Over the next few days, the strength of Seiryuu High School's flag football team became a hot topic among the region's top schools. Whispers spread quickly, and soon, even the most prestigious teams were paying attention. Seiryuu's unexpected performance against Kogane High had sparked interest, particularly in one name: Sota Kazemachi.
Some of the schools recognized the name immediately. Sota had once been a rising star in the junior football league, his skills as a quarterback unmatched by his peers. The sudden appearance of his name in connection with Seiryuu High set the rumor mills spinning. It wasn't long before Sota's name became one of the top searches on the internet, drawing even more attention to Seiryuu.
The school's popularity soared as people speculated about the potential of their flag football team. Could Seiryuu High be the next big thing? Could they challenge the region's top teams? The excitement grew, and so did the pressure on Aiko and her fledgling team.
Among the many schools eager to test Seiryuu's strength was a particularly formidable one: Tsubasa Academy. Known for their disciplined and highly skilled team, Tsubasa Academy was no stranger to regional championships. When they heard of Seiryuu's potential, they wasted no time in sending a challenge.
The match was set, and the anticipation was palpable. But there was one problem: Sota had no intention of playing. Despite Aiko's best efforts to convince him, he remained firm in his decision to stay off the field. The memories of his past injuries loomed large in his mind, and the thought of risking everything again was too much to bear.
Without Sota, Seiryuu's team was severely weakened. As the match against Tsubasa Academy approached, the team's morale dipped, and Aiko's worries grew. She knew that without their star player, they were at a significant disadvantage.
The day of the match arrived, and the atmosphere was tense. Tsubasa Academy's team, tall and confident, strode onto the field with an air of superiority. They had heard the rumors, but they weren't intimidated. In fact, they were eager to prove that Seiryuu was no match for them.
From the very beginning, it was clear that Seiryuu was outmatched. Tsubasa's players were fast, coordinated, and ruthless. They exploited every weakness in Seiryuu's defense, scoring points with ease. Without Sota's leadership and skill, Seiryuu struggled to keep up.
The crowd, initially buzzing with excitement, grew quieter as the game progressed. The final score was a humiliating defeat for Seiryuu. Tsubasa Academy had won by a landslide, leaving no doubt in anyone's mind who the superior team was.
After the match, the buzz around Seiryuu High quickly died down. The internet, once abuzz with Sota's name, now turned its attention elsewhere. The brief moment of fame had passed, and Seiryuu was left to pick up the pieces.
To top it all off, Tsubasa High didn't even use their team. They just used their bench warmers to go against Seiryuu High.
Initially, they planned to gauge the school's level by sending out their club applicants first. They thought that maybe, Seiryuu would overwhelm them and then the players could sub in and get the ball rolling.
However, that wasn't what happened. In fact, it was the opposite. The club applicants dumped on Seiryuu as if they were trash cans, and they won overwhelmingly, piling up points which ultimately led to a score of 115-0. It was basically a one-sided massacre.
Aiko was devastated. She had hoped that the match would prove Seiryuu's worth, but instead, it had only highlighted their weaknesses. The team was demoralized, and the pressure on her as the manager was mounting. She needed to find a solution, and fast.
The next day, Aiko mulled over their options. She knew that they couldn't continue like this. If Seiryuu was going to stand a chance against the top schools, they needed more than just a good strategy—they needed guidance, expertise, and someone who could bring out the best in them.
That's when it hit her: they needed a professional coach.
It was a bold idea, and one that would take considerable effort to pull off. But Aiko was determined. She could no longer sit back and hope that things would work out. The team needed a leader, someone with experience, who could train them, mold them, and turn them into a force to be reckoned with.
As she sat in the quiet of the clubroom, Aiko resolved to make it happen. She would find a coach who could guide them to victory, someone who could unlock the team's potential. It wouldn't be easy, but she knew it was their best shot at turning things around.
With renewed determination, Aiko got to work. She would do whatever it took to find the right coach, someone who could transform Seiryuu's ragtag group into a team that could truly compete. The failures of the past few days only fueled her resolve. She was ready to push forward, no matter the challenges ahead.
As she left the clubroom, Aiko felt a sense of purpose she hadn't felt in a long time. She wasn't just going to sit by and let Seiryuu's potential go to waste. She was going to find a coach who could bring out the best in each player, who could teach them the skills and strategies they needed to win.
Aiko's mind was already racing with possibilities. She knew it wouldn't be easy to convince a professional coach to take on a high school team, especially one that had just suffered a crushing defeat. But she was determined to try. The future of Seiryuu's flag football team depended on it, and she was ready to do whatever it took to turn things around.
The next steps would be crucial, and Aiko was ready to face them head-on. She had a plan, and now it was time to put it into action. The road ahead might be difficult, but Aiko was determined to lead Seiryuu High to victory—no matter what.
"Still, I'll continue to convince Sota to join. If he joins, then we'll truly be unstoppable." Aiko said to herself, clenching her fist and pumping it in the air.