A Tattered Soccer Club
Kondo’s PoV
“Ouch! What the hell are you doing!?”
I protest as my body is pressed against the locker. No matter how important Captain Watanabe is, there are things he can and cannot do.
“Shut up! What are you doing!? At a time when this club activity is so important!”
“Huh?!”
I don’t know what he’s talking about. Has this guy finally lost his mind?
“Don’t play dumb! Look at these photos!”
The photos presented to me show the critical moment of Miyuki and me entering a love hotel and another of me being arrested by the police.
What the hell? Who the hell is…
No way. There are traitors in this club. My blood runs cold.
No, how far has this gone? No way, even the teachers? Or…
My father was supposed to cover it up, but this b🬀🬀tard took this picture of me on the verge of arrest. Oh no, no, no, no!
My recommendation and fame will be ruined.
“I don’t know! It wasn’t me!”
Stupid words came out of my mouth. I’m lying.
“It’s clearly you! Stop fooling around!”
He grabbed my chest and slammed me against the locker again.
Humiliation! Humiliation! Humiliation!
I am the king of this club. Defying the king is a death sentence!
“Damn it! What will happen to our final tournament because of you?! I’m relying on a sports scholarship. If I try to study for the entrance exam now, I won’t make it in time. What will you do if we don’t make it to the tournament because of your bad behavior? If the club is disbanded, my life is over!”
“Shut up! I heard your rant earlier. You know how loud your voice is. We got this far because of my talent, and you’re just a bunch of gossipers.”
I pushed Watanabe’s body as hard as I could.
“You son of a b🬀🬀ch!”
Watanabe gave me a murderous look.
“Listen to me. The school can’t punish me. This is just a case of promiscuity. People do it in high school. It’s just a little suspension. There’s no way it’s going to affect my club activities. Besides, my dad is on the council. He’s an upperclassman. He can easily cover up a scandal like this. I’m in a different league than you! Don’t equate me, the Chosen One, with your values.”
“Huh?”
“The school wouldn’t dare get rid of me either. They wouldn’t risk expelling a famous high school soccer player. If this got out, it would be a huge scandal, and the school’s reputation would be damaged. How could the conservative teachers here dare to do such a thing?”
I said smugly.
“Indeed!”
One of my juniors agreed. Yes, of course. I’m proud of my words.
“See, I’m invincible. I’m not like you. I’m different!”
Yes, I’m special. You bunch of gossipers, my dad can handle this. My soccer skills will show you the magic.
“Kondo!”
Watanabe shouted as he approached me. So I said to him,
“Let me remind you—you’re my servants, aren’t you? It’s an undeniable fact that you participated in Aono’s bullying. What do you think will happen if that becomes known? Besides, do you think you can win the tournament without me? Hey, hey, do you think you’ll get a recommendation without me?”
I shook him, and Watanabe, trembling with anger, stopped moving. It seems my poison has taken effect.
“Damn it!”
He shouted in frustration, trying to control his rage. Watanabe kicked the trash can as hard as he could, scattering its contents.
“So shut up if you understand! Yeah, you can’t win without me. Grow up, you bastards!”
I taunted the club members and began changing into my sports uniform.
I have the power of life and death over these guys. That’s right—they’re all my pawns. I can do anything. That’s how it should be.
“From now on, if you put us at a disadvantage, you’ll take responsibility!”
Watanabe said pathetically. Yes, yes, the slave speaks. I laughed and ignored him.
It’s okay. It’s still going to be okay. I’m the Chosen One!
All the pent-up stress will be released in this friendly match.
I shivered as I made my way to the field.
Two hours later…
“What the hell?”
The scoreboard read 4-1.
We should have been the ones with 4.
Why, why, why?!
How could we concede four goals against a weaker opponent and not even score in overtime?
“I can’t accept this result!”
Our club is completely destroyed. All that remains is the brutal truth that this is the beginning of the end.