The next morning, we all sat in the sitting room waiting for the coach. We were having a chat before we saw him yawning.
"Hmm, looks like you guys have solved everything." He said walking down the stairs.
"Good day sir." We greeted standing from our seats.
We were all wearing our tracksuits waiting for instructions on what would be our drill for the days training.
"And it also looks like you guys are pumped up for todays training. Am happy to see that." He said, his hands at his back.
"Yes sir." We answered.
"What got you all so pumped up?"
"Well, you see..."
"Haha, that sounds like a great speech coming from you, Oshiba-san." He said laughing.
*Tchh, they're still making fun of me.* I thought looking away.
"Alright, let's get to business."
"I don't know if you guys would be happy about this or not but I've thought up a new strategy for your training."
*Hmm.*
"The higher ups decided that you guys would be playing few matches with few groups in our group."
"We'll be playing few games before the main tournament begins."
"They're 26 different clubs in your group, but the groups have 2 divisions. A and B."
"I don't quite get it." Watabe said.
"Group A consists of 13 clubs and so do Group B. We'll be taking 12 clubs from Group A to face 12 clubs from Group B."
"Sir, I thought you mentioned 13 a group."
"I did."
"The club with the lowest points would end their career, meaning they'll be sone for. So, you guys need to aim for the first 12 positions." He said.
"I seriously don't follow."
"The higher authorities didn't actually want it this way, but they decided to spice things up a little, for fun." He said.
*These higher ups seem messed up in their brains if they're really looking to start killing. They really don't want to waste any time.* I thought as the others murmured.
"Sir, when would the match be starting?" Akaji asked.
"Next week."
"Huh?! Next week?!"
"Yeah, that's right, next week marks the day for the first match."
"Do we know who we'll be up against?"
"No, we might not even have a match next week."
"Why?"
"Cause it's a match within your group, it's gonna take weeks, even months to complete so they decided to make it two matches a day, they expect it to be take time."
"What's up with this?"
"Not to worry, we'll begin our training like you want us to, but first... "
"When he said but first I thought he wanted to tell us something more important, but now, why the hell are we running 50 laps?!" Kimishita asked.
"For reals, does he wanna kill us?" Akatsuki asked.
"Now now guys, let's just go with this, although I don't know the reason for it." Akaji said smiling.
*I already figured that out. Normally if I run for less than an hour I'll get tired, but it helped to avoid getting burned out.* I thought smiling.
"You look kinda happy about this, what's going on?" Sugawara asked as she ran towards me with Ueta.
"Nothing really, just felt like things are getting more interesting." I replied.
"You really are a great player, I didn't expect you to go so big." She said.
"Nah, am not that great."
*I think am still lacking, in many ways.*
"You trying to be humble?" Akatsuki asked running beside me.
"Shut up."
"Haha."
"Fuck, its still 30 and am already worn out." Kimishita said.
"Me too." Yusuke said as we all stopped.
"You sure this isn't a punishment?" Watabe asked.
"Seems like it is."
"Kids, it's remaining 20 more, get your assessment moving!" The coach shouted.
"Can we -- rest for a bit?" Akaji asked breathing heavily.
"5 minutes. I give you 5 minutes." He said as we all heaved a sigh of relief.
"Water." Tamura said walking into the dorm as we all followed suit.
"18-19-20..." Akatsuki counted before jumping down.
"I wonder how this will help us out in the field."
We were doing chin ups(push ups)
"I don't know but, looks like I'm up." Akaji said.
"You can do it." Tamura said.
"Urgh, the girls have it easy." Nakamura said.
"For reals."
"Hmm, are you guys jealous?" Hayashi asked smiling.
"Huh? Why should we be?" Watabe asked.
"Well cause you guys are doing extra stuff."
"We have no problem with that."
"Huh? Well then, good luck." She said as they walked out.
"Tchh. I wish I was a girl too."
"Dude, don't say sad stuffs like that."
At the end of the whole drill, we were given cup ramen as our dinner.
"I would say, this training became a punishment." I said jumping on my bed.
"Yeah, seems like you guys had it rough." Ueta said.
"Yeah, kinda. My back feels sore."
"Want me to give you a massage?"
"Huh?!"
"No, I was just kidding." She said turning off the light.
*But you looked like you were serious about that.*
"If it's not a problem for you." I said looking away.
"R-really?"
"See, you wanted to."
"Get lost!" She shouted, throwing a pillow at me as I burst into laughter.