"Hah, i can't believe tomorrow's new year." Akatsuki said heading the ball to me.
"Yeah, it almost new year, I wonder what next year holds in store for us." I said catching the ball with my chest and juggling it before passing it back to him.
"Yeah, me too. Somehow I feel excited for next year."
"Same here, practice would start again, I really can't wait."
"Mmhm."
"Hey guys." Akaji called walking into the field with a smile.
*Hah😮💨, this guy.*
"Sup' Tanaka-san." Akatsuki said smiling.
"Hey." He said to Akatsuki before looking at me. "Hey, Atsushi-kun."
"Oh, hey."
"Why'd you come outside, thought you guys were having fun?" Akatsuki asked.
"Oh, they've all gone to bed, I wanted to join you guys, I'm excited for new year, so I want to stay awake for it." He said smiling.
*How did he know we were here, sounds like someone's been up to something.*
"Cool then, I have no problem with you joining us, Atsu?" He asked me.
"Yeah, it doesn't bother me either way." I said passing the ball to Akatsuki.
"It's almost 12 so let's have fun."
"Yeah."
"Happy new year." Ueta said smiling at me.
"Same to you." I said smiling.
*She finally spoke to me.* I thought jumping on my bed.
"Feeling lazy first thing in the morning?" She asked.
"Kinda."
*We kept playing till 2, am beat.* I thought rolling on the bed.
"Am going down to join the others, see ya." She said walking out of the room.
"Yeah." I said closing my eyes.
*Am sooooo tired. I had a strange dream yesterday.* I thought placing my arm on my forehead.
"Wake up Atsushi-kun!!" Akatsuki shouted kicking the door open.
"God! Can't you see am sleeping?!"
"Get your lazy ass outta bed." He said dragging me up.
"Hey! Stop that!"
"Come- and prepare breakfast." He said as he dragged me up.
"Geez, it's still too early for that, what are you guys?" I asked trying to kick him.
"Come on, let's go down." He said as I sighed.
"Let's go." I said as he smiled.
"Good." He said putting his hands on my shoulder.
"Stop that, am too weak to stand on my own." I said slapping his arm.
We went down together and prepared breakfast.
"For reals, theirs nothing to do again, it's already new year and the coach isn't back." I said lying on the field with Akatsuki.
"Yeah, it's getting boring."
"Mm-hm."
"I expected Tanaka to gather the whole team for practice but it seems like he doesn't wanna."
"Yeah."
*I don't trust that guy one bit.*
"Hey guys." Someone said.
*Don't tell me it's him again.* I thought.
"Oh, hey Koenji." Akatsuki said as I sat up and turned around.
"Oh, how's it going?" Saitō asked.
"We're doing great."
"So um... I planned on practicing with others but they said they were busy so I came here looking for you guys, do you guys think you can spare sometime for me?" He asked.
*Whoa, looks like we have another hardworker.* I thought smiling.
"So Saitō, what do you want to train for?" I asked.
"Gk, I think that's what my role would be when we start." He said rubbing the back of his neck.
"Cool, am up for it." Akatsuki said.
"Yeah, me too." I said as we grabbed our ball.
"We won't go easy on you."
"I don't expect you guys to." He said smiling.
*He must be happy.* I thought smiling at him.
"Let's go! Akatsuki!"
"Whoa, that was fun." Akatsuki said as we gulped down our bottle of water and used a towel to dry ourselves.
"Yeah, thanks again guys." Saitō said smiling.
"It's no biggie, come to us again whenever you want to." I said.
"Cool, and call me Koenji, it seems weird hearing you call me Saitō." He said.
"Don't you like the name?" I asked lying on the floor.
"It's not that, we've been together for more than a month now, thought we should build a brotherly bond." He said.
"Brotherly bond, haha." I laughed.
"Am not joking though."
"Okay, Koenji." I said as he nodded.
"Yeah."
After resting a bit, we decided to keep playing for some hours before we decided to call it a day.
"I'll be here again tomorrow." He said walking out.
"Cool, can't wait." Akatsuki said waving at him.
"How'd you like it, Atsushi-kun?" He asked.
"It was fun, I haven't played like that before."
"So you still didn't play in any soccer club since you were a child?" He asked.
"Yeah, how'd you know?" I asked looking at him.
"Intuition, but anyone that sees how you play won't believe you stopped playing in middle school." He said.
"Yeah, but I can't remember telling anyone about that." I said as he smiled.
"It's just a guess."
"Nah, it can't be, so tell me... Akatsuki-San, how'd you know about all that when I haven't told you anything about myself." I said.
*If my guess is correct, then...*