Score 38:32. Last set. Only 2 minutes remaining.
Before the change of possession, the opposing school’s coach called a timeout. The Platts coach also gathered the offensive team students.
“As long as you don’t make the mistake of carelessly losing the ball, this will probably be the last change of possession in this practice game. We’ll win just by running down the clock, but… you know, right? Times like this are when we should test tactics and formations we haven’t tried because we were afraid of losing.”
“Yes!”
The young Platts football club coach said with a grin. The eleven boys sitting in a row on the bench burst into laughter and gave spirited answers.
The whistle blew signaling the end of the timeout. Henry also wet his throat once and stood up from the bench.
The elation from the fact that they were winning. The pleasant premonition from the reality that victory was right before their eyes.
Someone might call it just a practice game, but at least to Henry, it wasn’t “just” that.
Henry took a deep breath and put on his helmet. He went out onto the field where the warmth of the sunset had settled and took his position.
Once more—Tweet—! This time, the whistle signaling the start rang across the field.
The time that only had 2 minutes left began to flow. Before his eyes, Declan held the ball and took his stance.
Henry, standing alone with his back straight, looked around at his allies on the field. Those whose eyes met Henry’s nodded their heads.
A signal that they were ready.
Henry took a big breath to steady his breathing and exhaled. So that all allies on the field could hear, a loud voice echoed through the space.
“Black 7! Black 7! Set— hut!”
As soon as Henry’s words ended, Declan threw the ball.
Thud—!
The ball that came flying with a heavy sound landed precisely in Henry’s hands. It felt as if, rather than a pass, the ball had flown to where his hands were placed and settled there.
Henry’s face cracked into a smile.
He really didn’t want to admit it, but it was too perfect a snap not to admit.
He had an intense premonition that it would be difficult to feel the same sensation no matter what center he met.
As soon as the ball was delivered, the offensive and defensive players from both teams collided.
The opponent predicted a running tactic where the running back would charge out from behind—in other words, they had concentrated players in the center.
Henry attempted to deceive the enemy by pretending to pass to the running back charging out from behind.
For a moment, several of the opponent’s defenders who were fooled by the movement shifted to the right where the running back’s body burst out.
Just like that, for a very brief moment.
A very short time when the defensive formation collapsed and was about to reorganize.
Henry, holding the ball at high speed, ran and broke through the opponent to the left.
“Left side! Watch Lowell closely!”
The opposing linebacker shouted.
It was fairly quick judgment, but Henry had already advanced 12 yards.
The two safeties who were still remaining on the opponent’s field rushed at Henry.
Platts’ wide receiver ran as fast as Henry. Henry, who quickly caught sight of him, threw the ball. The receiver who caught it ran.
The safeties who had been heading toward Henry all at once ran toward the wide receiver holding the ball.
The remaining distance was only 5 yards.
Platts’ receiver holding the ball attempted a pass to Platts’ tight end David, who wasn’t being marked by any defender.
As the throwing motion came out, the eyes of the opposing defenders who were trying to surround him also chased the ball.
One safety failed to cut off the pass motion.
Confirming this, the one remaining safety and defenders blocked the space between David and the receiver.
Preparing to intercept the flying ball.
However, where the ball headed wasn’t toward David but toward Henry.
Henry jumped high and perfectly caught the ball the receiver threw.
Once more, Henry ran toward the end zone at high speed.
“Damn it!”
“Henry!”
Curses from the opposing team sensing defeat. Cheers from allies sensing victory.
One step until the end zone.
A smile formed on Henry’s lips.
“Watch out!”
At that moment—
Thud—simultaneously with Declan’s shout, Henry’s foot twisted and his body tilted forward.
“Ah!”
“Henry!”
The alarmed teammates’ shouts were heard.
Henry’s body, which fell as it was, rolled across the field.
A tingling pain was felt from his ankle, but a smile bloomed on Henry’s face.
Because the whistle blew simultaneously with the touchdown and the game ended.
42:32.
It was a complete victory.
No cheers burst out.
Because American football is fundamentally a sport involving physical contact, most players always accept a certain degree of minor injuries.
But this time was different.
It was a situation where the opposing player had deliberately tripped Henry to stop him.
From the stands, jeers were pouring toward the opposing player. The student who had tripped Henry had a flustered face.
It was a surprised face, as if his desire to block had taken precedence and he had tripped him without realizing it.
At the corner of Henry’s vision as he lay breathing heavily, a large hand appeared.
When he looked back, vivid olive-colored eyes could be seen. It was Declan.
“Grab on.”
After hesitating and agonizing for a while, Henry grabbed the hand extended before him.
“…You got here fast.”
At Henry’s muttering-like words, Declan smiled shallowly and put strength in his hand. Henry’s upper body was immediately lifted up.
“Except for you, I was at the very front.”
A beat later, Platts students and the coach ran to Henry. The opposing team’s coach also lightly hit the back of the student who had tripped Henry and approached.
“Henry, are you okay?”
The Platts coach, who approached pushing through the students, gently held Henry’s foot.
“I need to check the condition, so I’ll touch your ankle just a little. Tell me if it hurts.”
He held the sole of Henry’s shoe and stood the foot up with small force. Henry’s expression crumpled.
The coach, who had been checking Henry’s reaction, clicked his tongue and released the foot.
“Is Lowell badly hurt?”
The opposing coach asked with a worried expression.
“It’s not serious, it looks like a mild sprain.”
After hearing the explanation, he nodded and called the student who had tripped Henry.
“George! Come here. You need to apologize.”
When his name was called, the person who had been hovering around not knowing what to do approached.
“…I’m really sorry. I was in a hurry and my foot came out without me realizing.”
“I’m sorry, Lowell. I should have taught him better. This kid is a beginner who started American football after coming to high school. It seems his body still moves first.”
Henry opened his mouth toward the male student named George who was apologizing to him.
“Are you hurt?”
George made a surprised face for a moment, then soon nodded his head.
He had known for a long time that he was a beginner who had just started. You could tell just by watching his movements throughout the game.
More than anything, it was amusing that he was wide-eyed in bewilderment over just this much.
It felt like seeing himself when he first started American football.
“Then it’s fine.”
With a short answer, Henry put his hand on the ground to get up.
“Hey hey! Declan! Hold him down so he can’t get up!”
David, who saw him, shouted. Declan, who reached out his hand, pressed down on Henry’s shoulder.
When he looked at David with a bewildered face, he could see the coach giving him a thumbs up.
“What are you doing?”
Henry asked, unable to hide his absurdity, but what came back was the coach’s scolding.
“Don’t you know, being an athlete, that you need to avoid using a sprain for it to heal? Even if it’s a light injury, do you want to rest for ten days, two weeks when it would get better in a week if you rest?”
“Declan! Help Henry up and take him to the nurse’s office.”
David’s order fell. Without a moment’s hesitation, Declan lowered his stance. He draped Henry’s arm over his shoulder and stood up.
“I can go by myself…!”
“Say something that makes sense.”
Flustered, Henry struggled and tried to continue speaking, but David firmly cut him off.
No, then!
“Why…! I’ll go with Joseph then!”
Henry shouted urgently. Joseph, who had been standing with worried eyes, pointed at himself with his finger and asked.
“Me? Why me? If you lean on me, your feet will drag.”
Henry had forgotten in his desire to avoid Declan.
That his build was quite large even in the club.
That in this club, there were fewer than five people similar to or larger than himself.
“You heard?”
David asked Henry triumphantly.
“I’m going to ask Declan later if he took you safely to the nurse’s office, so don’t get any funny ideas. After getting treated, go straight to the dorm and rest.”
As if worried that Henry would shake off Declan and go off on his own, he even quickly added words toward the departing Henry.
In the end, Henry helplessly headed to the nurse’s office with Declan’s help.
