Halftime ended fast
Coach gave short orders
No changes
Same lineup
Same focus
Ren pulled his gloves tighter as he stepped back onto the pitch
Rain had started to fall
Not heavy
Just enough to make everything slippery
The second half kicked off
The other team came harder
Quicker passes
Longer balls
Ren stayed loud
"Left shoulder"
"Push wide"
"Mark tight"
But the pressure built
A foul near the edge of the box
Free kick
Danger spot
Ren set the wall
Counted four
Stepped two paces right
The whistle blew
The shot curled over the wall
Fast
Bending
Ren jumped
Both hands stretched
Fingertips brushed it
Ball hit the bar
Bounced out
Taka cleared again
Ren landed hard but got right back up
Mizuki shouted across the field
"That one had fire"
Ren nodded once
No time to smile
Next wave came fast
Through ball again
Striker came one on one
Same as first half
Ren charged forward
Striker chipped it this time
Smart move
Ball floated toward goal
Ren turned mid step and lunged back
One hand reached
Fingers caught it just enough
Tipped it wide
Post hit his shoulder but he kept hold
Crowd gasped
Even Arata muttered something under his breath
Still scoreless
Five minutes left
Musashino pushed forward
Mizuki broke the line
Passed to Arata
One touch
Goal
Bottom corner
1–0
First lead
Ren clenched his fists
Now it was about holding it
Final minute
Opponent won a corner
Their keeper came up too
All or nothing
Ball sent high
Bodies flew
Ren tracked it
Waited
Then jumped above the crowd
Gloves closed around the ball midair
Perfect catch
Whistle blew as he landed
Game over
Musashino 1
Opponents 0
Clean sheet
Ren looked up into the grey sky
Rain on his face
Gloves soaked
But nothing felt heavy
Daigo walked over slow
Stopped beside him
Said one thing
"Good start"
Then turned away
Ren stood there a second longer
Then smiled to himself
Not wide
Just enough