The Rise of the Iron Wall!-Chapter 96: Post-Match Reaction (II)
"Thank you for your support!"
In front of about 75 people—most were the players’ relatives—who came from Hakodate to support them, all the Hakodate Nishi players bowed, showing their deepest gratitude for their presence.
The number might not be that high, even got overwhelmed by the home team’s side, but their voice was definitely the loudest here, making sure every single player was able to hear their support.
Seeing their boys like this, so dejected but still not forgetting to be grateful, it broke everyone’s heart right on the spot.
"Don’t worry, My Hiro! You will always be the winner in my heart!"
"Brat! What is that gloomy look?! Be proud, for you are so close to creating a miracle!"
"Don’t worry, you can try again next time!"
"Hahaha! Dinner is on my tab! Let’s go to the biggest Yakiniku restaurant in Sapporo!"
While they were still depressed, the last sentence was at least able to cheer them up. Well... No. It wasn’t really that sentence, per se. More like their presence here, as being able to see familiar faces in this situation, was really a game-changer. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
Higo also smiled a little here, waving at the stands while also searching for his mother’s presence.
He himself still didn’t know how he felt right now. No, everything was still entangling in his mind, getting too complicated to be untied by his tired brain. Right now, all he wanted to do was to sleep, feeling like his body was about to collapse. It wasn’t until he saw his mother rushing to the front to greet him that a more genuine smile curled on his lips.
"Hey, Mom..." He greeted wanly, his throat dry from forgetting to drink even after the game was over. "Sorry, you have to see my embarrassing side like this."
Minami finally couldn’t hold back anymore. She sobbed hard, but still didn’t forget to scold her stupid son.
"What are you talking about, Ryukkun?! Your sweating state, bleeding, and with all the dirt on your body from fighting so hard like this... This is definitely your most glorious moment! Don’t downplay it just because you lost!"
"Yeah, young man! Hold your head high and be proud of it!" Makino’s father chimed in quickly.
"Oi, Oyaji! Don’t be so rude like that! This is not our family’s conversation!" Makino hissed before apologizing quickly to Minami.
The woman was still heartbroken, and then, in her distressed moment, she didn’t forget to ask, "How is your thigh? Are you able to walk normally? I swear, that foreign boy is trying to injure you maliciously!" She huffed with her cheek bulging like a puffer fish.
For a moment, Higo was confused here. However, the adrenaline that kept his brain from registering the painful sensation on his thigh was finally worn out, and the boy flinched immediately at the uncomfortable sensation on his right leg.
"Urgh... I just remembered this, but since Sensei from the medical team said that it is okay, I don’t think this will be a big problem. Just leave it a night or two, and it will leave no scratch at all." He answered, trying to hide his grimace.
They were talking about the scar that Higo got from getting scratched by Yuwell’s stud at the beginning of the first half. Minami narrowed her eyes suspiciously, detecting a big lie in her son’s face.
The son himself, noticing that his mother’s bullshit detector was on, changed the topic immediately. "Anyway, Mom, we still have to greet our opponents and take a quick shower in the locker room first! Let’s talk about it later, okay?!"
He rushed back without saying any goodbye, and after realizing what had happened here, Minami shouted, "Ryukkun! Go back! We still have to talk about it!"
"Later, Mom!"
Everyone just shook their head in exasperation. However, they were glad to see Minami being this cheerful, especially considering how stressed the young mother was the entire game.
Higo himself went back to the tunnel immediately, not really wanting to socialize with the team that just beat him. However, as he entered the locker room, he was so stunned at the sight that greeted him inside.
There, he saw Kumiko sobbing silently, her body trembling hard with the tactical board being so wet from her tears.
Higo was so stunned and caught off guard that he didn’t really know what to say here.
"Uh! Oh! I am sorry!" Kumiko finally noticed her presence, wiping away all the tears on her face. "Oh, Gosh... This is so embarrassing! Sorry, you have to see my weak moment like this, Ryukkun..." She chuckled weakly, trying to brush it off as nothing.
Higo was so stunned here, feeling like a déjà vu. This was exactly what he said to his mother a moment ago, and yet, he suddenly became the one who received that same sentence.
When he saw the girl’s state, though, he was more distressed than conceding a goal or even losing this game. The boy saw that his childhood friend’s face was so red, and the traces of tears were everywhere on her face.
Even though she had been consoling everyone before, that didn’t mean Kumiko didn’t feel anything. In fact, she was probably the most dejected one from this defeat, and yet, the girl managed to hide it and just let her emotions out when no one was there to see.
’This silly girl... Why are you trying to bear everything alone?’ Higo shook his head in exasperation.
Then, in a big, and yet somehow natural move, he swooped the girl into his arms, engulfing her in a bear hug. She stiffened for a moment, but in the end, knowing full well that this was her best friend, the girl just let go, accepting the gesture silently.
"There, there..." The boy rubbed her back soothingly. "You don’t have to bear everything alone, you know? I know that you are the saddest one here, so if you want to cry, just let it out. I am here..."
The last sentence was the one that broke the camel’s back. Coupled with the safety sense the hug offered, the girl finally broke, and she cried louder than ever.
