Hiro stood before the post with his legs apart, his shadow long on the ground as the orange sphere inched closer to the horizon.

The sky was draped in orange and deep indigo, signalling the start of the inevitable darkness.

Though a part of him was bathed in the golden light and the other was hidden in the shadows, his expression appeared as if frozen in time.

Perhaps, he had been recalling something.

’This isn’t how I’m supposed to be...’ He thought, his breathing somewhat ragged. ’I couldn’t do a single thing. I couldn’t contribute a single thing.’

The sweat accumulated on his forehead dripped, blinding his vision for a moment. Then, as he refocused his gaze, something came into his sight.

The post that had been vacant before wasn’t vacant anymore.

There appeared to be a figure standing between the poles. Like a shadow, the figure stood between the posts, almost taking a goalkeeping stance.

Though his expression remained unchanged, as indifferent as before, he felt a strange sensation tugging at him.

He couldn’t comprehend this strange sensation.

But as he stared intently at the figure standing before him, the figure seemed to materialize. Soon enough, this obscure figure, which he couldn’t comprehend before, took the shape and appearance of his friend Shun.

’Real World Simulation’

This was one of the skills he possessed.

Hiro didn’t panic at the sight. Instead, he braced himself. He inhaled a puff of air as sweat trickled down his brow.

His shoulders seemed to have enlarged for a moment.

Then, as his shoulders dropped, he charged towards the ball.

He planted his right foot first, then twisted his body, flinging his arms for maximum power. Then he swung his left leg, transferring the power he stored in his lower body.

He swung his left leg like a reaper’s scythe.

Blades of grass flew as he swung his legs.

For an instant as he took his stance, it seemed as if the air around him was rippling with sheer pressure. It was as if the air was boiling.

Then, as he swung his legs, he connected an intense kick that sent the ball soaring above the ground.

The ball flew, making an arc in the air as it warped the air around it.

Just at the point of impact, the figure also moved as if it sensed something. Hiro could see an unwavering wave of determination flashing past its pupils.

Though he had connected a shot, Hiro couldn’t help but freeze upon witnessing that gaze.

’What’s with that gaze?’ He thought, recalling Shun’s gaze in the previous match.

He looked fierce, almost as if he were a beast staring at him. He couldn’t sense even a hint of nervousness or unease.

It wasn’t overconfidence or consolation either.

He could tell apart overconfidence and consolation.

It was something different.

Thud!

The ball made a pounding sound as it struck the poles. The sound reverberated, snapping him to his senses, and the figure disappeared.

He stared at the ball, bouncing farther from him.

However, he didn’t rush to collect it. Instead, he stared as if he were a lifeless figure.

The ball continued to bounce before it crossed the goal line. Then it stopped.

Hiro stood in his spot, frozen in time, zoning out.

’Just where did it all go wrong?’ He wondered.

Then he started walking towards the ball whilst still recalling the previous match’s events.

’That first goal... That’s where it all began.’

He could tell where the game had shifted. However, he couldn’t tell what had caused it to shift. Though he pondered long about it after the match, he still couldn’t conclude.

He knew this shift had something to do with Shun.

But he couldn’t tell what had changed.

Like after conceding that first goal, something had stirred awake in Shun.

"Did he evolve mid-match?" Hiro muttered as he bent over to collect the ball.

That seemed like the most plausible explanation. Even so, he couldn’t bring himself to accept defeat.

[On point!]

Just then, as he was pondering, the system’s mechanical voice rang in his head.

Upon hearing the voice, Hiro’s eyes perked up.

"He evolved mid-match?" He pressed.

[Unsure.]

"Huh?!" Hiro’s brows raised as he grew annoyed. "But just now, you said he evolved during the match? Yet now, you claim you are not sure about it?"

[It is true that the individual named Shun had experienced some sort of enlightenment during the match. However, just based on that fact, it is hard to decide if he had experienced an evolution.]

"So, what you’re saying is he changed mid-game, but that change can’t be linked to evolution?" Hiro questioned.

[Correct! That is the case. But if you want accurate answers, then would you like the system to look into it?]

Hiro heard the suggestion of the system and immediately figured that the system wouldn’t offer this suggestion for free.

If it were a human, it would be one of the most selfish and avaricious people in the entire world.

"You wouldn’t do it for free, would you?" Hiro raised his brow, suspicious of the offer.

[...]

The system went quiet for a while as if he had been caught. Then it responded.

[Just half your points should be enough for this task!]

Hearing it, Hiro couldn’t help but contort his expression. How could it be this shameless? Wasn’t it designed to help him?

If so, what was it charging him for?

Moreover, half the points he had were like robbing him of his hard-earned savings. Hence, Hiro couldn’t help but snap.

"What?! Half the points, you say? You being, for real?" Hiro cursed as he complained.

This was pure injustice, and he couldn’t bring himself to accept it.

[There’s another option. You can wait six months for the result for a fraction of the cost. Would you like that option instead?]

Wait six months?

By then, the season would have ended.

Though this option was better than the previous one, the duration was too long, and he didn’t want to wait that long. Hence, he couldn’t help but ponder further on this matter.

Should he even bother to check on this matter, or should he just ignore it?

For a moment, upon hearing the system’s suggestion, he couldn’t help but ransack his mind.

Well, given the clues at hand, it is true that Shun had experienced some sort of change. But those changes don’t even involve him.

What’s the point of even investigating one such matter?

However, this event was new to him. Hence, he couldn’t bring himself to reject the offer either.