The day after the game was supposed to be a sabbath day, one where the players could take a rest. However, the coach gathered all the boys in the meeting room right after dinner, and almost everyone had some sort of solemn expression on their face.
"You guys should’ve watched the game as well, right?" Kageyama-sensei asked solemnly. "The second semifinal of the World Cup, where Ukraine beat Italy with the score 5-2."
The rest of the players nodded; their expression was complicated. Even though they had some sort of grudges against Italy for the painful draw in the group phase, everyone acknowledged that Italy was the strongest defensive team they faced, so to hear them losing and even conceding five goals in a game was pretty much surreal.
They were also a little bit unwilling here, wanting nothing more than to beat the leader of their group, Italy, to perfect their World Cup journey. This would also show the world that they were the best in Group B.
Still, other than those mixed feelings, they also stared at one girl in the room who had predicted everything before it could start, and the boys were completely in awe.
"What?" Kumiko shrugged innocently. "I told you that Ukraine is always the stronger team in this tournament. Their organization is solid, their defense is tight and impossible to break, and their discipline is also at the same level as yours, maybe even a little bit better. They are patient, and they also know how to hurt the opponent badly. It is understandable for them to get to the final."
The way she said it made things look so simple, but some people who were unconvinced by her little prediction yesterday looked at each other helplessly. While they acknowledged Kumiko’s data and analysis, they still believed that football was not always the game that could be solved on paper. No, there were things like winning mentality, clutch genes, experience, and so many more that couldn’t be measured so easily, and in that regard, they truly thought that Italy was the better team.
Who would’ve thought that all the supernatural things they mentioned before didn’t play any role in that semifinal game? Would it be like a slap in their face?
"Kumiko-san, Kumiko-san!" Naoya suddenly waved his hand in the air with great enthusiasm, wanting to ask something. "Are you somehow someone who travels back in time and knows exactly how everything will unfold just like those main characters in my favorite manga and webnovel?"
His question was so innocent that it was hard to believe that it came from a natural playboy like Naoya. At least, Kumiko blinked for a moment, confirming once again that Naoya had just admitted that he liked reading manga and webnovel.
"Well, that is a good imagination, Naoya-kun. Maybe, if football doesn’t work for you, you can switch jobs to be an author. That would be a good story." She couldn’t help but smile teasingly. The others also snickered secretly, while the boy had a sheepish look as he rubbed the back of his head. "But to answer the question, no. If anything, if there is someone who can be a main character, it should be—"
Kumiko was halfway through her explanation before her eyes caught her childhood friend shaking his head frantically at her. The girl paused, widening her eyes in realization as words stuck in her throat immediately.
"What, Shishida-san? Who do you think should be the main character?" Naoya caught what Kumiko wanted to say earlier and started flexing his muscles to show off a little bit.
"Tch! Those flabby muscles?! What are you bragging about?!" Kawabe sneered mockingly.
This little switch in conversation was enough to give the girl a way out. She coughed a little bit, smiling as brightly as ever as if she didn’t just slip something wrong, and said, "If there is someone who can be the main character, it shouldn’t be me, but you guys who are the stars of this game. No matter how good I am or Kageyama-sensei is as the coaches, everything still depends on you."
On the corner of the room, Higo let out a little sigh of relief. He was so afraid for a moment, knowing that Kumiko was about to slip and tell everyone about his clairvoyant ability. While the boy could still dodge it, he didn’t want to raise suspicion about him.
Remembering those sci-fi movies he watched about people getting experimented on due to their supernatural ability, Higo couldn’t help but shudder secretly, shaking his head quickly. ’No, no, no, I have to keep this secret to my grave! No one else besides Kumiko-chan could know about it!’
Poor boy, he was hyperventilating quietly in a corner of the room with no one really paying attention to him.
"Okay, let’s put aside our chit-chat right now. The next opponent will be Ukraine, and this will be the biggest game of our country." Kageyama-sensei took over the conversation again. "In our history, we have never won this tournament at all. No, our best achievement is runner-up in 1999. You hadn’t even been born yet at that point, right?"
Some of the boys chuckled secretly when they heard that.
"That glory has already been in the past, and besides those who were involved in that tournament, no one really remembered them right now. No, all the players participating in that tournament have already retired at this point." The man said with a somber tone. "Then, 20 years later, here we are, standing at the highest stage of this tournament to make up for their regret. Ukraine! One last opponent! Are you confident that you can create history for your country?!"
The roar was like fuel that ignited everyone’s spirit. The boys looked at each other in determination before they finally turned back to their head coach. No hesitation could be seen anymore, and their eyes shone brightly as if they were ready for war.
In the end, they just shouted something simple here.
"Don’t worry, Sensei! We are going to win this tournament!"