The System Makes Me a Player

The referee gave the signal. Kelvin took the throw-in with precision, putting the ball back in play on the offensive side. Ian didn't waste a second. With a strong step and a quick spin, he broke free from the tight marking and returned the pass with brutality — that same style as before: aggressive, direct, a straight line of fury.

The ball came like a missile. But Kelvin, now more focused than ever, received the pass like it was an invitation to dance. A dry, controlled touch, and the ball was under his feet like it had been tamed.

That's when he noticed the shadow.

Takumi.

Again.

But something was different. The opponent's gaze was still calm, but there was slight tension in his shoulders. As if, for the first time, he considered the possibility of imbalance.

Kelvin smiled

[Skill Activation: Instinctive Dribble]

Takumi came in hard. Arms close to his body, fast legs, perfect reaction timing. But Kelvin had already calculated. He pulled the ball with his right leg, spun over his pivot foot, and with a gentle touch from the outside of his left, escaped diagonally. Takumi tried to anticipate, but fell for the feint.

The bleachers erupted in muffled screams.

"HE GOT PAST HIM AGAIN", shouted Dante, jumping from the stands.

Kazana kept his arms crossed, but his eyes were wide open. Like someone witnessing something even he hadn't expected.

"Now he gets it...", he murmured.

Kelvin didn't stop. Leo was already closing in to cover. Kelvin rolled it to Ian at the exact moment, without losing rhythm. Ian received, but didn't hold the ball. With a first-touch pass, he returned it to Kelvin, who had already infiltrated behind Leo.

One-two. Fast. Surgical. Lethal.

Leo spun, but it was too late.

Kelvin appeared in front of the keeper. A moment of inner silence, a second of suspension. He could shoot hard. He could try a dribble. But he didn't need to. He just gently pushed it to the right corner, low, cold. Keeper caught on the wrong foot.

The net rippled with a nearly sacred sound.

GOAL

3-2

The court exploded

The roar echoed like a storm between the gym's walls. The fans rose in unison, arms raised, faces in shock and ecstasy. It seemed no one there was prepared for that. Not just for the goal — but for how it happened. For the courage. The art. The response.

Kazana, who until then kept a rigid posture in the stands, slowly uncrossed his arms. His eyes still followed Kelvin, standing on the court with a clenched fist and heavy breathing. A discreet smile, almost imperceptible, appeared at the corner of his lips.

"This guy is from another world", he said, almost to himself, but quickly corrected — "I mean... He's good"

Dante was screaming, jumping with both arms raised like he'd just won a World Cup final.

"THAT'S IT, KELVIN! THAT'S IT, FUCK", he yelled, not caring about his voice tearing.

Rafael, who had kept a skeptical, distant expression, looked around, feeling the energy of everyone in those stands. For a moment, he seemed lost. Then he smiled, sincerely.

"They say a true genius only shows up every 100 years...", he confessed, almost laughing.

In the goal, Alisson dropped to his knees with arms raised.

"I KNEW IT! I KNEW THIS GUY ISN'T NORMAL"

On the sideline, Ian ran up to Kelvin and pulled him into a shoulder hug, looking him in the eyes.

"What you just did... was art"

Kelvin was just breathing, panting, his heart beating to the rhythm of the roar around him. But deep down, he knew: it wasn't over. There was still time on the clock.

The referee grabbed the ball, holding it firmly as the shouts gradually faded. The Yamu team was already positioned to restart the match. Takumi's expression remained calm, but now... his eyes were alert. For the first time, without disdain. There was fear there. Or maybe... great anger.

The whistle blew.

The ball rolled.

Leo passed to Takumi, who was already advanced. Number 11 received and lifted his head, analyzing the field quickly.

He moved forward, and Kelvin dropped back with Ian, both ready to close any lane.

Takumi passed to Leo. The ball reached the number 8, who controlled it cutting inside. He got past Ian with a quick spin and took a shot.

Struck hard.

The ball flew diagonally, low and spinning with fury, aiming for the top corner... and scraped past the left post of Alisson.

"UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH!"

The collective shout was full of tension and relief. Yamu's fans put their hands on their heads. Dante collapsed on the bleachers, nearly having a heart attack.

Alisson, on his knees, didn't blink. The wind from the shot still seemed to brush his face.

The ball went... wide.

The ref raised his arm and blew the whistle hard.

END OF GAME.

The noise was immediate. Screams, hugs, tears. Kelvin's team gathered at center court, celebrating as if they'd won more than a match — they had defeated the silence, the doubt, and personal ghosts.

On the other side, Takumi remained standing, looking at the ball out of bounds. He wasn't frustrated. Just thoughtful.

Leo approached and said,

"That was close..."

Takumi replied without taking his eyes off the baseline,

"I... didn't believe in their potential"

Kelvin was still catching his breath, like each inhale was a sip of reality — a reality where he had won. Not just scored a goal. He had overcome the player who challenged him, responded with courage to the disappointment he felt minutes before. If it had been the Kelvin from before... He would've accepted fear, but... That didn't happen.

Before he could think of anything, Ian came running and jumped on him, throwing his arms around Kelvin's neck.

"YOU'RE A BEAST, BRO!", he shouted, laughing, spinning him in the air.

Soon, Alisson ran from the goal to midcourt, throwing himself on the two of them in a crushing hug.

"I TOLD YOU YOU'RE THE MAN, FUCK!", he yelled, still on his knees, pointing at Kelvin's chest. "THAT GOAL WAS PURE RAGE, GRIT, SOUL!"

At that moment, Kazana and Dante showed up. They jumped from the stands like two fans ignoring all protocol. Dante ran and grabbed Ian from behind, almost knocking everyone over.

"WE'RE IN THE HISTORY BOOKS!", he shouted, eyes full of tears. "THIS IS A MOVIE, MAN! NOBODY BELIEVED IN YOU GUYS!"

Kazana didn't hug anyone, but stood there. In front of Kelvin. The two stared at each other for a moment, and the older one nodded with respect.

"That was beautiful. Truly", he said seriously. "You won in your own style, but relax. In the state championship, you'll have me to carry you"

Kelvin just smiled, still panting. His eyes were teary. The emotion there was dense, alive, like electricity in the air.

"Keep dreaming...", he murmured.

"Fuck it!", Dante yelled. "We won, dammit!"

They all laughed together, a sweaty, hoarse sound — but pure.

In the middle of the court, while the crowd still roared, flags waved, and phones recorded the moment like they didn't want to let it slip away. The atmosphere was magical, as if the court had turned into a stage. As if something greater had just happened.

On the other side, Takumi walked slowly. His steps were calm, but his mind was a whirlwind. As he passed Ian, he didn't look directly at him, but murmured,

"Your passes are actually decent"

And kept walking.

When he stopped in front of Kelvin, he paused.

"See you at the state championship, Kelvin"

That's all he said before leaving the court, without looking back.

As he approached the exit, a figure leaning against the wall awaited him: Guto. The player from Brazil's under-17 national team, cap turned backwards and mirrored orange sunglasses, even indoors. Arms crossed, posture of someone who respected nothing but his own hype.

"Well, look who's here...", said Guto, with a mocking smile. "The great samurai of Yamu"

Takumi didn't even slow down. Just glanced sideways.

"Guto..."

"Man, seriously... losing to that kid?", Guto laughed loudly, raising his eyebrows. "I know you only win when I'm on the field, but... losing to them?"

Takumi stopped.

Looked straight at his teammate, eyes narrow. The tension between them was palpable. Guto kept his ironic smile, but behind the colored glasses, his eyes locked onto number 11.

"You'll understand when you play against him...", said Takumi, in a low, firm voice. "I could've played better if I had trained more, and my partner wasn't horrible"

Guto, hearing that, started clapping slowly.

"Nice one. Even dropped one of those anime quotes you love. But hey... You can't keep depending on me, dude", he pointed at the scoreboard, still showing the result: 3-2. "This is the real world. And in the real world, you lost. Don't blame Leo. You lost to a kid nobody knows... Until today"

Takumi stayed silent for two seconds. Then took a deep breath. And, without taking his eyes off his teammate, said,

"And still... he plays better than you"

Guto swallowed hard. The mockery had vanished from his face. Without saying another word, Takumi turned his back and walked out.