Yuto's body ached as he walked off the pitch, his legs feeling like lead after the intense scrimmage. Every step reminded him of the toll the trial had taken on him. He had refused the system's help—made a conscious decision to rely only on his own abilities.
But now that the game was over, doubt started to creep in.
Had he done enough?
He glanced around at the other trialists, some of whom looked as exhausted as he felt, while others still seemed fresh, as if the game had barely fazed them. Yuto bit his lip, wondering if they had performed better. Did they play smarter? More consistently? Were they faster?
[ System Alert: Trial completed. Player has declined system assistance. Await results. ]
Yuto closed the system's notification, trying to focus on the present moment. The trial was over, and there was nothing he could do now but wait.
The players were gathered in the locker room, some talking among themselves while others remained silent, absorbed in their own thoughts. Yuto sat on a bench, his head down, replaying moments of the match in his mind. His key passes, that one perfect interception—those were highlights. But the mistakes still nagged at him.
Kazuki's words echoed in his head: Don't lose sight of what got you here.
His own abilities had brought him to this point, not the system. The raw passion, the desire to be better—it had been enough to get him this far. And maybe, just maybe, it had been enough for FC Yokohama, too.
After what felt like hours, a coach finally entered the locker room. The room fell silent, everyone hanging on his next words.
"Thank you all for your efforts today," the coach began, his expression as unreadable as ever. "Each of you showed promise, and making a decision won't be easy. We've selected a few players to move forward to the next round of evaluations."
Yuto's heart pounded in his chest, and he clenched his fists, bracing for the announcement. The coach began to read out the names. With each name that wasn't his, Yuto felt his stomach tighten.
"Yuto Nakamura."
The world seemed to pause. For a second, Yuto wasn't sure he had heard correctly. But then the realization hit him—his name had been called. He was moving on to the next round.
A rush of emotions surged through him. Relief, joy, disbelief. He had made it.
Later that day, as the sun set behind the stadium, Yuto sat on a bench outside the facility, still processing everything that had happened. He had moved one step closer to his dream. FC Yokohama, one of Japan's best clubs, had seen potential in him. Even without the system's help, he had made it through the trial.
The sound of footsteps broke his thoughts, and Yuto turned to see Coach Nakamura walking toward him.
"You did well today," Nakamura said, sitting down beside him.
Yuto nodded, still trying to wrap his head around everything. "Thanks, Coach. I wasn't sure…"
Nakamura gave him a sideways glance. "You weren't sure if you'd make it without the system, right?"
Yuto froze, caught off guard. He hadn't expected Nakamura to know about the internal struggle he had been facing with the system.
"How did you…?"
Nakamura smiled faintly. "I may not know everything, but I've been watching you. You've been relying on something other than just your skills lately, haven't you?"
Yuto sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… it's complicated."
"You don't need to explain it to me," Nakamura said. "But what matters is that today, you proved you could handle the pressure on your own. That's what scouts are looking for—players who can adapt and rise to the occasion. Talent is important, but mental strength is what sets great players apart."
Yuto absorbed the words, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. It wasn't just about skill, after all. It was about proving that he could handle the ups and downs without relying on a shortcut.
[ System Alert: Quest complete – Secure spot at FC Yokohama trial.
Reward: Unlock training facility access at FC Yokohama.
New Quest: Complete next round of evaluations at FC Yokohama
Objective: Impress coaches during advanced training sessions. ]
The system's notifications flashed before his eyes, and Yuto quickly dismissed them. For now, he wanted to savor the moment without the system's interference.
Nakamura stood up, giving Yuto a firm pat on the back. "Keep pushing yourself, and you'll go far. But remember—trust in your own abilities. The system might help, but it won't define who you are as a player."
Yuto looked up at his coach, grateful for the advice. "Thanks, Coach. I'll do my best."
The next day, Yuto returned to school for what would likely be one of his final weeks before transitioning to a professional training environment. As he walked through the familiar hallways, he couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. He had spent years in these halls, growing both as a student and a footballer. But now, his path was taking him somewhere else, to a world he had only dreamed of.
His teammates, now aware of his success at the trial, congratulated him with pats on the back and words of encouragement. Even those who had been distant or competitive in the past came up to him, acknowledging his achievement.
Kazuki, however, was the first to corner him after class. "So, you did it, huh?"
Yuto grinned, feeling the excitement bubbling up again. "Yeah, I made it to the next round."
Kazuki's eyes twinkled with pride, but there was a hint of something else—sadness, perhaps? "Looks like you'll be leaving us soon, then."
Yuto's smile faltered. The thought of leaving his school, his friends, his team—it hit him all at once. This was what he had been working toward, but that didn't make saying goodbye any easier.
"Yeah," Yuto said, his voice a bit quieter. "I guess I'll be moving on soon."
Kazuki clapped him on the shoulder, offering a wide smile. "Well, when you're playing for Japan and scoring goals in the World Cup, don't forget about us small-time guys, alright?"
Yuto laughed, feeling the tension ease. "I'll never forget where I started."
The two friends shared a moment of silence, the weight of the impending change hanging between them. But there was also excitement—a new chapter was about to begin.
That evening, as Yuto lay in bed, he thought about the future. FC Yokohama was just the start. If he succeeded there, the possibilities were endless. Foreign clubs, the national team—he could feel it all within reach.
But for now, he had to focus on the next step. The upcoming evaluations would be even tougher than the trial, and Yuto knew he would need every ounce of skill, mental strength, and determination to succeed.
And this time, he was ready to face it—without relying on the system.