Chapter 15

  Captain Rainbow Awakens

  The scrimmage match was far more serious than I expected.

  First-years versus the current second- and third-year regulars.

  Winner becomes regular. Loser gets demoted.

  A proper merit-based system — at least on paper.

  This school’s soccer club was what you’d call “average.”

  The truly talented players were recruited by private schools.

  Those who couldn’t go private, or just loved soccer, ended up here.

  Their best record was runner-up in the district tournament.

  Apparently, they once made it to nationals — a long time ago.

  The coach had no motivation.

  The assistant coach ran on autopilot.

  A soccer-obsessed spectator sat on the bench pretending to supervise.

  In other words—

  No one here took it seriously.

  At least, not until today.

  “Hey, freshmen. Don’t freeze up now.”

  One of the second-years laughed.

  “This’ll be over in no time.”

  That was when Taka spoke quietly.

  “Hinomichi-kun, I’ll build the play.”

  “Their left side is weak.”

  I nodded.

  The moment I stepped onto the pitch, my body heated up naturally.

  A familiar sensation.

  The match began.

  From kickoff, the flow was completely ours.

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  Taka’s vision was abnormal.

  He saw the whole field.

  The gaps in their formation.

  The movement patterns.

  The space behind the defense.

  Everything.

  “Hinomichi-kun. Now.”

  I reacted instantly.

  Pass.

  Trap.

  Cut inside.

  Shoot.

  Goal.

  For a second, the entire field fell silent.

  “…What?”

  The second-years froze.

  “No way…”

  From that point on, it was our game.

  Taka controlled the field.

  I finished.

  Again.

  And again.

  The first-years followed desperately.

  Passing, running, falling — still chasing.

  Throwing their bodies in front of shots.

  Fighting until the end.

  Before we knew it, we weren’t just freshmen anymore.

  We were players.

  Final whistle.

  The score— a landslide victory.

  While the regulars stood there in shock,

  the first-years collapsed onto the grass, gasping for air.

  “…Did we win?”

  Someone whispered.

  That was when the coach stood up.

  Slowly.

  His eyes locked onto me.

  “You…”

  His gaze sharpened.

  “Are you Nia Sunway?”

  My heart jumped.

  “The British footballer.”

  The air froze.

  No one spoke.

  I stepped forward.

  “No. I’m Hinomichi Nia. Japanese.”

  The crowd stirred.

  The coach stared at me for a long moment, then slowly exhaled.

  “…I see.”

  But his eyes never left me.

  I could feel it.

  The atmosphere of the soccer club had changed.

  This was no longer just a school club.

  I had returned to the pitch.

  As Captain Rainbow.