I am practicing in Tokyo

Chapter 39 This sad mist tonight

The grass on the football field was replaced with natural turf overnight after the Hachioji school team made history by winning the Tokyo High School Regional Competition. Automatic sprinklers were also installed. It has a sense of black humor. It seems that people are utilitarian.

Its nature.

Suhara placed the football on the penalty spot in front of the goal, took a few steps back, and took a deep breath. This was his hundredth penalty kick in today's training. He has scored nine goals so far.

Using the run-up movement Fujii showed him, he adjusted his pace in small steps and kicked the ball out with a spoon. Fujii jumped out and took the slow-moving football into his arms, ending Suhara's victory.

Shoot.

"Damn, do you have the ability to read minds? You can tell this."

Suhara couldn't help complaining. He deliberately hit the angle in the opposite direction, but was still taken off without any suspense. The goalkeeper Ryunosuke on one side carefully remembered Fujii's saving action and mocked him.

"The moment you take off your feet, I should be able to predict where your simple red deer brain will kick."

"Stop blabbering, come here and try to kick it? It's hard to score even a goal!"

There is some truth in Suhara's rebuttal. His nine goals were all volleys from the dead end with all his strength. Even if he is as strong as Fujii Shu, he cannot be blocked every time. And technical shots with slow ball speed,

As long as it is not a curve ball, it can basically be rejected. At the age of 17, Suhara, whose physical fitness is almost 1.2 times that of ordinary people, is already extremely talented and can shoot at a high enough speed.

"Everyone, come over here, a new team member is joining us."

Coach Shen Jing greeted them, and everyone stood in a row on the sidelines, like soldiers waiting for a review.

"My name is Fukuhara Shogo. I transferred from Adachi High School. I am a winger and can play left and right."

The people who want to join the school team are no strangers to them. The core player of the opponent in the first round of the local competition is Fukuhara Shogo, whose personal ability is close to the professional level in the late LV2 stage. He is a long-haired boy with a medium-to-upper-class appearance.

"Please give me your advice!"

After Fukuhara Shogo bowed, he glanced at Fujii Shu intentionally or unintentionally. He transferred to Hachioji High School because of this person. Adachi High School did not qualify, but Hachioji High School with only Fujii Shu could not go far in the national competition.

His joining is not entirely a blessing. A good winger will have a considerable impact on the offense.

"Let me tell you, Fukuhara-san has been appointed by FC Tokyo. After playing in this national competition, you will be an official player. If you perform well, professional teams will come to you. Work hard."

Coach Fukai knew that Shogo Fukuhara’s purpose of joining was not simple. People from FC Tokyo had contacted Fujii several times, but perhaps no one was available. The signing fee was increased to 30 million yen, but Fujii remained indifferent and unmoved.

move.

If only he could join a football team, that would be great.

Coach Fukai no longer cares where Fujii Shu goes, as long as this new star can rise in the Japanese football world, he will be satisfied.

The main winger in the school team, Yoshiyuki Konishi, looks a little gloomy. He will probably be a substitute now, which is not good news.

The drill of the 442 formation in the diamond midfield began, and the substitution was like a change of tools, replacing winger Shogo Fukuhara. The difference was immediately apparent. This winger is extremely fast, has enough physical confrontation, has balanced feet, and his running position is not fixed.

On one side, he had a keen sense of smell in front of the goal and succeeded in grabbing points several times. He received two through balls from Fujii and successfully scored a goal.

This is the attack. In the past, I relied on Suhara to provide support in the middle, and Fujii managed to break through by himself. Now that there are threats from the side, there is no weakness.

Coach Shenjing observed the new lineup changes and nodded to express his satisfaction. Now it can be considered a strong team in the national competition.

It's only been more than two months, and his strength has improved so quickly? No wonder he sent me here.

After Shogo Fukuda scored, I realized Fujii's passing ability. Accurate through balls from several defensive players were not as easy as seen on TV. It very tests the passer's vision and awareness, as well as the kung fu of his feet.

You just have to be in position.

Another opportunity to attack, Fukuhara Shogo took the ball to the side and passed the ball to Suhara in the middle. After this period of special training, Suhara and Fujii Shu have developed a tacit understanding, and he did not attempt a difficult header.

Instead of shooting, it was a header ferry, passing the football to Fujii Shu on the other side of the goal. Such a sudden mutual transfer naturally made goalkeeper Ryunosuke unable to predict. Fujii Shu touched the ball with the arch of his right foot and flicked it.

Score the goal.

If these three people come together, I can't help it!

Ryuunosuke's level is actually quite good, but he still feels frustrated. One Fujii tree is enough for him. He also sees Suhara's progress. Now comes Fukuhara Shogo, his successor.

On the defensive line, there is only one center back, Nagahama-senpai, so what should we use to defend?

After the day's training, Fujii's partner when he returned home was replaced by Suhara, who also rides a bicycle. Hase Azusa should let her enjoy a rare vacation.

Suhara's home happens to be in Kitano Town, Hachioji City, but on a commercial street farther away from the school, they can walk together, uphill and downhill, sweating, and the wheels of their bicycles turn and shine under the afterglow of the setting sun.

, like the turntable of time, it will never stop.

The guitar kept triggering the sound of musical notes in the dark room. Azusa Hase was wearing a light pink sportswear, sitting on the edge of the bed, playing a self-composed post-punk song, which she named "Tonight"

The Mist of Sadness'.

"There's a dog howling outside the window."

The electric guitar that is plugged in is a Gibson ES-335, but it has been changed from the factory yellow and black to a customized silver and white. This is a 1959 American version, which is already considered an antique-level luxury guitar.

.

"The moonlight gradually moves towards the east."

The left hand gently picks the guitar pick, and the right hand plays a brisk chord. The sound of the guitar and the melody are very ear-catching.

"And I will still love you."

Her singing voice sounded simultaneously, a little immature, but her voice was special and very recognizable.

"Like a bullet loving the forehead."

"Beyond that window sill, the ice crystals shine like diamonds!"

Azusa Hase stood up, lowered his head, and quickly played a large melody. Overlapping, reciprocation, and distortion were the essence of post-punk music.

"Electric current shuttles through the lines, accompanied by the wreath of time's fading."

After a long paragraph, she remembered the Fujii tree that provided him with the inspiration for this song, and the next line of lyrics blurted out naturally.

"In this mist of sorrow tonight, we can no longer escape."

"Everything that is cold only belongs to us, woo-woo-woo."

The melody came to an end, the guitar stopped playing, and her fingers trembled slightly. Azusa Hase pressed the end button of the recording on her phone, took a long breath, hugged the guitar, opened the photo album on her phone, looked at it quietly, and secretly took photos on the side of the playground.

Under the Fujii tree, the eyes are like stars surrounding the sun and moon.

(End of chapter)