The Rise of the Iron Wall!-Chapter 26: She is A... Spy?!

"Tch... The game should’ve been running for about 12 minutes, right?" Ojiro clicked his tongue in annoyance, starting to get anxious as he kept his eyes on the watch on his wrist. "What the hell does Junya do there?! Flirting with the cashier?!" He scowled. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Oh, just be patient a little bit, I am sure he will bring us something good," Miyashi said casually, a pocky snack stuck on his mouth as if it were a cigarette. "Also, it is okay to be late. With our team’s style, I am sure that nothing will happen this quickly." He added.

Ojiro sighed, knowing full well that his friend was right. "I am just annoyed at how he always makes us wait like this! I mean, if he really wants to have a snack, why wouldn’t he buy it beforehand?!" He scowled, really wanting to choke his friend to death.

It was a warm morning today, and the three retired players of the football team gathered together as they wanted to support their kouhai in the first round of the tournament. However, they were delayed a little bit in the small Konbini, a little bit far from the school, as Junya, the bun-haired boy, suddenly wanted to buy something to fill his stomach.

Fortunately, they didn’t wait for too long, as the boy finally came out of the store with a bag full of snacks. Also, it seemed that he really knew well enough that his friend would complain, so Junya threw something at them quickly to shut them up.

"Here, Onigiri. No need to say thank you." He grinned while also enjoying the banana milk he brought for himself.

Ojiro had the corner of his lips twitching madly, but since Miyashi himself didn’t complain and just enjoyed the snack, he couldn’t do anything but follow along, glaring at his friend sourly. After walking for five more minutes, they finally arrived at the school, and the atmosphere there was bustling with shouts and screams that could be heard echoing throughout the pitch.

"Hey, Hori! Don’t go too far! Protect your area!"

"Takaaki, help him more! Don’t just strolling around lazily like that!"

"Chibi, you bastard! Shout it louder, for God’s sake! We cannot read your fucking mind!"

"Hey, clear the ball! Clear the ball!"

BAM!

"Oh, yeah! Nice clearance, Jun!"

The scene really boiled their blood, as it had been a long time since they were playing in a competitive match like this. Unfortunately, they still had the university exam, so no one dared to neglect their studies for football. Still, watching the game really made their bodies itch, and the only thing they wanted right now was to change into their jersey and barge onto the pitch.

However, as they were getting closer to the pitch, a woman was already there, with an old-fashioned recorder in her hand. The three boys exchanged glances with each other, narrowing their eyes at the woman suspiciously.

"Who the hell is she?" Ojiro growled dangerously, ready to make a scene if necessary.

"Do you think she is a scout being sent by the other team?" Miyashi asked.

"Makes sense, considering we are the runner-up of the last winter tournament." Junya nodded solemnly. "Also, really? A recorder? What year is it, 2000?" He asked incredulously.

"It is clear, though, that she is not a fan," Miyashi said.

For that, the other two also agreed. After all, they were veterans of the team, and they had never seen the woman coming to their games before. Also, this was still the first round of the tournament, and except for a big team like Sappotani, no game would be big enough to attract fans to come.

"So, the biggest probability is that she is a spy?" Ojiro narrowed his eyes dangerously. Then, in the spur of the moment, he stepped forward, letting his intrusive thought take over his body. "Obaasan, I am sorry, but you cannot record the game here." He was polite, yet there was an edge to his tone, as if the boy was ready to pounce on her if she didn’t agree.

The woman put down her recorder for a moment, turning around at him. That was when the three retired players took notice of her face, and they were so stunned at the heavenly beauty that descended in front of them.

She wore a thick scarf that covered half of her face because of the cold, but her beauty still showed through. She had long, dark hair flowing down her shoulders. Even though she had a small wrinkle on her forehead, her sharp gaze still mesmerized the boys, enough to make them forget what they wanted to do.

"Is there anything I can help with, boys?" She asked, smiling gently. This was enough to make the three teenagers fall in love deeper, probably starting to think of what their ’future’ children’s name was.

Ojiro had his jaw dropped, and he even muttered, "Guys... Maybe, first love does exist..."

"Urgh... Ah! W—We are just wondering," Junya cursed inwardly as he stuttered a little. He also glared at Ojiro, who crashed out instantly, as the responsibility for this conversation suddenly fell on his plate. "Why do you record the game? It is not often that we see someone doing that nowadays." The boy was so proud of himself for being able to finish his question coherently.

"Oh, this?" She raised the recorder that was questioned by the boys, probably half her age, her smile shining brightly. "I just want to record my son’s first-ever game!" She chirped happily.

"...Your son?"

"Yup! You see that boy?" She pointed at the infuriating goalkeeper whom those three were very familiar with. "This is Ryukkun’s first football match, and I don’t want to miss it."

Silence fell among them, as the information was too much for anyone there to proceed. However, after a while, everything finally registered in their brain, and their first reaction was...

"WHAT?! YOU ARE THAT BASTARD’S MOTHER?!"

-0-

The commotion there even attracted the players’ attention, and some couldn’t help but turn their heads to look at what happened. Higo was also the one who did that, and the corner of his lips twitched instantly when he saw a familiar person there.

’Mom? What the hell?! She really comes?!’

He knew that she had been saying this for a while, but the boy had never thought that his mother would be serious about coming. After all, she was always busy with her work, and he would be lucky to have her on the weekend.

There was a hint of embarrassment here, as he felt like a child right now. However, the most dominant feeling inside him right now was determination, as her presence really burned the spirit inside his heart.

’With her being here, I cannot show something embarrassing, right?’ His eyes turned to the ball that the opponent’s players grabbed, ready to take the corner kick. ’The best way to show off here is to win the game! Yeah, watch it, Mom! You are not going to be disappointed here!’