Miami, Florida
The street was bustling with people. Hordes of people clad in blue, white, and red patterned apparel were steadily advancing. So held banners, so had their face painted, and so adorned flags.
They had all sorts of appearances, but one trait common in them was their expression: an expression full of excitent and anticipation.
Suddenly, they erupted in excitent as they noticed a bus approaching from the distance. It was Team Japan's bus.
Today, they were pitted against Croatia in the knockouts who had placed second in their group.
Inside the bus, Hiro was seated on the fourth-row seat. Until a mont ago, he had been contemplating about the match, recalling their preparation.
'Previously, we failed to advance from here. But this ti, it'll be different.' Hiro thought, recalling their previous defeat.
In the previous World Cup, they lost at this stage to Croatia. Coincidentally, they had been pitted against the team they had lost against.
So, it was an opportunity to salvage their lost reputation.
Though Hiro hadn't taken part in that ga, Hiro shared the sa sentint as others who had taken part in it.
After overcoming the likes of Germany and Spain, it was a painful outco to accept. Even now the wound they got from that match was still bulging like a freshly cut wound.
While thinking about it, Hiro couldn't help but look at the participating players.
Though they appeared calm outside, Hiro could tell they were thinking about the match. He could still rember the expression they made upon finding their next opponent.
After andering a few corners, the bus entered the venue. Though their advance was slowed down by the excited fans outside, they made it to the parking lot.
Shoving the curtain away, Hiro peeked outside the window.
He found himself in a basent-like place. Many people gathered to welco them. "Hardrock Stadium, we have arrived," Hiro mumbled, his eyes gleaming with conviction.
Hiro had long heard of its reputation. So, he had been eager to visit here. But now that he was finally here, he couldn't help but feel excited.
Beaming with excitent, Hiro exited the bus.
Imdiately, they were assaulted by the cheers of the awaiting fans. Hiro could palpably feel their excitent. But he couldn't afford to be bothered by it.
While the cheers kept getting louder, Hiro and the team entered the venue, ignoring their cheers. Today, they had to remain focused.
Their attitude might disappoint their fans but they couldn't afford to get swayed by it.
While walking to the locker room, Hiro noticed his reputation had soared. There were many fans in the parking lot, chanting his na. Even though that spot was only reserved for the premium fans, there were many of them.
Lately, he had been focused on the tournant. Due to this, he hadn't been paying much attention to other things.
But now, upon encountering the crowd of fans chanting his na, Hiro couldn't help but ponder about his popularity.
'Am I getting even more popular?'
He wanted to find out if he had grown more popular. But he refrained from doing so. Right now, he wanted to focus solely on the match ahead.
So, until the end of the tournant, he wouldn't think about things outside the matches. After a while, they entered the locker room and began to get dressed. For so reason, the other players weren't as chatty as before.
However, Hiro wasn't bothered by it. Rather he found the silence even more calming. However, the sa couldn't be said about others. They looked anxious as if sothing was bugging them.
Soon after they got dressed, Nanami entered the room. He walked to the center of the room, the gazes of the players following him.
Then he stopped. "I'm sure, I don't need to emphasize the importance of this match again. After all, we've already talked a lot about it. So of you don't have the fondest of mories against them. But even so, leave your emotions right here. Any who acts impulsively on the field, I won't tolerate it."
Nanami was well aware of their feeling towards their opponent. Hence, he feared that they would act on impulse.
The mont he finished, so of the player's expressions turned bitter. They could tell that he was referring to them.
"Do you get it?" Nanami asked, his voice firm.
The crowd murmured, their voices rather reluctant, "Yes, sir."
After that, they revised their plans for the match. While Nanami explained their tactics, the rest ardently heard him without losing focus.
Once the tactical eting ended, they gathered around. Each one more enthusiastic than before they roared enthusiastically and left the locker room.
Soon after they were t with their opponent for the match in the tunnel.
Upon eting, so exchanged words of pleasantries, so remained quiet. Hiro fell on the latter. Until now, he had rarely talked with anyone and would go unnoticed most of the ti.
But right now, it was different.
Though he hadn't taken the initiative to speak, he was at the center of attention. Well, given his recent performances, it was to be expected.
The opposing team was glaring at him as if he had triggered them.
Noticing the glares, Hiro couldn't help but sigh, 'What did I do to deserve this?'
From their gaze alone, Hiro assud it wouldn't be an easy match, at least for him. Perhaps,
he might get surrounded.
Even so, he wasn't troubled. Rather he felt even more thrilled. He could feel his blood stifling. It was as if electricity was coursing through his veins.
It might be because he was excited to experint with "Phantom Steps".
Though the air inside the tunnel was dense, Hiro felt even more excited than before. Perhaps, their sharp glares evoked a sense of importance in him.
While standing still, Hiro cast a gaze at the opposing side. Imdiately, he noticed a few players he had to watch out against.
Having analyzed them, he didn't feel threatened at all. But he still couldn't afford to be careless. After all, he was up against the team that had managed to get to the finals. However, after Modric retired, they had to undergo so reformation. So, Hiro wasn't as bothered.
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