The locker room wasn't loud
It wasn't quiet either
Just weird
Like nobody knew what to say after what they saw
Keisuke sat on the bench
Still sweaty
Still smiling
Lacing and unlacing his boots like a bored kid at detention
A teammate finally spoke
"You planned that pass right"
Keisuke blinked
"Huh Which one"
"The one to the center back"
"Oh that yeah no idea what you're talking about"
He grinned
But no one laughed
Even jokes carried weight now
Coach Matsuda entered without a word
Clipboard in hand
Didn't look at anyone
He just clicked his pen like he was threatening it
"Tomorrow's lineup is changing" he said flatly
Everyone tensed
Keisuke raised his hand like a student in class
"Are we finally moving me to striker"
Matsuda didn't even look at him
"No you're benched"
The room froze
Then Keisuke tilted his head
"Cool can I still come to the game"
"You'll be starting the second half"
Half the squad sighed in relief
The other half looked confused
It was a mental game
And Keisuke was clearly winning it
Outside the stadium
The news was going wild
Clips of that heel-pass were looping everywhere
Pundits debated if he was a genius or just lucky
Some thought he was disrespectful
Others thought he was the reincarnation of football itself
Keisuke didn't care
He was at a ramen shop
Slurping noodles with headphones on
Watching a chess match livestream
The cashier recognized him
Stared a little
Then asked
"So uh that pass yesterday was that instinct or calculation"
Keisuke chewed
Then answered without looking up
"Neither I just got bored"
Next day
Training was intense
Everyone was trying to impress
Even players who never spoke were barking orders
Keisuke jogged casually
Didn't sprint
Didn't shoot
Just watched
During the final scrimmage
He played left back
On purpose
Nobody understood why
When asked
He just said
"Vision's better from the corner"
He intercepted two passes
Created a goal
And nutmegged the captain for no reason
The coach stared at him like a parent discovering their kid was secretly writing Shakespeare under the bed
After practice
Matsuda pulled him aside
"Do you even want to win or are you just playing around"
Keisuke didn't answer right away
He kicked a cone
Watched it roll
Then said
"I'm just figuring out what kind of monster I am"
The coach didn't reply
Just nodded
And walked off
Keisuke stood alone on the pitch
Sun behind him
Shadow stretched long and crooked
He smiled to himself
Because legends watched the game yesterday
But monsters were watching now