On the second weekend of December, two days of heavy rain washed away a year's worth of dust from balconies and rooftops. Born in this place that is neither north nor south, there is neither comfortable heating nor warm climate, and it all depends on wrapping yourself in a quilt to protect yourself from the cold. Listening to the continuous sound of rain, the human figure seems to be stuck to the pillow by the tide, and the world is only left to the crisp impact of the walls and awnings, crawling down the concrete floor and metal bed frame into the ears. When I was half-asleep, my feet moved and explored in the bed, looking for a little confirmation of dryness, and finally touched it with smoothness, flatness and a hint of warmth. Miller yawned a little and rolled over. I don't want to go to cram school anymore. I muttered. Well. He replied in a daze.

Hands are so cold. I say. My face and palms have always been on the warm side, unlike strings that are always cold. After covering the quilt, it is always so hot that I can't sleep, and I habitually put my arm outside the quilt every night for a while. After the dislocation, I could only sleep on my right side, and it was naturally my left hand on the outside, and I remember that Miller did not forget to help me back when I got up at night a few times. But not today, and I also forgot to take it back in time.

Does it hurt? Miller asked, closing her eyes to herself, still turning her back to me, and put my arm on his shoulder as if she were about to fall over his shoulder, and pulled it into the quilt without saying a word. It doesn't hurt. I say. Looks like it's good. As he spoke, his shoulders tightened, and my hand was held in his arms. The rain was murmuring, and I don't know how long it was, when I was staggering between falling asleep and half-awake again, he simply threw my hand back as if he had taken off a piece of clothing. Okay, I'll give it back. He said, his mouth smacking slightly, as if blowing out a sleeping bubble gum. We're not going to cram school. I repeated it again, and I added a word of please. Well, sleep, sleep first. He replied in a low voice. The rain still doesn't stop.

I want to lie here for a long time, listen to the rain, and never get up.

In the end, he still couldn't escape the fate of making up classes. However, the match against the colonels scheduled for the afternoon was postponed again, and the next day it was still pouring rain. It was postponed for another week, not only this one, but also the competition between Yuqi and the branch school. In order to ensure fairness, in the final round of the group stage, the two matches in the same group must be kicked off at the same time. The other groups were decided as early as last week, with Group B being ranked by No. 54 Middle School and No. 3 Middle School, Group C by Polytechnic High School and Xiling Middle School, and Group D by the defending champions taking the top spot, followed by Taodu Middle School. In Group A, the foreign school also locked the first place in the group, and the only suspense is the ownership of the last qualifying seat. According to the grouping rules after qualifying, the second in Group A will face the first in Group D in the second half, and the second in Group B and the first in Group C in the same half, and the third middle school will face Polytechnic. It is conceivable that Kitagawa Middle School, which aims to defend its title, is waiting for the challenger for the next semester between us and Yuki.

The constant postponement of the competition is something that teachers and parents do not want to see, after all, it will drag on until the middle of December, and the final exams are getting closer and closer. Also want to end the suspense as soon as possible is also Jieqi Middle School, the situation is very favorable to them, as long as they win, they can ensure promotion, and the delay again and again is undoubtedly a long night. But for us, it's the opposite, the longer the game drags on, the better, we have more time to prepare, and the opponent who is firmly at the top of the table may be slacking off. Our injured players will also have more time to recover, Zhao Rui's feet are completely healed and I am back on the training ground in December. The speed of my arm's recovery was much quicker than I expected, both because of my own caution and because of the natural advantage of my young body. I gradually regained my previous form, although I was subconsciously reserved in a few training sessions and was reluctant to make a left-handed save. This is probably one of the "sequelae" that is clearly said, and it is the psychology that is more difficult to recover from than the body. As the saying goes, "once bitten by a snake, ten years afraid of the well rope", people who have been injured know that it is terrible, and the cowering that the injury will pounce on the body again arises spontaneously in every move on the court, and many movements will be a little restrained and unnatural. I can't help but think "it's not going to fall off again", even if my shoulders are firmly under the thick training clothes. Treatment is a long process, from physical to psychological, and continues after the pain is gone.

It's a pity that Mu Zheng will take a long time, and the three students who were suspended will not be able to appear. We couldn't even get together a starting line-up. In the past few weeks of training, the coach arranged Leben to the position of the main striker, and Xuexue, Ming Ming and Xiaoqi have all become sparring partners. But he lacks both technique and awareness, and his options after winning the ball up front are not decisive enough. The passing and running with Luka seem to lack tacit understanding, and it is even worse when partnering with Yan Xi in the front.

The organizing committee has finally set a time and is determined to completely end all the competitions of this semester before the halfway point of this month. Saturday, December 13th, everyone knows that this day is very significant. Shortly after the air raid sirens were pulled in the morning, we would board the school bus and head to the battlefield that would decide the life and death of the season.

It's all up to you. Friday's club class was the last practice before the competition. I, Mi Le and Lao Ye went to the dressing room early to change their clothes, Yan Xi came the earliest, and Xiao Qi was also there. This time, Yan Xi didn't hide behind the door and scare people, didn't hang a blackboard eraser or a Coke can on the door, and didn't quietly remove the chair after we sat down. He's our last trump card, and hiding the mantis in the closet shouldn't be done again. I walked up to him, looked into his eyes, and said that sentence seriously. I understand. He nodded to me earnestly, put on his sneakers and went outside to warm up. An inexplicable complex, we all seem to want to give our best on that day. It is common to be able to live freely in an era of peace, but for those who lived on this land nearly 80 years ago, it can only be imagined in a dream. Probably to cherish, but also to prove that we have not wasted, nor have we forgotten.

"Captain, I have something to say......"

Luca's head crept out of the door, looking around as if it were hiding a big secret. Only half of our bodies were cowered in our winter uniforms, our hands tucked into our sleeves, and all that was exposed was our fair face and shaggy chestnut hair. The green eyes blinked uneasily, and the cheeks and nose that were a little red from the cold moved slightly.

"What's wrong?" As soon as I changed into my sneakers, I beckoned Luka in.

"I can't come tomorrow. I want to go home. ”

Yes?

Several of us froze in place. No one expected Luca to leave. Everyone's first reaction was sluggishness.

"What do you mean?"

The first to move was Xiao Qi, who ran to the door in three steps and two steps, and pulled Lukka in like a little lamb in. We hurriedly shouted for him to let go, and he did, but forced Lukka to the whiteboard and stared at him in a daze.

"I, I'm ......" Luca's nose and mouth inhaled nervously, and his arms were raised halfway with some resistance, as if he wanted to push Xiao Qi away from him, but he didn't dare, so he could only freeze in front of his chest.

"Do you want to pick a pick? Do you know how many people are left in the team right now? Did you know that you have to win tomorrow? Why are you so irresponsible, just run! ”

His voice was not loud, but the barrage of questions and his shadow covered Lukka from head to toe.

"Enough!" I yelled, "Xiao Qi, you have a better attitude!" You're talking to your teammates! ”

"It's him who doesn't have the right attitude!" Xiao Qi shook his head and retorted, and quickly threw it back, "Isn't it just the referee's brag last time?" I also know you're wronged, but the team isn't for you to just leave! If you want to go, you should have spoken earlier! How can you be a deserter at a critical moment? ”

"Xiao Qi, don't go too far!" Lao Ye walked straight to Luka and squeezed him away, "If you think about the team, you shouldn't get a red card in the last game!" Miller and I hurriedly touched Luca's head and shoulders, and he was like a frightened kitten, and he completely forgot to take off his hand in his sleeve.

"Okay, okay, I'm a little bit better, I'm not overdoing it. The last one ended up being my fault. Seeing us stop in front of Luka, he stepped back a bit, his voice a little quieter, but still aggressive, "I know that in his eyes football in our country is a joke. From our school team to the national team, the level is very poor, the referee has a problem with his eyes, and the people in charge are also a bunch of rubbish. But that's not a reason for you to pick on yourself. No matter how bad it is, I love it, it doesn't matter how much you want to laugh at it, I'm the only one left and I'm going to stick to it......"

"No, Xiao Qi, what are you talking about? Where is this? I walked over and tapped him on the shoulder, "Don't worry. I get you. But Luka certainly won't leave the team for no reason. ”

"Even if I beg you, okay? We're gone, and we can't kick if you leave. Besides, tomorrow is a very important day, and no one wants to lose. Xiao Qi bypassed us and walked in front of Luca. Lukka didn't look at him, his eyes wandering to the floor, not knowing whether he was angry or scared.

"You see, he doesn't understand anything. It's useless to talk to foreigners. Seeing that Luka didn't speak, Xiao Qiyi shrugged.

"Xiao Qi, how do you know that Luca doesn't understand? He knows so much more than you do! You don't know Luca at all! Miller yelled at Xiao Qi's side.

"It was meant to be! Just get used to him! The more Miller said, the more he pushed back, "The team is a collective!" Everyone has to sacrifice for it, not just do what they want! If you continue like this, anyone can come to the school team to join in the fun! ”

"Enough! You don't have to talk about righteousness and morality here! You don't understand anything! ”

"You will speak for him, and he will do you any good!"

"I've never seen such an unreasonable person as you! The captain has let you again and again! It's you who gets spoiled! ”

"What's wrong with the captain? Can the captain pull the offset? ”

“Bastaaaaaaaaa!” [1]

Seeing that we were arguing, Lukka finally lowered his head and shouted, his voice high and long, although he didn't know what it meant, he finally forced our words down. The atmosphere was tense, but at least it was quiet, giving him room to speak. Lukka gasped, swallowed hard, and looked nervously at Xiao Qi.

"I knew I should stay. I want to stay too. There is no way, my sister was in a car accident and is still rescuing. I have to go back, I'm afraid I'll never see her again. ”

In a few simple words, Luca still struggled to speak. One is because he is not proficient in Chinese, and the other is that his little face is twitching, and his nose is inhaling sharply as he speaks, like a person who has surfaced and is greedily breathing air. When he said that, he couldn't hold it anymore, grabbed my arm, buried his face in my thick winter uniform, and whimpered and cried. I let him hold it, Mi Le stroked his trembling back, Ye Ruiyang wanted to hand him a piece of paper, but he couldn't stop to take it.

I wish Luca had left if he wanted to, for no reason. Thinking about it, I sighed helplessly. I suddenly feel that tomorrow's victory or loss, the team's promotion or not, is meaningless compared to human life. I just hope that Luca's sister will survive in peace and wait for Luca to return to her.

"I'm sorry." Xiao Qi walked up to Luca and closed his eyes heavily, "I don't know anything. ”

"It's OK. I understand, you're looking out for the team. Lukka pulled his head away from my arm and looked at Xiao Qi with tears in his eyes, those green eyes once again reminded me of a broken glass ball.

"It's my fault. Sorry, she'll get better soon, and she'll be up again as soon as you get home. I'm so sorry I shouldn't have thought of you that way. Xiao Qi wiped his eyes with his hands and apologized to everyone.

Lukka lowered my arm, wiped his face clean, and told us that he had booked his plane ticket for the next morning's flight. He didn't dare to ask the coach for leave, he wanted to ask us to ask for it, and said goodbye to everyone on his behalf. I asked him why he didn't let Leben talk about it. He said that Leben had the best relationship with him, and he didn't have the courage to tell him about it in person.

"Actually, I know what tomorrow will be. I also know that tomorrow is also the day we win the game and qualify. We're going to win and we're going to get out of the group. When the tears dried, his emerald eyes shone again, and everyone nodded vigorously at him.

"Luca, you promise me one thing. May I? Xiao Qi asked softly.

"Please."

"Of course we will win tomorrow. But it doesn't matter if we play the knockout round or qualifying, you still have to go back to China next semester. I also want to be teammates with you. I'll try to be a good teammate. Give me a chance. ”

As he spoke, Xiao Qi walked up to Luca, probably wanting to bow to him. The moment his body bent, Lukka stretched out his two hands covered in his school uniform and hugged Xiao Qi tightly.

"I'll be back. I love you guys and I love it here. ”

“Ciao.” I pulled the hat out of my backpack and handed it to Luca.

“Ciao ciao.” He saw the words on it, pressed it to his chestnut hair, and did his best to leave us with a full, lasting smile before turning away. I wonder if the great-grandfather who Luca's mother disappeared could see this. Despite the gap of almost 80 years, generations in different places still connect their hearts and minds, shining like emeralds, through the winds and sands of time.

The first thing the coach did after knowing was to ask Luca about her sister's condition, and then asked us to tell Luca not to rush and to be safe on the road. With Luka leaving, Mu Zheng still unable to return, and three people who are suspended, the last training session was so miserable and miserable under the layers of dark clouds. We can't even get a start for tomorrow. The only good thing is that I'm adamant that I'm going to play. Lao Ye, Brother Chuan and Mi Le partnered in the back three, Ah Hui played in the back, Yan Xi and Le Ben on the front line, but there was also a midfield position that I don't know who to hand over. How does this makeshift lineup resist the top players in the group? Just the coach wiping his back on the whiteboard again and again is enough to make people worry and despair. Running out of ammunition and food, the mountains and rivers are exhausted, probably referring to this situation. The postponement of the game did not make everything better, and we were like a group of defeated soldiers, with incomplete guns and untidy appearance, but we had received orders not only to defend the city, but also to take the initiative. We have nothing but broken flesh and blood. Can you only use it to fend off the enemy's strong ships and cannons, and the torrent of steel? Maybe it's just a few rounds of bullets and we're all gone.

But what can be done? We can only fight, and we must fight. We will never flee, we will never surrender, we have made countless sacrifices to get here, and in this last battle, no matter what life or death, we will fight everything against the cold December sun, fighting to the last man, the last bullet. Just thinking about this, the horn of the school bus sounded, like a distant horn through time. Assembled, and the fateful battle will begin in a few hours. "Give me an order, and I can still fight against the city." [2] Now that the command has arrived, our last bulwark, our last hope. With their bags empty, those who wrapped themselves in their coats to protect themselves from the cold had to take the rest of their longing and walk through the two rows of dead trees on the avenue into the distance.

"I'm not going to go with you to another school this time, but I'm still going to see you off. I'm going to go to Jieqi Middle School, and I have a friend from No. 54 Middle School, and her sister is a student at Jieqi Middle School, and she can take us to the stands. I'll leave it to me over there and call you as soon as possible after the game. We're not together, but we're all going to fight until the very end. Goodbye, whatever the outcome, you have to hold my head high and come back like a hero. ”

We got into the car first, and Yue Yin was talking to someone under the car. For some reason, even if the winter wind blows outside the window, it gives people a chill in the slaughter, echoing in the emptiness of the suburbs for a long time. The black bird dragged out its voice, rose into the low-hanging sky, and then fell into the desolate forest like a bullet.

Goodbye, campus, the ruins of the past. We have already experienced such heavy suffering, and no matter how immature our shoulders are, it is enough to carry a small win or loss. Bless us in triumph.

"Wait for me! Wait! ”

When Yue Yin sent someone into the car without saying a word, and the driver was about to close the door, a familiar and loud shout came from the school gate. Everyone who was huddled in their seats couldn't help but look up, and from the clouds suspended on the horizon, a somewhat clumsy figure swayed towards us, waving the hat engraved with gold lettering in the air, like a burning flag.

The man returned, over the frozen land, at the last moment of our departure. It was a dream.

[1] Basta means "enough" in both Italian and Spanish.

[2] From Wen Yiduo's "Song of the Seven Sons: Taiwan".