A few hours had passed.
The excitement of the stadium had finally settled, replaced by the warm chatter inside a small family restaurant across town.
The digital clock above the counter read 9:00 PM.
Southside had taken over nearly the entire back corner of the restaurant.
Yusuke.
Hiroto.
Yuma.
Takumi.
Ren.
Daichi.
Sora.
Tsubasa.
Even Coach Daniel D sat with them, quietly eating while pretending not to listen to the conversation.
Only one seat remained empty.
Pambara's.
Nobody mentioned it.
Not yet.
"...I still can't believe we won," Yuma laughed, leaning back in his chair. "Three goals down. I would've bet my life we were finished."
"You almost broke your ribs blocking that shot," Takumi replied with a grin.
"Worth it."
"It wasn't worth it."
"It definitely was."
The table burst into laughter.
For the first time in weeks...
everyone looked relaxed.
Coach Daniel folded his arms.
"You idiots nearly gave me a heart attack."
"Only nearly?" Hiroto joked.
"I said nearly."
More laughter followed.
The mood was lighter than it had been in a long time.
Then Hiroto looked across the table.
His smile softened.
"...Still."
Everyone turned.
"...I'm glad you came back, Riku."
The conversation stopped.
Yuma nodded.
"If you didn't show up..."
"...we would've lost."
Takumi smiled.
"You really saved us."
Ren chuckled.
"Guess the captain's still got it."
Riku sat quietly with his drink in front of him.
He didn't smile.
Didn't look proud.
Instead...
he let out a slow breath.
"...About that."
Everyone looked at him.
Riku rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"...Yusuke."
Yusuke looked up from his meal.
"Yeah?"
There was a long silence.
Long enough that everyone at the table stopped eating.
Then Riku finally spoke.
"...Sorry."
The word caught everyone off guard.
"I shouldn't have called you a loser."
He looked down at the table.
"...When I got on the field..."
"...something inside me just..."
He searched for the words.
"...lit up."
"I saw everyone chasing you."
"I heard everyone cheering for you."
"And I..."
He clenched his fist beneath the table.
"...I couldn't control myself."
"I took it out on you."
Another silence followed.
Yusuke stared at him for several seconds.
Then...
he smiled.
"...You still scored."
Riku blinked.
Yusuke laughed.
"I'd probably be dead if you didn't."
The tension disappeared instantly.
Even Riku let out a quiet laugh.
"...You're an idiot."
"So I've been told."
The table erupted again.
Coach Daniel shook his head with a smile.
"...Looks like you two finally got that out of your systems."
Outside...
The laughter couldn't be heard.
The restaurant's warm lights spilled onto the pavement through the front windows.
Leaning against the brick wall with his arms crossed...
stood Pambara.
His jaw still carried a faint bruise.
His eyes stared through the restaurant window.
Watching them laugh.
Watching them celebrate.
Watching the team move on without him.
His expression never changed.
"...So that's how it is."
His fingers slowly curled into fists.
The bruise on his cheek throbbed.
He welcomed the pain.
It reminded him.
Reminded him of the punch.
The humiliation.
The cheers when Riku returned.
The way everyone forgot about him in an instant.
A faint smile slowly spread across his face.
Not a happy one.
A dangerous one.
"...Time to exact my revenge..."
To Be Continued.