At School
Masaki and Taira walked through the main area, where students gathered around different club stalls, recruiting new members. The atmosphere was lively, with voices filling the air as club members tried to convince first-years to join.
After a few moments, they stopped in front of the football club's stall.
A senior, most likely a club representative, eyed the two of them with mild curiosity. "You two want to join this club?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, sir," Masaki and Taira answered in unison.
"Then fill out these forms," the senior said, handing them each a pen and a registration form.
They quickly filled them out and handed them back.
"Alright. Come to the football field after school for your evaluation," the senior said with a knowing smirk.
"Understood," they both replied before turning toward their classroom.
—
After a short walk, they arrived at their classroom. Masaki slid open the door, and the moment they stepped inside—
All eyes turned to them.
A group of girls whispered among themselves.
"Wow… they're both so handsome!" one girl whispered excitedly.
"Yeah… but the one with black hair, isn't he—"
Before she could finish, a loud voice interrupted her.
"HEY! Isn't that MASAKI RENJIROU? The Genius Football Player who plays for National Team?!"
The entire class erupted in murmurs, all eyes now locked onto Masaki.
"Hahhh?! No wonder he looked so familiar!" another boy exclaimed, realization dawning on him.
"Didn't he get an offer from a J1 League club? What's he doing here?"
"Yeah, I heard about that too! Did he reject it?"
"Wait a minute, the guy next to him— isn't that Genichiro Taira?!"
"Holy crap, you're right!"
More whispers followed. Some were in awe, while others were shocked at their decision to enroll at Seikan High instead of going pro.
Meanwhile, Taira smirked. "Walking headline indeed."
Masaki let out a sigh. "Can't even walk into a room normally."
But he wasn't annoyed—his voice had a tinge of amusement. He glanced around and found a seat near the window. Without a word, he walked over and sat down. Taira followed, taking the seat in front of him.
As Masaki got comfortable, a classmate leaned over from the adjacent desk.
"Umm… Masaki-kun, right?"
Masaki looked over, offering a relaxed smile. "Yeah. That's me."
"I… I'm Riku Yamamoto. I watched you play at the U-17 Asia Championship last year. You scored that volley against South Korea, right? That was amazing!"
Masaki chuckled. "Thanks. That was a tough match."
Riku's eyes lit up. "You're seriously playing here in Seikan? That's so cool."
"I figured I wanted to enjoy high school life for a bit," Masaki said casually. "Football's important to me, but so are memories like these."
Riku grinned. "You're way more chill than I thought."
Taira turned his head slightly. "He gets that a lot."
Suddenly, another student leaned over. This time, a girl with bright eyes and short brown hair.
"Masaki-kun, do you mind signing my notebook?" she asked, holding it out nervously. "My younger brother is a huge fan of you. He's in middle school and plays forward too."
Masaki blinked, then smiled and nodded. "Of course."
He took the notebook, scribbled a quick signature, and added, "Chase your dreams. – Masaki Renjirou" before handing it back.
The girl beamed. "Thank you so much!"
"Tell your brother I said good luck," Masaki added warmly.
A few more students began to approach, cautiously at first, asking him casual questions—about matches, teammates, and training. Masaki answered each one with patience and good humor, never sounding arrogant or distant. He didn't act superior. In fact, his down-to-earth nature only made his classmates admire him more.
Even some of the more skeptical boys who had murmured earlier now seemed curious rather than jealous.
—
Before the moment could stretch any further, the classroom door opened, and a woman in professional attire stepped in.
"Alright, everyone. Get back to your seats," she said, her voice firm yet calm.
Once the students settled down, she introduced herself.
"My name is Kumiko Yamaguchi. I will be your homeroom teacher this year." She adjusted her glasses before continuing. "Let's begin with roll call, and then we'll proceed with self-introductions."
When it was Masaki's turn, the entire class quieted.
He stood up slowly.
"I'm Masaki Renjirou. I love football… but I also enjoy drama, spicy food, and taking long walks." He smirked slightly. "My dream is to one day… finally beat Taira in a video game. That guy's a menace on the controller."
The class laughed
Next was Taira. He stood up, hands in his pockets.
"I'm Genichiro Taira. I'm here to play football."
He paused, then added with a straight face:
"And yes, I am a menace on the controller. Anyone here who thinks they're good at FIFA, see me after school. I'll ruin your confidence in five minutes."
The class burst into laughter again.
Taira gave Masaki a wink. "Oh, and just for the record — he still owes me snacks from our last match."
Masaki just sighed and muttered, "One game…"
Taira shrugged. "One glorious, undefeated, legendary game."
The teacher smiled faintly. "Well, I hope you both bring that same energy to class participation."
The class continued, and before they knew it, the school day had come to an end.
"Alright, that's all for today. Thank you, everyone."
"Thank you, sensei!" the students responded before starting to pack up.
Masaki and Taira wasted no time.
"Let's go," Masaki said, standing up.
Taira nodded, and the two made their way toward the football field, classmates watching them as they left.
—
Locker Room
In the dimly lit locker room, the coaching staff discussed the new arrivals.
"Hoho… Genichiro Taira, huh?" the head coach muttered, leaning back in his chair.
"Yeah, but the real shocker is that he's not alone. Masaki Renjirou came with him," the first manager added.
"It's surprising that he chose to play high school football instead of going pro," the second manager remarked.
The coach smirked. "A genius among geniuses… no, more like a monster." He recalled the countless highlights of Masaki dismantling powerhouse teams in middle school.
His grip on Masaki's registration form tightened slightly.
"Masaki Renjirou… huh."
—
Football Field
Masaki and Taira had just arrived at the football field when whispers began spreading among the club members.
"Masaki Renjirou… huh… interesting."
"He's been playing for Japan's National Team since U-12."
"I heard his shooting is ridiculously powerful."
"They say his skills are at an international level. Some even claim he could compete with pro players right now."
"Must be nice being a genius…" someone muttered with a hint of envy.
"Not just him. Genichiro Taira is here too. Our team just got way stronger."
"Their combination is insane… I've seen them play together before. Taira's skill mixed with Masaki's intelligence… It's going to be unreal."
Masaki glanced around and immediately recognized a few players from the anime.
• Satake – A first-year defender who would later form a strong pairing with Hiiragi.
• Sugino – A first-year goalkeeper with solid reflexes.
And most importantly…
• Motonori Higuchi – A tall and clever first-year defender who would become a crucial part of the team.
Unlike most years, where seniors dominated the starting eleven, this year's freshman class was overflowing with talent.
The head coach stepped forward, eyeing the newcomers.
"Alright, first-years, listen up!" his voice boomed across the field. "You're all here because you want to play for this team. But in Seikan, we don't give spots for free."
He smirked.
"Today, we'll see what you're really made of. You'll be playing a practice match against the seniors as your test. Understand?"
"YES, SIR!" the first-years shouted in unison.
Masaki show a confident grin spreading across his face.
"Heh… now this is getting interesting."
⸻