bestfiction Chapter 637: Round of 16
Chapter 637: Round of 16
chapter 637: round of 16
miami, florida
the street was bustling with people. hordes of people clad in blue, white, and red patterned apparel were steadily advancing. some held banners, some had their face painted, and some adorned flags.
they had all sorts of appearances, but one trait common in them was their expression: an expression full of excitement and anticipation.
suddenly, they erupted in excitement as they noticed a bus approaching from the distance. it was team japan's bus.
today, they were pitted against croatia in the knockouts who had placed second in their group.
inside the bus, hiro was seated on the fourth-row seat. until a moment ago, he had been contemplating about the match, recalling their preparation.
'previously, we failed to advance from here. but this time, it'll be different.' hiro thought, recalling their previous defeat.
in the previous world cup, they lost at this stage to croatia. coincidentally, they had been pitted against the team they had lost against.
so, it was an opportunity to salvage their lost reputation.
though hiro hadn't taken part in that game, hiro shared the same sentiment as others who had taken part in it.
after overcoming the likes of germany and spain, it was a painful outcome to accept. even now the wound they got from that match was still bulging like a freshly cut wound.
while thinking about it, hiro couldn't help but look at the participating players.
though they appeared calm outside, hiro could tell they were thinking about the match. he could still remember the expression they made upon finding their next opponent.
after meandering a few corners, the bus entered the venue. though their advance was slowed down by the excited fans outside, they made it to the parking lot.
shoving the curtain away, hiro peeked outside the window.
"do you get it?" nanami asked, his voice firm.
the crowd murmured, their voices rather reluctant, "yes, sir."
after that, they revised their plans for the match. while nanami explained their tactics, the rest ardently heard him without losing focus.
once the tactical meeting ended, they gathered around. each one more enthusiastic than before they roared enthusiastically and left the locker room.
soon after they were met with their opponent for the match in the tunnel.
upon meeting, some exchanged words of pleasantries, some remained quiet. hiro fell on the latter. until now, he had rarely talked with anyone and would go unnoticed most of the time.
but right now, it was different.
though he hadn't taken the initiative to speak, he was at the center of attention. well, given his recent performances, it was to be expected.
the opposing team was glaring at him as if he had triggered them.
noticing the glares, hiro couldn't help but sigh, 'what did i do to deserve this?'
from their gaze alone, hiro assumed it wouldn't be an easy match, at least for him. perhaps,
he might get surrounded.
even so, he wasn't troubled. rather he felt even more thrilled. he could feel his blood stifling. it was as if electricity was coursing through his veins.
it might be because he was excited to experiment with "phantom steps".
though the air inside the tunnel was dense, hiro felt even more excited than before. perhaps, their sharp glares evoked a sense of importance in him.
while standing still, hiro cast a gaze at the opposing side. immediately, he noticed a few players he had to watch out against.
having analyzed them, he didn't feel threatened at all. but he still couldn't afford to be careless. after all, he was up against the team that had managed to get to the finals. however, after modric retired, they had to undergo some reformation. so, hiro wasn't as bothered.