[PREVIOUSLY]
"C'mon guys, let's snap out of it. Let's play on!!!" Takeshi's voice rang out, snapping the team out of the trance. Sophia smiled at this, sitting back down.
On the pitch, Neron shook his head to rid his thoughts. 'No use thinking how he did that, let's just win the game.' Neron concluded, a determined and excited look on his face. He would not loose this game when it's just starting to get fun.
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Neron stood over the ball, his mouth stretched in his usual excited grin. He was determined to win this game, no matter what.
"PHEEEEEEWWWWW!!!" The referee blew the whistle, SEIRAN restarting the play.
Neron passed the ball backwards, his eyes glancing back at Shinji; a plan formed between them. Turning back forward, Neron dashed forward.
Shinji received the ball, looking to send a long pass to Neron. But then Shinji quickly dragged the ball back, shielding the ball as the figure of Oliver appeared. "Not today mate, can't late you be spraying passes as you please." He said, his lazy smirk flashing
Shinji frowned slightly, "Hmm, it seems I have an audience...but not a welcomed one." He spoke displeased.
Shinji tried to rid Oliver, but Oliver was persistent, not giving him room to do as he pleased.
Oliver toe picked the ball, as Shinji tried to maneuver around him. NAGOYA regained possession.
SEIRAN scrambled back to stop the play. Oliver recieved the pass back, skillfully stepping away from Shinji. The attackers immediately took off running as Oliver looked up to pass.
Shin, watched all this with a nervous gaze. The advice from yesterday resurfacing in his head.
FLASHBACK
We see Sophia doing some assessment in her office when a knock interrupted her. Looking up, her eyes furrowed slightly in confusion; wondering who it could be. "Come in." She called out
The door slowly opened, the figure of Shin approached the office with the nervousness of a deer in headlights.
"U-uhm M-miss Sop-Sophia i-i ne-need your help." He stammered
Sophia looked up from her work, as she offered a friendly smile. "Oh, Shin. What do you need?"
Shin gulped, taking a few minutes to gather the courage to speak"I-I want to be u-useful to the team." He stammered out.
Sophia titled his head in confusion, "Useful? Shin, you're already an important part of the team, you are use..." But she was cut off.
"No I'm not!!!" He shouted, his chest heaving up and down. He looked down, his fists clenched to his side, as he spoke through gritted teeth, "I always feel like I-l'm letting down Daichi and the team. I'm not as good as a defender as him, and I feel like I'm holding him back." He confessed, his eyes blurring slightly as he could feel them wetten, " I want to help the team, but I'm not just good enough."
"So please teach me how to be useful to the team...please." He begged, his voice breaking at the end as he bowed in desperation. He clenched his fists to his legs, eyes tightened as he waited for a reply.
A minute of silence passed, with the longer the silence, the more anxious shin felt. He clenched his fists more, his body slightly shaking in anticipation. Then after a few seconds, Sophia finally replied, "Shin, let me ask you a question?"
Shin's body slowly raised up, his eyes slightly watered. "A question?". He asked in confusion.
Sophia nodded. She leaned forward, her hands supporting her chin. "What do you think is the most important quality for a defender to have?"
Shin stared at her, puzzled at the sudden question as he repeated it "The most important quality...for a defender?"
Sophia noded encouragingly. "Yes, think about it. Is it speed? Strength? Agility?"
Shin hesitated, still looking uncertain. Sophia continued, "I'll tell you what I think. One of the most important things for a defender is to simply be in the right position."
She leaned forward, her eyes locked onto Shin's "Think about it. If you're standing in the right spot, you can intercept passes, block shots, and win the ball back. It's not always about being the fastest or the strongest. Sometimes, it's just about being in the right place at the right time."
Sophia smiled. "So, here's what I want you to focus on: your positioning. Pay attention to where the opponent is, where your partner is, and where the ball is. Try to anticipate where the play is going to develop, and get yourself into position to defend."
She paused, letting her words sink in. "It's a simple thing to focus on, but it can make a big difference. Can you do that for me?"
Shin stood, absorbing what Sophia had said. Could he do it? The question flashed in his head, Could he really be important to the team?
Sophia, seeing the doubt in his eyes, spoke again. "Shin, you are important to the team. Whether you think you can do it or not all depends on you. But just know, you have the trust of everyone in this team. Knowing that, dl you think you can't do it?" She asked, waiting for his reply
Shin nodded, his eyes burning with determination to improve and be useful to the team.
Sophia smiled warmly at that. "Well, time to begin practicing, three hours of positioning drills should do." She said.
Shin gulped, the idea of this maybe not being a good idea flashed in his head.
FLASHBACK END
'Thats right, the team trusts me and I trust them. I...I won't let them down!' Shin took a breath to steady his nervousness. His eyes actively scanning the situation in front of him. 'Oliver's with the ball. A pass to his left? No, Hayato can cover it with his speed. His right? No, Daichi and Takeshi have that covered. The most dangerous place is...' He analysed, then his eyes widened as he sprinted back.
Oliver scanned the field, eliminating the left and right players. 'The middle is the weak link. The player ain't that good at defence.' He concluded. Making his decision, he sent a through ball through the middle.
"WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PASS BY OLIVER ONCE AGAIN THROUGH THE MIDDLE. THE STRIKER IS IN ON GOAL, IS SEIRANS CUP HOPES GOING TO END..."
The stadiums eyes were fixed on the play, the players, coaches, everyone. Another goal seemingly guaranteed, but then...
The striker let the ball roll across from him. As he was about to finish off the pass. But then a player flashed across from him, his leg outstretched. "...is here!!!!" Shin shouted, as he intercepted the ball away from him. With his momentum, he clattered into shin. The refree immediately blew for a foul.
"WHAT A BEAUTIFUL INTERCEPTION. JUST WHEN IT SEEMED LIKE NAGOYA WHERE IN AGAIN, SHIN COMES OUT FROM NOWHERE AND MAKES A CRUCIAL INTERCEPTION. WHAT A MATCH WE HAVE!!!" Taro shouted with vigour
SEIRAN won the freekick. Shin shouted out at his tackle like he had just scored a goal, his teammates surrounded him, shouting in vigor at the crucial interception.
Sophia smiled from the bench, happy and relieved at the interception. Looking at the scoreboard, it a few minutes left for the first half. She clenched her fists, a goal before half-time would be good momentum for the second half. She looked at her team, trusting her players to find a way.
Oliver looked at this, a silent anger starting to brew. 'That wasn't supposed to happen. A fluke, he ain't doing that again.' he scowled, his eyes starting to burn with annoynace.
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A/N: THATS THIS CHAPTER DONW GUYS. OF COURSE AS ALWAYS TWLL ME YOUR THOUGHTS, I KNOW THE CHAPTER IS SHORT, TRIED TO MAKE IT LONGER BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS🤷♀️.
ALSO DONT FORGET TO THROW ME SOME OF THOSE STONES PEOPLE
STAY BLESSED PEOPLE 🙏