—[2 DAYS TILL MATCHDAY.]—
"Good work, kids. You guys are doing better than when we first trained."
They all grinned proudly.
They were all seated in the meeting room in the evening.
"You'll all rest well tomorrow, so don't work too much. We'll have a meeting by 3 tomorrow. Oh, and the last thing before you all go back in..." He started, turning to Akaji and then to Atsushi.
"Hm?" Akaji asked, turning to Atsushi.
"You both come up here."
Atsushi and Akaji walked to the front of the room and stood beside the coach.
"The last thing is the selection of our team captain. We still don't have one."
Misaki clenched her fists while watching them, 'I also... I can also be captain.'
Akaji's eyes widened as he turned to Atsushi, 'Eh? Even after everything...?'
"Why select again? We all agreed to keep Akaji as the captain." Kimishita said.
"Exactly."
The coach chuckled, "Well, that's your choice, and I have mine. The two can lead, so we'll have to settle this properly."
"A vote!" Ryuto suggested.
'Okay, that's great! If that's the case, then I'll still be captain. After all, everyone likes me.' Akaji tried calming himself down.
"Uh... coach?" Atsushi called.
"Yes, Atsushi-kun."
"Even if we vote, Akaji will stay as captain. And although being captain seems great, I doubt I'd make a good one. I think it's better to avoid this."
The coach stared at him with squinted eyes.
"Yeah! I personally think Akaji will make a great captain." Ryuto concurred.
"But Atsu isn't bad either."
"Let me ask you a question. Why do you think Akaji will make a great captain?" The coach asked, placing his hand on Akaji's shoulder.
"Well..."
"He was the captain of his high school club, and they were really great! I'm sure he'll lead us well." Shoichi answered.
"You see, I don't really care about who's popular. I'm looking for who can lead the team to achieve greater results. Someone with the ability to direct everyone in the right direction at the right time."
The room fell silent once more.
"Okay! Akaji, look the team in the eye and tell them why you deserve to be captain."
"Uh, eh... well..." Akaji stuttered, trying not to look at anyone.
'What the hell am I doing? This is stupid!'
Atsushi's lips tugged upwards in a smirk, 'Does he really want me to become captain? He's currently putting pressure on Akaji. If Akaji says yes, he'd come off as proud, and that'll be bad for his face.'
"Coach, if I may. I have a suggestion." Misaki stood from her chair.
"What's wrong, Misaki-San?" The coach asked, turning to her.
"You must have your reason for selecting these two, but don't you think they're some others here who might lead better?"
The coach blinked, "Oh?"
She stepped forward a bit and placed her hand over her chest, "I can also...!"
"Ah...!" The coach started. "That's right, that's right. I almost forgot you, Misaki-San."
"Huh? Is she joining the other two in the battle for the position?" Ryuto asked, looking around dramatically.
The coach shook his head disapprovingly, "Nope. She can't be a captain."
"B-but why? You don't even want to give me a chance!" Her voice was raised.
'So that's how it is... I'm not even a candidate.' Her head drooped.
"It's because you're not on the team. I'd like you to stay as a manager. It's up to you to accept it or not." Haruya answered.
Misaki stared at the coach for a moment, and then she blinked.
"Me? As manager?" She asked, her eyes widening.
"Yup. Being team captain is all good, but... I believe you'll do better as the manager. You've got something special going on about you." He answered.
"W-well... that's great then." She stepped back, trying to hide her smile.
"Now, let's hear that idea you came up with."
"Oh, yeah! Since we can't vote, why don't we use the first two matches?" She suggested.
"Hm... go on."
"If we vote now, it'll just be favouritism. We don't know how well they can lead in a match, so let's use the first two matches to know that." She continued.
The coach nodded slowly, "I had an idea that sounds like yours. Your idea is great."
He turned to Atsushi and Akaji, "What do you boys say?"
Atsushi shrugged, "Fine by me."
Akaji nodded slightly, "Yeah..."
"Great! Remember, eat and rest well. I'll only accept light training today, but nothing tomorrow. Have a great evening."
As they left the meeting room, Atsushi could feel glares from everywhere.
'Uh... this might be bad.'
---
It was already late in the evening. Almost everyone on the team had gone to bed, but one remained on the training ground.
"Ha..." Atsushi exhaled deeply and took a quick stutter step before curling the ball into the net.
The ball curled past the dummies he had placed and got into the top corner of the net.
"Yes!" He said between clenched teeth.
The chain-link gate opened, and the coach walked in.
"Why am I not surprised to see you here?" The coach asked.
He walked towards a ball and lifted it with the top of his toes. The ball bounced off his leg, and he controlled it with his shoulder.
"You said we could do some light training today. I'm just practising my shots." Atsushi tried explaining.
"Mm-hm." The coach nodded and then groans.
He shot the ball to the net, and it went straight in.
"Now that's a shot." He grinned proudly.
"That was a nice one. Are you a long ball specialist?" Atsushi asked.
"Long ball, short ball, I'm a specialist at anything related to goal scoring."
'He's so damn boastful.'
"Atsushi-kun..." He called.
"Yeah?" Atsushi asked, picking up the balls.
"You should have a little more faith in yourself." Haruya started.
"Eh?"
"The position as captain, you don't need to let it go just cause of what the others think." He continued.
"Personally, I think you'd make the greatest captain. So just go out there next tomorrow, and show them why you deserve that position."
"Coach..." Atsushi started, looking up at the coach.
He had that, 'no one's ever believed in me kind of expression'.
He looked away and continued picking the balls, a soft smile on his lips.
"But I think Akaji will also make a good captain, same with Misaki."
"Misaki? Oh, she's really good too, but her talent shines in managing. I'm sure you'd have realised that too."
"Well, yeah. But if she was a player too, I'd definitely want to see her lead the team as captain." Atsushi smiled slightly.
"Oh?"
There was a cracking sound coming from outside the fence, and they both turned to the direction.
"Who's there?" Haruya asked.
"Ah... I-I just wanted to discuss something with you, coach." Misaki walked out from the dark and into the field.
"It's already this late. Shouldn't you be asleep?" The coach asked.
"Well..." She glanced at Atsushi, who continued clearing up the field.
'Does he really believe in me too?' Her eyes glistened.