Kraimer's sudden appearance shook even Bertram a little.

"Yeah, it's only fair, as older brothers, we ought to join our siblings in a little fun. Sometimes."

"Certainly."

I was excited at the prospect of finding something to share with Kraimer. Yet at the same time, I knew he didn't know anything about this game of ours. He had played rope ball before but never football, I have no idea if he was as coordinated with his feet on the ball as he was with his hands.

"Eh, ahem. Fred how do you play this game?"

I had to bite my tongue from laughing at Kraimer's meekness to ask me for instruction.

I wasn't the only one, I could hear Bertram quickly ask Francine how to play. She was biting on her lips when I last looked over.

"Ok, so first of all you have to kick the ball into one of the two nets to score, since you're on my team only hit towards that net. It just has to touch the net it doesn't have to go through."

"Alright."

I went over the rudimentary rules of the game with Kraimer. I emphasized that he was not to touch the ball with his hands as well as the minimal contact he can have with other players.

"It really does seem like a kid's game."

"Kraimer there's still a lot of skill involved. If you're not careful the ball is easily stolen from you."

"They can't steal if I just keep running towards the goal with it."

"A skilled player could steal it from you."

"We'll just have to see it first then."

He was way more stubborn than I expected. A solo striker without the help of his team wouldn't be able to achieve much of anything, It didn't matter how much ego they have.

In spite of my warnings the game continued from a throw in where Kraimer almost instantly lost the ball after getting it first. The normal tactics of rushing towards the goal like in rope ball didn't apply here. It was impossible to do such maneuvers when you couldn't even tackle someone in your way. It was even harder for someone like Kraimer to get used to the rhythm of movements needed to guard the ball and move around someone defending without causing a foul.

Luckily for me, Bertram was no good at this maneuvering either, so when Franny passed him the ball I swooped in and started my assault on the goal.

I was halfway there before both Bertram and his sister cut me off completely from advancing. I had no choice but to pick a freed up player and pass the ball. Almost everyone was marked, everyone except Kraimer.

It had to have been because none of the other kids felt confident enough to mark him, and the two on me left him wide open.

Without another moment's hesitation, I did a quick backing up maneuver to temporarily shake the two and then precisely passed it onto Kraimer.

He chose to drive the ball back towards their goal, but since the other kids had been preoccupied with marking their target they were unable to stop him from getting right up to the goalie.

Tragically, Kraimer misunderstood what the goalie was allowed to do, he kicked toward the further side of the goalie forcing the goalie to grab the ball with his hands.

"Hey! He touched the ball with his hands!"

"Kraimer, the goalie is the only one allowed to do that because he's the goalie."

"How does that make any sense?"

"He's specifically the only one who can do it because he has to stay behind to defend the goal with his entire body. I mean you can use your head to hit the ball too, and you can catch it with your chest too, but he's the only one who use his arms and hands."

"Oh."

For once, Kraimer accepted what I said at face value. It almost felt to me that he would continue to bicker but instead he calmed down and positioned himself for the goalie's kick.

The kick landed onto my team's side of the field, Phil personally made it to the ball first. It dawned on me that between Bertram and Kraimer, Bertram had the superior game sense.

Bertram didn't have the skills to play a one on one against me or even on par with his sister, but his intimidation alone was a key play. Meanwhile, Kraimer continued to play in the same way as if he could suddenly develop the skill necessary to score all on his own.

Bertram never really attempted to steal the ball when I had it either instead he acted as a stone wall that Franny used to box me in.

I didn't think I could use Kraimer that way, he didn't bother to pass to anyone from what I saw.

Not a wall, I thought of a better way to use Kraimer's driving skills. I would use him as a relay towards getting a goal. Bertram wasn't even intent on marking Kraimer, but I thought about his earlier kick. Kraimer had been acutely aware of how to aim and when to kick the ball. The goalie rules had stumped him, but now that it's been clarified I knew he wouldn't make the mistake again.

He could definitely score if I set it up for him again.

For the moment, I was tied up with trying to outmaneuver Franny. Another kid on my team managed to get himself free of his opponent and grabbed the ball as Phil shot at it towards him. The kid drove the ball back toward the opposing field.

"You know Franny, if your brother keeps playing like that your team will lose."

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"Hunh, as if you have a right to talk, your brother can't even make an easy goal."

"Yeah he can, just watch and learn."

Triggering the second technique from the fear style, I was able to fly towards an open section of the field.

I couldn't have chosen a better time. The kid on my team got intercepted and had the ball kicked away, there was now a loose ball right where I was headed.

Taking control of the ball, I slipped right through the defenders and began making my play to score a goal. I was almost in perfect position but then Francine and her brother got in the way. They attempted to pincer me but I was able to keep it in a stalemate. Using the fifth technique, I instantly spotted my brother.

I decided to go with my instinct and passed him the ball through an opportunistic nutmeg, this time on the older sibling.

The ball landed perfectly at Kraimer's feet. He committed to a one on one with the goalie, and this time Kraimer feinted a kick so convincingly the goalie jumped wildly. The other side of the net was wide open and Kraimer took the shot scoring the first goal of this sibling match.

Our team cheered him on as did the observing crowd. I caught Kraimer smiling subtly. It was good to know he was having actual fun.

The game wouldn't end until one of the two teams reached three goals.

With the ball now reset to the center it was left to me and Franny to retrieve for our teams.

I was right in front of the ball when Franny took a shot at it. The ball bounced off my knee unexpectedly and landed in front of Julia, who drove it past us both.

Franny and I followed behind and witnessed Bertram make a full sprint towards the unprotected area near the goal.

Julia arced it to Bertram who kicked it with all his weight. The goalie miraculously punched it back to the field. Bertram looked rightfully pissed. I would've been too considering the goalie on my team was the worse of the two we usually had. I had to rethink his standing after that.

Phil caught the loose ball and passed it over to me. I didn't hold back against Franny and I took the ball to the other side of the field in a flash.

I passed the ball to my teammates that were down the field, they kept passing it back to me. The confusion was enough to ward Bertram from heading to me.

Ball in tow, I dribbled up to the goalie and threw a quick direct shot. The goalie was able to swipe it out, but it was too late. My relay was already in place.

Kraimer vaulted into the air and smashed the ball inside the net with his head.

"Nice!"

I held out my hand to get a high-five, Kraimer didn't even make a fuss, he gladly made contact.

"Last one's yours."

"Alright."

It felt nice to be acknowledged by my brother. Only one goal left.

With the ball reset to the center, I took my position only to find it was Bertram himself that was going to fight for the ball this time.

He wasn't swift enough to stop me from grabbing the ball first like I had done the entire match.

Unluckily, Bertram started to get the hang of closing in on the ball himself, which made me wonder. Who was Franny marking?

I dribbled past him after consecutive pass feints. It didn't feel particularly hard, but he was already after me and catching up. Then an odd thing happened, another kid from Franny's team came up to cut me off.

With no choice left I was forced to pass the ball to another teammate.

My teammate posed no threat, he couldn't score in spite of being directly in front of the goal. He just wasn't very good at the one on one against the goalie, but he was good enough to drive the ball that close.

I started to search for Kraimer, that's when I realized their new strategy. Franny was the one marking Kraimer. I hadn't noticed because of Bertram's intimidating stature and Franny's perfectly synced covering.

Julia was marking her own brother on the other end of the field. All the players left open on my team were mediocre at best. Julia had picked the better players as always.

With one extra player on each team it wasn't a big deal. That was until they figured out it meant one more useful player for their team to utilize. However, Franny was making a big mistake, she should've been marking my brother from the beginning with the sole intent on stealing. Bertram could never pose a threat to me alone, that was why they ended up leaving my team with a less threatening player open.

I gave it my all and dashed for the ball near the goal. Bertram was aware of my intent but not my plan.

I was taking a gamble when they hadn't even scored a single time, but I had full confidence in my gut.

My teammate didn't wait to pass the ball to me then Bertram covered my right side. It was now impossible for me to score to the right side because of his stature and proper positioning.

The goalie guarded the remaining vulnerable sections of the goal. I didn't have a single good angle for the shot to make it in, yet I knew my brother was right there. Kraimer easily towered over Franny.

Julia suddenly appeared to the close the path I needed for my gamble. I didn't wait for the chance to disappear. I shot the ball, naturally the goalie easily saved that expected shot.

I placed my trust in Kraimer to finish the rest. The ball was heading for an out of bounds, but Kraimer launched himself high enough to catch the ball with his chest. Franny was caught off guard by it.

Kraimer now had to deal with both Francine and the goalie that were both blocking a direct shot into the goal. Even if it seemed hopeless to expect a new player to overcome this scenario, I wanted to believe. I chose to put my faith in Kraimer.

He wound up to execute his usual feint, Francine called his gamble. It wasn't a feint this time and it should've been a pass. However, Francine guessed he wouldn't fake it this time and punted the ball.

In a twist of fate, the ball was still headed in my direction. It was a much rougher and faster catch but I could make it. As for scoring a goal, it would be impossible with Bertram standing in my way again.

I let out a little giggle while I sprinted as fast as my short legs could take me. I knew what to do now. I turned my head to take a quick scan of the field.

The ball was still midair, I jumped with one leg leading and the other kicking the ball. The ball flew over Bertram's head and past the goalie's reach. I scored with a bicycle kick.

"Yeah!"

As an old man that kind of kick and fall afterwards would've hurt a lot, but as child it wasn't anything more than a scratch.

The game was over, three to zero.

Kraimer ran up to me and scooped me up before throwing me onto his back. He must've gotten caught in the same excitement as me. The rest of our team cheered us on. The observing crowd roared as well.

In all the chaos, Franny approached us. Kraimer set me down.

"Heh, I guess you're still the better player in the end."

"Nah, I just got lucky. I'm glad to have you as my competition, you're always pushing me to do better. Even if I feel like I don't have any tricks left. I had fun."

Francine tried to stop herself from smiling too hard at what I said.

"Me too. Even Bert said he had fun for once, saying it felt like he had a chance in this game. Although he was playing against us kids, despite his age."

Franny made a pouty face at the end.

"Please don't call me that in front of other people."

"Why? Mom calls you Berty all the time."

"That's different, anyway that's besides the point."

Bertram showed up, I wasn't sure what he came to say other than to tell his sister not to embarrass him.

"Fred, right?"

"Yeah."

"This game of yours was quite fun. I admittedly didn't see any good reason why my father decided to agree to my sister's whims and spend resources on stepping up those goals. Now, I kind of wonder if he'd be willing to add another set for the rest of us."

"Yeah, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."

"Don't get me wrong, you still humiliated me. Obviously as the game maker you would know better about how to play, but there were times where you were pressed as well."

"Of course, it's a team game. We all win or we all lose."

"Right. I also have to thank you for giving my sister an outlet for her own rambunctiousness. She's quite fond of your game."

"I know."

"Well then, It was good playing with you too Kraimer, I can understand now why your brothers idolize you."

"I'm unaware if it's truly admiration or a burden they'd rather leave to me. Surely you understand what I'm talking about?"

"Indeed. Until next time, if you'd be willing to play that is."

"We'll see."

Bertram and his sister walked off. Kraimer and I headed back to the market bench where Father awaited us.