"Looks like the joint training was a success." Coach Haruya said.
"Yeah it sure was." Ryuto said.
"I got way better than I was." Chika said.
*The training was really good. I feel kinda different from before. But I still can't break through. Why's that?* I thought as the coach smiled at me.
"Okay! Y'all should get ready. You'll be having a practice match against the guys from Mimori. Make sure you don't let me down."
"I thought it was over."
"Well, it's good to test how good we are now."
"When…"
"Probably…"
*Ha… I'll just have to watch how everything plays out. After all, I'm not alone in this. I'm sure they've improved too so we've got a chance.*
"Atsushi." The coach called.
"Yes coach!"
"You should be able to discuss the tactics with the team, right?" He asked.
"Y-yeah. I guess."
"Well, the game's in a few hours. By 5:30. Don't fail me, Atsushi-kun." He said.
"I won't."
He smiled and waved at us before walking out.
"It's only a few minutes to 4. Why don't we plan our tactics before the match?" I asked.
"Yeah."
"Seems cool."
"Fuck, I'm pumped up!"
*Ha… thank goodness.* I smiled as we walked to the club room.
☆☆☆
Whistle…
"Haha, show me how you guys have improved." Takahashi Hayato said as they began making passes.
BEFORE THE MATCH:
"The guys from Mimori are really good but we aren't bad either. It's like they've got their personal abilities. Things that feel abnormal. They create their abilities from basic skills and they're really good at it. From the two weeks of training with them, I've kinda gotten to know a bit about how they play." I said as the others listened to me.
Tap…
"Well, as they start, they'll surely want to go offensive to make us feel confused. With that, our formation would be…"
Tap…
GAME.
"He's really going for the post." Akaji said.
"Don't break your formation." I said as Kenji dribbled past Akatsuki.
"Hehe." He laughed, running forward.
"Huh?" He asked, looking at his leg.
B4 MATCH.
"To make it a decisive victory, their forward, Okada Kenji would be given more time with the ball. He might not look it but he's really prideful. He's almost perfected his dribbling so immediately he dribbles past one of us, he'll be pretty full of himself. That's when you come in…"
GAME.
"Where the fuck did you come from?" Kenji asked.
Yusuke played a through pass to Akaji who ran forward with the ball.
B4 M.
"Yusuke. You're… well… more or less… unnoticed." I said, looking away as they others snickered.
"Pfft…" Thet tried sniffling their laughters.
"Hey! How am I unnoticed?"
"You've kinda, you know. Changed. You're more… low-key. And moreover, during your training you were learning stealth, right?" I asked.
"Stealth?"
"Yeah, kinda. But I've not perfected it. He might notice me." He said.
"No, I'm pretty sure he won't. It might be troublesome later in the match but you'll get the first ball."
"Ah… thanks bro."
"Stealth?"
"Shut up."
GAME.
"Haha, I see." Kenji said, chuckling before facing me.
I smiled at him as Akaji ran forward.
"Gotcha." Shinji said smiling.
Akaji paused for a while before faking a run to his left then his right.
"Ah, you almost got me." Shinji said looking smug before going for the ball.
"Been waiting for a while." Akaji said, making a through pass to me.
"Sorry, had to shake 'em off." I said, running forward with the ball.
"You weren't gonna push through? Be a man dude." Shinji said.
"It's called team play dude." Akaji said, jogging to my position.
As I ran forward, their Right Midfielder appeared before me.
*Miyazaki Natsumi. Still don't know where she appears from but I've been watching her for a while so I can see her movements. There you are.* I thought, tapping the ball backwards.
"What?" She asked as Yusuke ran forward and got control of the ball.
"Nice pass." He said, running forward.
Natsumi ran towards him, giving him the chance to pass back to me.
"Tsk."
I moved forward a little before making a long corner towards the right side of the field.
"No one's there, though."
"No, someone is." Yusuke said as Akatsuki ran towards the ball, jumped as the ball hit his chest.
"Your passes got better, too?" He asked, running towards the post.
"Won't let you." Hiroto said, standing in front of him.
"Don't be a meanie. Let me get the first!" He shouted, shooting the ball towards the post.
"Hmph! You might've had a chance if you passed or dribbled. Like Hayato would… what?" He asked as Akaji ran towards the ball, jumped, and used the sole of his foot to kick it into the post.
"We got the first goal." Akatsuki said.
"How?"
B4 the game.
"Yusuke, Akaji, Akatsuki. We'll try getting the first goal. We need to do our best to get the first one. If they score first, the balance will be shifted, and they'll get more advantage in the game. So here's the strategy…"
"I see. Since their focus would be on you."
"Yeah, so Yusuke, you've gotta be close. Akaji takes my position. Akatsuki, don't act like you're ready to score. Stay behind, and I'll make sure the ball gets to you or in front of you."
"Okay!"
"Hiroto is really good at pressing whoever he's marking, so Akatsuki, you just shoot the ball towards the post."
"Won't they get the ball, though?" Koenji asked.
"Yeah, if they weren't focusing on Akatsuki, Yusuke, and I that is. That's where you come up again, Akaji. Try to kick it into the post. Their keeper would still think they've got the ball, but you'll take him unawares and kick the ball into the net. I'm sure you can do that." I said.
"If things go well, that is. I'll try my best, Captain." He said, smiling.
"Haha, sounds solid. Why am I not included, though?" Kimishita asked.
"Not included? Of course you are. If the first plan doesn't work, there's a second where you're the main focus. The first will work, though, and we'll get the second with your help." I said.
"Heh… sounds good. Tell me, what am I to do?"
"Well…"