The next morning, Yuto woke up sore but excited. Yesterday's training session had been tough, but the satisfaction of surviving it fueled his motivation. Today would be another opportunity to prove himself. He couldn't afford to slow down now. The system's rewards from the previous day had given him a boost of stamina, and he planned to use every bit of it.
As he entered the locker room, the atmosphere was noticeably more intense. The players were gearing up for another session, but there was an edge to the air—something different from yesterday.
"You're in for it today, Nakamura," Riku said with a smirk as Yuto walked past. "Takahashi doesn't take it easy on new guys two days in a row."
Yuto froze mid-step. Takahashi? Yesterday had been tough enough, but if the star player decided to turn things up a notch, Yuto wasn't sure how he'd keep up. He nodded at Riku, not wanting to show any nerves.
As he laced up his boots, he couldn't help but overhear fragments of conversation around the locker room.
"He's got potential, but he's not ready for this level yet," one player said.
"New kid? We'll see how long he lasts."
"Yokohama doesn't hand out contracts for effort alone."
Yuto clenched his fists, determined not to let the whispers affect him. This was the reality of stepping up to a professional club. Everyone was here to prove themselves, and no one was going to make it easy for the newcomers.
[ System Alert: Incoming Challenge.
Objective: Survive an intense scrimmage against the starters.
Difficulty: High. ]
Yuto sighed at the notification. He had been expecting something like this. His place in the club was still far from secure, and the system always seemed to know when things were about to get tough.
Out on the pitch, Coach Kuroda blew his whistle, signaling the start of the scrimmage. Yuto was placed on the second team, going up against the first team—players like Takahashi, Riku, and other established starters. This was no ordinary training drill. Today was about testing the limits.
"Eyes up, Nakamura," Riku called from across the field as the ball was passed to Yuto. "Takahashi's coming for you."
Yuto barely had time to react before Takahashi was closing in. The older player moved with frightening speed, his presence overwhelming as he charged at Yuto with the ball. Yuto's heart pounded in his chest, but he kept his composure, remembering the skills he had trained for years.
In a split second, Yuto shifted his weight and flicked the ball away, barely avoiding Takahashi's challenge. It wasn't perfect, but he had kept possession. He sprinted down the wing, looking for an opening, but the first team's defense was impenetrable. Every time he tried to move the ball forward, another player cut off his path.
"Faster!" Coach Kuroda yelled from the sidelines. "You need to be quicker in your decision-making, Nakamura!"
The pressure was relentless, and the system wasn't making things easier.
[ System Alert: Mental strain detected.
Recommendation: Utilize Visualization skill.
Cooldown: 10 minutes. ]
Yuto grimaced, knowing he'd have to rely on more than just the system. His stamina was already starting to drain, but he pushed forward. Takahashi seemed to be everywhere at once, directing his team like a conductor in a symphony. Yuto could feel the difference between the levels. He was fighting to stay afloat, while Takahashi made it look effortless.
Then, it happened.
Yuto found himself with the ball at his feet, just outside the box. The first team had left a small opening, and Yuto's instincts screamed for him to shoot. He took the chance, powering the ball toward the goal with everything he had. The shot was clean, but not enough to beat the first team's goalkeeper, who dived and deflected it away with ease.
Takahashi was on him again in an instant, intercepting the rebound and turning it into a counterattack. The first team tore through the second team's defense, and within seconds, the ball was in the back of the net.
Coach Kuroda blew the whistle, signaling the end of the scrimmage.
Yuto stood frozen, his chest heaving with exhaustion. The starters had made it look easy. The gap between them was glaring, and Yuto felt the weight of it pressing down on him.
[ System Alert: Challenge failed—Objective not met.
Consequence: Stamina penalty for next training session. ]
Yuto stared at the notification in disbelief. Failed? His mind raced as he processed the implications. He had failed to impress the coaches, failed to close the gap between himself and the starters. Was this a sign that he wasn't ready?
"Hey, Nakamura!" a voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Takahashi was standing in front of him, his usual stoic expression softened slightly.
"You did well," Takahashi said, surprising Yuto. "You've got good instincts, but you're holding back."
"Holding back?" Yuto echoed, unsure of what he meant.
Takahashi nodded. "You're thinking too much. Football's a game of decisions, but it's also a game of feeling. Trust your instincts more—don't hesitate."
Yuto felt a strange mix of pride and frustration. He had failed the challenge, but Takahashi was giving him advice. Maybe there was still hope.
Before Yuto could respond, Coach Kuroda called the team over for a debrief.
"Not bad, everyone," the coach said, his sharp eyes scanning the players. "But there's no room for complacency. Nakamura," he added, turning to Yuto, "you've got potential, but potential won't win games. If you want to stay with this club, you need to stop playing it safe."
Yuto nodded, his jaw clenched in determination. The words stung, but he knew the coach was right. He had to push beyond his limits, or he'd never close the gap between himself and players like Takahashi.
Later that day, as Yuto was heading to the locker room, Riku caught up with him.
"Tough session, huh?" Riku said, though his tone wasn't as mocking as before. "Don't let it get to you. Everyone gets humbled when they go up against the first team."
Yuto nodded but remained silent. He appreciated the support, but his mind was already racing with plans for the next session. He couldn't afford to dwell on the failure. The next training session would be his chance to redeem himself.
"You've got potential, Nakamura," Riku continued. "Just don't let it slip. This place chews up players and spits them out if they aren't tough enough."
"I won't," Yuto replied, his voice firm.
Riku gave him a nod before heading off, leaving Yuto alone with his thoughts.
As he sat in the locker room, Yuto pulled out his phone and reread Kazuki's message from the day before. "You're gonna kill it out there. Show them what you're made of!"
Yuto closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He was here to prove something—to himself, to his teammates, and to the coaches. This wasn't just about surviving. It was about rising to the challenge and becoming the player he knew he could be.
[ System Alert: New Quest—Dominate the next training session.
Reward: Confidence boost and skill refinement.
Objective: Outperform your teammates in drills and scrimmages. ]
Yuto smirked at the notification. The system was pushing him, just like everyone else.
"Alright," Yuto muttered to himself. "Let's see what I'm made of."