Chapter 626: Top of the table


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    Though they had won their first match, they weren''t at the top of their group. That spot belonged to Portugal, which won its first game with Egypt 3-1.


    Joao Felix scored a brace in that match while Bruno slotted a penalty. On the other hand, Mohammad Sh scored the constion goal for Egypt.


    The other group matches were equally intense.


    In their second match with Egypt, they again won by defeating Egypt by a score of 2-1. During that match, Hiro scored a goal and provided an assist.


    Meanwhile, Yamada failed to contribute.


    However, Portugal drew their match with Colombia.


    After an exhausting workout session, Hiro sat staring at his phone. He was drenched in sweat, his breathing ragged, and his entire body smelling sweaty.


    "You still have the energy to look at your phone?" Naoto said panting heavily.


    At the moment, they were in the gym.


    Engrossed in the phone, Hiro failed to hear him. Rather he started grinning while staring at the screen.


    Noticing the grin on his face, Naoto couldn''t help but feel curious. Just what was making him grin like that? Did he get a girlfriend?


    He couldn''t help but ponder. After all, such symptoms aremon in people in love.


    Driven by curiosity, Naoto leaned over to him and grabbed the phone away from Hiro, "Let me see what''s making you smile like that."


    Hiro felt startled. But when he noticed Naoto, he didn''t react. With a solemn expression, he said, "If you wanted, you could have asked."


    There wasn''t any retaliation in his voice. It was almost as if he didn''t even care.


    Immediately after Naoto saw the content on the screen, he frowned, "Ah. You were looking at the goal-scoring chart?"


    Hiro nodded.


    In the chart, Hiro was ranked among the top three. Seventeen years of age and already in the World Cup top scorer chart, it was a feat worthy of admiration.


    So, Naoto found nothing unusual about him grinning at the chart.


    If it were him, he would have been feeling ted as well.


    "Then can I have my phone back?" Hiro asked.


    If he had found his answers, he should return it now. Though he might have been indifferent about the recent article praising him, Hiro liked the attention a little.


    Even so, he wouldn''t show it in public.


    Naoto was already aware of it. Since they had been living together for quite a long time, he knew Hiro had a somewhat strange personality.


    The Hiro public knew about and the Hiro, he knew about, they were like two different people. It was so astonishing to find those stark differences in an individual. However, by now, he was already used to it.


    So, it didn''t surprise him when he saw him grinning at the chart.


    After that Hiro continued skimming through his phone like a kid watching his favorite shows. Noticing the excitement on Hiro''s face, Naoto couldn''t help but recall his usual indifferent expression.


    ''At times, he does act like a child.'' Naoto curled his lips slightly.


    "What do you think about our uing match, Hiro?" Naoto suddenly popped a question.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The uing match was against Portugal, one of the most difficult teams they''d be facing in the tournament. They had stacked depth and numerous world-ss yers.


    Especially, Bruno was exceptionally well in the midfield.


    So, everyone was expecting it to be a difficult match for Japan. However, given their recent performance in the group stage, they weren''t treated as underdogs like before.


    Now, they were regarded as one of the favorites.


    "I mean, we didn''t get to meet Ronaldo previously. But now, we can meet him up close. So, aren''t you excited about it?" Naoto added, his tone cracking with excitement at certain intervals.


    It was clear just from the way he described that he was eagerly looking forward to the match. Well, he was one of those Ronaldo admirer. So, Naoto acting that way wasn''t anything unusual.


    How would you react if you were told that you''d be meeting your idol?


    "Aren''t you way too excited about it?" Hiro gave him a side-eye. "After all, they are our opponents."


    Immediately, Naotoposed himself. Hiro was right. He shouldn''t act like that right now. But he wasn''t entirely convinced.


    "But I heard that you grew up admiring him," Naoto mumbled.


    Hiro hadn''t spoken about it before. So, how did he know? Sure, he had mentioned that Hiro respected him. But he hadn''t mentioned anything about being an admirer.


    He was taken by surprise. However, he didn''t lose his cool.


    "Well, I like him as a yer," Hiro responded with a solemn expression.


    Hiro''s lukewarm reaction, however, failed to change Naoto''s mind. "Don''t hide it. Your mom told me that you grew up idolizing Messi and Ronaldo. She even said that you had their poster stered all over the walls."


    ''Oh! So, Mom told him. That makes sense.''


    Honestly, Hiro wasn''t much surprised. So, calmly took the response.


    "Indeed, I had their poster stered all over the walls. But along with them, I had a few other posters stered as well." Hiro calmly epted.


    Naoto, however, was a little disappointed. "So, aren''t you excited about meeting the person from the poster?"


    "Well, if it had been me from then, I would say yes. But right now, we both are opponents. So, I should focus on winning."


    "I get it that they are our opponent. But isn''t he someone you idolize? So, shouldn''t you be feeling a little excited?" Naoto was perplexed by Hiro''s reaction.


    How could he be so calm?


    Even though what he said made sense. Yet still, he didn''t have to be so harsh on himself. After


    all, he was still a seventeen-year-old teenager.


    Then again, something struck him. It was like something he had been forgetting for a while. Hiro wasn''t like other kids. He was different than the rest.


    So, it waspletely natural for him to remain focused at this moment.


    Upon recalling, Naoto heaved a sigh and smiled lightly, "It''s so like you."