Yusuke stopped just outside the gate.
Hands in his pockets. Expression blank.
"…So this is it."
"Oi."
Yusuke looked up.
A man stood a few meters ahead, arms crossed like he'd been waiting.
Mid 30s. Tracksuit. Sharp eyes that didn't miss anything.
Coach.
"Daniel D."
Yusuke blinked slightly.
"…What?"
"That's my name," the man said. "You're Yusuke, right?"
"…Yeah."
Daniel D. walked closer, slow and steady.
Each step felt like he was sizing him up.
"You're the one they brought in yesterday."
"Guess so."
Daniel stopped right in front of him.
Close enough to feel the pressure.
"You used to play."
Not a question.
Yusuke didn't answer.
"…And you quit."
A small pause.
"…Yeah."
Silence.
Daniel kept staring at him.
Not judging.
Not impressed.
Just… reading him.
Then
"Why'd you come back?"
Yusuke's eyes shifted slightly.
"…Didn't."
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"I'm just here for one practice."
Another pause.
Then Daniel let out a quiet breath through his nose.
"…Pathetic."
Yusuke's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You quit," Daniel continued. "Three months later, you're still hanging around a field."
"…What's your point?"
"My point is," Daniel said, stepping slightly to the side, "guys who are really done don't come back at all."
Yusuke stayed quiet.
"You didn't quit soccer," Daniel added.
"You just ran away from one moment."
That hit.
Yusuke's jaw tightened.
"…You don't know anything."
"Then prove it."
Yusuke looked at him.
Daniel tilted his head toward the field.
"Step on the pitch," he said. "Or walk away again."
No emotion in his voice.
No pressure.
Just a fact.
Yusuke stared for a second.
Then
"…Tch."
He stepped forward.
Past him.
Through the gate.
And onto the field.
The field felt bigger once Yusuke stepped onto it.
Uneven grass. Worn patches. Quiet, but not empty.
"…Tch."
"Yo."
Yusuke looked up.
The brown haired guy from yesterday jogged over.
Same messy hair. Same loud energy.
He stopped in front of him and pointed at himself.
"Riku," he said. "Captain."
Yusuke stared at him for a second.
"…Yusuke."
"Yeah, I know," Riku grinned. "I dragged you here."
Yusuke clicked his tongue.
Riku turned and waved him over.
"Come on. I'll introduce you to the team."
Yusuke followed.
The group was gathered near the center.
Some stretching. Some passing. Some watching.
"Oi, listen up," Riku called.
They looked over.
"This is Yusuke."
A tall guy stepped forward first.
Muscular build. Dark red hair.
He looked Yusuke up and down.
"…You look skinny."
"…You look slow."
A pause.
"…He's alright."
"Daichi," Riku said. "Center back."
Next to him stood a lean guy with deep blue hair.
Calm face.
"I'll be marking you," he said. "Don't expect space."
"…Good."
"Ren," Riku added.
A blond guy spun the ball onto his shoulder, grinning.
"Don't be boring."
"…Depends."
"Sora," Riku said.
Another stepped forward.
Teal hair. Focused.
"We play fast. Don't slow us down."
"…Then keep up."
"Takumi."
A ball rolled between them.
A foot stopped it clean.
Spiky crimson hair. Confident.
"You play striker?"
"…Maybe."
"Then stay out of my way."
"…If you're in my way, I won't."
A few reactions.
"Kaito," Riku said. "Striker."
A lazy voice came from the side.
"Can you guys not start already?"
Ash grey hair. Tired eyes.
"Hiroto," Riku said.
Another guy jogged in.
Neon green buzz cut. Loud.
"If you lose the ball, I'm not helping."
"…Didn't ask."
"Yuma."
A calmer guy stepped forward.
Soft purple hair.
"Just play your game."
Yusuke nodded slightly.
"Keisuke."
Then
"Enough."
Yusuke turned.
Near the goal stood a tall figure.
Silver white hair, standing up to form a flat top hairstyle. Sharp eyes.
"If you're a striker, I'll stop you."
"…Try."
"Tsubasa," Riku said. "Goalkeeper."
Silence settled.
Yusuke looked around.
Different players.
Different energy.
"…Tch."
A ball rolled nearby.
His foot shifted.
Instinct.
Still there.
He stepped forward.
And just like that,
it began.
"Warm-ups."
Daniel D.'s voice cut across the field.
No whistle. No delay.
Everyone moved instantly.
Yusuke followed.
Light jog. Two laps.
The ground felt uneven under his feet, but his pace stayed steady.
Then stretches.
High knees. Lunges. Hip rotations.
Simple.
Familiar.
"…Tch."
"You're stiff."
Yusuke glanced to the side.
Blond hair. That same grin.
"…Who are you?"
"Sora," he said. "Left wing."
"…Yusuke."
"Yeah, I know. You're the guy with the fancy foot save."
"…That wasn't fancy."
Sora smirked. "Sure."
Warm-ups ended just as quickly as they started.
"Ball work," Daniel said.
Balls rolled onto the field.
"Pairs. One touch. Keep it clean."
Riku tossed one toward Yusuke.
"Riku," he said. "Captain."
Yusuke trapped it instantly.
"…Let's go."
They started slow.
Pass. Return.
Pass. Return.
One touch.
Riku increased the speed.
Then again.
Then again.
The ball snapped between them.
Yusuke adjusted without thinking.
Clean angles. Open body. No wasted movement.
"Yo…" Riku muttered.
Yusuke didn't respond.
Just kept going.
Faster.
Sharper.
"Speed it up!" Daniel called.
The entire field shifted.
Passes got quicker.
Voices louder.
"Move!"
"One touch!"
"Don't kill it!"
Riku pushed the pace again.
Yusuke matched it.
Perfectly.
"…You didn't fall off at all," Riku said.
"…I didn't forget."
"Switch!"
They rotated.
Teal hair stepped in front of him.
"Takumi," he said. "Right wing."
"…Yusuke."
"Don't mess up the rhythm."
"…Start."
The ball came in fast.
Yusuke hit it back instantly.
Takumi increased the pace.
Yusuke matched it.
Again.
Again.
No mistakes.
Takumi's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…Good."
"Next."
Daniel didn't waste time.
"Dribbling. Cones. Tight control."
A line of cones was already set.
"Go."
Sora went first.
Fast feet. Flashy moves. Stepovers.
"Show off," someone muttered.
"Shut up," Sora shot back.
Next.
"Yuma," someone called.
A loud voice answered, "Watch this."
Fast. Aggressive.
But a cone clipped slightly.
"Too heavy," another voice said.
"…Still faster than you," Yuma replied.
"Yusuke."
Daniel's voice.
Yusuke stepped forward.
Ball at his feet.
Silence settled slightly.
Then
He moved.
No flash.
No extra steps.
Tight touches.
Close control.
Left. Right. Shift.
Every touch stayed close.
Clean.
Efficient.
Through the cones.
Out.
Done.
"…That was boring," Sora said.
"…It was clean," Takumi replied.
Daniel said nothing.
Yusuke stepped back.
"Final drill," Daniel said.
"First touch into shot. Quick release."
Balls were set outside the box.
One by one.
Players stepped up.
Receive.
Control.
Shoot.
"Next."
"Next."
"Next."
"Yusuke."
He stepped forward.
A pass came in.
Firm.
He adjusted instantly.
First touch.
Perfect.
The ball sat exactly where he needed it.
For a split second
everything slowed.
That same moment.
That same choice.
Yusuke's eyes narrowed.
"…Tch."
He swung.
Clean strike.
Low.
Fast.
The ball flew toward the corner
A hand shot out.
Saved.
The goalkeeper.
Silver-white hair.
"…Good shot," he said calmly.
"…Name?" Yusuke asked.
"Tsubasa."
"…Yusuke."
"I know."
The ball rolled back out.
Yusuke didn't move away.
"Again."
Daniel watched him.
Then nodded once.
Another ball came in.
This time
no pause at all.
First touch.
Shot.
Faster.
Sharper.
No hesitation.
The sound of the strike echoed across the field.
And Yusuke didn't even look at the result.
He was already ready for the next one.