"So what about the fees?"
Ryōsuke had earned considerable prize money from his competition performances, but he wasn't sure about the cost of hiring a dedicated trainer. Despite his local fame, he was still just a high school player, not a professional athlete.
"It's... completely... free!" Riko exclaimed, waggling her index finger.
"That doesn't seem right — I've heard professional trainers are quite expensive..."
"Don't worry about it! You're a celebrity in our area! Having you train at our gym is like advertising for us. Your promotional value will offset the training fees! What do you think?"
Looking at the enthusiastic girl before him, Ryōsuke considered the offer.
This was his best option. With only a week before heading to Blue Lock, his physical strength wasn't yet sufficient to support using the system's skills.
The others there were like monsters who defied normal limits, and his natural talent wouldn't give him much advantage against them. He needed to make up for these shortcomings — fast.
He had to strengthen his body quickly. One week wasn't much time, but he couldn't waste a single moment.
"Thanks so much, Riko!" He nodded.
"Then let's head out now! Follow me!"
Riko walked with light steps, leading Ryōsuke to the gym her father operated.
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Soon, Ryōsuke arrived with Riko at the Aida Sports Gym.
It was still early morning, and there weren't many people there yet.
"Riko, didn't you go for a morning run? How are you back so—" A muscular middle-aged man walked out.
He had the same brown hair as Riko but wore a fierce expression, fixing Ryōsuke with what seemed like murderous intent.
Kagetora Aida, Riko's father.
In his youth, he had been an excellent athlete — a former basketball player for the Japanese National Team, no less. After retiring, he became a professional trainer and now runs his own sports gym.
"Are you... Ryōsuke Kira?" Kagetora's eyebrows twitched; he hadn't expected the local soccer star to come here.
After Riko explained the situation to her father, his expression softened.
"I see. Well then, Riko, I'll leave him entirely in your care." Kagetora looked at Ryōsuke, sized him up, then nodded, "You can use any equipment in the gym."
"Thank you very much." Ryōsuke nodded to him.
"Come with me, Ryōsuke." Riko quickly led him to a corner of the sports gym, taking out paper and pen.
She observed his body, analyzing his metrics, while her right hand moved swiftly across the paper, writing notes.
She had completely entered work mode — meticulous and focused, as if nothing around her could break her concentration.
In just a few minutes, the white paper was filled with writing. Riko put down her pen and met his gaze.
"Alright, the plan is mostly set. Ryōsuke, first tell me what areas you think you need to improve?"
"Physical strength and endurance." As he spoke, Ryōsuke unconsciously glanced at his right leg.
"That's right — it's crucial, but there's much more to consider. While your physical condition and training level are quite good for a high school player, there's still room for improvement. Your high school team's traditional training methods aren't suitable for you anymore. You need higher-intensity, professional training to prepare for your future career."
Riko paused thoughtfully.
"You're working this hard because of the upcoming national tournament, right?"
"Yes, that's true, but there's an even more important reason. I'm preparing for something."
Ryōsuke told her about receiving the Blue Lock invitation, since it wasn't really a secret.
"There will be special closed training..." She trailed off, curious, "So you're training intensively now to be in better condition for the camp?"
"Yes." He answered firmly, "Top players from all over the country will be there, and I refuse to lose to any of them."
Although Ryōsuke wasn't particularly passionate about soccer at the moment, once he set a goal for himself, he pursued it with everything he had.
Perhaps this was the stubborn streak from his previous life as a manga artist.
Riko studied his eyes silently. After seeing the determination in his gaze, her face lit up with a bright smile, and she handed him the list she had written.
"Then let's give it our all! But I should warn you — there's no room for slacking in my training. I'm very strict, and being a local soccer star won't earn you any special treatment."
"Don't worry, I'll follow Coach Riko's instructions to the letter." Ryōsuke said with a playful smile.
"Then let's begin."
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After some preparation work, Ryōsuke began following Riko's training list.
First was core strength training.
The core — the body's midsection between the shoulders and hips — includes vital muscle groups that stabilize the center of gravity and channel force throughout the body. These muscles act as a power center and pivot point for all limb movements.
A strong core provides essential stability for posture, athletic performance, and specialized movements in sports.
For any athlete, core strength is fundamental.
They began with basic planks, which Ryōsuke found easy. But the difficulty soon ramped up with dynamic planks, alternating side raises, and side plank hip raises. While these exercises looked simple, maintaining proper form through multiple repetitions demanded considerable strength.
Riko's training program was both intense and focused.
Having seen Ryōsuke's determination, she knew she couldn't go easy on him.
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