The field was quiet.
Too quiet.
The sun had barely risen, casting a soft light across the worn grass. The air felt colder than usual, almost empty without the usual noise.
Yusuke stepped through the gate.
No voices.
No footsteps.
Just him.
"…Early."
He walked onto the pitch slowly, hands in his pockets.
No one else was there.
At least
That's what it looked like.
Yusuke spotted a ball near the sideline.
He walked over.
Stopped.
Then nudged it forward with his foot.
Light touch.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
No rush.
No pressure.
Just movement.
His feet adjusted naturally.
Closer control than before.
Cleaner.
Sharper.
He pushed the ball forward
Pulled it back
Shifted left
Then right.
"…Hah."
A quiet breath escaped him.
Not bored.
Not annoyed.
Just… focused.
"You came early."
Yusuke didn't stop.
He already knew who it was.
"…Just woke up."
Daniel D. stood a few meters away, arms crossed.
Watching.
He had been there the whole time.
"You weren't doing this two weeks ago," Daniel said.
Yusuke flicked the ball up slightly and caught it with his foot.
"…Didn't feel like it."
Daniel's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Now you do."
Yusuke didn't answer.
The ball dropped.
He controlled it again.
Clean.
Daniel watched.
"…Your touches are better."
"…Yeah."
"You're thinking less."
A pause.
"…and that's a problem."
Yusuke stopped.
Looked at him.
"…Scored five goals thinking less."
"Four," Daniel corrected.
"…Whatever."
Daniel stepped forward slightly.
"You acted. That worked."
Another pause.
"But you don't understand why it worked."
Yusuke stared at him.
"…Does it matter?"
"Yes."
Silence.
Yusuke looked down at the ball.
Then nudged it forward again.
"…I'll figure it out."
Daniel didn't respond.
Just watched.
Footsteps approached.
Voices.
The team.
"Yo why is he here already?" Yuma's voice.
"Did he sleep here or something?" Sora added.
Yusuke didn't react.
Riku walked in, spotting him immediately.
"…You're early."
"…So?"
Riku smirked.
"Nothing. Just weird."
"…Shut up."
Sora jogged over, stretching.
"Look at him training alone," he said. "He's locked in now."
"…I'm not."
"Sure."
Takumi walked past, glancing once.
"…He's different."
That was all he said.
Hiroto yawned.
"…Too early."
"Then don't come," Yuma said.
"Wish I could."
More footsteps.
Then
Silence.
Kaito.
He walked in last.
Didn't look at anyone.
Didn't say anything.
Just grabbed a ball and started shooting.
Hard.
Fast.
No buildup.
No passes.
Just shots.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
"…Yeah, he's still mad," Yuma muttered.
"No shit," Hiroto said.
Riku scratched his head.
"…This is gonna be annoying."
Yusuke watched Kaito for a second.
Then looked away.
"…Not my problem."
"Alright."
Daniel's voice cut in.
Everyone gathered.
No delay.
"Today's focus," Daniel said, "finishing."
A few players straightened.
"No hesitation," he continued. "No wasted chances."
His eyes moved across the team.
"You saw what happens when you hesitate."
Silence.
"You also saw what happens when you don't."
A brief glance at Yusuke.
Then away.
"Line up."
Balls were set.
First drill.
Pass.
Touch.
Shot.
"Takumi."
Takumi stepped forward.
Ball came in.
Clean first touch.
Shot.
Low.
Precise.
Goal.
"Next."
"Sora."
Sora stepped up.
Grin.
Ball came
He added flair.
Step.
Spin.
Shot
Wide.
"Too slow," Daniel said.
"…Relax," Sora muttered.
"Yuma."
Ball came.
Yuma blasted it.
Powerful.
Over.
"Control," Daniel said.
"…It was close."
"It wasn't."
"Next."
"Kaito."
Kaito stepped forward.
Silent.
Ball came.
No extra touch.
Shot.
Clean.
Goal.
No reaction.
He walked off immediately.
"…Okay," Riku muttered.
Yusuke watched.
"…Straight."
"Yusuke."
He stepped up.
Ball rolled in.
Same setup.
Same moment.
The field went quiet.
For just a second.
Yusuke didn't pause.
First touch
Perfect.
Shot
Clean.
Goal.
No hesitation.
No extra movement.
Daniel watched.
"…Better."
Yusuke stepped back.
"…Yeah."
"Next drill."
Daniel pointed.
"1v1."
Attackers and defenders split.
"Score or stop."
Simple.
"Yusuke."
He stepped forward.
"Daichi."
Daichi cracked his neck slightly.
"…Don't get through."
"…Move."
Ball rolled in.
Yusuke pushed forward.
Daichi stepped in.
Strong.
Physical.
Yusuke tried to shift
Daichi held.
Body contact.
Heavy.
Yusuke lost balance slightly.
Ball taken.
"…Tch."
"Too light," Daichi said.
"Next."
"Ren."
Ball rolled again.
Yusuke approached.
Slower this time.
Ren stayed calm.
Yusuke feinted.
Ren didn't move.
Yusuke cut
Ren adjusted.
Still there.
"…annoying."
Yusuke pushed again.
Then
Sudden burst.
Ren reacted
Late.
Yusuke slipped past.
Shot.
Goal.
"…Good," Ren said.
"Next."
Kaito stepped forward.
"…I'll go."
A pause.
No one stopped him.
Yusuke looked at him.
"…Fine."
Ball rolled.
Kaito attacked first.
Fast.
Direct.
Yusuke stepped in.
Kaito shifted.
Shot.
Goal.
"…Too slow," Kaito said.
They reset.
Now Yusuke's turn.
He moved forward.
Kaito stepped.
Aggressive.
Yusuke didn't slow.
Didn't hesitate.
He pushed past him
Clean.
Shot.
Goal.
Silence.
Then
"…Tch," Kaito clicked his tongue.
"Don't think you're better because of one game."
Yusuke looked at him.
"…Then prove it."
Tension.
Sharp.
Clear.
No one interrupted.
Daniel stepped in.
"Enough."
They separated.
Daniel looked at both of them.
"Strikers decide games."
A pause.
"But bad decisions lose them."
Silence.
"You're both useful."
Another pause.
"Don't make me regret it."
They said nothing.
"Next."
Final drill.
Team play.
Quick passes.
Finish.
Riku took control.
"Move!"
Ball moved.
Hiroto.
Takumi.
Back to Riku.
Yusuke moved.
Sharp.
Into space.
Riku saw it.
Passed.
Perfect.
Yusuke received.
Shot.
Goal.
Clean.
Again.
Again.
Flow building.
"…That's better," Riku said.
Training ended.
Players dropped.
Tired.
Breathing heavy.
"Finally," Hiroto muttered.
Yuma stretched.
"I'm dead."
Sora laughed.
"You're always dead."
Kaito grabbed his stuff.
Left.
Again.
"…He's really mad," Sora said.
"Yeah," Riku replied.
Yusuke stayed.
For a moment.
Looking at the field.
Quiet again.
"…Not bad."
His foot shifted slightly.
Like before.
But different now.
Not empty.
Not bored.
Focused.
"…I want more."
He turned.
Started walking.