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“What position do you want to play, Kazemaru?”
Inside the clubroom, the atmosphere was too peaceful with the original soccer team members and the helpers introduced and talked among themselves that it was hard to believe that a decisive battle which decided whether or not the club would be disbanded was just around the corner. Sitting on the floor and pulling uniforms out of cardboard boxes which showed little signs of having been opened, Endou asked me. His voice was excited, and the eyes he turned on me seemed to scatter stars. I was unintentionally taken aback.
“…I wonder. I don't know that much about soccer to begin with…” I thought a bit, and finally decided. “You choose, Endou.”
“Hm… How about a forward, since it stands out?”
“I don’t think so.” I shaked my head. “I’m not decent enough to score after just starting from yesterday. If I have to say, I’m only confident in my speed, so I'd like a position where I can use that to my advantage.”
“Yeah! That's what I was thinking too!” Endou smiled with a toothy grin, and I laughed along with him.
Immediately, Endou's hands became hesitant. He kept turning over the uniforms as if he was searching for something, then rolled them up and pushed them aside as they weren’t what he was looking for. He repeated this several times, even though Kino would’ve been angry if she saw this, and his face lit up when he saw the back of one.
“Endou-kun, don't roll up the uniforms like that!” Right at that moment, Kino walked in, then frowned upon the mess Endou made.
“Woah, Kino!”
“That's for people coming to help, right? Don't make it wrinkle so soon!” She scolded. But then she also took a look at the back of the uniform unfolded in Endou's hand, and her face lit up as well. Not knowing the number yet, I didn’t know what to do but nodded my head. Kino and Endou looked at each other and laughed, and I felt like an outsider even though I was supposed to be a part of the group.
“That’s right, I think Kazemaru-kun will play an active role here.”
“Isn’t it?”
“What is it, really, don't get all excited on your own.”
I lined up next to Endou, and the number on displayed in front of me was “2”. I heard somewhere that the positions in soccer were also determined to some extent by the number on the back, but I didn't have that much detailed knowledge. Endou's number was “1”, so I guessed that was a defender.
“Number 2 is a wingback, you know.”
“Wingback…?”
“They mainly defend the sides, but sometimes they also overtake the midfielders and attack. As this position requires a lot of stamina, they need to be athletic. So with Kazemaru's speed and the stamina you’ve got from running, I think you’re the right person for the job.”
“I see…”
“And, there’s more…”
Endou smiled shyly. He removed one hand from the back of the number 2 uniform and pointed to his own back. There it was, the keeper's number. The number that protected the goal, number 1.
“Your number 2 is right next to my number 1.”
“…Huh?”
“Kazemaru just comes to help, but I've known you the longest, and the number 2 position is just available. I'm a keeper, so I can hardly stand next to anyone on the field, but I’ll protect your and everyone’s backs. That’s why I want you to support my back, too.”
Endou then raised his fist toward me. I wasn’t so new to this guy that I immediately knew what it meant when he made this gesture. We had always been together. We had always looked out for each other, even when we were in different clubs.
I smiled at him, and bumped my fist against his. “Understood. I’ll carry number 2, right next to yours!”
“Kazemaru!” He exclaimed happily. “I knew you would say that!”
I laughed out loud and saw Kino also smiled on the other side of Endou, a heartfelt happiness on her face.
After that, except for that one mistake, I would continue to carry the number 2 for two years while going back and forth between positions.
*
The cheers of the stadium sounded terribly distant. The waiting room was a bit dimly lit, and the old faces were all here. Of course, it had been a while since we played with this team, but we had practiced together before, so it hadn’t been that long since we gathered. The waiting room was filled with a comfortable buzz, and the atmosphere seemed to be somewhat pleasant.
I put on the number 2 uniform, be careful not to mess up my hair as much as possible. I had been wearing number 2 ever since I turned pro, but the number 2 of today was special.
Because the number 1 was different from the usual.
“Kazemaru.”
The person carrying that number 1 uniform called my name in a gentle voice. When I slowly turned around, our gazes met, and we both laughed.
“It’s been a long time since I wore the number next to yours.” I said.
“Aren't you always the number 2 on the team?”
“It’s true, but you know it’s not what I meant.”
I raised my fist and lightly bumped Endou in the chest as he tilted his head. “I’m the number 2 next to your number 1, right?”
You haven't forgotten, have you? was left unsaid but understood all the same. Endou laughed and bumped it back in my chest. His fist firmly contained enough of an answer.