Chapter 90.

"Look, there are many more ways to confuse a defender and still stay in control of the ball." Kenji said, picking up a ball.

"Mm-hm…"

"Let's go again." He said.

"I'm ready." I said.

"You need to be fast. If you're fast enough, you can create an afterimage of the ball. Not everyone can do it. With an afterimage, when a defender tries to steal the ball, he might end up kicking nothing. That'll leave him confused, and he'll become confused. Some can be able to confuse the defenders to think that they ball's before them when the ball is still by their sides…"

*What the hell's this guy saying?* I thought, nodding as he kept talking about after and before images.

"Okay, now you'll try to steal the ball from me while I make and after image. This'll just be the basics since you look confused right now." He said, stepping on the ball with his right leg.

"Hm? Won't you try to dribble?" I asked.

"Don't worry, I assure you that you won't be able to steal it." He said.

"Haha, you're really looking down on me." I said, walking towards him.

I tried kicking the ball from under his right foot, but I couldn't feel anything.

"Huh? It was just." I said, l9oking at the ball, under his left leg.

"Hehe."

"What the fuck?! It was just here!" I said.

"Come on, try getting it again. It's under my left foot." He said.

"You brat." I said, walking towards his left foot and kicking the ball.

"Haha."

"How?!"

"That was an afterimage. It really was there but I moved it to my right immediately." He said.

"Isn't that just op?!" I asked.

"Well, I can only make an afterimage. Some others can make images before actually playing. But it doesn't always work since they're some that can 'perceive' where the ball's going to so they'll be able to steal it. That's what Yui excels in." He said.

"Wow, this really sounds unreal… wait what?! Yui?!" I asked looking shocked.

"Yeah. She's really good at it." He said as I looked over at her.

*Shouldn't she stay at defence since she can perceive it?* I thought.

"She's good at making others believe she has moved a muscle even though she hasn't. That makes her able to shoot, pass and dribble. That's why she's not at defence."

"She's got really sick skills. Wait, how do you know what I'm thinking?" I asked.

"It's all training." He said, smiling at me.

*These guys are scary.*

"Anyway, speed can help in different ways. One of your strengths is in your speed, right?" He asked.

"Well, though I still don't get what you mean… yeah. I guess so."

*The coach has said something about that before.*

"You're not fast enough yet. Well, there's no point in teaching you about the afterimage since you won't be able to learn it before next two weeks." He said.

"Even though. Just teach me how it's done. I'll try my best." I said.

"… that's good then. Run around the compound for 5 laps and get back here before 2 minutes." He said.

"This compound? That's easy. I'll be back before 1." I said.

"Ah, you might have misunderstood."

"Hm? I didn't mean this field. Sorry, around the whole compound. This place in a whole."

"Jesus! Even a sports car can't make it in 2 minutes!" I shouted.

"A sports car? Hm… you're more than that."

"I am not!"

"Ha… just get to it already."

"5 laps, 2 minutes…"

"I can make it in 1."

"That's not possible." I said.

"Then let's try it out. Let's have a race." He said, setting a timer.

"Hmph, I'm up for it."

"Heh. 3, 2, 1, go!" He said.

"Let's see who…"

Woosh!!

"Huh?" I asked as I felt a strong wind beside me.

"What the?!!" I shouted, runnubg behind him.

◇◇◇

"Ha… ha… ha… ha…!" I panted, lying half dead on the grass.

"You made it after 3 minutes this time. How do you learn so fast?" He asked.

"Fuck." I cursed.

He made me run 5 laps around the 'compound' 7 times. The first time I returned after 5 minutes, second 8 and so on.

*I finally returned after 3 minutes. I thought I was gonna die.* I thought.

"You both, it's almost 12. Let's get back inside." Teijiro said yawning.

"Coming!" Kenji said, helping me up.

"I don't think I can walk back in." I said.

"Come on, Yui will help you." Yui said, running towards me.

*My back will break even before we get inside.* I thought.

"I bet you're tired too. Let's go in." I said, smiling at her.

Grumble…

*Ah… she's hungry.* I thought, looking at her as she looked away.

◇◇◇

I laid on my bed looking into my smartphone. I tapped on the MSW app and looked at the information.

*Whoa, my top speed, stamina, agility, responsiveness, mentality and acceleration has gone up.* I thought, turning off my phone.

I smiled while looking up at the ceiling. I'm far from it but it feels like I'm almost there. I'm missing many things but I believe that I'll get them, no matter what.

*I'll be the best there ever is, no matter what!*