The next morning, Raichi stirred awake from his deep sleep. His body felt surprisingly light, the pain in his back now a distant memory. As he sat up, stretching his stiff muscles, Kunigami approached him.
"Morning, Raichi. Feeling better?"
Kunigami asked, his tone casual but his expression focused.
"Yeah, I guess"
Raichi muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Good. We've got training today"
Kunigami continued.
"Isagi proposed something to figure out everyone's weapons and spots in the team. We're starting soon."
Raichi scowled at the mention of Isagi but didn't argue. As much as it irritated him, he didn't have a choice. Ego's expectations loomed over all of them like an unspoken threat, and Raichi knew better than to push back now.
After gearing up, Raichi headed to the training ground. The sound of laughter and shouts greeted him as he approached. When he entered, he saw the others playing a 5v5 match.
He noticed something odd—no one was guarding the net. Yet, despite the open goal, no one attempted to take a shot. The players were focused on passing and building plays.
Then, Isagi got the ball near his own half. Unlike the others, he didn't hesitate. With a single fluid motion, he struck the ball. It soared through the air, curving beautifully before ricocheting off the post and landing perfectly in the top-left corner of the net.
"Nice goal!"
Kunigami called out, raising a hand in acknowledgment.
"Good one, Isagi!"
Bachira chimed in, grinning.
Isagi gave a modest nod, a small smile on his face.
"Alright, let's start the game!"
The group's energy spiked, and they quickly reorganized into teams. Raichi stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching the match unfold. He couldn't help but notice Isagi's consistent playmaking. While others worked hard to score, Isagi focused on threading precise passes and setting up his teammates.
Watching from the sidelines offered a new perspective. Raichi had seen Isagi's skills during matches, but observing them as a spectator felt different. Isagi's intelligence and instincts stood out even more.
Raichi eventually joined the rotation, playing his part in the drills. The rules were simple: every 10 minutes, one player was assigned as the goalkeeper and had to nominate the next person for the role.
The training was grueling but insightful. By the end of the session, patterns had emerged. Ego's rankings weren't just for show—Isagi's contributions were undeniable. He excelled in nearly every aspect of the game.
The only position where Isagi wasn't the standout was goalkeeping. Even there, he ranked himself third. Gagamaru's reflexes and natural instincts made him the undisputed best in that role, with Raichi coming in as a surprising second.
Of course, Raichi wasn't thrilled about it.
"Tch. Just 'cause I'm decent at it doesn't mean I wanna do it all the time!"
He snapped when Igarashi jokingly tried to nominate him for another turn as goalie.
The others chuckled, but Raichi's irritation was palpable. Despite his gruff exterior, the training had opened his eyes. Watching Isagi's quiet leadership and adaptability was humbling, even if he'd never admit it out loud.
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The relentless effort the team had put in over the past two days had paid off. Each player had gained valuable insight into their strengths and weaknesses. Among them, Kira stood out. Initially subdued during their first match, he now displayed an explosive burst in his runs. While his dribbling wasn't the sharpest, his success rate was respectable, and his game sense demonstrated his potential as a skilled playmaker.
Now, everyone was gathered in the video room, their attention fixed on the screen. They were analyzing footage of two recent matches: Team Y vs. Team V and Team W vs. Team X.
The results were stark. Team Y had been crushed by Team V with a devastating 8-0 scoreline, while Team W secured a decisive 4-1 victory over Team X.
As the video ended, the players shifted their focus to Team Y, their opponent for tomorrow's match. Isagi stepped forward, taking control of the room. With a quick command, he switched the screen to display a roster of Team Y's players and placed a whiteboard at the front of the room.
Everyone's eyes were on him. There was an unspoken understanding in the room that Isagi, with his sharp observations and unselfish plays, was the natural leader in situations like this.
Everyone except Raichi.
Raichi crossed his arms and leaned back, silently skeptical of Isagi's authority. Still, even he couldn't deny the sense in following Isagi's lead—at least for now.
"Alright"
Isagi began, his tone steady and confident.
"I hope everyone has a good sense of how Team Y plays, even if they didn't have many moments against Team V. There are two players we need to watch out for: Okawa Hibiki and Niko Ikki."
As he spoke, the screen behind him displayed images of the two players. Okawa's confident smirk and Niko's calm, almost unreadable expression stood in stark contrast.
"I know Okawa Hibiki is a good finisher"
Naruhaya said, his gaze lingering on Niko.
"But what's up with Bangs over there? How does he even see anything with that haircut?"
The room chuckled briefly, but Isagi remained serious.
"While Okawa's finishing is a threat"
Isagi explained,
"Niko's the real danger. His game sense is exceptional, and he positions himself to exploit opportunities others might miss. Watch this clip."
The screen shifted to a chaotic sequence from the Team Y vs. Team V match. Players scrambled for possession, bodies colliding in a messy contest for the ball. Amidst the chaos, Niko calmly drifted to the edge of the scrum, his eyes scanning the field. When the ball broke free, he intercepted it with precision and sent a perfectly weighted pass that split the defenders.
"See that?"
Isagi pointed at the screen.
"Most players would stay in the thick of the fight, hoping to muscle their way to the ball. But Niko stayed calm, positioned himself strategically, and created a chance out of nothing. If he pulls something like this in our half, it could be dangerous."
The room fell silent as everyone absorbed Isagi's words. Heads nodded in agreement, the respect for Isagi's analysis growing.
"Alright, here's the formation—"
Isagi began, his tone calm yet authoritative as he pointed to the board.
Team Z Formation (3-5-2)
Striker: Kunigami
Striker: Kira
CAM: Isagi
LM: Naruhaya
RM: Bachira
CDM: Chigiri
CDM: Imamura
CB: Iemon
CB: Gagamaru
CB: Igarashi
GK: Raichi
"This will be a 3-5-2 formation where we wi—"
Before he could finish, Raichi's voice cut through the room like a blade.
"Like hell, I'm playing goalkeeper!"
Raichi barked, glaring daggers at Isagi.
The room grew tense. Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, suspecting Isagi might have assigned Raichi to the goalie position as a subtle punishment.
Isagi, however, remained composed.
"From the last two days of training"
Isagi began, his voice steady,
"I've observed everyone's strengths and weaknesses. Gagamaru is the best candidate for the goalkeeper position, no doubt. But we'll need his height and reflexes on the backline to counter Team Y's aerial attacks and fast breaks."
Raichi opened his mouth to protest, but Isagi raised a hand to stop him.
"Also"
Isagi continued,
"I consulted with the Medical Department. They confirmed your back isn't fully healed. If you push yourself too hard, it could cause pain—or worse, a serious injury. An injury to your back this early in your career could be catastrophic."
Raichi scowled but didn't interrupt.
"Even if the medical team hadn't warned me, I would've still placed you as a goalkeeper"
Isagi said, his gaze sharp and unwavering.
"A single mistake in the field because of your condition could cost all of us—not just the match, but our careers."
The room fell silent. Raichi's glare softened into reluctant acceptance. The rest of the team nodded in agreement, recognizing the logic behind Isagi's decision.
"Fine"
Raichi grumbled, his voice low,
"but don't expect me to like it."
With the formation finalized and tensions diffused, the team dispersed to their sleeping quarters.
That night, while everyone else rested, Isagi lay awake. His mind raced, not with nerves about tomorrow's match, but with awe at his body's transformation.
He glanced down at his torso. His physique was improving at an astonishing rate.
'Even though it's not as dramatic as the first day'
He thought, running his hand over his now-solid core,
'This growth is insane.'
His mind wandered back to his previous life's athletic build. At this rate, he estimated he could surpass even that in just a month.
'I can't let anyone notice, though'
He reminded himself. Building too much muscle too fast would raise questions, and he couldn't afford to draw suspicion. For now, he focused on refining his reflexes and stamina, keeping his muscle gains in check.
As he clenched his fists, his determination flared.
'Patience'
He reminded himself.
'Tomorrow, I'll show them all—and wreak havoc on the field.'
A small smile crept onto his face as he drifted into a restless yet determined sleep, eager for the battle awaiting him.
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