> "Note: The protagonist's name has been changed from Sebuka to Tesuka for stylistic reasons. Thank you for your understanding!"
Once inside the classroom, Tesuka quietly sat down, holding "Ball" in his arms — a ball only he could see. No one else could perceive it.
He stared at the lesson, clearly bored, until the teacher called on him loudly to come complete a math fraction on the board. Tesuka nodded and stood up.
In his mind:
"Even if I was bad in school, especially at math in my past life, this tiny fraction is nothing. I've dealt with much worse!"
As he picked up the chalk and solved the exercise, the teacher widened his eyes in disbelief, thinking:
"What kind of world are we in where Tesuka can solve this? He just answered problems I was about to start teaching!"
It genuinely surprised the teacher. It wasn't that he didn't want Tesuka to succeed, but he had hoped the boy would fail — to teach him a lesson, to shake him out of his laziness. But now… he was seeing him in a different light.
Still, that wasn't what really caught everyone's attention. Tesuka was still holding Ball in his arms, and since no one could see it, his pose looked strange to the others — like he was cradling empty air.
The teacher asked,
— "Why are your arms like that? Are you hurt or something?"
At that moment, Ball spoke in his mind,
— "You can let me go if you want, I can float on my own, you know," with a teasing tone.
Tesuka, internally:
— "What? Why didn't you tell me that before? I've been—"
Ball replied:
— "Don't act nostalgic. You never asked."
Tesuka:
— "Why did I... why did I choose this jerk?"
Ball:
— "I can hear you, you know."
Tesuka:
— "What?!"
Then Ball added:
— "Anyway, a quest just got triggered, and I forgot to show it to you... or even display your ultimate skill in your stat hologram."
Tesuka:
— "Show me."
---
> !!!< Shoot! >
#Ball
Name: Tesuka
Path: Footballer
Age: 6 y
Position: None
Overall Attributed Stats: F
---
Stats:
Stamina (Rank F): 7/20
Speed (Rank F): 8/20
Control (Rank F-): 9/20
Vision (Rank F): 16/20
Dribble (Rank F): 9/20
Mental (Rank A+): 17/20
---
Ultimate Skill: Time Regress (Rank SS+)
---
Effect: You can regain time for future actions, but it can only be used twice in your entire life, and for a limited duration of 1 month to 2 years.
Condition: Must have an overall stat rank of at least S+ to activate.
Quest: Take a more active role and score 2 goals and deliver 2 assists in any match.
---
Tesuka was stunned, thinking:
"Every time I see this, I'm always shocked… And this quest? It says I'll be rewarded with a position… Does that mean it'll determine my future football career forever?"
Just then, Ball answered telepathically:
— "Not exactly. You'll be able to unlock other positions too, but that'll depend on you."
Tesuka replied mentally:
"Then… what's the point of this reward?"
Ball:
— "Why are you asking so many questions? You're killing the suspense."
Tesuka:
— "Weren't you the one who said I didn't know last time because I didn't ask?"
Ball gave a small sigh,
— "I don't need to justify myself. You're the one who needs to get moving."
Tesuka:
— "So where am I supposed to score and assist?"
Ball groaned:
— "Ugh… why are you such a downer? And what's with this host? Why did Master Black Star assign me to you?"
Tesuka:
— "Oh please, it's not like I ask that many questions."
Suddenly, the bell rang loudly in the courtyard, breaking the silence in the classroom.
— "Recess!!" a student shouted, already halfway out of their chair before the teacher could say a word. The room emptied in seconds.
> It was recess — the kind of rush you see only in childhood memories.
Tesuka left the room too.
Barely outside, a popular student called out to him:
— "We're setting up a match! First and second years vs third years — wanna join?"
Tesuka blinked.
— "Ah! So that's what Ball meant…"
He answered:
— "Yeah, I'm in. Where are we playing?"
— "Where we always do. The schoolyard!"
— "Alright, I'll join you in a sec."
— "Cool. What's your name?"
— "Abdoul."
— "Got it, thanks."
---
As Tesuka made his way to the playground, the Jumuia schoolyard buzzed with a unique energy.
That day, the students had formed a circle around the dirt field, with goalposts marked by stacked stones.
Tesuka stood by, waiting for kickoff — first and second years against the mighty third years.
---
Tesuka, a second-year, carefully tied his shoelaces. Beside him stood Abdoul, his classmate, smiling.
— "Ready to show them what you've got?" Abdoul asked.
Tesuka nodded with quiet determination.
---
‼️ Kick-off!
The whistle blew, and the game started with wild cheers from the kids.
Right after the match began, Tesuka intercepted a pass.
— "Why do I feel so heavy…?"
To which Ball replied…
---