Chapter 63 - Football Friendly Match

Sunday, 6 in the morning, after changing into his training suit, Ryou preparing his football shoe and his uniform to his training bag.

Today, Sho invited all boys in his class to became his football club opponent for a friendly match. Because Hirata from class 1D is from football club too, his classmates were invited too. They will start the match at 8 AM. But before going to the field, as usual he will do his daily exercise. Closing his room door, he use the stairs to go down, he did it everyday before his daily exercise as a little warming up.

Arrived in the lobby, he meet with Suzune. She is coming back from convenience store with a plastic bag on her hand.

Ryou: "Morning Horikita-san."

Suzune: "Morning Hiroki-kun, going for a morning run?"

'Hmm... its unusual for her asking someone llike that, was that because her talk with Sudou on sports festival?'

Ryou: "Yeah, morning exercise. I'll be going first, bye..."

But he was stopped by her.

Suzune: "Wait Hiroki-kun!"

Ryou: "Hmm?"

Suzune: "On sports festival, did you holding back too until the final event?"

'Oh.. that run with her brother.'

Ryou: "Yeah, and somehow i can win against your brother. I'll be going okay, i don't want to be late for my morning exercise. Bye!"

Suzune: "Yeah, bye"

..

(Suzune POV)

So, like Ayanokouji, he is still holding back until their last event.

Even while holding back he still won that much events.

..

(Ryou POV)

Running for 10km, 50 push ups, 50 sit ups, 20 minutes of plank and others workout moves are my daily routine.

And after that, i will go to the forest behind our dormitory to train my martial arts.

I still have 30 minutes before the match with Kudou High football club, maybe i should go to the field first.

I can see many football club members already on the field warming up, and i see my classmate there.

"Sho!"

Sho: "Oh Ryou, you're early!"

"Yeah, doing my morning exercise." i replied to him

Sho: "No wonder you're so fit, doing that almost everyday. Oh look, there are our classmates! Ryuji, Ueno!"

I look at the direction of our dormitory, my classmates walking toward us.

"Yooo, how is it?" i asked Ryuji.

Ryuji: "Hmm... still on pending, i have to wait."

"Its okay, give her a little time. Don't rush it."

Ryuji: "I know, thank you."

I pat his shoulder.

Ao: "Hey hey... what are you guys talking about?"

"Nothing." I replied shortly.

Ryota: "Are you guys talking about girls? Can't you let us know too?" he asked with pleading eyes.

"Come on warming up first! I don't want to carry you if you're injured!" I ignore Ryota's question.

..

(Third POV)

They're warming up with Ryou's instruction.

Ryou: "Do it seriously, we're going to play against our school football club, they will not go easy on us, we have to give our all too!"

When they are warming up, boys from class 1D coming to them after talking with Hirata.

Hirata: "Hello Hiroki-kun."

Ryou: "Oh, hello Hirata-kun. Can i help you?"

He can see few familiar faces like Ayanokouji and Sudou.

Hirata: "Can you help my classmates to do a warming up too?"

Ryou: "Hmm? I don't mind if they're okay with that. Hello Ayanokouji-kun, Sudou-kun."

Ayanokouji: "Morning Hiroki-kun."

Sudou: "Lets start warming up, i can't wait to play."

Ryou: "You are in basketball club right Sudou-kun?"

Sudou: "Yeah, but i know football a little bit." He said that and started join class 1B to warming up.

Hirata: "Lets go, you guys can join class 1B to warming up."

They started to warming up and finished after 30 minutes.

Koudo High football club already finished their warming up too, then they're given 10 minutes to gather for a strategy meeting.

Sudou: "So, who is going to be the captain?"

Ryuji: "I think its better Ryou who will be the captain."

Sudou: "Ah i almost forgot, you're a football player back in junior high right?"

Ryou: "Yeah."

Ayanokouji: "He even won national 3 times in a row."

Ike: "Woah really? Thats awesome!"

A few boys from class D surprised by that.

Ryuji: "Anybody disagree if Ryou is the captain?"

Ayanokouji: "I'm fine with that."

Ryuji: "Then, lets start the strategy meeting. Ryou?"

Ryou: "Okay then, because i never knew your skills in football, i'll be using a normal formation, 4-4-2 for us. First, Sudou-kun, since you are from basket club, i hope you are good at catching or blocking the ball, can you become our goalkeeper?"

Sudou: "Hmm... thats right, its easier for me to play a ball with my hand."

..

..

'Um... yeah, that sounds weird.'

Ryou: "Good, for defense, i want Ueno as left back, Ike and Ryota as a centre back and Miyake as a right back, stay on our defensive line. If you guys don't know much about football, just take the ball from your opponent and kick the ball to our attacker in the front. Understood?"

"Yes..."

Ryou: "Good, now for our mid-fielder, i want Yamauichi as a left winger, Ryuji as attacking mid-fielder, Furuichi as a central mid-fielder and Jun as a right winger. Any question?"

Yamauchi: "Um.. i don't have very good stamina."

Ryou: "No problem, just pass the ball to our central midfielder or our attacking mid-fielder, you don't need to run very much. And lastly, I and Ayanokouji will be the forward."

Ayanokuji: "I prefer become a subs."

Ryou: "You have to use your energy once in a while."

Ayanokouki: "I did, in sports festival."

Ryou: "Its been a few days ago, is he always like this?"

Class 1D boys: "Yeah."

Ayanokouji: "He is always like that?"

Class 1B boys: "Yeah..."

Ryou: "Okay, other than them get ready for any subtitution. Move your body every 15 minutes to keep your body warm and ready. Lets go MFC!"

"What is that MFC?"

Ryou: "Mixed Football Club!" he said grinning.

"Lets go MFC!"

"Yeaaaaahhhhh!!!"

..

Sho: "What is that MFC?"

Hirata: "Don't know, they came up with a club name already? Woaaaahh look at that formation! 4-4-2 with that players!"

Sho: "This is definitely Ryou's doing. Don't forget he was a champions 3 times in a row during junior high."

Hirata: "Yeah, to came up with such strategy and players, it must be him."

Sho: "This is going to be fun!"

..

The referee blow the whistle with Koudo High football club kicking the ball.

They started with fast play as they think they just played with amateur team, using direct high pass to their forward. But suddenly a player blocked the ball, Ueno with his tall body headed the ball to Furuichi. Furuichi pass the ball to Ryuji before using a high pass to Ryou. Running past the defender, with a first time kick Ryou kicked the ball. The ball flew directly to the goal with very fast speed, even the goalkeeper didn't have a time to react. Unfortunately his kick hit the bar and going out from the field.

Sudou: "Aaahhh... it should've gone in!!!"

"Maaan... that was close!!!"

Hirata: "That was dangerous, we underestimate them too much."

Sho: "Yeah, they're using the same tactic as us with long direct pass!"

Koudo High football team captain is Jun Misugi from 2nd grade.

Misugi: "Slow down, don't use a long pass, we need to control the flow of the ball and waste their energy. Not all of them have a good stamina!" he instructed his team.

Right after a surprise attack from Ryou, Koudo High team start the game with slow pace, passing over here and there, mostly after passing the ball to the front they're doing a back pass.

Lost his patient, Ryota rushed to the front to take the ball, but a feint from his opponent make him lose balance and his opponent pass the ball to Hirata. Hirata is now free, because Ryota already leaving his post, he continue to run with the ball, Ueno try covering for Ryota's absence but in a cost someone from Koudo High team are free on their left side. Hirata pass the ball to the left, their left continue running with the ball into their defensive line. Before Ueno able to back to his place, his opponent pass a high ball to the penalty box when Sho already waiting. With an accurate header, he successfully placed the ball inside the net. Although Sudou already did his best to reach the ball, only the tips of his finger touched the ball and thats not enough to change the ball's direction. 1-0 for Kudou High FC.

Sudou: "Dammit, oy Ryota, don't leave your position!"

Ryota: "S..sorry, i was distracted."

Ryou: "I must agree with Sudou-kun, you can't leave your position just like that, its hard for Ueno to cover for you. But its okay, its just 1 goal. Lets use the same strategy, play the ball in the middle, when i give a sign, give me a high direct pass!"

The match started with MFC's ball.

Like what Ryou's plan, the ball played between Yamauichi, Ryuji, Furuichi and Jun while sometimes Ueno and Ike doing some passes. 40 minutes into the first half, Koudo High FC frustated with their enemy's play. And when Ryuji receive the ball, he look at Ayanokouji who ready for a run, and Ryou shout "Now", Ryuji pass a high ball to Ryou. The enemy defense offside trap didn't working since the one who run first is Ayanokouji but the ball passed to Ryou who is onside.

Misugi: " Damn, center cover the back, press the another Attacker!" but its too late, Ryou already running with the ball and face to face with the goalkeeper. When the goalkeeper running to Ryou, he pass the ball above him, Ayanokouji is alone and easily score a goal.

"Yeaaahhh...."

"Goaaallll!!"

"Good job Ayanokouji!"

Ayanokouji: "I just touch the ball."

Ryou: "Whatever, you are the scorer."

He give a high five to Ayanokouji and Ryuji.

Ryou: "Good pass, a little bit too late and i'm already offside."

The first half score ended with 1-1, Kudou High FC can't believe they're tied with a mixed class team.

Sho: "Like i said, Ryou is dangerous!"

Hirata: "Captain, lets mark him 2 v 1 in the second half."

Misugi: "Yeah, we will mark him with 2 people."

Before they know, the football field was filled with lots of people who cheered for both teams.

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A/N: A refresher chapter before another event. lol

Hope you enjoy!

"Gimme a Hi-Five!"