Chapter 21
Too fast! It's like she warped.
I want to cry so badly. Can't I just sneak a win?
Even playing unfairly, it turned out like this. If we played fairly, how miserably would I lose?
What she said about being a rookie defender might be true, but besides that factor, there's also Asuka's superhuman physical ability.
She has it, but I don't. So, in this practice, even though both of us are rookies, with this difference in skill, there's no way it'll be a close match.
"Isn't this too suspicious?"
I said, tilting my head.
"If she were using NEX, that would be one thing, but her movements just now, normal humans can't do that without NEX."
"That's right," Asuka nodded. "In a real match, I have to try to use NEX as little as possible, so that its power doesn't get out of control and start showing a dark aura. But if I don't use NEX and move like this, it'll look unnatural and suspicious."
"Right? So let's try to practice without using this superhuman power."
I smiled.
"We won't always have Professor Kewan to imagine and tell people it's the power of love."
She nodded in agreement, laughing non-stop. A good amount of pressure lifted from my heart.
Perfect! I grinned. If we remove the superhuman power, it'll be a rookie defender versus a rookie attacker. I might have a chance to fight.
Once Asuka stopped laughing, I started with the only weapon I could use.
Left, right, front, back, diagonal, circling, while waiting for the right moment.
Asuka looked at the ball at my feet, then looked up at my eyes, and then moved closer and closer to me.
I thought, this is the moment I've been waiting for. Let's go!
I dribbled the ball in and feigned going left. As Asuka flinched, I used the inside of my left foot to tap the ball low to my right foot. At this moment, Asuka's body had already committed to the left. Then, I just used my right foot to tap the ball into the open space in front of me.
I immediately lunged after the ball.
It's very simple. Feign going left, but actually go right. If the opponent falls for it, it means you've dribbled past them.
And it seems Asuka's rookie status in defense is real. Even though I wasn't moving very fast, she still fell for it.
Nice! I dribbled past her! This time, cleanly. Looking ahead, I saw the wide-open goal again.
This time!
Left foot planted, right foot raised.
And then... shoot—
Thwack!!
As I was about to swing my leg to shoot, that sound rang out.
Again?
From seeing the wide-open goal, now it was the ground and the night sky. Yesterday, when I was hit by Kleber's shot, I saw something similar.
Yes, I was flying, doing a somersault with my legs pointing to the sky again. And the reason is probably not hard to guess.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Assaral!"
Asuka rushed over as soon as I landed.
"I still can't control my power very well..."
"Even so... if you're going to tackle, you have to hit the ball... This didn't even graze the ball. It hit my ankle squarely."
"I understand. I'm sorry. Then let's start over."
"..."
Is she trying to kill me!?
After that, I was kicked and somersaulted more than ten times. It took Asuka over an hour to start controlling her power.
[Ball Control skill developed to LV2]
[Responsiveness skill developed to LV2]
[Dribbling skill developed to LV2]
[NEX skill developed to LV2]
[Experience increased to 70/100]
[Title 'Miserable' has developed into 'Greatly Miserable'. Skill 'Numb to Pain' has leveled up to LV2]
Additional explanation: Congratulations! You've been promoted from merely pathetic to utterly pathetic.
It's good that I've improved, but it feels like my leg bones are fractured. Will I be able to walk home?
"Oh! You're done already! That was fast..."
As I opened the door, Mom exclaimed.
"Don't worry, son. The first time is always like this. Those who are skilled in every technique, as tough as wild animals, but claim it's their first time, they're all lying."
"I wasn't doing that! I didn't even fail to perform. I just walked her home, nothing more than that!"
"Don't try to change the subject. Your legs are weak, you look so tired."
Mom exhaled through her nose.
"Sigh, with such an impotent husband, this daughter-in-law is truly pitiful."
"It's because I went to practice football! My legs are weak because your beloved daughter-in-law kicked me so hard I flew into the sky!!"
"What? You went all the way to the girl's house and only practiced football? My son really is impotent, huh. It would be better if you said you failed to perform."
"Are you really going to make me out to be impotent no matter what!!"
"Sit down first."
The joking stopped there. It was time to get serious.
I knew that because I started to smell soap and shampoo from my mother. She had already bathed and was now in her white pajamas.
My mother, due to working hard during the day, would usually lie down immediately upon returning home because of back pain. After dinner, she would bathe, change, and then collapse into bed.
But it wasn't like that now. My mother wasn't asleep. She was waiting to talk to me.
"Do you know what you're doing?"
My mother asked.