The morning sun rose over the EOS facility, casting long shadows across the training fields. Renji stood in the dining hall with his Team Zeta teammates, their conversations buzzing with anticipation. Today marked the start of a new chapter — their next trainer awaited them.
Kaede Arata stretched his arms behind his head. "I heard Eiji Kobayashi [old legend] is next. Kyoto Flames' long-range sniper. Guy's a monster with his shots."
Riku Saionji nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, his shooting range and power are legendary. But it's not just the distance — it's his accuracy. He's scored goals from places no one else would even try."
Renji listened quietly, his thoughts still lingering on his midnight training with Seiji Nakamura [old legend]. His vision had sharpened, his control had improved — but it still wasn't enough. He knew the gap between him and Kazuya Mori was narrowing, but not fast enough. If he wanted to be the best, he'd have to keep pushing harder.
"Yo, Renji." Reiji Sakamoto's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "You're looking way too serious, man. What's up?"
Renji shook his head. "Nothing. Just thinking about what's coming next."
And what came next was fire.
The five top-ranked players of Group 1 stood on the training field, their eyes locked on the figure approaching them. Eiji Kobayashi [old legend] was every bit as imposing as his reputation suggested — tall, lean, and radiating quiet intensity. A man who'd built his career on impossible goals and relentless precision.
"Morning, kids," Kobayashi said, his voice calm but carrying weight. "You've been through Nakamura's vision training, and Hoshigaki's creativity tests. That's all good. But none of it means a thing if you can't finish."
He let his words hang in the air.
"Scoring is everything. And that's what I'm going to teach you."
Without another word, he turned and kicked a ball lying at his feet. It sailed across the entire length of the field and smashed into the top corner of the goal with terrifying precision.
"Today, we start with range."
The first drill was brutal.
Kobayashi set up targets at increasing distances — some at midfield, some closer to the corners, others in near-impossible angles. The players had to hit them with pinpoint accuracy — no rebounds, no second tries.
Kazuya Mori hit the first few with ease, his technique flawless. Yuto Kisaragi followed closely behind, his passes crisp and controlled. Kazuki Shindo, finally free of his weights, unleashed powerful shots that missed by inches but carried immense force.
Renji's first attempt soared wide.
"Not good enough," Kobayashi called out. "Your vision's better, but you're still not syncing your body and mind. Watch your form."
Renji adjusted, narrowing his focus. He remembered the blindfolded drills from Nakamura's training — the way he'd started feeling the field's movement. He tried to apply that same sense of awareness now.
On his next shot, the ball curved beautifully — and hit the target dead center.
Kobayashi's eyes flicked to him, just for a second. "Better. But you're still miles away from the top."
As the session continued, the drills grew harder. They practiced the Knuckle Shot, a strike with no spin that dipped and swerved unpredictably. They worked on Driven Shots, powerful low strikes designed to slice through defenses. Kobayashi even introduced them to the Rabona Cross, forcing them to shoot while crossing their legs — pushing their balance and control to the limit.
Renji struggled. The accuracy was there, but the power wasn't. The vision was sharp, but his timing kept slipping. With every miss, his frustration grew.
And Mori kept hitting his marks.
By the end of the afternoon session, Renji was exhausted — but his mind was already set on the night. He wouldn't stop until he closed this gap.
That night, Renji found the field empty — except for Eiji Kobayashi [old legend] waiting with a ball at his feet.
"You're late," Kobayashi said.
Renji didn't waste time on words. "Teach me."
Kobayashi's lips curled into a slight smile. "Alright, Kurogami. Let's see how far you're willing to go."