The indoor training facility buzzed with the echoes of cleats skidding against synthetic turf and the labored breaths of exhausted players. Under the high dome of lights, the scent of sweat hung thick in the air. It was the aftermath of an intense internal scrimmage—an unrelenting two hours of battle for dominance, for pride, and for proof.
Yugen collapsed onto his back near the sidelines, his chest rising and falling rapidly. He stared up at the ceiling, vision blurred from fatigue, while beads of sweat trickled down the side of his face. Beside him, Iori and Sosei sat slumped, their silence speaking volumes.
Across the room, the others had gathered around a large screen that now displayed the results of their performance evaluation—an AI-generated breakdown based on countless metrics tracked during their time at Kelshea.
"Stats are up," someone muttered.
Akane ambled forward, rubbing his neck as his numbers appeared on the screen. He squinted and gave a crooked smile.
[Akane – B Rank – 75]
Speed: A (82)
Offense: A (85)
Shoot: B (78)
Pass: B (75)
Defense: B (74)
Dribble: A (81)
"Guess I'm decent at everything… except passing under pressure," Akane chuckled, scratching his head.
Sosei stepped up next, his eyes scanning the screen with detached precision.
[Sosei – B Rank – 78]
Speed: B (78)
Offense: A (88)
Shoot: B (77)
Pass: B (76)
Defense: A (85)
Dribble: C (68)
He tilted his head. "Still too slow to trigger breakaways on my own. But defensively, I'm fine."
Yugen slowly rose to his feet, wiping his palms on his shorts before glancing at his own evaluation.
[Yugen – B Rank – 74]
Speed: B (75)
Offense: A (84)
Shoot: B (76)
Pass: B (72)
Defense: C (65)
Dribble: B (74)
His jaw tightened.
Vision and instinct—I have those. But defense… and passing under pressure… still lacking. He clicked his tongue and tapped his finger on the floor, a habitual gesture when he got lost in thought.
Then the ranking board lit up.
Kelshea Team B – Current Player Rankings:
1. Kou
2. Inyo
3. Kumi
4. Jin
5. Iori
6. Sosei
7. Akane
8. Kaito
9. Yuto
10. Yugen
Yugen's eyes swept over the names, stopping at the top. Kou, of course. That much was expected. But then—his eyes narrowed.
"Jin?"
Akane raised an eyebrow, noticing Yugen's reaction. "Yeah, weird, right? I barely noticed him during the match. Dude was like a ghost."
Sosei's voice cut in sharp and dry. "Fool."
Akane frowned. "Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"
Sosei didn't even glance at him. "Jin is the only one who adapted to Kou's tempo. He didn't stand out because he didn't need to. His passes were surgical. His awareness—perfect. The best players don't always shine with the ball. Sometimes they shine by making others shine brighter."
Yugen turned, eyes wide. Across the room, leaning against the far wall like a shadow, stood Jin. Quiet. Unassuming. Almost invisible.
A slow, curious fire lit in Yugen's chest.
Without a word, he stood.
Akane blinked. "Yo? Where are you going?"
"To meet Mika," Yugen said, already walking away.
---
The hallway leading to Mika's office was dim, illuminated only by the soft blue lights lining the floor. It felt colder than the rest of the facility—quieter, heavier, like the silence of a cathedral.
As Yugen turned a corner, he nearly bumped into someone exiting the office.
Kou.
They locked eyes for a second—brief, intense, unreadable.
But Kou said nothing. He simply brushed past Yugen, his steps light and unwavering, like he hadn't even seen him at all.
Yugen stared at his retreating figure, fists clenched at his sides.
What was he doing here?
He turned and pushed open the office door.
Inside, Mika sat at her desk, writing something in a thick leather-bound notebook. Hojo stood to her side, arms crossed, her jade-green eyes narrowing as Yugen entered.
Mika didn't even look up. "Leave us."
Hojo hesitated, then turned and walked out, but not before letting her gaze linger on Yugen just a second longer than necessary.
Now it was just the two of them.
Mika finally looked up. Her voice was calm, but edged. "What do you want?"
Yugen stepped forward. "I want to know… why."
She tilted her head. "Why?"
"Why did you choose me?" he demanded. "Everyone here is more talented than I am. Stronger. Faster. More experienced. You had hundreds of options. So why me?"
Mika leaned back in her chair, eyes sharp with curiosity.
"I didn't choose you," she said. "You chose yourself."
Yugen blinked. "What?"
She leaned forward, elbows on her desk. "You challenged me when you had no right to. You stood up even after I knocked you down. I'm not interested in perfection—I'm interested in hunger. The kind that gnaws at your bones and keeps you awake at night."
She paused. "So tell me, what's your goal?"
Yugen's voice came instantly. "To become the world's number one striker."
A slow smile crept across Mika's lips. "Everything in existence begins with desire. 'Let there be light'—and there was light. Inventions. Nations. Legends. All of it… born from want." Her gaze darkened. "But how far will you go for that desire? How much pain will you endure to achieve it? Do you even know what it'll cost?"
Yugen's fists trembled. "I don't care what it takes. I'll pay the price. Whatever it is."
Mika watched him for a long, silent moment. Then she nodded toward the door.
"Then get lost. And make sure that fire never goes out."
Yugen stood frozen for a second. His heart thundered in his chest. He turned, stepping into the hallway, and closed the door behind him.
He stopped and leaned against the wall, head tilted back, vision swimming with memories—cold nights, bloodied shins, empty stomachs, and a single dream that never faded.
He wiped his face. And then, with his pulse steady and his resolve burning brighter than ever… he walked back toward the field.
---
[Chapter End]