Chapter 29 NTR Guy, Loses Everything

NTR Guy, Loses Everything

Akagi’s PoV

On a weekday after school, I skipped class and sat on a bench in a quiet corner of the park. The surroundings were peaceful, with only the occasional laughter of children playing in the distance.

The park at dusk was sparsely populated, allowing me to lose myself in thought without interruption.

I sat, supporting my injured right leg. This leg had once raced across the pitch, making decisive plays in matches. Now, it was wrapped in a large bandage and supported by a brace. Thanks to the painkillers, I could barely walk.

Leaning back deeply on the bench, I glanced upward.

The sky was overcast and gloomy.

“Senpai, I finally found you! Why have you been ignoring me all this time?”

As my mind was drowning in self-pity, I heard that voice.

I looked up, and there she was—Chiharu.

However, seeing her only made me feel annoyed.

I didn’t want anyone to see me in such a pathetic state.

“Chiharu, huh? Sorry about that.”

“That’s rare for you to apologize. I heard you’ve been skipping school a lot since your injury. Are you okay?”

“It’s nothing. And stop acting like my girlfriend—it’s annoying.”

“…! What’s wrong with me acting like your girlfriend?”

My feelings for her had already turned cold.

That’s why her attempts to console me felt hollow.

With that thought in mind, I retorted.

“Let me be clear with you: I never liked you from the start. I only acted that way because I enjoyed seducing people in relationships.”

“What? No way…”

“Honestly, I’m surprised you didn’t notice. You knew, didn’t you? About me sending hookup DMs to Shirasaki Kanade? That’s the kind of guy I am.”

“I see… Well, I guess so.”

“I’m glad you understand. You were just a plaything to me.”

I deliberately said hurtful things to push her away, knowing full well how much they’d hurt her. I wanted to take out my frustration on her. Her expression darkened instantly, and the next moment, her hand struck my cheek. The sound of the slap echoed through the small park, causing my head to turn slightly from the impact.

Damn, that hurt…

“You’re the worst… Fine, let’s break up. I’m not interested in Akagi Renji who can’t even play soccer anymore!”

“Yeah, whatever.”

Chiharu’s words drove me deeper into despair. It felt like she was declaring that I was worthless to her now that I couldn’t play soccer.

After that, Chiharu said nothing else and quietly left the park.

I watched her back as she walked away, unable to do anything.

“Ah, I feel so much better now… Still, I’m bored.”

I sat on the park bench, staring at my right leg.

The memory of that day replayed in my mind.

During the match, when I tried to intercept a long pass from the opponent, intense pain shot through my knee. I collapsed to the ground, screaming, and lay on the pitch. I’ll never forget that pain.

The words the doctor told me afterward were still etched in my memory.

The image of the doctor pointing at the X-ray flashed through my mind.

“This is the state of your knee, Akagi-san. As you can see, your anterior cruciate ligament is torn. This is a severe injury and will require surgery and long-term rehabilitation to recover.”

Even after hearing those words, it felt unreal. It seemed like someone else’s problem, but gradually, the weight of the words sank into my heart. The doctor’s serious expression made it all the more crushing.

“Honestly, it might be very difficult for you to resume playing soccer at your previous level.”

My life revolved around soccer, and now I was being told that everything was being taken away. The doctor’s voice sounded distant, like a ringing in my ears, and I felt my future growing darker.

An anterior cruciate ligament tear… I’d heard of it before, but I never thought it would happen to me.

It’s the kind of injury that can end a player’s career.

Recovery takes one to two years, and even then, there’s no guarantee you’ll return to your pre-injury level.

To put it bluntly, it was hopeless.

So, I made a decision.

After the injury, I spoke with the team’s manager and coach.

It happened in the team’s small office.

“Akagi, if you do your rehabilitation properly, there’s a chance you can return to the pitch. It’s too early to give up.”

The coach was the first to speak. His words were meant to encourage me, but my heart was already frozen. I had no passion for soccer anymore.

After a long silence, I took a deep breath and spoke quietly.

“Manager, Coach, I don’t want to cling to soccer anymore. I can’t come back here after rehabilitation.”

The manager’s eyes widened.

It seemed like an unexpected answer.

“Akagi, that’s too hasty of a decision. Why don’t you reconsider?”

He tried his best to persuade me. The coach nodded in agreement.

“Take it slow, even if it’s little by little. You don’t have to rush—just think about coming back.”

But my decision was firm.

“It’s impossible. I don’t have the motivation for soccer anymore. This is a decision I’ve made after careful consideration.”

The manager and coach were silent for a moment, then sighed heavily. Finally, the manager said,

“Alright, we respect your decision.”

Their faces showed concern and disappointment.

They recommended I continue rehab, but I refused because it seemed like a hassle. I realized I probably didn’t love soccer that much.

Even the most talented people succeed through hard work.

But I don’t like hard work.

It’s uncool and annoying…

The moment I thought that, I realized I wasn’t talented enough.

Becoming the world’s greatest striker? What a joke…

I didn’t want to cling to soccer, especially when it wasn’t even certain I could return to my former abilities.

That’s why I decided to quit soccer.

Telling myself I wouldn’t return, I quietly closed the office door after finishing my business—

Reflecting on leaving the team, I looked up at the sky from the park bench again.

Quitting soccer gave me a sense of relief, like shedding a heavy burden. From now on, I wouldn’t have to push myself anymore. I was freed from the constraints of soccer and could focus on enjoying life.

From now on, I can play around with lots of girls…

I took out my phone and checked the notifications on my messaging app.

However, there were no replies from the girls I was expecting.

What the hell…

Just as I was thinking of starting fresh after quitting soccer, this happened.

Ever since my hookup DMs got exposed online, girls had been keeping their distance. It seemed the effects were still lingering.

It felt like no matter what I did or where I went, my reputation always preceded me. It seemed impossible to escape the shadow of my past, even after quitting soccer.

At school, I was being ostracized, and I felt completely cornered.

Even Chiharu, who stuck by me despite everything, was gone.

“What a joke…”

I muttered to myself in self-deprecation.

What should I do now?

As I sat on the park bench, lost in thought about my choices and future, a soccer ball rolled in front of me. I looked around and saw children playing soccer nearby. A boy chasing the ball called out to me.

“Excuse me, could you pass the ball back?”

Despite my injured leg, I kicked the ball back with my other foot.

Damn, is this some kind of mockery of my injury?

As I watched the ball return to the children, a sudden emotion welled up inside me.

At the same time, I felt a tightening in my chest.

Memories of my time playing soccer flashed through my mind: the joy of running on the pitch, the thrill of victory, and the moments of scoring goals. Realizing I’d never experience those moments again weighed heavily on me.

Damn it, what the hell is this?

Shocked by my sudden feelings, I came to a realization.

It was something I had locked away since my injury.

I had been trying to convince myself that I didn’t care, but that wasn’t true.

I had to admit it.

Because—

“Apparently, I really liked soccer…”

As soon as I whispered those words, tears started to flow.

I cried silently for a while, alone on the park bench.