Captain Tsubasa: The Striker

The heat pressed down on Nankatsu's training field as Kaito wiped sweat from his brow. The ball rested at his feet, scuffed and stained from relentless practice. His breaths were heavy, but his focus remained sharp.

"Keep the pressure on, Kaito! One more shot!" Roberto's voice echoed across the field.

Kaito nodded, gripping the ball with determination. He took a few steps back, eyes locked on the goal. The team watched silently as he charged forward, his foot striking the ball with raw power. It curved wildly, rattling the crossbar before bouncing back onto the field.

Damn it, Kaito thought, clenching his fists. "Still not good enough," he muttered under his breath.

Tsubasa jogged over, his smile easy despite the intense session. "Hey, that was better. Just watch your balance when you hit it."

Kaito exhaled sharply. "It's frustrating. That shot back then… it just happened naturally. Now it feels impossible to do it again."

"You'll figure it out," Tsubasa assured him. "Besides, it's not just about the shot. You're already making the defenders sweat just by being there."

That made Kaito pause. "Huh, never thought of it like that."

---------

As practice paused, the team gathered in the shade. Kaito leaned against a tree, still replaying his failed shot in his mind.

"Oi, Kaito," Ishizaki called, grinning mischievously. "You trying to break the goal or just scare it to death?"

Kaito snorted. "Maybe both."

Taki laughed. "We're gonna need a new goalpost at this rate."

Despite himself, Kaito felt a grin tug at his lips. The team's lighthearted banter was a reminder that it wasn't all pressure and frustration.

As the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows over the field, Kaito found himself lost in thought. The faces of his teammates, laughing and pushing themselves despite the odds, reminded him of something he hadn't felt in a long time—belonging.

I never had this at my old school, he thought bitterly. I was just the guy who skipped classes and fought to stay awake when I did show up. But here... it's different.

The image of Roberto, Tsubasa, and the whole team working hard flashed in his mind. For the first time, Kaito felt like he wanted to give something back.

"I'll get better," he whispered to himself, tightening his grip on the ball. "No way I'm letting them carry me."

----------

On the sidelines, Genzo Wakabayashi stood beside his coach, arms crossed as he observed the training.

"They're improving fast," Genzo admitted reluctantly. His eyes tracked Tsubasa and Kaito in particular. "That guy—Kaito. He's rough, but dangerous."

The coach nodded. "Raw power without direction can be a liability."

"Maybe," Genzo smirked, "but if they figure him out, Nankatsu might become a real threat."

-----------

Meanwhile, at Meiwa FC, Hyuga Kojiro stood tall, drenched in sweat after an intense practice. His powerful strikes left the goalkeeper scrambling, unable to block a single shot.

As he walked off the field, one of his teammates approached. "I heard about Nankatsu. They've got some new players, including a tough striker."

Hyuga's eyes darkened, his lips curling into a smirk. "I don't care who they are. If they're in my way, I'll crush them."