Though they had won their first match, they weren't at the top of their group. That spot belonged to Portugal, which won its first ga with Egypt 3-1.
Joao Felix scored a brace in that match while Bruno slotted a penalty. On the other hand, Mohammad Salah scored the consolation goal for Egypt.
The other group matches were equally intense.
In their second match with Egypt, they again won by defeating Egypt by a score of 2-1. During that match, Hiro scored a goal and provided an assist.
anwhile, Yamada failed to contribute.
However, Portugal drew their match with Colombia.
After an exhausting workout session, Hiro sat staring at his phone. He was drenched in sweat, his breathing ragged, and his entire body slling sweaty.
"You still have the energy to look at your phone?" Naoto said panting heavily.
At the mont, they were in the gym.
Engrossed in the phone, Hiro failed to hear him. Rather he started grinning while staring at the screen.
Noticing the grin on his face, Naoto couldn't help but feel curious. Just what was making him grin like that? Did he get a girlfriend?
He couldn't help but ponder. After all, such symptoms are common in people in love.
Driven by curiosity, Naoto leaned over to him and grabbed the phone away from Hiro, "Let see what's making you smile like that."
Hiro felt startled. But when he noticed Naoto, he didn't react. With a solemn expression, he said, "If you wanted, you could have asked."
There wasn't any retaliation in his voice. It was almost as if he didn't even care.
Imdiately after Naoto saw the content on the screen, he frowned, "Ah. You were looking at the goal-scoring chart?"
Hiro nodded.
In the chart, Hiro was ranked among the top three. Seventeen years of age and already in the World Cup top scorer chart, it was a feat worthy of admiration.
So, Naoto found nothing unusual about him grinning at the chart.
If it were him, he would have been feeling elated as well.
"Then can I have my phone back?" Hiro asked.
If he had found his answers, he should return it now. Though he might have been indifferent about the recent article praising him, Hiro liked the attention a little.
Even so, he wouldn't show it in public.
Naoto was already aware of it. Since they had been living together for quite a long ti, he knew Hiro had a sowhat strange personality.
The Hiro public knew about and the Hiro, he knew about, they were like two different people. It was so astonishing to find those stark differences in an individual. However, by now, he was already used to it.
So, it didn't surprise him when he saw him grinning at the chart.
After that Hiro continued skimming through his phone like a kid watching his favorite shows. Noticing the excitent on Hiro's face, Naoto couldn't help but recall his usual indifferent expression.
'At tis, he does act like a child.' Naoto curled his lips slightly.
"What do you think about our upcoming match, Hiro?" Naoto suddenly popped a question.
The upcoming match was against Portugal, one of the most difficult teams they'd be facing in the tournant. They had stacked depth and nurous world-class players.
Especially, Bruno was exceptionally well in the midfield.
So, everyone was expecting it to be a difficult match for Japan. However, given their recent performance in the group stage, they weren't treated as underdogs like before.
Now, they were regarded as one of the favorites.
"I an, we didn't get to et Ronaldo previously. But now, we can et him up close. So, aren't you excited about it?" Naoto added, his tone cracking with excitent at certain intervals.
It was clear just from the way he described that he was eagerly looking forward to the match. Well, he was one of those Ronaldo admirer. So, Naoto acting that way wasn't anything unusual.
How would you react if you were told that you'd be eting your idol?
"Aren't you way too excited about it?" Hiro gave him a side-eye. "After all, they are our opponents."
Imdiately, Naoto composed himself. Hiro was right. He shouldn't act like that right now. But he wasn't entirely convinced.
"But I heard that you grew up admiring him," Naoto mumbled.
Hiro hadn't spoken about it before. So, how did he know? Sure, he had ntioned that Hiro respected him. But he hadn't ntioned anything about being an admirer.
He was taken by surprise. However, he didn't lose his cool.
"Well, I like him as a player," Hiro responded with a solemn expression.
Hiro's lukewarm reaction, however, failed to change Naoto's mind. "Don't hide it. Your mom told that you grew up idolizing ssi and Ronaldo. She even said that you had their poster plastered all over the walls."
'Oh! So, Mom told him. That makes sense.'
Honestly, Hiro wasn't much surprised. So, calmly took the response.
"Indeed, I had their poster plastered all over the walls. But along with them, I had a few other posters plastered as well." Hiro calmly accepted.
Naoto, however, was a little disappointed. "So, aren't you excited about eting the person from the poster?"
"Well, if it had been from then, I would say yes. But right now, we both are opponents. So, I should focus on winning."
"I get it that they are our opponent. But isn't he soone you idolize? So, shouldn't you be feeling a little excited?" Naoto was perplexed by Hiro's reaction.
How could he be so calm?
Even though what he said made sense. Yet still, he didn't have to be so harsh on himself. After
all, he was still a seventeen-year-old teenager.
Then again, sothing struck him. It was like sothing he had been forgetting for a while. Hiro wasn't like other kids. He was different than the rest.
So, it was completely natural for him to remain focused at this mont.
Upon recalling, Naoto heaved a sigh and smiled lightly, "It's so like you."
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