My system allows me to copy talents

Chapter 649: Quarter Finals



It was a warm Sunday evening, and the city streets were bustling with people.

The lively hum of conversations reverberated through the air, blending with bursts of laughter and the occasional chant.

On the horizon, the sun dipped lower, painting the sky in a palette of warm amber and soft lavender hues. Its fading glow bathed the cityscape in a surreal light, while the towering buildings stretched their elongated shadows across the cobblestone streets.

Among the crowd, a group of rowdy supporters belted out a familiar chant:

"It's coming home, it's coming home..."

Their voices cut through the cacophony, brimming with unyielding spirit. Even among the bustling crowd, they stood out. Their jubilant chant was drawing the attention of the passersby.

Inside the stadium, the energy was palpable. Rows of seats that had been empty hours before were steadily filling with fans waving flags and wearing painted faces.

The scent of hot dogs and freshly popped popcorn intermingled with the sweat and excitement of the growing crowd. Floodlights illuminated the massive arena, casting the pitch in a brilliant glow that seemed to pulse with anticipation.

In the locker room, however, a stark contrast unfolded.

Hiro sat with his eyes closed, breathing steady, despite the deafening silence falling around him.

Minutes earlier, the room had been a hive of chatter and activity, but as the match drew closer, every voice seemed to have been swallowed by the tension.

The air was thick, the weight of expectation bearing down on the players.

Hiro finally opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping across the room. The sight of his teammates, usually so boisterous, now unnerved him. Even the veterans of the squad sat in contemplative quiet, their furrowed brows and clenched jaws betraying the pressure they felt.

Hiro's heartbeat quickened, not from fear but from an acute awareness of the moment. This wasn't just a game but a defining chapter in their lives.

As the silence lingered, a faint, determined smirk crept onto his face.

For him, the tension wasn't suffocating-it was fuel.

Feeling his pounding heart, he thought, 'What is this feeling I'm feeling?'

The tingling sensation that coursed through his veins, Hiro couldn't be sure about it. It was a familiar yet strange feeling.

'Am I excited?' Hiro stared at his trembling hand.

To be able to reach here was already a historic achievement. But Hiro wasn't done yet.

While he was contemplating the unusual sensation he felt, Nanami entered the locker room. Upon entering he swept his gaze.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Indifferent to the unnerving silence around him, he halted in the middle.

"We've come far, haven't we?" He said, his deep voice breaking the silence.

Though they hadn't reached the final, he wasn't wrong. Compared to their past achievements, they had indeed come far.

Before speaking further, he awaited the response of the players. However, they didn't respond at all and the silence persisted.

He could tell that they were nervous about the match. Even if they didn't speak about it, he could see right through them.

"Be proud of yourself that you've made it this far. But our journey hasn't ended yet, has it?" Nanami asked. However, their reaction didn't impress him.

Some of them shook their head while some remained indifferent to it.

He could tell that they were burdened by the expectations. Even more, now that they had made it this far.

With every achievement, the weight of expectation on them was growing.

Now, with even more eyes focused on them, they couldn't afford to fall here. Previously, though they were under pressure, it wasn't this huge.

They wanted to meet their expectations too. However, it wasn't as easy, and they were fully aware of it.

Sure, he could tell that they were burdened. But if they entered the pitch feeling like this, it wouldn't end well for them. This much, he could tell.

And, he wanted to prevent that from happening.

"Listen here, you all. What did I say before?" Nanami raised his voice, his brows furrowed.

Though they were burdened by the match, they answered nonetheless upon hearing him yell. They had heard him earlier. Hence, they repeated what he had said earlier.

However, only one among them answered differently.

"As much as preparation and performance determines the fate of a game, so does your attitude towards it."

Nanami was delighted to hear those words.

"Exactly, Hiro," Nanami exclaimed in joy, his eyes darting to Hiro.

Immediately, others turned to look at him too. Indeed, the coach had emphasized something like that. But they weren't attentive enough to answer that he was asking that.

Hence, none could answer properly.

"And looking at your attitude right now, I can tell that you are going to fail. I don't doubt your preparation. After all, I've seen you prepare and you all have done well. But the attitude that you're harboring right now. Seeing it, I can tell that you'll fail," Nanami scoffed, he was

blunt.

He outrightly criticized them in the open.

However, the players were aware of his personality. Though some of them didn't like it, they couldn't bring themselves to speak against it.

Gritting their teeth, they endured the humiliation.

But rather than hearing words of pleasantries, it was a good change.

"So, once again, I'd like to ask about your resolve. Are you willing to put everything on the line to win?" Nanami's sharp gaze penetrated through them, sending shivers.

Hearing him, they couldn't help but ask themselves.

Were they prepared to put everything on the line to win?

Though the others hesitated to ask, Hiro was quick to answer, "Yes, sir. I'm willing to put everything on the line to fulfill that dream of lifting the cup."

Upon hearing him yell, the others stared at him weirdly. But this didn't embarrass him. After

all, it was the truth.

To lift the World Cup, he was prepared to do anything.

Hearing the youngest in the team speaking those bold words with conviction, many of them

felt ashamed of themselves.

If someone so young was so enthusiastic then why were they hesitating?

Soon, the entire room was bustling with their resolve.