At the start of every school year, Ryusei's football coaches held a club-wide session to decide the rosters for the season. The lineups could change later, as players improved under the coaches' guidance and earned their place, but the first cut mattered the most. Those who made the teams now had the best chance of starting the league with time on the pitch.
Ryusei was such a large school that there was enough talent to fill two whole teams. Both teams played in the same league, but only the first team competed at the national U-12 level. With only eighteen spots per team—eleven starters, seven reserves—the competition was brutal.
I have to get onto the first team. No matter what. The second team wasn't worthless, but it wasn't enough. If Ryo wanted to grow, if he wanted to stand beside Ren on the pitch, the first team was the only option.
"Will you be participating in the team selection today?" a staff member asked as Ryo stepped onto the grass.
"Yes," Ryo replied.
"Great, please write your name and class here." The man handed him a clipboard. Ryo quickly scribbled down his details and returned it.
"Oh, a first-year?" The staff member raised his brows. "Don't worry if you don't make it. Plenty of older kids here with experience don't make it either."
"Understood," Ryo said flatly. He disliked being underestimated just because of his age, but it didn't matter. Soon enough, he'd prove himself where it counted.
He moved off to the side, pulling up his socks and tightening his boots. Around him, nearly 150 students filled the two small pitches, buzzing with nervous energy. The grass was immaculate, the lines newly painted, the entire field wrapped in a high fence and a fringe of trees that screened it from the city beyond.
Still no sign of Ren, Ryo thought as he glanced at the entrance. Twenty-five minutes until the session began. Ren's place was secure—after one standout season on the first team, he was already known as one of the top young strikers in the school. As long as he showed up, the coaches would pencil him straight as a starter.
Though it was unusual for Ren to be late, Ryo trusted that he was fine. Still, the absence nagged at him. Where is he…? He glanced around the pitch—no sign of Ren, and Kazuki's flaxen hair was nowhere to be seen either.
With nothing else to do, Ryo picked up a ball from the cluster scattered near the sideline and began juggling, letting the rhythm steady him. The familiar thump of the ball against his foot echoed faintly over the growing chatter around the pitch.
"Aren't you a little young to be here?" a voice teased behind him. "Shouldn't you be at the beginner class?"
Ryo kept juggling and turned just enough to see three boys smirking at him. What do they hope to gain from picking on a six-year-old?
"No," he said flatly, "I'm trying for the first team."
The tallest of the trio let out a laugh. "You? The first team? Don't make me laugh. We fought tooth and nail just to get on the second team last year—and we were third years."
That only shows your level. Ren made the first team at your age. Ryo's thoughts were jabbing at them, but his expression was unreadable as he kept the ball aloft, not even acknowledging their attempt to rattle him.
The tall boy's smirk twisted. Clearly annoyed, he stepped forward, grabbed Ryo by the shoulder, and spun him around. The ball fell, rolling across the turf.
"You think you're better than us?" he snapped. "You think it's easy to make the first team? Then prove it. Try scoring against us." He jabbed a thumb at his two friends. "If you can't even beat us, you've got no business here."
Ryo steadied his gaze on them, quiet. A troublesome situation… I wanted to keep a low profile until the tryouts, but they're forcing my hand. Avoiding this would be best, but…
{New Quest!}
(Situational Quest – Can You Even Play Football?)
[Show Your Seniors That They Do Not Even Deserve To Be On The Second Team]
[Time Limit: 15 minutes]
[Reward – New Skill: Mental Fortitude (D)]
[Penalty: -1 Overall Stat Point]
Really? Ryo really did not want to confront these players, but The System was not giving him a choice. Not only would he get a reward if he did, but if he didn't do it, he would get an entire overall stat point removed. That would greatly back up his progress, because one stat point makes a big difference.
Ryo really didn't want to confront these players, but The System left him no choice. If he walked away, he'd lose an Overall stat point—and that one point made a world of difference.
"Okay then," Ryo said, flashing a grin that was full of provocation. "I'll score five goals against you in fifteen minutes." With that, he grabbed a ball and jogged toward the side goal.
"How dare you…" The boy snapped, fist tightening. "Don't underestimate me. I won't even let you score once."
They soon hurried into position: one in the goal, and the other two spread in front of him. Ryo, on the other hand, started barely ten meters outside the box. It wasn't much space—the crowded pitch had forced them to argue for even this patch—but it would do.
Ryo rested his foot on the ball, studying the players. Their formation was flawed. With only three, they needed to close in and pressure him together, not stand as if Ryo had teammates to pass to. The keeper barely mattered. If I break past the two in front, the goal is mine.