Takeshi woke to his phone exploding with notifications.
Social media headlines waiting:
"Tokyo FC Reality Check: Are They Really Safe?"
"Relegation Battle Heats Up After Kashiwa Destruction"
"Yamamoto's Limits Exposed"
Twitter comments buried underneath:
"They got lucky against weak teams"
"One good player can't save a bad squad"
"Drop coming, called it"
Some supportive comments existed somewhere, but they were drowned out.
System notification:
EXTERNAL PRESSURE: Rising
PUBLIC OPINION: Declining
MENTAL STATE: 71% → 68%
WARNING: Stress accumulation detected
He dismissed it and got ready for school.
Walking through hallways, whispers followed. Some classmates were supportive: "You'll bounce back." Others weren't: "Maybe you're not that good."
At lunch, Yuki said casually: "My dad says you guys are getting relegated for sure."
Takeshi didn't respond. Just ate silently while Sato defended him halfheartedly: "Four matches left, we're still in it."
Even Sato's voice lacked conviction.
Then the teachers piled on. Math: "Exams are in two weeks. Football won't excuse failing grades." History: twenty-page paper due Friday. English test: Thursday.
When exactly was he supposed to study?
During class, Akari passed him a note: "Lunch tomorrow? Just us?"
He nodded. Her smile: small lifeline.
TUESDAY
Breakfast was painful.
Mother's worried glances across the table. Father reading the sports section. The newspaper article visible: "Tokyo FC's Fate Hangs By Thread."
His sister: "Are you okay? You look tired."
"I'm fine," he said automatically.
"You barely ate dinner last night."
"I ate."
Father finally spoke: "This football thing... is it worth this stress?"
Everyone went quiet.
His jaw clenched: "Yeah. It is."
"Because if it's affecting your health, your grades—"
"I said I'm fine."
Standing up, grabbing his bag. "I have to go."
Leaving before she could call after him. Guilt mixing with frustration.
Study group that afternoon with Akari and Sato. Akari explaining grammar points patiently while Takeshi stared at the textbook, words blurring. Brain replaying Kashiwa's goals instead.
Her hand touched his: "Hey. You with us?"
"Yeah. Sorry. What page?"
Sato: "Dude, you're completely checked out."
"I'm trying."
But he wasn't. Not really. Mind split between: relegation, exams, parents, media, next match. All of it at once, grinding down.
Evening training was worse.
Ryo pushing everyone hard: "We HAVE to win Sunday. No excuses."
During the scrimmage, Takeshi missed an easy pass. Yuta snapped: "What was that?"
Takeshi snapped back: "I'm trying!"
Unusual for him to lose composure. Team noticed immediately.
Coach pulled him aside: "You okay?"
"I'm fine, coach."
"You keep saying that."
"Because I am."
Coach studied him: "Don't burn out before Sunday."
System warning:
MENTAL STATE: 68% → 61%
PHYSICAL STATE: 79% → 74%
STRESS FACTORS: Multiple
- Academic pressure
- Family concern
- Media negativity
- Team expectations
- Match importance
WARNING: Approaching burnout threshold
RECOMMENDATION: Support system needed
He dismissed it. I don't have time for burnout.
WEDNESDAY
He overslept. Alarm didn't go off or he slept through it. Rushing to school, no breakfast. Mother trying: "Takeshi—"
"I'm late!"
Running out the door. Missing the train by thirty seconds. Standing on the platform, breathing hard. Day already ruined at 7:45 AM.
History paper—forgot it at home.
Teacher: "That's 20% of your grade, Yamamoto."
"I can bring it tomorrow—"
"Today was the deadline. No exceptions."
Sitting down, hands shaking slightly.
English test came next. Questions might as well have been in a different language. Filling in answers randomly halfway through. Knowing he was failing. Not even caring anymore.
At lunch, his phone buzzed. Team group chat. Article shared: "Can Tokyo FC's Wonder Boy Save Them?"
Pressure placed entirely on him.
Comments from teammates:
Kenji: "No pressure lol"
Yuta: "we believe in you!"
Weight of the entire team on his shoulders.
Another notification: Father calling. He declined it.
Sato sat down: "You good?"
"Stop asking me that," Takeshi said quietly.
"Okay, damn."
He immediately: "Sorry. I'm just—"
"I know. It's a lot."
Understatement of the century.
BREAKING POINT
Before training, sitting alone in the locker room. Everyone else hadn't arrived.
Head in hands.
System notification:
⚠️ CRITICAL WARNING ⚠️
MENTAL STATE: 61% → 54%
APPROACHING BREAKDOWN
Multiple system failures imminent
You cannot carry everything alone
URGENT: Seek support
Him laughing bitterly at the screen only he could see.
"Support from who? Everyone needs something from me."
The door opened.
Akari's voice: "Takeshi?"
She stood in the doorway, not in uniform. She'd come after school specifically.
"Sato texted me. Said you seemed off."
"I'm fine—"
"Stop. Stop saying you're fine."
She walked over and sat beside him on the bench.
"You're not fine. I can see it."
His walls crumbled: "I don't... I don't know what to do."
Everything spilled out.
"Four matches left. We're 11th. Media says we'll fail. Parents are worried. Teachers don't care. School's crushing me. Team needs me to carry them. I can't even carry myself."
His voice cracking: "Failed a test today. Forgot homework. Snapped at Sato. What if I can't do it? What if I let everyone down again?"
Again—the weight of two lives.
She didn't interrupt. Just listened while his hands shook.
Then: "You don't have to carry everything alone."
"I know the team needs you. Your parents worry. School sucks. But you don't have to be perfect at everything simultaneously. You're fifteen, Takeshi. FIFTEEN."
Her grip on his hands tightened.
"So here's what we're doing. Tonight, no training. You're coming to my house. My mom's making dinner. You're eating actual food. Then we're watching something stupid on TV. No football. No school. No pressure. Just existing. For two hours."
He started to protest: "I have training—"
"I already texted Coach. He approved."
Of course she did.
"Tomorrow, I'm helping you catch up on history. Friday, we're studying for next week's exams together. Sunday, I'll be in the stands cheering. But right now? Right now you just need to breathe."
Looking at her determined face, something in his chest loosened. Not fixed. Just... lighter.
"Why are you doing this?"
Her smile was soft: "Because you're my boyfriend, dummy. And boyfriends don't drown alone. Not while I'm here."
System update:
SUPPORT SYSTEM: Activated
MENTAL STATE: 54% → 62%
EMOTIONAL ANCHOR: Secured
AKARI HAYASHI: Essential
Analysis: Sometimes the strongest ability
is knowing when to accept help
THAT EVENING
At Akari's house, actually eating proper food. Her parents were nice, not asking about football. Watching a terrible comedy show. Actually laughing. First real laugh in days.
Walking home at 9 PM, she held his hand.
"Feel better?"
"Yeah. Actually."
At his door: "Four matches left. But you're not fighting them alone."
"I know now."
Quick kiss goodnight.
"Win on Sunday. I'll be watching."
"I will."
He believed it this time.
NIGHT BEFORE THE MATCH
Lying in bed, actually relaxed for the first time in days.
Phone showing messages:
Elsa (Norway): "Hang in there. I believe in you."
Sato: "let's get this W on sunday"
Ryo: "Team meeting tomorrow. We're ready."
Akari: "Sleep well ❤️ You've got this"
System notification:
PRESSURE REMAINS
STAKES UNCHANGED
4 MATCHES TO SALVATION
But now: Support system active
Anchor secured
Mental state recovering
Sunday's match: Winnable
Keep fighting. You're not alone anymore.
Closing his eyes.
Pressure still there. Media still negative. Parents still worried. School still hard.
But Akari was in his corner.
And somehow that made everything bearable.
Tomorrow: recover.
Sunday: prove them wrong.
Not alone anymore.