The days following Daisuke's intense first training session were nothing short of brutal. The team was sore, tired, and more than a few players began to question their commitment to the club.
But something was happening.
In the past, Blackhaven FC had trudged along like a ship caught in a storm, tossed around by every wave of adversity. Now, under Daisuke's strict guidance, the ship was slowly changing course.
The players were running drills that they had never seen before. High-pressing, explosive sprints, tactical positioning. Every drill was designed to break them down, to push them past their limits. And it worked.
Despite the complaints and the grumbling, there was a growing understanding among the team. Daisuke was driven, and his methods were pushing them into better shape. But the real surprise came during the tactical sessions.
They were learning.
Daisuke wasn't just running the drills; he was explaining why each tactic mattered. Why high pressing worked, why passing with precision was so important, why spacing made or broke a play. He wasn't just yelling orders from the sidelines—he was educating them.
The squad started to change, slowly but surely.
It wasn't perfect yet—far from it—but the improvement was undeniable. Their movements on the pitch were sharper, more coordinated. Their fitness was improving, and for the first time in a long while, they were beginning to see a glimmer of hope.
It didn't hurt that Daisuke hadn't backed down once.
The team may have been frustrated, but they respected him. He didn't make excuses. He didn't care about their past. All he cared about was winning.
But there was still one problem.
Aaron Vance was no longer speaking up in opposition, but his doubt lingered like a dark cloud hanging over the team. He hadn't fully accepted Daisuke as their coach, not in his heart. And that was something Daisuke could feel.
One morning, after an especially grueling set of drills, Daisuke found Aaron lingering at the edge of the training field.
"You've been quiet," Daisuke said, approaching the captain.
Aaron didn't look at him. Instead, he stared out at the pitch, watching the other players finish up their warm-downs. "I'm not sure about this… what you're doing. I mean, we're still not winning, and we've only just started."
Daisuke raised an eyebrow. "Is that all?"
Aaron looked at him, a bit surprised. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you're not going to win every match in a day," Daisuke replied. "But you will win eventually."
Aaron hesitated. "But what if it's not enough? What if we're just not good enough to turn this ship around?"
Daisuke's gaze softened, but his resolve remained. "If you believe that, then you've already lost. You're not here just to play for the paycheck. You're here to become something more. We are going to build this team from the ground up. I didn't buy this club to let it fail."
Aaron didn't say anything for a long time, as if mulling over every word Daisuke had said. Finally, he exhaled. "I'll follow you, coach. But it's gonna take more than talk to change my mind."
Daisuke gave a small nod. "Good. I wouldn't want you any other way."
---
The rest of the squad saw the change too, though the transformation wasn't as instantaneous as they hoped.
In the first practice match following Daisuke's new tactics, Blackhaven struggled against a rival lower-league team. The opponents weren't necessarily better, but they were more cohesive—something Blackhaven wasn't yet.
The match ended 1-0 in favor of Blackhaven, but the players knew they hadn't yet mastered Daisuke's system. Their passing was still a little off. Their positioning was shaky. The defense still faltered under pressure.
But they had won.
And Daisuke knew this was just the beginning.
"I'm not here for these small victories," Daisuke said after the match, his eyes burning with intensity. "We're not stopping until we reach the top."
As the squad walked off the field, their bruises and fatigue seemed a little less important. The players were slowly starting to understand Daisuke's vision.
They weren't just playing for today. They were playing for something bigger.
The new era had just begun.