Chapter 847: Quarter Finals VI

The moment his boot connected, a violent crack echoed across the pitch. The ball soared like a dragon.

Cutting through the rain, through the bodies, through the noise.

Donnarumma was still on the ground, and out of reach. However, the thought didn’t occur once he was defeated.

He twisted desperately, throwing one arm upward—

But the ball was already past him, and there was nothing he could do about it. The ball skimmed past him before slamming against the net.

The net rippled as a silence engulfed Etihad for a brief moment.

For almost one full second, be it the players or the crowd, both were frozen almost as if someone had stopped time.

Then—

"GOOOOAL!"

The sound crashed over the stadium like a breaking dam.

However, Hiro stood frozen for half a heartbeat, his shooting leg still extended, staring at the net as though he could not believe it either.

Then it hit him.

He rushed to the sideline, his expression twisting, his heart hammering against his chest.

"YEEEAH!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, throwing a fist in the air.

The miss from a moment earlier had left a bitter taste in his mouth. But in just a matter of moments, he had redeemed himself. Hence, he couldn’t help but celebrate like it meant the world to him.

Before long, his teammates swarmed him, and the group buzzed like the rest of the crowd in Etihad.

Though their numbers paled in comparison to the home supporters, the fans of red and white didn’t fall behind when it came to celebration. Their voices rose high, echoing across the pitch while their banners billowed in the air like a flag in the opponents’ citadel after conquest.

"What a goal!"

"It had to be him. The best player in the world right now. The phenomenon, the rising sensation, Takahashi Hiro."

The commentators couldn’t stop praising Hiro, their voices sounding rather exaggerated.

Despite the bright lights illuminating the venue, Donnarumma’s face appeared rather darkened at this moment, almost as if someone had turned the lights off for an instant.

Though his expression remained neutral, the light in his pupils said otherwise.

His pupils rolled between his gloves and Hiro. For some reason, he couldn’t help but recall their previous encounter.

He had been defeated even then, and this time didn’t seem different at all either. His past image overlapped with his present as he sat there staring at the nostalgic scene before him.

"Captain..."

The familiar voice jolted him into his senses, and the reality dawned on him.

He blinked before he cocked his head. Then his gaze found a youthful face. Eyes like sapphire, tousled golden locks, a chiseled jaw, and a concerned frown carved on his face.

"Lucien..." He muttered.

What am I doing? He thought to himself as he stared at Lucien’s youthful visage burdened with concern. I’m zoning out...

Pull yourself... You are the captain. You can’t behave like this.

"I’m sorry," Donnarumma apologized as he picked himself up. "For showing you such a pathetic side."

He thought about apologizing to his other teammates. But as he turned to find them, his eyes widened. Before him, Enzo was pulling the team together, consoling them for the goal, and raising their spirit for the match ahead of them.

For a split second, as he witnessed the sight, Donnarumma couldn’t help but feel ashamed of himself. He had years of experience under his belt, and he was the captain of the team.

However, Enzo was the one who was acting like the captain instead of him.

But he didn’t feel jealous about it. Instead, he felt relieved to have such reliable teammates.

It hadn’t been that long since he was appointed the captain of the team. But perhaps, it seems like he would have to put some words to the coach about the decision.

However, for now, his focus should be on the match at hand.

Though their side had conceded, the game had just begun, and almost the entire match was still left to be played.

The celebration lasted for a while before the players returned to their positions to continue the match.

1-0

The scoreboard read 1- 0 less than a minute after the match had started.

Hiro stared at the scoreboard as he assumed his position. He could still hear the harmonious chant of their supporters, their voices filled with joy.

The fans of red and white were singing.

However, the opposing fans who had been rather quiet until a moment ago had regained their fighting spirit, too.

Their voices were even more energetic than before.

Hiro averted his gaze from the scoreboard. Though he had scored the opening goal of the match, the match hadn’t been decided yet, and the entire match was right before him.

Hence, he couldn’t allow himself to bask in the adulation as if he had won the entire match.

The smile on his face faded as he inhaled a deep breath before letting it out in one full go. Then his gaze scanned the pitch before him, his senses sharpening like he was preparing for a war.

Well, this was his war after all, and he knew what dull senses did to men at war. For that reason, he didn’t want to be one of those men.

Men who could have done more. Men who didn’t give their all. Men who forgot their purpose after a small win.

He didn’t want to be a man like that.

Even more, he didn’t want to leave the pitch with regrets.

Just as his focus returned, the first person that came into his view was Lucien.

He looked much fiercer than before, and there was this certain air of unease surrounding him that made him flinch.

However, he wasn’t the only person who appeared as such in that instant. The entire opposing squad was draped in this aura which only he could see.

Did I wake up a pack of sleeping Lions? Hiro’s lips curled into a nervous grin as he inadvertently gulped his saliva.