The moment the final whistle echoed through the stadium, the entire world seemed to freeze.
Some players collapsed.
Some stared blankly at the pitch.
Some covered their faces with their jerseys.
And Blaze…
Blaze didn't move.
He stood at the edge of the box, sweat dripping down his chin, chest rising and falling in jagged breaths. His vision was blurry, not from tears, but from exhaustion so deep it felt like gravity was trying to pull him down through the turf.
Aya reached him first.
She didn't say anything. Didn't try to soften it.
She just wrapped her arms around him and let her forehead rest against his shoulder.
"You played your heart out," she whispered.
"And we're proud of you."
Scarlet sat on the grass, one knee pulled to her chest, staring at the scoreboard like it had personally betrayed her.
Anastasia wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, her jaw tightening when the cameras focused on her.
Lionel walked over and dropped a reassuring hand on Blaze's back.
