The gym felt colder after Takeda's words.
Daniel stood in front of the projector, fists tight at his sides, watching the frozen frame of Ryu Kazen mid-drive — knee tucked, torso low, the blue grid flaring in his eyes as he shifted weight so subtly the defender had no idea he'd already lost.
Coach Hikari clicked her pen.
"Look carefully," she said. "What do you notice?"
Daniel stared, scanning every pixel.
Everyone else stayed quiet, sensing the seriousness in the air.
Daniel exhaled.
"…His shoulders. They lie."
Takeda smirked. "Good. Continue."
"He dips them like he's driving left, but… his hips never commit." Daniel leaned in. "His hips tell the truth. His chest and head fake. But his hips… they always point where he'll actually go."
Hikari nodded slowly.
"Exactly. Most defenders watch the eyes, the ball, the shoulders. But an elite defender…" She tapped her pen against the screen. "Watches the hips."
The video resumed.
Ryu jab-stepped.
The defender flinched right.
