"Whoa, it's the first time we're using this room."
"Yeah."
"You guys! Hope you're ready for the match tomorrow?" He asked.
"Yes, sir!!" We responded as he nodded in approval.
"Even if I've told you guys that this game doesn't give you a spot here, you should still play well. Some important figures would be coming for the match, and only the best are taken notes of. You lose, you run 50 laps day and night, got it?!"
"Y-yes coach!"
"Okay, good. Now, I'll be announcing your positions for the match based on your stats." He said, looking at Sugawara.
*Hmm? Stats?*
"Sugawara Misaki, please come to the front." He said as she walked to the front beside him.
"Y-yes, sir."
"Don't be shy, okay." He said, smiling at her.
"Um… okay."
"You won't be playing tomorrow. You guys try your best not to be exhausted tomorrow cause I won't want her playing in any match." He said.
"But, why?" Hayashi asked.
"Soccer is a sport played by 11 people in each team excluding the substitutes. An extra person was added to your squad to help me, the coach. Now it's my decision to find someone who can help me instruct you guys, and I picked her." He said.
"Thanks sir." She said, smiling.
"Help me give them their jerseys as they come forward, okay?"
"Okay."
"Now for your positions, Saitō Koenji, Gk. No.1."
"Yes, sir." Koenji said, walking forward to grab his jersey.
"Yamazake Akane, Hayashi Chika, No.5 and 4 Centre backs."
"Yes, sir."
"Ueta Suzune, Tamura Hinami, No. 3 and 2. Left and Right backs."
"Yes, sir!"
"Yusuke Nakamura, Kimishita Kiichi, No.6 and 8, DMF."
"Now that's what I'm talking about."
"Watabe Ryuto, 11, AMF, Kisho Akatsuki, 9, RWF, Tanaka Akaji, 7, LWF."
"Yes, sir."
"And finally, Oshiba Atsushi, No. 10, CF."
"Y-yes sir."
"We'll be going with the 4-2-1-3 formation."
"But sir, Oshiba hasn't played in a real match before. Why should he be the centre forward?" Watabe asked, clenching his fists.
"Hmm? Well, like I said, i gave your positions according to your stats. Stats don't lie." He said.
"But sir…"
"What? Do you think you can do better there?"
"Of…"
"Okay, thank you." Akaji said as Watabe clicked his tongue.
"For your roles, I've sent them to you. Then, I'll be seeing you guys tomorrow." He said before walking out.
"Tch, why do I have to stay as a midfielder while he gets that position?" Kiichi asked, slamming his fist on the wall.
*How pitiful.* I thought without batting an eye.
"Don't mind, we'll all still be playing." Akaji said, smiling.
*These stats his talking about… Well, it doesn't matter. Ugh… I feel so nervous. We'll finally be able to play.* I thought, drying my sweaty palms on my shorts.
I had thought that failing the match wouldn't be surprising at all. I mean, we never trained together. And even if they decide to, they just play amongst themselves and only use a few minutes for practice.
*Lazy bastards.*
They didn't even want to have anything to do with us. Always saying unimportant things to us and getting angry when we ignore their taunting.
*Looks like things will get rough now that I've been given that position.*
"Are you still thinking about them?" Akatsuki asked, walking into the training room.
"48...49...Huh?" I asked, doing my press-up.
"Are you worried about tomorrow?"
"It's only natural that I'd be worried." I said, standing up and gulping down a bottle of water.
"I'm not especially bothered. I'm sure we can do it, even if it's the two of us." He said.
"I'm not so sure."
*Yeah, I'm not. We need to do this as a team.* I thought.
"Why do you say so?"
"Well, cause, they might try to play in a way that'd make us look bad." I replied.
"Yeah, I think you're right." He said his hands under his chin.
"Well, I'll just do my part and leave the rest for the others." I said.
"So, you don't want to practice today?" He asked.
"Nope, I think this one is good enough. I might get too excited and practice for a long time. You know what happens next."
"Haha, that's right. Okay, let's go. Have a nice chat." He said, smiling as we walked out.
"Oh, look, looks like they decided to hit the field for real now." Akatsuki said when we got out.
"It's their problem, not mine, I just hope they won't destroy the match for us, I don't quite trust them."
"Hey, don't get too cocky Atsushi!" Watabe shouted, kicking a ball to me.
"Hmm?" I asked, shifting aside for the ball to go past me.
"Don't think you're good just cause the coach gave you a forward position." He said as Akatsuki juggled the ball.
"Why's that?" I asked.
"Cause you can't play, he just gave you the position just because." He said with a smirk as the others laughed.
"Just so you know, you won't be getting any passes from us."
"Hmm? You said something about the coach giving me that position." I said as Akatsuki passed the ball to me.
"Hey, why are you giving me the ball all of a sudden?" I whispered, controlling it before juggling.
"Hehe, it'll go well with your speech."
"Yes, and so?"
"Don't you think it's cause of your incompetence as a forward that you were given a position as a Midfielder?" I asked, shooting the ball back to him.
"Huh? You bastard!!💢" He screamed, trying to run towards me.
"Hey! Stop that Ryuto." Akaji said, holding him back.
"Tch."
"And Atsushi-kun, please, that wasn't nice at all." He said.
"Heh…? Not nice, you say. It was probably really nice when Ryuto was speaking. I mean, you were busy laughing behind him like a woman." Akatsuki said.
"Geez, what the hell?" I whispered, holding back my laughter.
"Well..."
"Nothing to say, huh? It's not like it's my fault you were given your position. I haven't done anything wrong to you, so don't vent your frustration on me." I said as we walked out.
"That bastard!!" He screamed.
"Ha ha, why did you sound so villainous?" Akatsuki asked when we got up.
"Ha… that was scary." I said, my hand on my chest.
"Oh?"
"Leave me alone, Akatsuki." I said lying on his bed.
"Tomorrows match would be wild." He said, smiling.
After we rested for a while, Koenji walked into the room, and we all began discussing.
DON'T MESS UP TOMORROW, ATSUSHI-KUN– Coach.