Friday came faster than expected
Coach Daigo posted the match squad at noon
Printed list on the locker room wall
Ren stepped in after class
Still wearing his uniform shirt
He walked straight to the list
Eyes scanned line by line
His name sat near the top
Position: GK1
Starter
Taka stood beside him with his bag over his shoulder
"You are up"
Ren nodded once
Mizuki clapped him on the back
"Hope you are loud out there. We play better when the wall talks"
Arata said nothing
Just tossed his boots in his locker and walked past
Ren stayed quiet
That night he lay in bed staring at the ceiling again
But this time felt different
Not fear
Not nerves
Just focus
Like stepping into a tunnel with only one direction
Tomorrow meant more than just a debut
It meant proving the scout was not wrong
It meant showing the other keepers that his spot was earned
Game day arrived with grey skies and cold wind
Perfect weather for a keeper
The Musashino van pulled up outside the school
Ren sat in the back corner seat with his headphones on
He listened to nothing
Just silence
Visualizing saves
Kicks
Commands
They arrived early
The field smelled like wet dirt and cut grass
Opponents already warming up on the far side
Daigo gathered the squad in a half circle
"Today is not about flash. It is about shape. Focus. Work. Trust the line. Trust the keeper"
Ren stepped onto the pitch first
He tapped both posts with his gloves
Then took his position
The whistle blew
First minutes were clean
Musashino held possession
Mizuki made a run
Arata got a shot
Blocked
Still no danger
Then came a fast counter
One pass through the middle
Striker came in alone
Ren stepped out fast
Closed the angle
Shot came low and fast to his left
He dove
Palms first
Blocked clean
Pushed wide
Taka cleared it
Cheers from the sideline
Ren stood up and exhaled once
Glanced at Daigo
No nod
No smile
Just eyes locked
Watching
Next play came ten minutes later
Corner kick
Opponent sent it high
Ren called it loud
"Mine"
Jumped with both fists
Punched it clear
They reset
Halftime whistle blew with no goals allowed
Ren jogged to the bench with sweat on his forehead and dirt on his knees
He sat down and took a sip of water
Taka dropped beside him
"You look like you been starting all year"
Ren grinned just a little
"Feels like I have"