Yuto sat in the locker room after the game, staring blankly at the rows of lockers in front of him. His body ached from the intense match, and his mind felt like a jumbled mess. Despite the scout's praise, a storm of thoughts raged inside him. The performance had come at a steep cost, and now that the adrenaline was wearing off, the full weight of his exhaustion hit him like a tidal wave.
His teammates, still riding high on the victory, laughed and talked around him, but Yuto couldn't join in. He knew they all had their eyes on the scout, but for Yuto, the game had been more than just impressing a stranger—it was a battle with himself.
[ System Alert: Energy levels critical. Full recovery recommended. ]
The system's warning echoed in his head, reminding him of how close he'd come to collapse on the field. He hadn't felt that drained since the day the system had first appeared in his life.
Kazuki, fresh out of the shower and toweling off his hair, noticed Yuto sitting silently on the bench and walked over. "You alright?" he asked, concern etched on his face.
Yuto managed a weak nod, but the truth was, he wasn't sure. "Yeah, I'm just… tired."
Kazuki sat down next to him, glancing around to make sure no one else was listening. "You were on fire out there. I don't know how you pulled off some of those plays, but you did it. The scout definitely noticed."
Yuto smiled faintly at the compliment, but deep down, he wasn't sure if he deserved it. He had relied on the system's abilities more than he should have, and that gnawing sense of guilt made it hard to feel proud of his performance.
"Thanks," Yuto mumbled. "But… it wasn't all me."
Kazuki tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
Yuto hesitated, the weight of his secret feeling heavier than ever. He had never told anyone about the system. It had been his advantage, his hidden tool to climb the ranks, but now that he was facing tougher challenges, it felt more like a burden than a gift.
"I just… pushed myself too hard. I don't know if I can keep up that level," Yuto said, carefully choosing his words. He wasn't ready to reveal the truth, not yet.
Kazuki patted him on the back. "Look, we all have our limits. But you've got something special, Yuto. Don't doubt yourself now. If the scout saw potential, that means you're on the right track."
Yuto nodded again, grateful for Kazuki's support. Still, the doubts lingered. Was the scout's interest based on his actual skills, or was it because of the system's interference? Could he keep relying on it and still consider himself a real player?
Later that night, Yuto lay in his bed, wide awake. The room was dark and quiet, but his mind wouldn't settle. The praise from the scout played over in his head, but so did the moments when the system had kicked in, guiding his actions, enhancing his focus.
[ System Alert: New Quest Available – Choose a Path
Objective: You are at a crossroads. Decide whether to continue using the system's abilities or begin relying on your own skills.
Reward: System abilities will evolve based on your choice. ]
Yuto's breath caught in his throat. This wasn't like the usual quests. The system was giving him a choice—one that could alter his entire future.
[ Option 1: Continue using system-enhanced skills and push for greater rewards and abilities.
Option 2: Limit system usage to focus on natural growth and player development. ]
The two options hung in front of him, stark and undeniable. Yuto stared at the glowing screen in disbelief. The first option promised more power, more rewards, but it came with the risk of dependency. The second option, on the other hand, was a path of self-reliance—a chance to develop his skills the hard way, without relying on the system's crutches.
He clenched his fists, torn between the two paths. The thought of giving up the system's boosts terrified him, especially now when the stakes were higher than ever. But something inside him, a quiet but persistent voice, urged him to trust his own abilities. He wanted to be a player who earned his success, not one who relied on shortcuts.
Yuto hesitated, his mind swirling with indecision.
[ System Alert: Player mental state unstable. Consider resting before making a decision. ]
With a frustrated sigh, Yuto turned off the system's interface and closed his eyes, hoping sleep would give him clarity.
The next morning, Yuto woke up groggy, still exhausted from the day before. His muscles ached, and his mind felt no clearer than it had the night before. As he trudged down to breakfast, he noticed Coach Nakamura standing by the entrance to the cafeteria.
"Yuto, come here for a moment," the coach called out.
Yuto approached, his stomach churning. He had a feeling this conversation was about the scout.
"The scout was impressed with you yesterday," Nakamura said, folding his arms as he studied Yuto. "But he also had some concerns. He said you were… inconsistent."
Yuto blinked, surprised. Inconsistent? He had thought his performance was solid, even spectacular, with the system's help. But the scout had noticed something wasn't right.
Nakamura continued, "He saw moments where you were brilliant, but also moments where you seemed to be struggling. It's like you were switching between two different players."
Yuto's heart sank. The scout had seen through him. The system's boosts had made him stronger, faster, more focused—but when he wasn't using them, his performance had faltered.
"He's not ruling you out," Nakamura added. "But if you want to make it, you'll need to work on consistency. Don't rely on bursts of greatness. Be great all the time."
Yuto nodded, his mind swirling with frustration. The system had helped him in moments of need, but now it was clear that he couldn't keep relying on it without consequence.
That afternoon, Yuto returned to the training ground, but something felt different. The usual thrill of stepping onto the pitch was dampened by the weight of his inner conflict. He knew that his decision about the system would shape the rest of his career.
As he went through drills with his teammates, he could feel the system humming in the background, ready to activate at any moment. But Yuto hesitated, unsure of whether he should use it or not. The temptation was always there—just one boost could make him faster, more accurate, more focused.
But at what cost?
As the sun began to set, Yuto sat on the sidelines, wiping the sweat from his brow. The day's training session had been grueling, and his body ached from the effort. But something inside him felt different. For the first time in a long while, he hadn't activated the system during training. He had relied purely on his own skills.
It hadn't been perfect. He had made mistakes, missed passes, and struggled with some of the drills. But there had also been moments where everything clicked—where the ball moved like it was an extension of his body, where his decisions felt natural and unforced.
It was a small victory, but it was enough to give him hope.
Yuto glanced up at the darkening sky, his mind still torn between the two paths ahead of him. The system had brought him this far, but now it was up to him to decide whether he would continue relying on it—or if he had the courage to stand on his own.
As the cool evening breeze brushed against his face, Yuto made a silent promise to himself: whatever choice he made, it would be his.