IR Day 17 - Time to play

The game starts off rocky. It’s weird for you and for Pink Team, but as they take an early through a sneaky pass to Hana, you realize that this careful way that you’re playing isn’t going to fly. Yellow Team is trying so hard, and they’re scrappy. Especially Cheryl. If there was one person you could poach from this team for your own, it’s her.

But they aren’t soccer experts. The trouble with Hana and Aki is that they are just so good. Aki’s not the fastest or fittest, and she only has one trick, but it’s a good trick. And Hana, despite being a childish little gremlin, has a preternatural blend of athletic ability and game sense that even you envy sometimes.

Yellow Team is tougher, but this is a soccer game, not a brawl.

But you have to focus. You can’t worry about the game; you have to worry about yourself, but that’s hard to do. Playing the midfield means running flat out all the time. It’s not easy.

You see your chance. Karin has the ball and everyone else is out of position. You break ranks and cut up the right side. Karin can’t miss you, and even if she doesn’t want to do it, she has ****. She’s the only one on the team strong enough to make it work, but she does. For one second, as she blasts you a risky pass from halfway across the field, you have some respect for her. If things were different, you might find her combination of beauty, raw talent and athleticism, and insecurity endearing.

But you have a different blonde on your mind. You catch the ball with your chest and launch yourself airborne for the same Pele-mimicking kick that got you invited to this camp in the first place. It’s impossible to aim, but Viti’s just not ready. She’s there, but the ball bounces off her hand and in as you crash to the ground.

You don’t look at Karin during the deafening cheering, music, and chatter from Moxxi and Lulu as your teammates pull you to your feet. That goal wasn’t a game-winner by any means; it’s tied now, but it was sick. Everyone knows it. FUTA would be crazy not to give you MVP.

But it’s not even the half. Karin knows what you’re up to now. You were in the open when you received that pass; you could’ve played that less riskily. Zofia’s onto you as well, but she just watches, arms folded. Could it be that she wants you to pull this off? It’s not out of the question.