward than where I'll usually be…just like he said…it worked….'

Yuuto planted his left foot and whipped a low cross towards the near post.

Ryuu, who had orchestrated the entire play, was in position for a diving header, but instead, he took another step and leaped forward.

Showing an adept sense of spatial awareness and body control, Ryuu curled his left leg and made contact with the ball as it was flying over his back. Despite the ball beating the keeper, Ryuu had a frustrated expression even as he caught himself while landing on the grass.

"Damn it!"

The ball bounced off the post anticlimactically before the opposing side's defender cleared it.

\ \ \

"That #17 went for a goal right after going in the second half!"

"Yeah! And what was that kick? That was crazy!"

"Wasn't that a scorpion kick?!"

"That's Ichijyou Ryuu for you!"

"Wasn't he injured and hasn't been playing?!"

"Looks like he's back!"

\ \ \

"Damn…I really bobbled that."

"Ryu-chan! That was close!"

"Ah, Yuuto. Nice cross, I'll make sure to bag the next one."

As Ryuu and Yuuto returned to their respective positions with the latter still gushing about the last play, the players from Shimura were starting to feel the pressure.

Ichijyou Ryuu was a name just about any soccer player in their age group knew about. Two years ago, he was a widely recognized genius. But after two years away, he should be average at best, right?

Unknowingly, their bodies tensed, and they watched Ryuu with trepidation in their eyes.

\ \ \

"Good for you, Sae-san, Ryouta-san."

"As expected of Ryu-chan."

While the twin's mother, Yuuna, and Ryuu's mother, Sae, cried tears of relief and joy, the pair of fathers attempted to remain calm despite the tears in the corner of their eyes.

"Good, good. The hard work from rehab is paying off."

While Dr. Takano didn't shed any tears, he couldn't help but feel proud watching his former patient.

Anna turned her head when she heard muffled sobs and saw Yuki smiling while crying.

\ \ \

Meanwhile, the match progressed with Ryuu playing his role as the center-forward. An extra defender was on him as he ran to receive a pass.

Yet, the wunderkind expertly trapped the ball and managed to slip a defender.

Unfortunately, the other defender stuck to him, which forced the #17 to take a long-range shot, which was caught by the keeper.

Ryuu stayed up the field and focused entirely on offense.

There were occasional flashes of his former brilliance, but overall, he played at a half-level above the other players.

The intense midfield battle continued, but Ryuu's bodyguards remained vigilant. Miyazaki managed to send a well-timed through ball, but Ryuu could not beat out the defender and ended up stumbling.

With tightened fists and a clenched jaw, he stood back up, checked his laces, and patted down his jersey before moving back into position.

\ \ \

"Nice fight! He seems fine despite the collision. He's back to how he was before."

"Does it look like that to you…."

"Yeah. He's completely recovered!"

Despite Dr. Takano's kind intentions, Yuki couldn't agree with him, and she knew that Anna was of the same opinion as her.

"That's right…. You didn't see how he was like before his injury."

\ \ \

"Ichijyou hasn't had any impactful plays after that."

"I guess it really is over for him."

"He can keep the ball when it's passed to him, but he doesn't have any pace or strength, so they can't really push. They're on the defensive even though they're losing."

"I've played against Ooura SC once."

Two Shimura bench players shared a conversation as the ball went out of bounds, and Yuuto went for the throw-in.

"No matter how many went to block Ichijyou, nobody could stop him. That guy was a genius at soccer in the past."

Yuuto's already faltering expression crumbled as he relived those haunting nightmares. Of how his carelessness had nearly ended the life of his best friend.

"Yuuto! Pass!"

"Ryu-chan… I'm s-sorry…."

Ryuu's expression froze as he saw Yuuto crying.

"You… Don't you dare show such a pathetic face!! How dare you cry when the match isn't over! We'll score and grab the momentum. Do you think I'll lose in my own return debut?! LET'S WIN!!"

Those nearby were shocked by Ryuu's words, no one more so than Yuuto, who managed to finally throw in the ball.

'Ryu-chan is… he's still focusing on the game.'

[The right wings are facing off!]

'I'm sorry for letting you down again, Ryu-chan…I…I need to change!'

With tears and his eyes but a fierce expression, Yuuto charged past the Shimura right back.