Will history repeat itself? Although sometimes we know what happened in the past and try our best to avoid the same mistakes, sometimes it seems that we have stumbled by mistake and inadvertently fallen into its trap again, as if it were an endless cycle of reincarnation, an unchangeable fate.

But as long as there is a breath left, what doesn't kill us will only make us stronger! From May to December, for more than half a year, the bitterness brought by Pu Yun's equalizing goal reverberated in my heart from time to time. Maybe it's just opening the refrigerator door or lying in bed for a moment, and I suddenly think of the unwillingness to take that step. Probably everyone is the same.

Perhaps from the last game to the present, Luca will also think about that handball miscalculation, think of his overlooked goal, and that unjustified wrongdoing has made me doubt the way I live my life for a while.

It's all gone, less than a minute ago. We blocked the Colonel's attack again, and Chuan Ge headed the ball to Ah Hui's feet, who played a long ball to Luka on the left flank. The Colonel's defender intercepted the ball, but it was cleanly cut off from behind by Luka. Wearing the number 10 jersey, he passed the ball to Yan Xi, who rushed to the front court to receive the ball, who received the ball with his back to the defender, neither turned nor passed back, but imaginatively slammed the ball behind him with his right foot. The ball slowly passed between the legs of the close defender, and Luka on the wing cut in from the edge of the box to receive a pass from Yan Xi. At a small angle, Luca took a slight step forward, and the returning central defender had already arrived, and the goalkeeper of the school, who made many wonderful saves, also held his breath. The number 10's shot didn't seem to be in a hurry, and the ball wasn't very fast, it passed in front of the central defenders who rushed to block, almost brushed the goalkeeper's fingers, and rolled into the school's goal in the wind and into the side netting with a constant and steady attitude against the snow-covered turf.

The whole world seemed to stand still for a second, and everyone stayed there to witness the process. Only Lukka ran through the snow with his arms outstretched, pointing his index fingers at the snowy sky and piercing the dim clouds.

After that second passed, it was a tsunami of joy and joy. From the back line to the bench, everyone yelled or hugged, and the breath that had been blocked in our chests for seven months seemed to pour out in an instant. Luka ran to the Colonel's corner flag area, grabbed the corner flag waving in the wind with one hand, and raised it high with the other, his palm still slightly tucked into the long sleeves of the lining, waiting for his teammates to run from the field or bench to congratulate him. Soon, our No. 10 was hugged by everyone, and the little face that was red from the cold was especially cute in everyone's laughter.

But why did Lukka point to the sky? Is it to dedicate the ball to the victims more than seventy years ago? Or is it ...... What is he hiding from us?

For a moment, the darkness froze me in place, like frozen in the snow.

Please be safe. Luca gets along very well with us in China, he is a friend to each of us and we all know he can't live without you. Please, you must live, and don't leave Luca alone. If he loses you to help us here, it won't make any sense anymore. Please. Whether it's God, fate, or the beating heart of man, please let Luca's sister wake up. The finger pointing to the sky is not dedicated to her, and they still have a long, long time to spend together. I don't want to see my friends lose their most important loved ones.

At least Luca was talking and laughing as he walked back to the centre circle with everyone. More than anything else, these smiles dispel the coldness and fear that the emptiness of death spreads throughout the body.

Millet ran over and pounced on me.

"We'll be able to hold it this time."

"Yes. Definitely. ”

I still thought so when Ah Hua caused Xu Mu to foul in the front court. The game went to stoppage time, and Pu Yun once again stood in front of the free kick. In the two years of primary school I was absent, Pu Yun saved the team with a brilliant free-kick at the end of the game. It was said to be a rain fight, and today the stage was snowy, although it was magically reduced a little after Luka's goal. The Colonel's No. 23 raised his orange right arm high, as if to signal to his teammates that he would shoot the ball straight to the goal.

"You don't have to look at it to know it's there!" I have never forgotten Liu Chi's words. Pu Yun began to run, not fast, as if he was confident, and walked leisurely.

You're all optimistic!

The ball flew over the wall to the goal, and before it could hit the underside of the crossbar and bounce off the frame, I knocked it out of the door with one hand. It was probably the most stretching save I've ever made, and the man was completely in the air, and the fine white particles that rushed to his face were evenly sprinkled on his cheeks, as if covered by a layer of moonlight. When I landed, I scrambled to my feet, before anyone could pick me up. Clenched the fist of his left hand and raised it high, the wounded it was now stronger than ever, like holding a flag that would not fall.

"Today is the god of war!" This may be Lao Ye's highest opinion of me, and he roared so loudly.

"You can always trust Koko, always!" Millet also gathered around me, as if I had scored the second goal that sealed the game for the team.

"I will always believe in you!" I reached out and put my arms around my two best friends.

The corner kick of the foreign colonel was opened, Ye Ruiyang calmly pushed the ball out at the first landing point, and Yan Xi, who was back to the top of the arc, got the ball and stuffed the ball to the left front in a dashing manner. Rushing out of the crowd was Luka, who completely became the core No. 10 after the goal, and he could still drag his physically exhausted body to run wild with the ball under the burst of confidence. Through the wind and snow and past the opponents who blocked him, Luka almost completed a dragon on the flank, single-handedly hitting the left side of the front. Just as he was about to cut inside from outside the box, Yoon Il Young had no choice but to end his crazy performance with a foul.

With two minutes left in stoppage time, it was enough to pass the ball to the corner flag area to stall for time.

Standing in front of the ball were Miller and Yan Xi, and everyone else retreated to their own half. The referee's whistle blew, and Yan Xi consciously went to the corner flag area, taking a defender with him. But Miller didn't mean to pass the ball. I could only see his resolute back from behind, holding his small backbone and snow-soaked hair, running towards the ball that was resting in the snow.

At this time, it is better to be on the safe side. If it doesn't score, the ball will go to the opponent's side, and they will have time to organize an attack.

But Miller did it!

The ball that pierced the sky fell into the net of the outer school in a perfect arc, and the goalkeeper who played well stayed in place and did not react at all, and the opponents lined up in the wall looked back and scattered helplessly. Starting with Miller and ending with Miller, that's the goal we've scored in all the games of the term. Far away, he gestured to a "W" again, like a free bird rising from the horizon. It seemed to be a hallucination, but the heavy snow came to an abrupt end at this moment. Under the vast sky, the wind swept the dark clouds, and between the dark clouds and the earth, the white jerseys were visibly dirty after the struggle, but we were still like seagulls or pigeons, flying proudly with open arms. The prophet of victory can already shout: the game is over! Whether it's a storm or a heavy snowfall, let them come harder! We have grasped the bolt of lightning and illuminated ourselves in the abyss, and no matter how rough and bumpy the road may be, we have climbed over the mountains and trampled it to the ground.

Whether I make it or not today, I don't think I'll go home crying. We have fulfilled our promises to each other.

After the final whistle, we shouted and celebrated as if we had already qualified. Even if we beat only half of the main opposition, it ended their three-year unbeaten run at home. As usual, the pressure they put on us today was not small at all, but we finally got over it and didn't fall at the last minute like before. After the handshake, we ran to the bench and the stands came down. Victory has been achieved here, and the circumstances of the other battlefield that will determine fate are unknown. Know the destiny of heaven and do your best. We've done our best, and the rest is left to a fuzzy fate.

"Good kick."

"Huh?"

I can't believe my ears. I was about to squeeze into the crowd on the bench when someone suddenly slapped me from behind. The voice was very unfamiliar, low and dry. Looking back, it was Yoon Il-young who was smiling at me.

"Thank you." I remembered this sentence in my hurry.

"Good luck. Free, come from the north. Snow. The words seemed to come out of his throat, and he was still a little reluctant, but his smile was very sincere, "Goodbye." ”

"Goodbye. Get well soon. ”

The snow began to fall again after a short pause. Ah Rong gradually disappeared into the passage. For some reason, I guess he's homesick.

Luca is homesick too. What happened to his sister? I walked slowly behind him, and he was startled, shuddered, and when he looked back and saw that it was me, he smiled very relaxedly, and the pair of well-behaved and childish green eyes made me swallow the words I wanted to ask back into my stomach.

Someone is making a phone call. Everyone looked at him with bated breath, listening to the echo of the dial-up sound that was being dialed after turning on the speaker, as if the scales of fate were tilting repeatedly in an invisible place. Even the coach with her hands in front of her chest was a little nervous, she lowered the brim of her hat, and I couldn't see her eyes clearly.

"Hello? Is your game over? After connecting, the first person to speak was the person on the other end of the phone, and the whirring wind.

"Win! 2:0！ ”

"Did you score? Assisted? Yue Yin's voice was very excited, and everyone faintly heard the possibility of good news over there.

"No, leave this alone! How's the result over there? Everyone is waiting. ”

"Oh, okay. All I can say is that the game isn't over yet. "That excitement has subsided. Our hearts seem to sink again.

"What do you mean? How many to many? Anxiously asked. Everyone looked at each other. The snow that had re-fallen seemed to be even paler.

"Yuki equalised at the start of the second half. And ......" The voice over there was much lower, and at this moment, we heard the sound of whistles blowing in the distance, and there was a carnival that resounded through the sky, and they interrupted Yue Yin's words, almost like drowning, from the other end of the phone into our ears.

So the branch still didn't hold on to the draw? It's over. Let's just say that we did our best, and although we didn't get the best results, at least we tried......

Who do you want to deceive with such words? I'm still so uncomfortable. I didn't dare to look at him with my eyes.

Halfway down the road, there is no more.

"You hear the cheers, it's too late, there's no time."

We also heard Yue Yin's sigh. I don't know if she's going to squat down and cry like the last one. At least we're still together, but no one is around her.

"Don't listen to Yue Yin's nonsense! She's lying to you! You've made the cut! ”

Yes?

An unfamiliar voice, as if it was an auditory hallucination, but everyone stared at each other when they heard it. Are we collectively hallucinating?

"Peng Jingbai! You're demolishing a ghost platform! Where am I lying! Did I say who is the one who has no time? Is it good to tie the knot! ”

"Be quiet, and don't let the rest of our school hear it." Another voice.

"Okay, okay." Yue Yin's voice dropped a lot, and now he had the feeling that the underground workers were secretly connecting to transmit information, "After the equalizer, Jieqi kicked that unhurriedly, probably because he felt that we couldn't win at the home of the foreign school, thinking that if we could run out of time, we could successfully advance." There must have been someone from the school who came to 'scout', and when the game was about to end, they were crazy and I guessed that we should have scored. However, there was not enough time, they pressed too far forward, and the back line made a big gap, and Jiang Xiaofei seized the opportunity to score another one. Before the call came, the branch counterattack was completed again, a penalty was made, Taotao scored, and the game was completely out of suspense. The school played super well today, kept it solid, probably had three shots on target in the whole game, but scored three goals......"

"Yue Yin, liar, big liar!" Before she could finish speaking, Miller turned her hand into a trumpet shape and yelled at her phone.

"Jieqi's classmates, there are undercover agents in the stands!" Xu Mu also lost no time.

"Are you crazy? Sick! Someone panicked and hurriedly clicked the hang-up button on the phone, so anxious that his head was sweating. At this time, everyone clenched their fists and jumped and jumped as if from a dream, and even grabbed the snow from the roof of the bench and stuffed each other into the collar. After the jump, the first thing Xu Mu did was to find Huang Minxue to settle accounts, and everyone was happy to serve her, and a few people couldn't help but drag Xuexue to the green field, and then greeted him with a bunch of snowballs. In her lifetime, she finally saw the scene of Xu Mu blowing up Xuexue's head, although she didn't use a fist, but a snowball as big as a football that everyone had teamed up for her, and Xuexue's whole head was like a layer of shaved ice.

Escaped, including the beaten Xuexue, and everyone was smiling - except for someone who was indignant. Mi Le hugged him and said that this is to create an opportunity for you, why don't you hurry up and go to Jieqi Middle School to save people? He actually ran to the locker room in a puff of smoke. Fortunately, they soon received a call from Yue Yin, saying that they had left Jieqi Middle School safely and took the car home.

"Big brother, you've been promoted."

On the way back to the locker room, I found Pu Yun and Ah Hua waiting for me in the dark passage. They must have been secretly looking at us right now.

"How? Do you still want Ke Ke to cry? There are no doors! Millet sprang out from behind me and snorted at him with a lively look.

"You did a good free-kick, even if it was a little bit worse than mine." With a hint of childlike disbelief, his voice was still soft.

"Pull it down, forget how badly you were struck by me last season? If you have the ability, come back to my side, and I will teach you how to be a man! Millet shook her finger at him in response.

"Then you have forgotten who scored that header in front of you last season?"

"It's like you've won the championship in the end! Arrogance what? The winner is the winner, the runner-up is nothing! ”

The smell of gunpowder has escalated a bit. That's what I'm most afraid of seeing, because we're friends on both sides.

Perhaps, I mean, maybe, I should be on Millet's side, at least that's the first thought that comes to mind.

"What's so noisy. We're all trying to get to the final, and there's a chance to play again. "The one who came to act as a peacemaker was indeed Ah Hua.

"I don't care about anything else! Why would you say something like that! Is it good to bully Ke Ke? "Miller still doesn't give up. I put my hand on his waist, and he shook it off without any shame.

"It's because my eldest brother has such a good temper that I want to say that kind of thing to him." Pu Yun looked at the ground and smiled shyly.

"What do you mean?" It's me who asked.

"He's trying to inspire you." Ah Hua rubbed Pu Yun's hair from behind, "As friends, of course the two of us want you to advance, but we definitely can't lose to you when we get to the court, right?" We're all at it, so we'd love to see you give it your all. ”

"We are the semi-main force today, and I myself am just in a normal state, not the strongest state." Pu Yun snapped his fingers, "The next time we meet, you won't have another chance even if you go all out." ”

"Forget it, this sentence should be returned to you. Wait for the second runner-up. Miller grabbed me and looked at Pu Yun seriously for a few seconds, and everyone couldn't help but laugh.

"Big brother, your friend really protects you. Next time, you'll have to take the initiative to protect him. ”

With that in mind, we said goodbye to each other and walked back to the locker room.

Agitation? Pu Yun's agitation is too mild, and I don't eat much of it. However, Miller was inspired by him, which was quite interesting.

In fact, so is learning. When I entered the bright and warm locker room, the coach was not there, and Xuexue was the first to find me. Xu Mu changed his clothes and went. Xuexueyang begged me to help him say something nice when she came back, but he just wanted to arouse Xu Mu's fighting spirit at that time. It turns out that there is such a day when I beg others pitifully. I readily agreed, but before I could do so, there was one more important thing.

Luca cried.

There is no reason at all, just staring at the phone screen, looking at it and crying. The first to find out was Le Ben, and then Xiao Qi, and everyone immediately gathered around. Patted on the back, handed the paper to paper, and asked him in Chinese and English in turn what happened. Lukka didn't say anything, letting his tears fall on the glowing screen, and the crystal screen shimmered with words we couldn't read.

Is something worse than being out of the game? Although I returned to the warm room, my body and shadow seemed to fall into a black ice cave.

“Don’t panic. Don’t panic.” I crouched down in front of him and said something that came to my head naturally. I know it's useless, and I know there's a lot of things I can't really share, but I'm going to try to do it, even if it's just to stay with him and gently shake his knees.

"Captain."

“I’m here.”

"My sister is awake."

This hapless kid. If he hadn't hugged Leben's arm and cried after he finished speaking, it is estimated that everyone would have wanted to drag him to the playground to carry out the "snow punishment" like a student.

That's great. Perhaps it was the moment when Luca scored the goal, a person thousands of miles away felt the vigorous life in the body of her loved one on the edge of confusion, and with love and longing, she finally overcame the gray of death. I've indeed seen interviews with people who have risen from the dead, and they have mentioned that kind of chaotic vision, the empty world of death, where there are countless paths to choose from, to a distant afterlife. But they didn't choose, they just wanted to go back to their bodies, to go back to their relatives and friends. They were more certain than ever that they wanted to come back, and they were lucky to be back. Doctors always say that this is an illusion caused by too much desire to survive. But, but, perhaps, it is such a strong attachment to life that is enough to bring people back to the world. Life, which always has an absolute advantage over death.

But it also takes a little luck. Luca is the luckiest kid in the world. It's not jealousy, but I really envy him.

"Luca, thank you very much." Yan Xi squeezed to his side, "Thank you for your goal and both fingers." My grandfather's family are all from Nanjing. ”

"It should. My relatives stayed in Nanjing, more than 70 years ago. I know it all, and I remember it. ”

"It's amazing." Yan Xi sighed.

"I'm sorry. I've been misunderstanding you in the past. No, it's malicious speculation about you. Xiao Qi bowed his head apologetically beside him, and Lukka wiped the few remaining tears and smiled at him.

"No. Aren't we friends? From the first day we met, I treated everyone as my best friend. ”

"Not just friends! You're still our hero! Le Ben pinched Luca's shoulder vigorously, "Really, I didn't see you scoring a goal, I wouldn't have been lying in the locker room to rest if I had known!" ”

"The captain is the hero. Without him, I'd be conceding goals again. Lukka tilted his head back and mischievously pushed his forehead against Leben's chin.

"You're all heroes, everyone is." Unconsciously, the coach had already returned with Xu Mu and was standing behind us, "The teacher is proud of you." We've played so many games and none of them were as perfect as today. ”

With that, she walked up to Lukka and rubbed his damp chestnut hair. Little one, your hair hasn't dried yet, don't catch a cold. When you're dry, go home, your relatives are waiting.

Lukka nodded scrutinously.

"Okay, stop talking nonsense, the mouth grows on himself, let him say it himself!" Xu Mu saw me coming to intercede and unceremoniously let me eat the closed door.

"That...... Respectful, beloved, and great classmate Xu Mu ......" Xuexue crooked his mouth, with a scared and nervous expression, and his hands were rubbed nervously.

"Less flamboyant! I don't know about you yet! Xu Mu grabbed him in front of him. The difference in height between the two is a full head, and I wonder if Luca and his sister also have this height difference. However, Xu Mu knew everything about Xuexue, and what he whispered in his ear after controlling him, although Xuexue was embarrassed, he finally nodded and agreed.

I guess I'm going to punish him. The content of the punishment was also soon announced: Xu Mu asked him to whistle for everyone. It is said that this is a unique skill in learning, and he usually never takes it lightly. He solemnly cleared his throat and, wearing that cute beige sweater, jumped up and down among the crowd.

"Listen to the interlude from the movie 'The Sound of Music,' Edelweiss, 'Edelweiss.'"

Luka's eyes flashed.

Xuexue began his performance again, the whistle was melodious and lyrical, like the wind fluttering in the room and the snowflakes falling quietly outside the window, holding up the heavy fragments of stars and clouds lightly and gracefully, throwing them on the boundless land, growing white and graceful flowers in the long valley, in anticipation that the ice ridges hanging from the roof would turn into a low sound of knocking open the frozen stream. When the whistle was blown for the second time, Xu Mu smiled and sang, as did Luca, and then everyone, even though they didn't speak the same language. The sound of music wanders, lingering through the streets and alleys of small European towns, crossing long continents, floating in a Chinese hut. No matter where in the world it sounds, a song is always a song, just as a child is always a child.

Edelweiss， edelweiss

Every morning you greet me

Small and white

Clean and bright

You look happy to meet me

Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow

Bloom and grow forever

Edelweiss， edelweiss

Bless my homeland forever[1]

For the third time, we left the solo for Luca. The first time I heard the German version of "Edelweiss", I didn't understand a word, and maybe I didn't have to, just silently looked at Lukka and the snow falling behind him.

"Have a safe journey."

Escorted Luca into a taxi at the entrance of the school, and we waved to him. Through the swaying glass, he turned his head and waved goodbye with the same force. Through the snow, he will return to his loved ones with the memories and warmth he found in China.

Will definitely see you again. He promised us.

"What do you think of?" Looking at the yellow taxi that was fading away in the snow, I asked Miller beside me.

"Probably that poem." The snow is falling in the twilight, and the wind and red flags are not overturned. Luntai East Gate sent Jun to go, and when he went, the snow was full of Tianshan Road. The mountain loop turns around, and the snow leaves a place for horses. ’”

"Luca went home. Let's go home today, too. ”

"Okay. My mom and dad will be home tomorrow. ”

"Goodbye, then."

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow."

In the twilight snow, it seems that the separation is not so sad. I guess I knew I would see it again. The snow has painted the world in a new shape, we have not lost our memory, and we will finally wake up and be reunited through the crisscrossing roads. There is a long, long way to go, and it will extend to a bigger and farther world, taking us in search of the flock, the wind, the Milky Way, and the larger lake or garden mentioned in each other's dreams.

(End of Volume III)

[1] Edelweiss is a famous song from the American film and musical The Sound of Music, released in 1959. Composed by Richard Rogers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Edelweiss, or alpine edelweiss, is the national flower of Switzerland and Austria.

Edelweiss, edelweiss

Greet me early in the morning and open it

Small and white

Clean and bright

Shake happily at me

Snowy flowers, may you be fragrant

Bloom and grow forever

Edelweiss, edelweiss

Bless my hometown forever

Group A round 6

Jiangyuan Foreign School 0:2 Jiangyuan No. 1 Middle School

Jieqi Middle School 1:3 No. 1 Middle School Branch

Quarterfinals matchup

Upper half

Taodu Middle School VS Jiangyuan Foreign School

Creek Ridge Middle School VS Fifty-Four Middle School

Lower half

Jiangyuan No. 1 Middle School VS Beichuan Middle School

Jiangyuan No. 3 Middle School VS Science and Technology High School

Jiangyuan Mayor's Cup Football League (Junior High School Group) Group Stage Standings (Group A)

Jiang Yuan Foreign School 3 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss, scored 13 goals, conceded 9 goals, won 4 goals, accumulated 11 points

Jiang Yuan No.1 Middle School 3 wins, 1 draws, 2 losses, scored 14 goals, conceded 11 goals, won 3 goals, accumulated 10 points

Jieqi Middle School 2 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses, scored 11 goals, conceded 13 goals, goal difference -2 goals, accumulated 8 points

No.1 Middle School 1 wins, 1 draws, 4 losses, scored 7 goals, conceded 12 goals, goal difference -5 goals, accumulated 4 points

(Jiangyuan Foreign School and Jiangyuan No. 1 Middle School group qualified)

Data within Jiang Yuan's No. 1 Squadron

Scorer charts

The number of goals scored by the player

Yan Xi 3

Millet 3

Huang Minxue 3(1)

Mu Zheng 2

Ye Ruiyang 2(1)

Luca 1

Assists

Player assists

Yan Xi 4

Millet 2

Huang Minxue 1

Xiao Qi 1