Nishii-san brushed her bangs, which were fluttering in the wind. "Children are like that, always full of surprises..."

The taxi driver pondered her words, gazing up at a flock of seagulls cawing in the sky. The sun began its descent toward the horizon, signaling the shift from day to afternoon. A ship was approaching the dock, poised to moor.

"Does Nishii-san have children?" the driver inquired.

Nishii-san nodded. "Yes, a son."

"Is he as full of surprises as my own?" he tried to joke.

Nishii-san chuckled, leading the way to a bench overlooking the sea. "You could say that."

The taxi driver acknowledged silently. So she's a mother, he mused.

"So, what happened to Takeru?" Nishii-san asked.

The taxi driver hesitated, unsure whether to proceed.

"If it's too difficult, Hirose-san, you don't have to continue," Nishii-san said, with a touch of concern. "But it would be a shame to leave the story hanging."

"You're right," the taxi driver agreed, settling onto the bench beside his passenger. "What happened next was even more surprising. It all started with an ice hockey match..."Nishii-san brushed her bangs, which were fluttering in the wind. "Children are like that, always full of surprises..."

The taxi driver pondered her words, gazing up at a flock of seagulls cawing in the sky. The sun began its descent toward the horizon, signaling the shift from day to afternoon. A ship was approaching the dock, poised to moor.

"Does Nishii-san have children?" the driver inquired.

Nishii-san nodded. "Yes, a son."

"Is he as full of surprises as my own?" he tried to joke.

Nishii-san chuckled, leading the way to a bench overlooking the sea. "You could say that."

The taxi driver acknowledged silently. So she's a mother, he mused.

"So, what happened to Takeru?" Nishii-san asked.

The taxi driver hesitated, unsure whether to proceed.

"If it's too difficult, Hirose-san, you don't have to continue," Nishii-san said, with a touch of concern. "But it would be a shame to leave the story hanging."

"You're right," the taxi driver agreed, settling onto the bench beside his passenger. "What happened next was even more surprising. It all started with an ice hockey match..."

...

"Where the hell is that kid?" He barked out the question with frustration.

"He must be in the dressing room with the other players," Keina replied calmly.

"I haven't seen him since earlier!" His hands clenched into fists with excitement. "If he dares to miss this match, he'll be sorry."

"He'll be here," said Keina confidently. "This is an important match for him."

He was banking on his wife being right about this. After Takeru got a beating for skipping out before, the boy had been hitting the training sessions more. Sure, he'd bail every now and then—Yamada would call the shop, and if Keina picked up, she'd try to cover for their son. But he'd always find out. It was easy, he would just check Takeru's ice skates. Blades cold and wet? Kid's been to practice. If Takeru tried to lie about it, well, that's when he'd get a taste of his father's way of teaching.

He had nearly given up on fostering Takeru's passion for hockey until about three years ago, when the Fujiwara family relocated to Misawa. The Fujiwara household was renowned – their residence boasted the grandeur of a temple – yet they remained humble.

Ryoji Fujiwara, the eldest son of the family, became Takeru's close friend. They went to the same public high school after graduating from junior high, even though, economically, Ryoji could have easily afforded a private education. Since meeting Ryoji, Takeru rarely spent time with girls. The boy found joy in hockey, thanks to Ryoji's influence, and they practiced together nearly every day.

Everyone recognized Ryoji as a talented forward player. He had witnessed the boy's skills firsthand during warm-up sessions. Ryoji reminded him of his own glory days on the rink as Tora Hirose the Tiger, and he was impressed by the boy's extensive knowledge of hockey. He often tested Ryoji's understanding of the sport whenever the kid visited. It was curious, considering Ryoji claimed to be the sole enthusiast of "masculine" sports like hockey in his family, as opposed to his parents preference for "delicate" pursuits such as porcelain. Ryoji had a younger brother, Seiji-kun, who was equally "unconventional". Whenever asked about his dreams, Seiji-kun expressed a desire to become a private detective.

Despite the idiosyncrasies of the Fujiwara family, what mattered most was Ryoji's ability to keep Takeru engaged on the rink.

And now, where is that damn kid?

The spectator stands were already packed, all eyes fixed on the ice, eagerly awaiting the players' appearance. The large digital clock in the center of the stands counted down, announcing that the match would commence in three minutes.

Beside him, Keina was fervently praying. He was too nervous to join in; however, the gods knew his greatest wish all too well – unchanged since Takeru's birth. He simply wanted Takeru to break into the league and become a professional ice hockey player. Last semester, Takeru had failed the selection due to an injured heel, but this time, Tora had ensured his son was in peak condition. Just two days prior, he had meticulously examined Takeru, stripping him down to check for any hidden bruises, injuries, or excuses that could hinder his performance. Takeru was in excellent shape; there was no reason for them to lose today.

"GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME!"

A booming voice reverberated through the loudspeakers, filling the rink with energy. He recognized the commentator instantly: Adachi Mitsuru, his senior in the league who had unfortunately retired after breaking his elbow four times.

"Today, we witness a clash between the Misawa High School and the Hachinohe High School, vying for the championship title in the Aomori prefectural league! But before we dive into the action, I'd like to extend a warm welcome to Yokomizu Takahasi-sama and two representatives from the Tohoku Free Blades junior league, who have graciously joined us for today's match!"

Applause filled the air as Adachi bowed deeply to the three men clad in formal suits standing across from him. In return, the trio reciprocated the gesture.

"Yokomizu and his team will be handpicking talent right here on the spot," he informed Keina. "He's a protégé of Kusanagi-san, my former coach. Leading the junior league selection team for ten years now, Yokomizu has an uncanny knack for spotting potential."

Keina's prayers grew louder and more fervent. "May the best players earn spots in the league," she muttered.

"What kind of prayer is that? You should be praying, 'may Takeru be accepted into the league!' Are you not his mother?" he chided.

Ignoring the remark, Keina remained immersed in her prayers.

"And here they are, our players today!"

The audience cheered enthusiastically.

"Taking the lead is Misawa High's team: the White Fangs!"

Applause echoed throughout the arena as fifteen players in white uniforms glided onto the ice from the rink's edge, skillfully weaving their way across. The chant of "Wolf! Wolf!" resounded through the building, shaking its very foundation. Soon, the majority of the players returned to the sidelines, leaving only six on the ice. He squinted to get a clearer view: one goaltender, two defensemen, and three forwards.

"The White Fangs players are: Kaede Endo in goal; Arata Kitamura and Daiki Machida on defense; Irie Tachibana on right wing. And Takeru Hirose on left wing."

"THAT'S MY SON!" Pride surged through him like a volcanic eruption. "LOOK! THAT'S MY SON! HE'S THE LEFT WINGER!"

Keina also rose from her seat, stunned by the lineup. "But... why—"

Takeru had mentioned he might only play one round, likely as defense. He had almost stormed over to Yamada's house to confront his friend. But it seemed Takeru had intentionally misled them to surprise both him and Keina.

"And Ryoji Fujiwara – center. Coach: Genkei Yamada!"

"WOLF! WOLF! WOLF!"

The deafening cheers from the audience threatened to bring down the rink's ceiling. The coach had made the right call – he was confident in the White Fangs' aggressive attacking skill, especially with the talented forwards leading the charge. Tachibana's father had been his junior – both father and son were known for their fiery passion. Plus, Takeru and Ryoji had undeniable chemistry on the ice.

"I didn't see Ryoji-kun's family," remarked Keina. "Aren't they coming?"

"They're over there. Seiji-kun and... that girl. What's her name?"

"She's Jin-san," replied Keina. "I forget her first name. Takeru mentioned it to me once. She's the daughter of Mr. Fujiwara's business partner. I met her once when I delivered the new protection pads Ryoji-kun ordered to his house."

From Seiji-kun's enthusiastic behavior, he was sure the boy also interested in hockey. But Jin-san remained silent, staring blankly at the rink as if enchanted. "I knew Ryoji's parents wouldn't come. They probably don't understand much about hockey."

As the chants of the Ōkami supporters showed no signs of abating, Adachi's voice cut through the noise. "Next up, the challenger team from Hachinohe High School: Stormterror!"

Turning to the other side of the raucous arena, the Stormterror supporters, though fewer in number, flaunted oversized foam fingers with a haughty air.

"The Stormterror players are: Shoma Aoki in goal; Mamoru Kondo and Nishimura Saito on defense; Ren Toyama on right wing, Takuma Suzuki on left wing; and Junto Kobayashi at center. Coached by Benjiro Hasegawa!"

The Stormterror fans lacked a nickname for their team but remained steadfast in their support. The Ōkami supporters, unwilling to concede defeat, raised their voices even louder. Adachi's voice introducing the referee was drowned out by the fervent cries of the crowd.

As the tension mounted, the spectators stood straight and sang Kimigayo, the Japanese national anthem. The referee, carrying the puck, moved to the center of the rink. The long-awaited moment had arrived.

All eyes were fixed on the ice as the players assumed their positions, with the two centers poised in the face-off circle. With a flick of the wrist, the referee sent the puck soaring into the air. It hovered momentarily before descending to the ice, where the sticks of the two centers clashed in a blur of motion.

The battle had begun.

---

...

Stormterror proved to be a formidable opponent. Under Coach Hasegawa's guidance, they had mastered intricate attacking maneuvers. Their impenetrable defense resembled the Emperor's guards protecting their fortress. And the goaltender, a towering, solid wall-like figure, easily thwarting every attempt to breach Stormterror's goal.

For the first fifteen minutes, neither team managed to score. The puck zipped around the ice, initially under White Fang's control, but gradually slipping into Stormterror's grasp. The opponent employed cunning tactics, with their wingers' seamless coordination leaving the Wolf's defense scrambling. Kitamura faltered twice trying to keep up with the movements of Stormterror's center, Kobayashi.

It wasn't until the eighteenth minute that Ryoji seized the puck. Maneuvering with sharp zigzags, he penetrated deep into Stormterror's defense zone, outsmarting Toyama and Suzuki. Tachibana and Takeru trailed closely behind. With deft precision, Ryoji sent the puck towards the left corner of the goal – where Tachibana awaited. Despite the efforts of Stormterror's defensemen to intercept him, Tachibana deftly redirected the puck back towards Takeru, now positioned where Ryoji stood. With a swift stroke, Takeru sent the puck flying at a tight angle into Stormterror's goal – catching Aoki, their goaltender, off guard as his attention remained fixed on Ryoji.

"GOAL!"

The building erupted once more with the cheers of the Wolf's supporters. The first round had ended, and they had scored a point – with Takeru being the one to make the shot. Keina shouted until her voice grew hoarse, pointing proudly at their son. Seiji-kun jumped up and down in excitement. However, the girl named Jin next to him remained expressionless - observing her lack of reaction, he suspected that something might be amiss with her.

The second round began swiftly. White Fang's enthusiasm burned brighter with each passing moment, but Stormterror tightened their defenses. The opponent became more unified – their two defensemen often exchanged nods, signaling each other with codes. In the fifth minute, Ryoji managed to break through the blue line once again, but Stormterror defenseman Nishimura intercepted the puck and cleared it out of the scoring area. The Wolf players regrouped, focusing on defending their goal. In the seventh minute, Stormterror scored their first goal – a long-range shot from the edge of the blue line that seemed impossible, yet was executed perfectly by center Kobayashi. The attack igniting cheers from the stands opposite.

By the fifteenth minute, an off-side had occurred. Tachibana had advanced too quickly and failed to turn back, leading to Stormterror being awarded a penalty from the left point behind the Wolf's red line, within Machida's defense area. Kobayashi took control of the puck, with all White Fangs members on high alert. Endo, the goaltender, stared at the puck without blinking. As Kobayashi assumed his stance and made his move, it seemed as though another miracle goal was about to happen, but Endo managed to thwart his attempt to break the goal for the second time. Sensing an opportunity, Ryoji seized the moment. He dribbled the puck into the empty Stormterror area – with Takeru and Tachibana in tow. However, defenders from both sides darted towards Ryoji in wide arcs, ready to tackle him.

THUMP!

They crashed into Ryoji with force. The collision, hard and fast from both sides, made the Wolf's center stagger, but Ryoji managed to regain his balance.

Tachibana took charge, passing the puck to Takeru – but the boy seemed confused. He beckoned to Ryoji, asking if he was okay. Kitamura darted from behind to receive Tachibana's pass, but the puck was snatched by Kondo – Stormterror's winger. Ryoji stepped forward once more. With a graceful diving maneuver, he attempted to steal the puck from Kondo, but the Stormterror players launched an attack, not just their defense, but also Kobayashi, the center. The three of them moved simultaneously, blocking Ryoji, who was in control of the puck and ready to score.

CRASH!

Ryoji fell to his knees, and the referee raised his hand, signaling a penalty opportunity.

"Who did it?" Keina asked curiously. "I didn't notice, they were too fast..."

"Their center. Kobayashi. He elbowed Ryoji."

Instead of sending Toyama, the right winger, into the penalty box, the referee made the call on Stormterror, leaving them one player short and granting White Fangs a Power Play. With the advantage in hand, the Wolf surged forward. He noticed Ryoji's movements were a bit unsteady after the consecutive attacks moments before. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the kid sent the puck to Tachibana. The right winger nudged the puck towards Takeru, who was positioned on the right. Both Stormterror defenses were ready to block. Takeru attempted a shot, but it was too predictable. Aoki anticipated the move and managed to save the goal. Kobayashi seized the puck and swiftly rushed forward, bypassing Takeru and Tachibana in one fluid motion. Ryoji leaped into action, while Kitamura and Machida attempted to tackle Kobayashi, but the young man dodged their efforts with ease. He spun around, positioned his stick, and took the shot.

CRASH!

The sound of a shrill whistle pierced the air. Ryoji slipped, crashing onto the ice back first, while Kobayashi's stick grazed Ryoji's leg.

"TRIPPING!" he shouted. "That's a violation!"

The other White Fangs players gathered around Ryoji. The young man attempted to get up but could only roll in agony. Takeru knelt beside him, offering support. Ryoji gripped his calf, roaring in pain – it was the spot where Kobayashi brought up the club. The game came to a momentary halt as White Fangs was awarded another penalty.

Keina leaned forward, concern etched on his face. "Is Ryoji-kun okay?"

Two medical officers approached Ryoji, examining his knee. They exchanged a solemn look with the referee. Another whistle blew, signaling the end of the second half. Ryoji was carefully stretchered off the field. The current score remained at a tie. The Stormterror players appeared content, even jubilant.

"They know," he murmured.

Keina frowned. "What do you mean, Tora?"

"The opposing team knows that the Wolf's strength lies in Ryoji," he explained. "That's why they targeted him deliberately. They wanted to take him out of the game."