"Kids, are you guys ready for tomorrow's match?" The coach asked as we all stood in line waiting for his instructions.
"Yes sir!!" We responded as he nodded in approval.
"Don't think you'll not be in trouble if you fail. Don't go out and play with the mindset that you'll keep living the way you've always lived. I'll be telling you guys your positionsfor the match so listen carefully, now." He said looking at Sugawara.
*Hmm?*
"Sugawara Misaki, please come to the front." He said as she walked to the front beside him.
"Yes sir."
"You won't be playing tomorrow, you guys try your best not to be exhausted tomorrow cause I won't want her playing in any match." He said.
"But, why?" Hayashi asked.
"Football is a sports played by 11 people in each team excluding the substitutes, they added one person to your squad to help me, the coach. Now it's my decision to find someone who can help me instruct you guys, and I picked her." He said.
"Now for your positions, Saitō Koenji, Gk."
"Yes sir."
"Watabe Ryuto lb, Nakamura Yusuke Rb, Hayashi Chika and Tamura Hinami Cb." He called.
"Yes sir."
"Ueta Suzune, Yamazake Akane, Cm."
"Yes sir."
"Kisho Akatsuki Lm, Kiichi Kimishita, Rm."
"Yes sir."
"Oshiba Atsushi Amf and Tanaka Akaji, you'll be the Cf, got that?" He asked.
"Yes sir."
"We'll be going with the 4-2-3-1 formation."
"But sir, Oshiba hasn't played in a real match before,why should he be the Attacking Midfielder?" Watabe asked clenching his fists.
"Hmmm? Well, it's cause I wanted him to, that's all. I won't tell you guys to rest or train, it's all up to you." He said.
"Sir, would we be getting numbers or Jerseys?" Akaji asked.
"No, this isn't a real match, more like an exhibition or should I call it training, we'll you'll put on vests." He answered.
"Okay, thank you." Akaji said as the coach walked out of the sitting room.
"Tch, why do I have to stay Fullback?" Nakamura asked slamming his fist on the wall.
*How pitiful.* I thought without batting an eye.
"Don't mind, we'll all still be playing." Akaji said smiling.
*Why did he put me up front? And he looked like he believed i could do it. Well, it doesn't really matter, I'll do my best upfront.* I thought walking up the stairs, my hands in my pocket.
I had this bad feeling that we'd fail to win this match since thought the last month we didn't practice together. They practiced together whenever they felt like, for few minutes at that.
*Lazy bastards.*
The other group didn't even want to engage in anything we did except Akaji the snake. He always spoke with us and smiled like we were friends.
"Are you still thinking of them?" Akatsuki asked walking into the training room.
"48...49...Huh?" I asked doing my press-up.
"Are you worried about tomorrow?"
"It's only natural that I'd be worried." I said standing up and gulping down a bottle of water.
"Am not especially bothered, am sure we can do it, even if it's the two of us." He said.
"Am not so sure."
*Yeah am not, we need to do this as a team.* I thought.
"Why do you say so?"
"Well cause, they might try to play without including us." I replied.
"Yeah, I think you're right." He said his hands under his chin.
"Well, I'll just do my part and leave the rest for the others." I said.
"So, you don't want to practice today?" He asked.
"Nah, it'll just be a bother tomorrow, I'll just go in and do whatever I can with my phone." I replied walking out of the room.
"Okay, let's go have a nice chat." He said smiling as we walked out.
"Oh look, looks like they decided to hit the field for reals now." Akatsuki said when we got out.
"It's their problem not mine, I just hope they won't destroy the match for us, I don't quite trust them.
"Hey, don't get too cocky Atsushi!" Watabe shouted kicking a ball to me.
"Hmm?" I asked shifting aside for the ball to go past me.
"Don't think you're good just cause the coach gave you a forward position." He said as Akatsuki juggled the ball.
"Why's that?" I asked.
"Cause you can't play, he just gave you the position just because." He said with a smirk. "Just so you know, you won't be getting any passes."
"Hmm? You said something about the coach giving me that position." I said as Akatsuki passed the ball to me which I juggled.
"Yes, and so?"
"Don't you think it's cause of your incompetence as a forward that you were given a full back?" I asked shooting the ball back to him.
"Huh? You bastard!!💢" He screamed trying to run towards me.
"Hey! Stop that Ryuto." Akaji said holding him back.
"Tch."
"And Atsushi-kun, please, that wasn't nice at all." He said.
"Ho? Really? Why didn't you speak up when Ryuto was speaking to him?" Akatsuki asked.
"Well..."
"Nothing to say, huh? I really don't care either way, your anger won't get you anywhere you see, so please don't vent it out on me." I said as we walked out.
"That bastard!!" He screamed.
"Ha ha, why did you sound so villainous?" Akatsuki asked when we got up.
"Well he was being annoying, and I wasn't that mean, I just countered what he said."
"Oh?"
"Leave me alone Akatsuki." I said lying on his bed.
"Tomorrow's match, would be wild." He said smiling.