All I wanted was to accomplish something.
Sure, accomplishing something could mean anything, from helping an old woman cross the street to finding the cure for cancer. Anything can be an accomplishment depending on one's standards.
Apparently, I had gained numerous accomplishments, according to those around me. I'd won the national soccer tournament of Uzbekistan. I'd made it to the national youth soccer team. I'd become the captain of it. It used to find it satisfying, this so-called sense of accomplishment.
Yet, after relishing that feeling, everything became dull. A hole that appears endlessly each time something is accomplished.
"Congratulations, Anahan! You're now the best in the Uzbekistan soccer world!"
Now who's going to be a worthy opponent if I'm the best?
"Representative for the Uzbekistan national soccer team, Eternal Dancers. Anahan Imusu!"
What if the rest can't keep up with me?
"Captain of the Eternal Dancers, Anahan Imusu!"
Great, now they might rely on me entirely.
All left a gaping feeling of emptiness in my heart. Every single time, I thought I had finally grasped what I wanted, only for it to disappear. Why do all good things disappear?
"Anahan Imusu, would you like to join the Orion Foundation?"
They made promises, they would use all they could to create a better world. One where all good things would stay. A place where one would feel accomplished and satisfied. Oh, how I craved for that feeling.
So I worked. With the soccer that had helped me achieve so many things, I strived to accomplish greater things. And how I loved the feeling of doing so.
Opponents crushed to dust, face completely twisted in despair. Their faces showed my work and I enjoyed it. The Orion Foundation had its weird ways of bringing about a better world through such torturous methods but I was fine with it. They had showed me, they had reminded me, what it meant to accomplish something.
It meant to leave all in dust and suffering.
The effort was long lasting too. News would show how wrecked the opponents were, be it physically or mentally. I love our method best. Hypnotizing them into a graceful dance, only to find themselves in a dark pit. It was the absolute best
But Inazuma Japan, oh that dreadful team. I was disgusted. Despite planting Ichihoshi into the team, they had the most hope filled faces. They genuinely believed they could win fair and square. They thought that would give them the satisfaction of accomplishment.
I thought I could achieve my sense of accomplishment that day.
The first half went like usual, a lead and the falling down of team morale. First crush the spirit, then finish the blow by crushing their bodies.
Then their detestable number 14 came into the field to return the favor. Oh and did he return it, three fold.
It tasted terribly bitter, and strangely metallic. I had bit my lip too hard that day when our loss had been declared. A crushing 4-2, Inazuma Japan's favor.
"Anahan Imusu, you have failed terribly," the looming figure's voice boomed, as I sat in a chair, awaiting my consequence. I stayed silence.
"You will now be stripped from the Orion Foundation,"
My heart pounded. They were going to take away my joy? The one thing that kept me going? Just like that?
"Sir, please—"
"Proceed with his 'expulsion',"
They lifted my hair, to reveal my seal. It's glowed its luminescent blue, over my eyelid. A needle lowered, lasers flashing.
Strapped in my chair, all I could do was thrash. They couldn't take away my satisfaction like that. Not when I had been yearning for it for so long. Not when the hole had finally disappeared.
The first few stings were what awoke me from my sad illusion, the illusion that all great things had to end. But why, I questioned everything: the Orion Foundation, the Gods, myself.
I had finally accomplished something, just why did it have to be taken away?