A heavy silence fell over the training ground.
For the first time in weeks, even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Kaito stood at the far end of the pitch eyes narrowed sweat dripping off his jaw as he stared at the cluster of cones arranged by Coach Yamada
It was a brutal drill
Each cone represented a defender with instructions to make precise movements stop at odd angles and simulate real-time match pressure
It looked like a maze built for one purpose to destroy rhythm
"You mess up the tempo once and it's over" Coach Yamada said leaning against a post arms crossed "Go"
Kaito didn't flinch
He dashed forward the ball attached to his foot like it was stitched into his DNA
Left cut tight right outside flick a sudden pullback
The rhythm was unnatural forced
Kaito's movements became choppy messy too quick
He reached the third cone but slipped slightly adjusting too late
The ball skidded two inches off course
Whistle
"Again"
Kaito walked back no complaints no words
Coach Yamada watched him with unreadable eyes
After the sixth run Kaito's chest heaved his foot scraped raw from repeated bursts
Yuto leaned on the fence chewing a protein bar "That drill's illegal I swear"
Kaito ignored him
Seventh attempt
This time he slowed down
Not out of weakness but intent
Each step was calculated almost eerie
He didn't fight the drill he bent around it
Coach Yamada's brow lifted ever so slightly
Cone three passed
Cone four passed
The sharpest turn arrived Kaito rolled his foot backward leapt around and caught it with his heel
A feint disguised as recovery
Coach Yamada's fingers tapped his stopwatch
Cone five cleared
Final one
Kaito paused for a fraction of a second then with a low center of gravity shifted the ball left cut inside turned fully and nutmegged the last cone
Silence again
The stopwatch beeped
"Thirty two seconds" Coach said then turned "Again"
Yuto gawked "Bro what do you mean again He just broke the record"
Coach Yamada's voice was cold "Records mean nothing under fatigue"
Kaito didn't react
He simply picked up the ball again as if the moment hadn't happened
But deep down behind those focused eyes the fire flickered hotter than ever
The wall wasn't a punishment
It was a mirror
And Kaito was ready to punch through it