The Fourth Period Is Modern Chinese (Continued)

"Huh, what's that⁉ Whoa—though I have no idea who they are, all their names sound really strong. Getting hit by them would probably hurt."

"Y-Yeah... that's right."

Hayato decided there was no point in continuing to explain it to Tobe, forced a smile, and ended the topic.

Apparently, philosophy was not what Tobe wanted to talk about either.

"Putting aside that guy called Degger, Hayato, are you okay? You've had this gloomy look on your face the whole time, so I was wondering if something happened."

"Oh, yeah... it's nothing."

Tobe was right. Hayato had not been able to lift his spirits.

That was why he had borrowed a philosophy book to read.

And the reason for his gloom...

"Could it be that? Yesterday's practice match? Are you still hung up on it? Yeah, losing sucked, but it couldn't be helped. They were one of the top four teams in the prefecture, and the number six you faced was their captain. Apparently, he used to be with a J.League Youth Team too."

"Yeah, I heard. Seems like that's true..."

"What can you do, then? Try not to dwell on it."

The practice match against Soubu Chuo Industrial High School had been held last Sunday.

The result had been 3–0.

Hayato, their ace, had been shut down by the opposing captain—Takada, a deep-lying playmaker—and had not managed a single shot.

They had been thoroughly defeated, both on the scoreboard and on the field.

His teammates had been discouraged and bitterly frustrated.

Still, giving it their all and losing was nothing unusual.

Of course, it was not Hayato's first time tasting defeat.

It stung, but it was an ordinary sight on a soccer field...

Yet Hayato was unusually still wearing a troubled expression.

"There's another practice match against Ichikawa Minami next week,