One month later.
The field looked the same.
But everything else didn't.
The air felt heavier.
Sharper.
More serious.
Yusuke stepped onto the pitch without hesitation.
No slow walk.
No hands in his pockets.
Just straight onto the field.
His movements were cleaner now.
More direct.
More intentional.
The ball rolled toward him.
He didn't look down.
Didn't need to.
First touch.
Perfect.
Second touch.
Controlled.
He pushed forward
Then stopped.
Shot.
The ball slammed into the net.
No hesitation.
"…Again."
"Yo."
Riku's voice.
Yusuke didn't turn.
"You're early again," Riku said.
"…Normal."
Riku smirked.
"…Yeah. Sure."
Over the past month
things had changed.
Training wasn't light anymore.
It wasn't random.
It wasn't just drills.
It was constant.
Pressure.
Finishing.
Decision making.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Yusuke adjusted.
Not because he wanted to.
Because he had to.
"Oi!"
Yuma jogged in.
"You two started without us?"
"You're late," Hiroto said, walking behind him.
"I'm not late."
"You are."
Sora followed, stretching.
"I swear if we don't have a match soon, I'm gonna lose it."
"…You say that every day," Takumi replied.
"I mean it this time."
Then
footsteps.
Kaito.
He walked in.
On time.
Again.
No delay.
No attitude.
Just focused.
He grabbed a ball.
Shot.
Goal.
Grabbed another.
Shot.
Goal.
No wasted movement.
Yusuke watched.
"…You changed."
Kaito didn't look at him.
"…You did too."
Silence.
Riku clapped.
"Alright, enough."
Everyone gathered.
Daniel stepped forward.
Arms crossed.
"You've had a month."
No one spoke.
"A month to fix your problems."
His eyes moved across them.
"Some of you did."
A pause.
"Some of you didn't."
The tension returned.
Sharp.
Real.
"This next match," Daniel said, "is not like the last one."
No exaggeration.
Just fact.
"You will not outscore your mistakes."
Yusuke's eyes shifted slightly.
"You will not win through chaos."
A glance.
"You will not win alone."
Another glance.
Kaito didn't react.
"Play properly," Daniel said.
"Or don't play at all."
Silence.
Then
"Positions."
They moved.
No hesitation.
No talking.
The field felt different now.
Not unfamiliar.
Just… heavier.
Yusuke stepped into place.
Looked around.
Everyone was sharper.
More aware.
Even Yuma.
Even Sora.
Even Hiroto.
"…Took long enough," Yusuke muttered.
Riku stood over the ball.
"New game," he said.
"New level."
The whistle blew.
But before the ball moved
Yusuke looked ahead.
And saw them.
The next team.
Standing still.
Waiting.
Stronger.
Different.
And this time
Yusuke didn't feel bored.
Didn't feel neutral.
He felt it clearly.
"…Good."