10th April 2025
Ren kicks the ball repeatedly to the net.
'How to score? How do I score the ball perfectly?'
He shoots it again, slamming it into the back of the net, it was a good shot, but he keeps imagining Morita blocking it at the last second.
"Are you sure you want to train so hard when we have a match tomorrow?"
Ren looks at who said that.
"Oh, Endo. Yes I do... I need to beat Morita..." Ren says while grabbing the ball and placing it back on the penalty spot.
"Morita? Shouldn't you be trying for Haruto Fujimura?"
"No... Fujimura isn't the one who beat me..."
"It was just a training match." Endo lays on the grass next to him.
"Didn't look like you were taking it like a training match!" Ren kicks a knuckleball into the top corner. "Still not good enough..."
Endo stays silent.
Ren slams another one into the net.
"Yeah you're right..." Endo says "I think you're a better footballer than him, he's just a better attacker."
"Are you saying we swap positions!? I'll never not be a striker."
"No... At this rate you'll surpass him anyways..."
They both go silent again. Ren shoots one, it bounces off the crossbar. Endo catches it and throws it back.
"You know... I want to be a striker... But I'm seriously good at being a defender, so I've never got to be an attacker."
"You know maybe you should find value in being a defender... Considering that you are a great defender."
"Yeah I am, I can admit that... But the defender's never get the glory... I want to be an attacker that gets all the fame..."
Ren passes Endo the ball. "Shoot. I want to see just how good you are at being an attacker."
Endo places the ball down, and winds up. He kicks the ball.
'That's my screwball shot!'
"I got that one off Itoshi." Endo looks back, and sees Ren in deep thought. "Ren?"
'That's it! That's the goal I needed! That's the technique! It's like Kokugetsu strike... But better!'
Ren snaps out of it, "Thank you endo!" He runs to the ball and kicks it.
'Start off with a screwball...'
The ball flies up and then down, but then it hits the ground.
'Go backspin!'
The backspin flings it into the net.
Ren smiles with happiness "YES!"
'I finally got it! The unsaveable shot!'
"Thanks so much Endo!"
Endo just stands there awkwardly... "You're welcome? I guess..."
Ren continues practicing for another couple of hours, giving Endo a shot every now and then.
They depart just as the sun sets...
Ren goes back home and nearly instantly falls asleep...
For his match tomorrow will be the hardest fight he's ever faced...