The expanded team was buzzing with excitement. With new recruits joining their practices, Hiroshi could finally see glimpses of what a fully functional football team might look like. But as they scrimmaged in the park, Hiroshi noticed a recurring problem—chaos.
Plays often broke down mid-run, players collided, and assignments were forgotten. Ryota and Kenji would end up in the same spot, Takeshi would block the wrong lane, and Kazuki seemed too nervous to trust his instincts. The raw talent was there, but the execution was a mess.
Hiroshi knew what they needed: a strategy.
That evening, Hiroshi sat in his room with a blank notebook in front of him. He flipped through the football rulebook for guidance, but this time it wasn't about learning the rules—it was about figuring out how to exploit them.
"Football is like chess," Hiroshi muttered to himself, tapping his pen against the desk. "Every player is a piece, and every piece has a purpose. The question is, how do I move them?"
He sketched out their current roster, listing each player's strengths and weaknesses:
Hiroshi (Quarterback): Quick thinker, accurate passer, but lacks speed for scrambles.
Kenji (Wide Receiver): Agile and explosive, best at deep routes.
Riku (Running Back): Elusive and creative, but sometimes overcomplicates plays.
Kenta (Linebacker/Defender): Tough and fearless, though prone to losing focus.
Daichi (Lineman): Solid blocker, but not very mobile.
Ryota (Wide Receiver): Tall and fast, excellent hands, but inexperienced.
Takeshi (Lineman): Strong and reliable, but slow.
Kazuki (Utility Player): Extremely fast, but timid and small.
He stared at the list for a moment before jotting down a single word at the top of the page: "Balance."
The next practice, Hiroshi arrived at the park early with a whiteboard and markers in hand. When the team showed up, he called them into a huddle.
"Alright, listen up," Hiroshi began. "We've got talent, but we're all over the place. If we're going to be a real team, we need structure. That means everyone has to know their role and stick to it. So today, we're working on strategy."
Kenji raised an eyebrow. "Strategy? Like, plays and stuff?"
"Exactly," Hiroshi said, sketching a diagram on the whiteboard. "We're going to start simple. This is a basic passing play. Kenji, you'll run a deep route to draw the defense. Ryota, you'll run a slant across the middle. Riku, you'll stay in the backfield for a screen pass option. Everyone else, protect the quarterback—me."
Ryota tilted his head. "A slant? What's that?"
Hiroshi grabbed the ball and walked him through it. "You run straight for five yards, then cut sharply across the field at an angle. It's quick and hard for the defense to cover."
Ryota nodded, giving it a try. The first attempt was awkward, but after a few tries, he started to get the hang of it.
The team practiced the play over and over, fine-tuning every detail. Hiroshi focused on timing, making sure the ball left his hand the moment Ryota made his cut. Takeshi and Daichi worked on forming a protective pocket, while Kazuki rotated in as a potential slot receiver.
After an hour, Hiroshi called for a full-speed run of the play.
"Alright, let's see if we've got this," Hiroshi said, clapping his hands.
Kenji lined up wide, Ryota took his position closer to the line, and Riku stood behind Hiroshi in the backfield. Hiroshi surveyed the imaginary defense, then barked the snap count.
The ball hit his hands, and everything unfolded in perfect rhythm. Kenji sprinted downfield, drawing imaginary defenders. Ryota cut across the middle, catching Hiroshi's pass in stride and racing upfield. Riku acted as a safety valve, ready for a screen, though he wasn't needed this time.
The team erupted in cheers as Ryota sprinted into the makeshift end zone.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Kenji shouted, high-fiving Ryota.
Hiroshi smiled, feeling a surge of pride. "Great work, everyone. That's how we execute."
But Hiroshi wasn't done. He spent the rest of the practice introducing more plays, each one designed to maximize their strengths:
A run-heavy formation for Riku to weave through defenders.
A short-pass option for Kazuki, utilizing his speed to create mismatches.
A trick play involving a lateral pass to Kenji, who could throw downfield to Ryota.
As they practiced, Hiroshi noticed a shift in the team's energy. The chaos was fading, replaced by confidence and focus. Each player began to understand their role, and the pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place.
By the end of practice, the team was exhausted but energized. Hiroshi gathered them in a final huddle.
"We're starting to look like a real team," he said, looking each of them in the eye. "But this is just the beginning. Strategy only works if we execute it under pressure. We'll keep practicing until it's second nature."
Kenta grinned. "Bring on the pressure. We've got this."
Hiroshi smiled, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction. For the first time, they weren't just a group of kids playing football—they were a team with a plan.
As they packed up for the day, Hiroshi couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement. Strategy had always been his strength, and now, he was seeing how it could turn their dream into reality. Football wasn't just about brute force—it was a game of the mind, and Hiroshi was ready to play.