[Skill book grade…]
[Euphoric: grade-5]
Tanaka's eyes widened in excitement.
"Yes!!!"
Right there from the roulette wheel, he had pilfered a fifth grade skill book.
Tanaka wanted to wonder how a grade-5 skill helps him, not until he saw exciting notifications pop up.
[X10 Attribute points distributed]
[X5 Talent points distributed]
If he had been unable to play football before, now Tanaka felt confident. The only problem is — he had been asked to leave. How will he even convince Coach Isuryburg to let him play?
Anyway, he needed to make it work. Not after all of these techniques, and the system, he wouldn't get a chance to display his newfound skills.
'I have to make it work! Not have— I must… make it work.'
And then Aèos spoke.
[Do not forget, you have Daily Tasks to complete. It's almost time up and if that isn't done, your attributes would be deducted.]
Tanaka seemed to freeze as the notification appeared before him.
[Daily Mission: Effort X Reward.
Description: You're not good enough. Try harder.
Daily goal:
0/100 pushups
0/100 abs
0/100 Squats
10/10KM run ✓
Rewards:
+1 Star Point
+1 Loot Box].
Tanaka sighed.
"Is it 100 pushups, abs, squats? I'll do it."
"How much time do I have left, Aèos?"
[You have 2 hours left]
Tanaka thought for a while. "Ah, so technically I've spent 2 days here?"
[Smart]
Tanaka smiled. Lingered a while and started his pushups.
Two hours later.
Ding!
Daily goal: ✓
100/100 pushups ✓
100/100 abs ✓
100/100 squats ✓
10/10KM run ✓
Rewards:
+1 Star point.
+1 Loot Box
Tanaka immediately turned back, not caring about the reward. The only thing left to do is find a way to convince his teammates, especially Coach Isuryburg.
Finally he arrived at Seagull balling School, the familiar massive structure hitting him with a heavy sense of nostalgia.
"Hey Aèos, does The grade-5 skill, Euphoric, have anything to do with providing special techniques for me?"
[As a Fifth grade skill, it enhances your other skills, mind techniques, physical techniques and aid you in the process of break and copy]
Tànaka's head tilted as he pondered.
"Break and copy?"
[Yes. It directly copies other techniques, breaks and transforms it into something different.]
Tanaka was surprised.
"So for example if I see a football technique like heading, that allows me to shoot a ball using the head. I can actually transform it into something different like… uh, head-kick?"
[Exactly. It transforms the original into something else]
Tanaka sighed. "What an Euphoric skill. Now it's time to face the Coach."
He stared at the massive building and dashed forward.
12:56 AM — Midnight.
Tanaka entered the building, remembering that he did not actually pack his stuff from the school. Previously, he had arranged his things for packing before those guys had entered.
"And when did I even place a bet worth 2000 rads? It still surprises me."
[Because you're a dumbass. Does that answer your question?]
"Fuck you!"
And then, he saw someone…
One of his teammates, Nishida. He stared at Tanaka with a surprised expression.
"What happened? You left your things behind and disappeared for two days. Coach Isuryburg was worried that you had gone away to do something stupid."
Tanaka clicked his tongue as Aèos spoke in his head.
[Technically, that's what he did. Attempting suicide in broad daylight.]
Tanaka cursed silently, knowing that he must not say anything to Aèos with Nishida in front of him.
Tanaka smiled and said.
"I went to reflect…"
[Liar]
Gritting his teeth, he continued.
"If I hadn't done that, I wouldn't have returned. I probably would have died — it is my courage that—"
[Not yours!]
Nishida noticed Tanaka's every pause but did not interrupt.
"That makes me want to try àgain."
Nishida crossed his arms over his chest. "Try again? Would coach Isuryburg allow it?"
Tañaka sighed.
"I guess I did not think this part through. But anyways, Coach Isuryburg would have to accept me back."
As they discussed, Isaac and James staggered outside after hearing voices. Their expressions changed after seeing Tanaka.
"Yào? What happened? You left without even packing and you're back here??" Isaac said, his calm grey eyes staring at Tanaka and Tanaka sighed.
"I know I flopped. I know I did not play well. But if you can let me play once to prove myself—"
"I'm not the one approving." Isaac snapped, his eyes still calm, searching Tanaka's.
Tanaka did not mind the scrutiny.
"Fine, I'll ask Coach Isuryburg."
James suddenly sneered.
"Coach Isuryburg? The same coach that was fired after you disappointed Seagull. And you still have the balls to come back to ask for a second chance?"
Tanaka was shocked.
"Coach Isuryburg was fired?"
James sneered.
"I didn't put water in my mouth when I made that comment. You heard me."
Tanaka's heart suddenly seemed to bleed.
"So who's the new Couch?"
Nishida stared at Tanaka and said, "I'm not sure I even know that our coach is being replaced. But I believe that you no longer have a place here again."
Tanaka's throat tightened.
'But without asking the Coach, I would not be able to play again. I need to meet the coach.'
Tanaka immediately pushed his way into the school building, past the boys and heading straight for the Coaches headquarters.
He did not care that the coach is human and would be asleep at this moment.
He knocked loudly on the wooden door. The door was wooden and his knocks echoed off in the emptiness of the hallway.
James's face was twisted in a scowl. Only Isaac and Nishida's expression remained neutral.
"Did you not tell him that he'd never be allowed in here? Bad players are not welcomed. Nishida you weren't there, but Coach Damien is a man not to mess around with. He's going to get disappointed soon enough." Isaac said to Nishida while James still carried his ugly scowl on his face.