The next morning, Yuto woke up with a dull ache in his legs, a reminder of the 5-kilometer run he had completed. He winced as he stretched, but the pain didn't bother him as much as it normally would. Instead, he felt a strange sense of accomplishment. The system had given him a task, and he had completed it. More than that, he had pushed himself in a way he hadn't before.
[ Quest Complete: Stamina Boost (Level 1) unlocked. ]
The message still hovered faintly in the back of his mind, but what caught his attention was something new.
[ New Quest Available: Improve Ball Control. ]
[ Objective: Juggle the ball 100 times without dropping it. ]
[ Reward: Ball Control Boost (Level 1). ]
Yuto blinked at the words. The system was relentless. It wasn't just going to let him rest after one achievement. His heart sank a little. Juggling 100 times? That wasn't something he could do easily. He'd seen players like Ryota pull off impressive ball tricks, but Yuto had always struggled with juggling beyond 20 or 30.
Still, this was part of the deal. The system wasn't going away, and if he wanted to become a better player, he needed to push through the challenges, no matter how difficult they seemed.
Yuto found himself at the local park again, the same spot where he had completed his run the previous day. He had brought an old, battered football with him, one that had seen better days. He placed the ball at his feet and took a deep breath.
"Alright," he muttered. "Let's see what I can do."
He tapped the ball lightly with his right foot, sending it into the air. It wobbled a little as it came back down, but he managed to catch it with his left. One, two, three—he counted the juggles in his head, focusing intensely on keeping the ball up.
Ten, eleven, twelve.
The ball slipped away from him, hitting the ground after the twelfth juggle. Yuto sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
"This is going to be harder than I thought."
He picked up the ball again and started over, determined to make progress. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to get past fifteen without the ball slipping out of his control.
After his fifth failed attempt, he kicked the ball in frustration. It bounced off a tree and rolled into the grass, disappearing into a bush. Yuto flopped down on the bench nearby, feeling the weight of the task bearing down on him.
'What am I doing?' he thought bitterly. 'I can't even juggle properly. How am I supposed to become a better player if I can't even complete this stupid quest?'
He stared up at the sky, the clouds drifting lazily overhead. The system had given him abilities, but it wasn't going to do all the work for him. He still had to put in the effort, and the reality of how hard this journey would be was starting to sink in.
As he sat there, his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was a message from Ryota.
{ Ryota: Team's meeting at the field in an hour for practice. You coming? }
Yuto hesitated. Normally, he would have avoided extra practice sessions with the team. He wasn't one of the star players, and being on the field with them only made him feel more inadequate. But now...things were different. The system had given him a chance. Maybe, just maybe, this practice could help him improve.
With a deep breath, Yuto texted back.
{ Yuto: Yeah, I'll be there. }
When Yuto arrived at the school's football field, the team was already warming up. Ryota was at the center of it all, as usual, leading the drills. His presence was commanding, and everyone naturally followed his lead. Yuto felt a pang of envy as he watched Ryota juggle the ball effortlessly, his touches light and controlled.
"Hey, Nakamura!" Sora called out, waving him over. "You're here early for once!"
Yuto gave a sheepish grin. "Yeah, thought I'd get some extra practice in."
"Nice!" Sora said. "We could use it. We've got the regional tournament coming up soon, and we're up against some tough teams."
Yuto nodded, feeling the weight of the upcoming matches settle on his shoulders. His mind drifted back to the system's quest. Improve his ball control, juggle 100 times without dropping it. Could he really do it?
As practice began, the coach split them into small groups for drills. Yuto found himself paired with Ryota and two others, practicing short passes and ball control. Ryota, always sharp, moved with precision, his every touch calculated.
"Come on, Yuto, quicker!" Ryota barked as Yuto fumbled a pass. "You've gotta think faster on your feet."
"I'm trying," Yuto muttered, gritting his teeth. He wanted to show Ryota that he wasn't the same player he had been before. He wanted to prove that he could keep up.
They moved on to one-on-one drills, with Yuto up against Ryota. The captain didn't hold back, darting around him with ease, taking the ball without a second thought. Every time Yuto tried to defend, Ryota would outmaneuver him, his movements quick and efficient.
"Focus, Yuto!" Ryota said, after another failed attempt to stop him. "You're too slow!"
Yuto clenched his fists, frustration boiling inside him. He wasn't slow—not anymore. But the pressure of trying to keep up with Ryota was overwhelming. He could feel the eyes of his teammates on him, and his confidence wavered.
The system's prompt flickered in his mind, reminding him of the quest. He needed to get better at controlling the ball, and this was his chance to practice. But every time he faced Ryota, his nerves got the better of him.
They moved into scrimmage soon after, and Yuto found himself struggling to find his rhythm. Ryota, Sora, and the others played with a fluidity that Yuto couldn't match. Every time he got the ball, he hesitated just a second too long, and the other team would swoop in to steal it.
Halfway through the scrimmage, Yuto made a mistake that cost his team a goal. He had misjudged a pass, allowing the opposing forward to intercept and score.
Ryota, normally composed, couldn't hide his irritation. "Come on, Yuto! Pay attention!"
Yuto felt his face flush with embarrassment. He knew Ryota was right. His lack of confidence was affecting his game, and it was obvious to everyone on the field.
When practice finally ended, Yuto trudged off the field, his legs heavy and his heart sinking. He hadn't improved—if anything, he felt worse. The pressure of living up to the team's expectations, of trying to meet the system's demands, was weighing him down.
As he sat on the sidelines, wiping sweat from his brow, Ryota approached him. The captain's expression was softer now, less frustrated.
"Yuto," Ryota began, sitting down next to him. "I'm hard on you because I know you can do better. You've got potential, but you need to believe in yourself more. Football isn't just about skill—it's about confidence."
Yuto stared at the ground, his mind still clouded with doubt.
"I'm trying," Yuto said quietly. "But I don't know if I'm good enough."
Ryota sighed, placing a hand on Yuto's shoulder. "You are good enough. You just need to stop hesitating. Trust yourself more."
Yuto looked up at Ryota, surprised by his words. For a moment, he saw a different side to his captain—someone who believed in him, despite his mistakes.
"You'll get there," Ryota said, standing up. "Just keep pushing."
As Ryota walked away, Yuto sat in silence, mulling over his words. Maybe he was right. Maybe what he needed wasn't just the system's boosts or extra training—it was belief in himself.
He glanced at the quest still hovering in his mind.
[ Objective: Juggle the ball 100 times. ]
This wasn't going to be easy. But for the first time in a long while, Yuto felt a spark of hope.