The sun hung low in the crisp morning sky as the teams gathered on the makeshift field behind the inn. The cool breeze carried the sounds of chatter and the faint rustle of leaves, but the tension in the air was palpable. Today's practice match was set between Seiryuu High and Daikyo High, two teams with vastly different reputations.
Jack Mercer stood in the middle of the field, stretching his arms overhead as if this were any other day. Opposite him, Daikyo's coach—a tall, broad-shouldered man with salt-and-pepper hair named Coach Okabe—gave his team a fiery pep talk. Daikyo's players, led by their quarterback Kenshiro, radiated confidence, their focused expressions in stark contrast to Seiryuu's more laid-back demeanor.
"All right, listen up!" Jack called, clapping his hands to gather Seiryuu's attention. "This is a practice match, but don't take it lightly. Daikyo's no pushover, and you're here to prove why you're a threat."
