GNS: A Rising Striker

Chapter 9: Chasing the Spotlight

After the match, the locker room hums with quiet conversation, but it feels distant, like I'm watching everything through a fog. We won, sure, but I wasn't a part of it the way I wanted to be.

I slump onto the bench, running the match over in my head. Nadruk dominated, scoring two goals and controlling the attack. Kinagase pulled the strings in the midfield, his assists carving open their defense like it was nothing. GGS1 was a wall, stopping shot after shot. And me? I was just... there. Running around without making an impact.

As the post-game stats flicker onto the screen, my stomach tightens. The top five players from the match are listed:

1. Nadruk - 2 goals, unstoppable in attack.

2. Kinagase - 2 assists, midfield maestro.

3. Sancha - Scored for Team W, a constant threat.

4. Erwin - Another goal for Team W, driving their attack.

5. GGS1 - Five saves, keeping us in the game.

I scan the names, waiting to see mine appear. But it never does. I'm not there. Not even close.

I clench my fists. It's like a punch in the gut. Sure, I didn't play my best game, but not even making the top five? That hurts.

I glance around the room. Nadruk is calm, wiping down her face with a towel, unfazed by the pressure. Kinagase is analyzing the match with Mint, probably thinking of ways to improve next time. Even GGS1, who practically saved the game, is quiet, focused. They all did their part, stood out, and here I am, invisible.

I need to change that. I have to be better.

I check the results from the other matches, searching for some distraction. Maybe seeing what happened elsewhere will help clear my mind.

A vs B: 2-3. Joestar, my childhood friend, ranked second best. Typical. He's always solid, dependable. I bet he made some crucial blocks to help his team.
C vs D: 3-3.
X vs Y: 2-2.

I shake my head and turn back to the top five list from our game. Nadruk, Kinagase, GGS1, Sancha, and Erwin. All key players in the match. I should be there. I want to be there.

Next game, I promise myself. Next game, I'll make sure my name is on that list.

I grab my gear and slip out of the locker room without saying a word. The others are too absorbed in their own thoughts to notice. As I walk toward the training ground, the need to prove myself gnaws at me. I can't keep blending in while everyone else is grabbing the spotlight.

The indoor facility is quiet, the bright lights buzzing above me as I step onto the pitch. I warm up with some sprints, loosening my muscles, trying to clear my head. But I know this isn't about standard drills. I need to find something more.

I jog to the wall and start practicing quick one-twos, the ball bouncing back to me at a steady rhythm. I'm playing it safe, sticking to what I know. And that's the problem. I've been too predictable. Too easy to read.

I need a new weapon. Something that'll make defenders second-guess, force them to react to me instead of me reacting to them.

I pull out the cones and set them up, the idea slowly forming in my mind. A technique I've never used in a match before. It's risky. If I mess up, I could make things worse. But if I pull it off... it might be exactly what I need to stand out.

With a deep breath, I position the ball in front of me. My heart pounds as I get ready to try this new move. This is it. The moment to transform my game.

I take the first step, my body moving on instinct, my mind racing with the possibilities.

...Timeskip...

The cafeteria hums with quiet conversations, the clatter of plates and trays filling the air. I poke at my food, barely touching it. The taste might as well be cardboard; my thoughts are still on the game. Sitting across from me, GGS1 digs into his meal, completely unfazed by the pressure of the day. He catches me staring into space.

"You good?" he asks between bites, his tone casual but observant.

I shrug. "Yeah, just... thinking about the game."

GGS1 nods, leaning back in his chair. "You're hung up on it, huh? It was a tough match, but we got the win."

I nod, but I can't shake the feeling. "You, Nadruk, and Kinagase... you all stood out. I didn't. I was just running around, barely contributing."

GGS1 wipes his mouth with a napkin and looks at me with a calm expression. "Not every game will be yours to shine, man. Sometimes you're just filling in the gaps, making the runs that let others do their thing."

"I get that," I mutter, "but I want to be more than just a body on the pitch. Everyone else had their moment. I didn't."

He pauses, considering what I said. "Look, LuffyX, it's not about shining in every match. It's about figuring out how you fit. You'll find your rhythm, your way to stand out. But forcing it? That's where you screw up. Trust me, I've been there."

I glance down at my plate, GGS1's words swirling in my mind. He makes it sound so simple, but I'm struggling to believe it. My mind keeps wandering back to the missed chances, the gaps in my performance. I can't let this become a pattern.

"Yeah," I reply quietly, still absent. "Maybe."

GGS1 gives me a light smile, trying to ease the tension. "You'll figure it out. And when you do, no one will be able to ignore you. Just give it time."

I nod, but my focus is elsewhere. He goes back to his food, leaving me to sit in my thoughts. All I can think about is how to turn things around.