chapter five
care.
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𝕾𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 was all that was on his mind at the moment.

it was late night, and he was still up, outside to hit shots that he knew was going to be pointless without skillfull players.

rin was the best in his region. no one else was simply better him.

in the same field where he felt heavy emotions towards soccer, he kept striking into the goal. he kept perfecting his skill, as if it wasn't sharp and perfect enough already.

rin had to get better. more and more. he couldn't care if he broke his legs or tire himself out for the rest of the week. he needed to be the best in order to defeat a certain someone.

it was cold, and the coldness was staring to get on rin. with his sweat, it was somewhat difficult to focus.

he never changed from the day he felt the most brutal betrayal; always practicing his shots to the death of him. he never felt as if he was enough to reach up to sae's standards. he had to continue.

but rin felt weaker and weaker as moments went by. tiredness was starting to sink into his mind down to his muscles. yet he refused to stop because of himself growing tired.

you happened to be taking a late night walk around the neighborhood, resonating the chilling aura of the night. into the darkness you explored, hearing the sounds of someone kicking a hard object not far away.

there was a field near up, and you were curious as to who was up this late at night to play soccer.

when you found out who the player was, you let out a sigh, your breath hitting the cold air.

why in the world was rin practicing football in the middle of the night?

you watched him in silence, slowly taking your time to analyse his shots, his breathing and his overall being. you knew he had been striking for a long time, not knowing how long exactly, you could tell he was tired to the point where he would fall to the ground at any moment.

deciding to head over, you stepped over the wire gates, your shoes crunching against the grass, which caused him to glanced at who it belonged to.

"it's late. why don't you stop?" you suggested.

"none of your business. get out, i don't want any distractions," his voice rough and panting in the reply, catching you off guard.

rin was confusing. one day he's nonchalant and calm, the other he's raging and rude. it didn't matter much to you, but it still somewhat sting you to watch him practice to death, knowing that it would add more to his anger.

"sure. just make sure to not practice any more later than twelve," you sat down on grass, leaning against the gate with a tiny smile. "i'm concerned."

he stopped hitting his shots and panted, even more confused when you sat down on the cold grass.

"i'm not even going to ask why you're on the ground."

"good, i'm keeping watch of you," you chuckled and get comfortable. there was around twenty minutes before twelve.

so for the rest of the time, you sat and watched him striked his goals into the net. neither of you spoke, just striking and watching in a comfortable silence.

a few minutes before twelve hits, he stopped practicing and started collecting all the balls that were around the small field, walking up to you where his belongings were left at.

"there. before twelve," he dumped the soccer balls into the net bag, offering a hand for you to stand up, to which you accepted. "you should be sleeping like the good girl you are."

a smile surfaced in your lips, actually proud of him for taking your words in. "i don't sleep early. it's sportsmen like you who needs early sleep."

"tch, whatever," he took his belongings and walked out the field's gate, not before stopping to look behind. "you coming or not?"

"yes yes," you followed after him, rubbing your hands from the cold.

rin knew he was tired, yet he still walked you home, giving you an unnecessary lecture of the dangers in the dark when you replied that he was the only danger in the dark.

you offered to let him stay a night in your house, and he declined, saying his house was just a few minutes away from yours.

now he walked home alone, rethinking about all his shots. and your concern for him suddenly clouded his mind, making him scoffed in the night.

when had there ever been someone who genuinely cares about him?

it felt nice, and he was glad that you stayed and accompanied him until midnight, your presence calming him down.