The evening sun dipped low, casting long streaks of gold and crimson over the training field. The air was thick with exhaustion, but none of Group 1 showed any sign of backing down. If anything, their eyes burned brighter after every session.
Seiji Nakamura [Old Legend] stood before them, a thoughtful smile playing on his lips. In his hands, he held two soccer balls.
"Today's evening training will test your vision, awareness, and concentration to their absolute limits," he said, tossing one ball lightly in the air before catching it again. "We'll be using two balls in a single game."
A ripple of confusion ran through the group.
"Two… balls?" Renji's eyes narrowed.
Nakamura nodded. "That's right. Two balls, two separate plays happening at once. You'll have to read the entire field, track both balls, and adjust your strategy accordingly. Only those with exceptional field vision and adaptability will survive this chaos."
The group exchanged tense glances. This was madness.
"We'll play 2v3," Nakamura continued. "Kazuya Mori and Yuto Kisaragi on one team."
Renji's eyes flicked toward Yuto. The quiet strategist had been evolving steadily under Nakamura's training, his passes growing sharper and his field control more refined. And paired with Mori's instinctive brilliance…
"That leaves Renji, Tetsuya Aikawa, and Kazuki Shindo on the other team," Nakamura finished.
Renji felt the familiar spark of challenge flare in his chest. This was going to be intense.
2v3 — The Twin Ball Match Begins
The whistle blew, and immediately chaos erupted. Nakamura tossed both balls into play simultaneously, and the field split into two separate battles.
Renji went for the first ball, his Specter Drive activating instantly. His body blurred as he cut past Mori, his enhanced vision tracking every movement. He saw the second ball out of the corner of his eye — Shindo was charging toward it, but Yuto was already closing in.
"Shindo! Left flank!" Renji called out, passing the first ball sharply across the field.
But as the ball left his foot, Mori was already there. The interception was clean, his anticipation perfect.
"Too slow, Renji," Mori teased, sending the ball flying back toward Yuto.
On the second front, Shindo was struggling. Even without his weights, his newfound speed wasn't enough to break through Yuto's evolving control. Yuto's passes were crisp and unpredictable, his field vision nearly on par with Mori's.
Renji's teeth clenched. This wasn't just a two-ball game — it was two minds in perfect sync against three individuals still finding their rhythm.
"Focus!" Aikawa barked, cutting in to intercept Yuto's pass. He launched the second ball toward Renji, and Renji sprinted into position.
For a brief second, Renji felt it — the field unfolding in his mind, every player's position aligning like pieces on a chessboard. The enhanced vision from his blindfold training kicked in, and the two balls felt like extensions of the same play.
I see it.
Renji struck — his Specter Drive weaving through Mori's defense. He saw the gap, the opening—
But so did Mori.
"Not this time," Mori whispered, sliding in at the perfect angle. He stole the ball cleanly and sent it soaring toward Yuto, who tapped it into the goal without hesitation.
One down.
The second ball followed swiftly. Renji pushed harder, his vision sharpening with every second. But no matter how much they pressed, Mori and Yuto's teamwork was flawless. Mori's aggressive plays and Yuto's calm, calculated passes created an unstoppable rhythm.
In the end, the score was decisive. 5-2 in favor of Mori and Yuto.
As the whistle blew, Renji stood frozen, his fists clenched.
They're getting stronger.
Mori walked past him, his usual smirk in place. "You've got the moves, Renji — but you still can't see the whole game."
And Yuto… Yuto's quiet gaze met Renji's, and there was no mockery there. Only calm determination.
Nightfall — Special Training
Renji returned to the training field long after the others had gone to rest — but this time, he wasn't alone.
Seiji Nakamura [Old Legend] was already there, juggling a ball on his knee with effortless grace.
"I knew you'd show up," Nakamura said without looking up. "You hate losing, don't you?"
Renji didn't answer — he didn't need to. His eyes burned with frustration and resolve.
"You saw it today, didn't you?" Nakamura continued. "The gap between you and Mori… between you and Yuto. But if you keep training the way you are, you'll never close it."
Renji's head snapped up. "Then teach me."
Nakamura smiled. "Alright. But we're going to take this a step further."
He reached into his bag — and pulled out a blindfold.
Renji's stomach twisted with anticipation.
"Let's see how well you can play when the entire field is in your mind," Nakamura said, his voice soft and dangerous. "No sight. Only vision."
The night stretched long and unforgiving — and Renji didn't stop until the first hints of dawn broke over the horizon.
(To be continued…)