The stadium felt different on match day. Even though it was just a youth league fixture, the buzz of the crowd and the crisp smell of fresh-cut grass gave Noah chills. He pulled his boots tighter than usual, the laces biting into his fingers as he sat on the bench in silence. The team's starting lineup was pinned to the whiteboard, and there, next to his name, was another he couldn't ignore: Riku Sato – Starting Midfield.
Leo dropped into the seat beside him, chewing gum like he didn't have a care in the world. "You look tense, Maestro."
Noah exhaled slowly. "It's nothing."
Leo smirked. "It's Riku, isn't it? Don't worry. If he tries to steal your spotlight, just take it back."
Before Noah could reply, Riku walked past, adjusting his shin guards with casual precision. "If you two are done gossiping, maybe we can focus on winning," he said without looking back.
Leo frowned. "Charming guy, huh?"
The warm-up was awkward. Riku barked instructions like he had worn the armband for years, calling for one-touch drills and repositioning players as if they had been playing together forever. Noah followed along, but every interaction felt like a silent clash—two playmakers with different philosophies sharing the same stage.
When the whistle blew, Noah felt his chest tighten. He and Riku lined up in the center, tasked with dictating tempo against one of the league's tougher pressing sides. From the first touch, Riku demanded the ball, snapping short passes and slicing forward with aggressive precision. He didn't hesitate, didn't second-guess. It was commanding football, the kind Noah couldn't deny was effective.
But there were cracks. Riku overcommitted to dribbles twice, losing possession deep in their half, forcing Noah into emergency tackles. After the second one, Noah barked, "Simple pass next time!"
Riku shot him a cold glance. "Then make yourself more useful."
The words burned, but Noah refused to bite back. Instead, he focused, using the faint glow of passing lanes the console displayed in his vision. When a defender lunged to press him, he delayed a fraction of a second—La Pausa—then slipped the ball to Leo, who blasted a shot just wide. The console pulsed: [Bond Perk Active: Leo Barnes – "Trust Link Lv2" Pass Accuracy Bonus Applied: +5%].
Minutes later, Riku collected a loose ball and glanced at Noah. "Make the run," he ordered.
Noah hesitated for a split second but went anyway. The ball came screaming through a narrow gap, perfectly weighted. Noah barely managed to control it, spinning and feeding it to Leo, who this time made no mistake—goal. The crowd roared, and Noah found himself turning toward Riku, half-expecting arrogance. Instead, Riku gave the smallest nod, barely visible but there.
Halftime came with the score level at one apiece. In the locker room, tension hung in the air. Harper's voice cut through it, laying out tactical adjustments. "Noah, Riku—you two need to coordinate. You're playing like two separate teams out there."
Riku leaned back against the wall. "Tell him to stop hesitating and we'll be fine."
Noah bit his lip. "And maybe if you'd pass instead of trying to take on half the team—"
Leo slammed his water bottle onto the bench. "Enough! We're supposed to be on the same side. Either you two figure it out, or we lose."
The second half kicked off with a different energy. Riku slowed his tempo slightly, scanning more before committing. Noah, for his part, trusted the glowing lanes and stopped second-guessing. Slowly, their movements began to sync—Noah controlling tempo and Riku injecting bursts of vertical speed.
One key moment sealed the game's tone. With ten minutes left, the opposition pressed high, trapping Noah near the sideline. Riku called for the ball, and for once, Noah didn't hesitate. The pass flew between two defenders, reaching Riku in stride. Riku didn't take it himself; instead, he backheeled it into Noah's path, catching everyone off guard. Noah darted forward and launched a looping pass to Leo, who volleyed it home for the winner.
The crowd erupted, and even Harper clapped on the sideline. As they jogged back to their half, Riku glanced sideways. "Not bad," he said quietly.
"You too," Noah replied.
Riku smirked. "Don't get used to me passing like that. I'm not here to make friends."
"Could've fooled me," Noah muttered, but there was no malice in his voice this time.
The final whistle brought relief and exhaustion. As the players shook hands, Riku approached Noah, towel slung over his neck. "You've got vision. But you hesitate too much because you care too much about what everyone thinks. That's why you're good but not great—yet."
Noah stared at him. "And you don't care enough. You play like it's all about you."
Riku chuckled. "Maybe. But winning covers a lot of sins." He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Keep up with me, Kane. Or get left behind."
Noah didn't answer, but deep down, he welcomed the challenge.
That night, the console glowed brighter than usual:
[Rivalry Perk Level Up: Competitive Edge Lv2]
Effect: +4% Focus & Reaction Speed when Riku is on the field.
[Bond Perk Update: Leo Barnes – Trust Link Lv2 Maintained]
"Rivalry sharpens steel. Trust keeps the edge from breaking."
Noah exhaled and set his boots aside. Riku might be an arrogant pain, but he was forcing Noah to grow. And for the first time, Noah realized he didn't hate it.