After Arya's stunning free-kick goal, Grand Fortuna High's players finally snapped into focus. Initially, they had expected an easy, one-sided match. After all, they were representing one of the most prestigious football schools, while their opponents were just a group of local kids, led only by Reza—a former striker from Middle School.
But the presence of the Pink Guy had changed everything.
Now, they knew this wasn't going to be an easy victory.
With a determined expression, Gilang stepped up for the kickoff, restarting the game. Grand Fortuna began to carefully rebuild their attack, probing for weaknesses in Arya's team's defense.
Meanwhile, Arya had become even more aggressive, determined to protect their lead at least until halftime.
One of his main targets was Kevin, Fortuna High's left-winger. Every time Kevin tried to advance, Arya was there—blocking passing lanes, predicting his movements, and cutting off key plays before they could develop.
Kevin clicked his tongue in frustration. He was fast, but Arya's defensive positioning was relentless.
Seeing the left flank getting shut down, Gilang shifted his strategy. Instead of forcing attacks down Kevin's side, he started linking up with Dimas, Fortuna's right-winger.
"Kevin, stop forcing it," Gilang instructed. "Find another route."
Kevin exhaled sharply but nodded.
On the other side, Reza continued to press high, using his stamina to disrupt Fortuna's midfield. His relentless pressure made it difficult for Gilang to dictate the tempo, forcing Grand Fortuna into a series of ineffective short passes.
The referee glanced at his watch—halftime was approaching.
Then, just as the first half seemed to be winding down, Fortuna High found an opening.
Gilang, under intense pressure from Dimas, suddenly pulled off a fake back pass to their goalkeeper, Andre. Instead of passing, he spun in the opposite direction, catching Reza completely off guard.
Reza tried to recover, but his foot slipped on the floor.
Seeing this, Fortuna High's players sprang into action.
Gilang quickly sent a sharp pass to Dimas, who found himself unmarked.
Farhan rushed to close him down, but Dimas skillfully executed a double touch, smoothly sidestepping the defender.
Arya, realizing the danger, abandoned his mark on Kevin and sprinted towards the center.
But it was too late.
Dimas was already one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Bayu, who had been marking Reno all this time, dashed toward Dimas, hoping to intercept—but Dimas passed instead of shooting, sending the ball perfectly to Reno.
Reno controlled the ball, appearing ready to take the shot—
But Arya was already closing in.
Reno, sensing Arya's presence, suddenly flicked a backheel pass toward the left side—where Kevin had been unmarked ever since Arya left him.
Kevin didn't hesitate.
BOOM!
A thunderous shot.
The goalkeeper barely had time to react.
The ball slammed into the net.
2-2.
At that exact moment, the referee's whistle blew.
Halftime.
Arya stood frozen for a moment, his hands clenched into fists. He had done everything to hold off Kevin, but in the end, all it took was one moment—one mistake, one gap—for Fortuna High to break through.
Kevin smirked as he jogged back to his teammates.
"Can't hold me back forever, Pink Guy," he muttered under his breath.
Arya exhaled slowly, the fire in his eyes still burning.
The battle was far from over.
The halftime whistle had blown, and both teams made their way back to the benches. Sweat dripped from their faces as they grabbed water bottles and towels, catching their breath after an intense first half.
Arya had barely taken a sip when—
"Damn, Arya!"
A hard slap landed on his head.
Not a light pat. A real friend's smack.
Raka, grinning like an idiot, plopped down beside him, laughing.
"It's been a while since I've seen you play this seriously, hahaha!"
Arya shot him a glare, still holding his water bottle mid-drink.
Perfect timing. He nearly choked on his water.
With an annoyed sigh, he shook his head and wiped his mouth. His hands reached up, tugging at the edge of his mask. The fabric was drenched in sweat, clinging uncomfortably to his skin.
With a deep breath, he finally pulled it off, revealing his face to his teammates.
Reza, stretching his legs, glanced at him with a smirk. *You're still as sharp as ever, Arya."
The others nodded in agreement.
Farhan smirked, patting Arya's back. "If you keep playing like this, we can win againt them."
"You're practically playing like a pro," Bayu added.
Dimas chuckled. "So, Pink Guy is more than just a mask, huh?"
Arya remained quiet, staring down at the ball between his feet.
It had been a long time since he heard genuine praise about his football skills.
And it felt... strange.
Tara, sitting nearby, watched the scene unfold with a small smile. She rested her chin on her hands, observing how Arya reacted to the compliments.
Tara suddenly spoke up, interrupting the conversation. "You guys have no idea, do you? Arya was this close to going pro. And those guys over there?" She gestured toward the Grand Fortuna players. "They used to be his rivals. If they knew Arya was playing against them right now, they'd be completely shocked."
Arya felt his face heat up as Tara revealed his past. His teammates turned to him, their expressions shifting from surprise to admiration.
What was supposed to be a short break turned into a storytelling session about Arya's past.
On the other side of the field…
Despite the tense first half, the players of Grand Fortuna High were still laughing and chatting. They knew their abilities. They were the best of the best. There was no way they'd lose to a bunch of nobodies.
But Gilang wasn't laughing. His brows furrowed as he turned to his teammates.
"We have to win." His voice was low but firm. "And we need to teach that Pink Guy a lesson. He needs to know who we are."
Kevin scoffed. "That was just luck. The luck of an amateur. He got caught up in the moment, so he looked good."
Gilang tapped his fingers on his knee, deep in thought. Maybe…
Something about Pink Guy felt… familiar. But from where?
And why the mask?
Meanwhile, Reno crossed his arms. "Who is he, really?"
A player like that—sharp, fast, and intelligent—should have been in tournaments before.
So why had they never heard of him?
Unless…
He was someone important.
Or at least, someone who had something to hide.
Gilang's eyes flickered toward Arya's team again. But to his surprise—
Pink Guy was gone.
His eyes narrowed.
Where is he?
Arya, meanwhile, had moved to the back of the bench, out of sight from the crowd.
The mystery only deepened.
Among the spectators…
Two newcomers arrived, standing casually among the local supporters.
One of them laughed. "How bad is Reza's team getting destroyed?"
His friend shrugged. "No idea. I mean, what was he thinking, sparring against Grand Fortuna? Those guys are all top-tier… plus, they have Gilang."
Before they could continue—
A gruff voice cut in.
"You talk too much."
They turned to see a local man—someone who looked more like a street thug than a football fan.
"We're tied, dumbass." His tone was laced with irritation. "You just got here and already acting cocky?"
The two newcomers blinked in shock.
Tied?
They exchanged looks.
Now they were interested.
Then, the whistle blew.
Halftime was over.
Players rose from their seats, stretching and adjusting their gear. The second half was about to begin.