Chapter 8.

"Argh, I'm so tired." Yamazake said as we ran the 20th lap.

"When's it gonna be over?" Ueta asked, panting as she rested her hand on her thigh.

"Ah… the only thing I enjoy during the jogging session is looking at the girls." Kimishita said.

*Ugh… he's so perverted.* I thought.

"So this is your natural hair colour, eh?" Tanaka asked, running beside me.

"Huh? Oh yeah." I said, not stopping.

"It looks beautiful. Why'd you dye it?" He asked.

"Really? Thanks. I had no reason though, just wanted to." I said.

*It looks weirder in blinding bangs. it looks like I'll have to go out to buy dye.* I thought.

"Your hair's growing out. You don't wanna cut it?" He asked.

"I'll still cut it. I just want it to be a bit longer."

*Then i'll tie it, not too long, a medium length.* I thought smiling.

"Oh."

With that, he ran even further. I kept jogging at a slow pace till Sugawara approached me.

"Hey." She said, smiling.

"Huh? Thought you'd never speak to me again. "I said as she giggled.

"Not really."She said.

"Your hair…"

"Oh, yeah. It's growing out, I know." I said as she smiled.

"I mean the colour."

"Oh."

Then, she began talking about things completely irrelevant to me.

"Okay, that's all, I believe you boys ran 30 laps." The coach said smiling as he sat on a seat enjoying his yakisoba.

"Ha…"

*That was a tough one, I understand why they'll be so tired.* I thought.

We all picked up our towels and used them to dry our sweaty faces.

"It's almost Christmas. Maybe we'll do more than this." He said, smiling.

*We are still a month from Christmas, though.*

"Looks like it's not about knowing how to play. You guys just aren't fit enough." He said as if thinking.

*Fit?*

"Okay! Let's head into the exercise room. Let's get you guys into shape." He said, standing up and walking into the room.

"What now?"

"Sit ups, squats, push ups, chin ups, lunges, each of them, 50. Now begin." He said.

"What the hell?!"

"What do you mean what the hell? It's just day one. We'll be coming here two days a week. And don't expect the training to be as easy as today's own."

"Damn."

"Oh ladies, please just do the squats and lunges, oh and maybe jumping Jack's, each of them 20." He said, grabbing a basketball bat.

"Boys, this is for you guys." He said, swinging it.

"What?! That's unfair!"

"Take this seriously."

"Ugh…"

*Okay! Let's do this!*

After an hour and a few minutes, we sat on the floor in the exercise room, panting heavily.

"Hm? Why are you guys relaxing? You've still got to run 10 laps before heading in." He said.

"10 laps more?!." Nakamura asked.

"Fast!" He shouted as we ran for it.

"Ah, I'm beat." I said, pouncing on my bed.

"Oh, looks like you guys are through." Ueta said as I nodded.

"I just left the bathroom." I said, covering myself with the duvet. "It's so cold."

"Yeah, it's winter, after all." She said, smiling.

"I guess."

"So, what do you think about this place?" She asked.

"Hm? Why'd you ask that all of a sudden? I kinda like the place, though. It's a nice place, after all."

"Heh...? Nice." She said.

*I wonder what's on her mind.* I thought, sitting up.

"Well it's already getting late. I'd better go prepare dinner before the others leave the bathroom." I said.

"Okay."

I left the room, whistling as I walked down the stairs.

"Oh hey, if it isn't Atsushi boy." The coach said.

He was in the sitting room going through some documents in the laptop he held.

"Hey." I said, putting on an apron.

"Was today's training to your liking?" He asked.

"Of course it was." I answered, taking out a knife and a bowl.

"That's your natural hair colour, right?" He asked.

"Oh, yeah."

"I see…"

*He was really staring at my hair this morning. Maybe he hates light colours?* I thought.

"That's good to know, I'll change the drills again tomorrow." He said before closing the laptop.

"Cool."

"Well then, I'll be back when you're done cooking." He said before walking out.

*Change the drills, he says. I wonder what's going to happen tomorrow." I thought.

Just then, I got a notification from my phone. I turned my phone on and saw who the message was from.

"Hell yeah!!" Nakamura shouted.

Tomorrow, training would start by 2 at noon, so make sure you rest up.

*2 at noon?* I thought before pushing the phone aside.

When the food was ready, I called them and we had dinner before going to bed.

☆☆☆

Early the next day, I went to the exercise room for my daily workouts.

"Kinda figured you'll be here." The coach said, smiling and walking towards me.

"Oh, hey, coach." I said.

"Exercising so early in the morning, aren'typu a hard worker." He said.

"Well..."

"That's good. Keep up the good work. But I believe you should focus more on your stamina." He said before leaving.

2:00.

It was already 2 noon, and we all stood in the field waiting for the coach to grace us with his presence.

"Seems like you all are here." He said, walking towards us.

"Yes, sir." We all answered.

"Okay! Let's have a practice match right now." He said.

"Huh?"

"What? Are you scared now? It's just a practice match against yourselves." The coach said.

"Y-yes, sir."

"Now to divide you guys. Since you guys are 12 in the team, you guys would be divided into two teams." He said.

"Now, we'll have Team A and Team B. Team A: Tanaka Akaji, Yamazake Akane, Watabe Ryuto, Ueta Suzune, Kisho Akatsuki, and Hayashi Chika.

Team B: Yusuke Nakamura, Kimishita Kiichi, Saitō Koenji, Sugawara Misaki, Tamura Hinami, and Oshiba Atsushi

Now, get into position!" He said before sitting on a seat.

"Yes, sir." We answered before discussing amongst ourselves.

"This seems kinda fun." Kimishita said, smiling.

"Yeah."

"Well, I'll take the post." Saitō said, grabbing a pair of gloves.

"Oh? The big guy's got it." Nakamura said, smiling.

"Now, let's begin. Full game at 30 minutes." The coach said.

*Ha… I really don't know how to play.* I thought.

Nakamura was at the centre forward, Kiichi Right wing, and I left wing.

The game started with Team A making the first passes.

"Let's go get 'em." Saitō shouted as we ran towards them.

*Maybe, just maybe. I might be able to do something.*