Noah:
"I know many of you have worked incredibly hard… and I'm sorry… if your name isn't called in a moment…"
Adrian stepped forward, a list in his hand.
The crowd fell silent.
Breaths were held.
Every eye locked onto him.
Adrian (calm tone):
"TOP 18 – KELANA WARRIORS FC & U20 SUPERNOVA CANDIDATES:"
---
1. Captain Raphael
2. Yuuto
3. Ash
4. Armin
5. Leon
6. Wonbin
7. Renji
8. Nike
---
Wonbin (raising an eyebrow):
"Sixth place, huh? I thought I'd rank higher."
Nike (smiling softly):
"It's okay. We'll climb the rankings… together."
---
Eric (screaming):
"WOOOOAH!!! YUUTO-CHAAAANNNN, YOU'RE NUMBER TWO!!! YOU LEGEND!!!"
Yuuto (raising his hand, calm):
"LMAO… Chill, bro. But thanks."
---
Ash (shaking his head as he scans the list):
"Looks like we got a little too comfortable, Armin."
Armin (smirking):
"Yeah… like we forgot the world's been catching up."
---
Leon (turning his back to everyone):
"…Hmph. Still not good enough."
---
Daniel (screaming like a fanboy):
"CAPTAIN RAPHAEL!!! YOU'RE NUMBER ONE!!! I KNEW IT!!!"
Others:
"YESSS!!! CAPTAIN!!!"
Raphael (chuckling softly):
"…Heh. Chill, guys."
---
9. Eric
Eric (hands trembling, voice low):
"I… I made it…?"
His eyes began to tear up. Suddenly, Alisha bumped into him.
Alisha:
"Oi! Are you crying? LMAOOO!"
Eric (startled, flustered):
"N-no I'm not! I just—dust in my eyes!!"
Alisha:
"Yeah, yeah~ keep telling yourself that."
Akira (patting Alisha's head):
"Stop bullying our players, Alisha."
Alisha (annoyed face):
"Okay, okay~ I'm done!"
---
10. Daniel
"YESSSSS!!! I'M IN!!! I'LL FOLLOW YOU FOREVER, CAPTAIN!!! EVEN TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!!!"
Raphael (edging away slightly):
"Err… Not forever, bro. You're scaring me."
---
11. Mika
Mika:
"I wanna follow Captain too!!!"
Daniel (teasing):
"You're short. Stay in the back."
Mika (furious):
"Shortie???"
Daniel (raising his chin):
"I'm 174 cm. You're what, 162? I'm tall. You're a mini-Mika."
Mika:
"BULLYYYYY!!!"
---
12. Dion
Eric:
"Wait… Who's Dion?"
Armin:
"We have someone named Dion…?"
A calm voice suddenly came from the back—
Dion:
"I'm right here."
Everyone:
"GHOST VIBESSSS!!!!"
---
13. Sham
Sham (a small jump):
"Yes! Alhamdulillah, I made it!"
Renji (patting his shoulder):
"I'm proud of you, bro. You've earned it."
---
14. Samuel
Wonbin (tearing up):
"OUR PRECIOUS WALL! OUR GOALKEEPER!! YOU MADE IT!!"
Nike:
"Our baby! Our sunshine!"
Samuel (confused):
"Wait, what? I made it? Why are you guys so dramatic?"
Eric & Wonbin (drama queen mode):
"Because we thought we'd lose you, man! We were mentally preparing!!"
Samuel (shy smile):
"Thanks… I guess?"
---
15. Ethan
16. Myles
17. Lucas
---
Luca (inner voice, quietly):
"Lucas… my brother made it. But me… I don't think I…"
Lucas (turning to look at him):
"Don't say that. I believe in you, Luca. Always."
---
18. Aria
Ash (shocked):
"Aria?? Wait, isn't that a girl's name?"
Aria (firmly, full of pride):
"I'M A PROUD MAN!!!"
Yuuto:
"Ah—my bad, bro!"
---
Luca (looking down, forcing a bitter smile):
"So… I didn't make it…"
Lucas (standing beside him):
"Little bro…"
---
Suddenly, Noah stepped forward again. His voice was serious.
Noah:
"However… there's one more name."
Everyone:
"WHAT?! A SPECIAL PLACE???"
"Seriously?! Who?!"
---
Noah (soft tone):
"Because of his outstanding effort… and a unique potential we saw… we're offering him a special spot."
Adrian:
"19. LUCA."
---
Lucas (in shock, immediately hugging his brother):
"BROTHER!!!!"
Luca (dazed):
"HUHHHHH?!?!?!?"
---
Adrian (closing the list):
"And… that's the official list. It's final."
---
Some players began to panic.
"Wait, that's it??"
"Where's my name?!"
"I'm a senior, Coach!"
"I didn't make it?! Impossible!!"
"Coach, please! Just one more chance!"
---
Noah (eyes dim, voice heavy):
"I know this is hard to accept… but this was Mr. Rabbit's final decision. I can't change it. If your name isn't on the list… it's time to go."
---
Ethan slowly stepped forward toward someone.
Ethan (low voice):
"Nathan…"
Nathan (bittersweet smile):
"Haha… Even if I didn't make it… you'll carry the dream, right? You're the best striker, little bro."
Ethan (inner voice, trembling):
"…Brother…"
---
TO BE CONTINUED...