The System Makes Me a Player - Chapter 32

As soon as the ball rolled, Kelvin’s team showed what they came for. Rafael had asked for intensity from the first second, and that’s exactly what the boys delivered. Kazana, in midfield, spun with agility, distributing passes with confidence. Dante and Felipe pressed high, forcing the opposing defenders to boot the ball away.

Kelvin, on the left, started deeper. He watched the movements, studied the opposing right-back — a strong kid, but slow. All he needed was a gap. A hesitation.

The ball reached his feet for the first time at the two-minute mark. A pass from Ian that broke two lines. Kelvin controlled it with his right foot and, without a second thought, burst forward. The fullback tried to keep up, but was two steps behind. Kelvin crossed low looking for Kazana, but the center-back cut it out at the last second.

“Nice!”, shouted Rafael from the sideline. “Keep it up!”

The opposing team tried to respond right after, with a long ball that was well intercepted by Márcio, the center-back, with a firm header. Rafael, the coach, was already watching closely, shouting adjustments constantly.

At five minutes, Kelvin received it again. Stationary. Face to face with the fullback. The crowd held its breath. He feinted toward the line but cut inside with a sharp dribble, then spun his body, slipping past another defender. He shot from outside the box — the ball grazed the crossbar.

“So close, Kelvin!”, shouted Dante.

The crowd reacted with cheers and applause. Some already knew who that number 11 was.

Takumi, from the stands, didn’t blink.

Kelvin felt the rhythm building. The ball seemed to look for him. At the nine-minute mark, he received again and accelerated. Dribbled one, two… and was brought down near the box. Foul.

Kazana stepped up to take it.

“You want it?”, he asked.

Kelvin took a deep breath, looked at the goal, then shook his head.

“You take it. Let’s get the first”

Kazana placed the ball, ran up… and curled it toward the right corner. The keeper parried it, and on the rebound, Felipe tapped it in!

“GOOOOAL!”

1–0.

The team ran to celebrate, and Kelvin smiled. It wasn’t his yet, but the game was opening up. And he knew — that would be the first of many.

The game resumed with the opposing team trying to slow the pace, passing at the back and sending the ball to the keeper, trying to reorganize their lines. But Ian, the number 10, didn’t let them. With tireless movement and sharp vision, he pressed high, closing gaps and forcing them to rush.

At the 12-minute mark, Ian intercepted a pass in midfield, controlled it first time, and before the marker could even react, played a diagonal pass — clean, precise — that found Kelvin sprinting down the left.

Kelvin controlled it with a flick and accelerated. The fullback tried to follow, but it was too late. With a sharp cut, Kelvin nutmegged the defender and ran alone to the edge of the box. The crowd went wild.

“Did you see that?!”, someone shouted from the stands.

Kelvin lifted his head and saw Felipe arriving, but he also spotted Kazana entering the box. He faked the pass, pulled the ball inside once more, and curled a shot.

The ball kissed the post.

A collective “ooooh!” echoed through the stadium.

Takumi, in the stands, kept his eyes locked. His face was expressionless, but inside, each of Kelvin’s plays felt like a punch to his pride.

And that’s when Guto appeared, running along the stands, still in an orange shirt, orange glasses, and all-black pants.

“It’s already started?!”, he asked, out of breath, to Takumi, who was seated in the row ahead.

“Yeah. And he’s right there”, Takumi replied, eyes still fixed on the field.

Guto looked just in time to see Kelvin diving to keep a ball from going out on the sideline. He got a touch before it crossed, keeping possession. The bench stood up and clapped.

“Interesting”, Guto murmured, sitting down quickly.

On the pitch, Ian dictated the rhythm masterfully. At 15, he dropped back to pick up the ball from Márcio, received it, turned, and drew two defenders. With a backheel, he passed to Dante, who returned it one-touch. Ian advanced with freedom and, before crossing midfield, launched it again to Kelvin.

Kelvin brought it down on his chest, let it bounce, and went straight into the 1v1. The fullback no longer dared to tackle. Kelvin stopped, looked him in the eyes, and smiled.

Then came the move: a quick elastico from left to right, followed by a body spin that left the defender on the ground. The crowd erupted as if it were a goal.

Kelvin entered the box, this time with intent. The keeper rushed out to close the angle, but Kelvin stayed cool. With a soft touch, he chipped the ball.

It floated slowly… and hit the net.

GOOOOOOOOOAL!

2–0.

Kelvin ran toward the bench, pointing at Rafael, who raised both fists like he’d just won a war. His teammates surrounded him. Felipe, Dante, Kazana, and Ian all shouted, laughed, and hit his shoulder with joy.

From Kelvin’s vision, the interface flashed:

[Mission – Regional Impression: 1/4 goals]

From high in the stands, Takumi uncrossed his arms for the first time. His expression hardened.

Guto noticed and commented:

“He’s not all that”

“Shut up”, Takumi replied.

Back on the field, Ian approached Kelvin.

“You’re on fire, huh?”, he said, giving his friend a light pat on the back.

“It’s your passes. You’re finding me too easily”

“Then let’s go. Game’s not over yet”

And they were right.

The opposing team looked dazed. Ian kept orchestrating plays, rotating the midfield with ease, positioning between lines and finding Kelvin whenever he could.

At the 22-minute mark, another move. Ian received with his back to goal, shielded the ball, turned quickly and left two markers behind. With a breathless sprint, he cut through the center and passed to Kelvin at the edge of the box.

This time, Kelvin didn’t dribble. He stopped, adjusted his body, and shot across goal with his right foot.

The keeper didn’t even move.

3–0.

The crowd went wild.

Kelvin looked at the stands and saw Takumi stand up. For a moment, he thought he was leaving. But no. Takumi just stepped down a few rows and leaned against the fence, closer to the field. His eyes were locked. There was no more neutrality. It was a challenge.

Kelvin looked away and walked back to midfield with a smile on his face.