Capítulo 31: Molding The Ragtag Bunch
The morning sun filtered through the windows of the flag football club room, casting long shadows on the worn-out tatami mats. Aiko sat at her desk, her fingers drumming anxiously against the wooden surface.
The club room was quiet—too quiet. In just a few short weeks, the atmosphere had shifted from one of hopeful anticipation to a growing sense of dread.
Aiko glanced around the room, her eyes lingering on the empty chairs where the team members usually sat. It was early, and she knew that they would trickle in eventually, but the silence weighed heavily on her.
The once bustling room, filled with the energy of players determined to prove themselves, now felt eerily still. The optimism that had fueled them at the beginning of the season was fading, replaced by the harsh reality of their situation.
They were a ragtag team—a mix of misfits and underdogs. Ryuji, the delinquent, had shown up to practice more out of obligation than any real interest in the sport. He was strong and fast, but his attitude was a constant challenge.
His disdain for authority and lack of discipline made him a wild card on the field, unpredictable and often more of a liability than an asset.
Then there was Ouji, the scatterbrained half-Japanese, half-Russian exchange student who seemed perpetually lost in his own world. He had joined the club by accident, thinking it was a soccer team, and while his enthusiasm was undeniable, his focus was nonexistent.
Aiko had spent countless hours trying to explain the rules of the game to him, but Ouji's mind was always elsewhere, and he struggled to remember even the most basic plays.
The other members of the team weren't much better off. Kaminari, the fourth-year, had reluctantly joined after being pushed into it by his friends, but his heart clearly wasn't in it. He often missed practice, and when he did show up, his performance was lackluster at best.
And then there was Sota—or rather, the absence of Sota. Aiko's heart ached at the thought of him. Despite all her efforts, all her pleas, he had steadfastly refused to join the team.
She had tried everything—reasoning with him, encouraging him, even begging him—but nothing had worked. Sota had made up his mind, and he wasn't going to budge.
Without him, the team was falling apart. They had no quarterback, no leader to rally behind, and it showed in their performance. The few matches they had played against other schools had been disastrous.
They had lost every single one, and not just by small margins. The scores had been humiliating, the defeats crushing. The other schools had mocked them, and the once-promising reputation of Seiryuu High's flag football team was quickly becoming a joke.
Aiko felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on her shoulders. As the manager, it was her job to keep the team together, to motivate them, to help them succeed. But how could she do that when they were so clearly outmatched? How could she lead them to victory when they were struggling just to keep up?
The stress was taking its toll. Aiko hadn't slept properly in days, her nights consumed by endless planning and strategizing. She had poured over playbooks, watched hours of game footage, and tried to come up with ways to make up for their deficiencies.
But no matter how hard she tried, nothing seemed to work. The team was falling apart, and she was powerless to stop it.
As the minutes ticked by, the members of the team began to trickle in. Ryuji slouched into the room, his usual scowl plastered on his face.
Ouji followed shortly after, humming to himself as he absentmindedly fiddled with a small keychain. Kaminari was last, dragging his feet as he entered, clearly wishing he were anywhere else.
Aiko forced a smile, trying to mask her exhaustion. "Good morning, everyone," she said, her voice betraying none of the turmoil she felt inside.
Ryuji grunted in response, throwing his bag into a corner and flopping down onto a chair. Ouji waved cheerfully, seemingly oblivious to the tension in the room. Kaminari offered a half-hearted nod before sitting down with a sigh.
"We have practice today," Aiko continued, her tone upbeat despite the lack of enthusiasm from the others. "I know things have been tough, but we need to keep pushing forward. The qualifiers are coming up, and we need to be ready."
Ryuji scoffed. "What's the point? We're just going to lose again."
Aiko's smile faltered, but she quickly regained her composure. "I know it's been hard, but we can't give up now. We've come this far, and we have to see it through."
"Yeah, but without a proper quarterback, we're just wasting our time," Kaminari muttered, staring at the floor.
Aiko clenched her fists, fighting back the frustration that threatened to overwhelm her. "We may not have a full team, but that doesn't mean we can't try our best. We still have a chance, and I believe in all of you."
Ouji looked up from his keychain, a confused expression on his face. "When are we going to play football?" He asked with all honesty.
Ryuji groaned, burying his face in his hands. Kaminari just shook his head in disbelief.
Aiko felt a pang of despair as she watched the scene unfold. How could they possibly hope to win when they couldn't even get on the same page? The odds were stacked against them, and it seemed like no amount of effort on her part could change that.
But she couldn't let them see her doubt. She couldn't let them know how close she was to breaking down. Aiko straightened her back, forcing herself to stay strong for the team. "Let's just focus on what we can do today," she said, her voice firm. "We'll take it one step at a time, and we'll get through this together."
The words felt hollow, but Aiko knew she had to keep trying. She had to keep pushing them, even if it felt like they were on the brink of collapse. Because if she gave up now, there would be no hope left for the team.
And so, with a heavy heart, Aiko led them through another grueling practice, trying to ignore the gnawing sense of dread that lingered at the back of her mind.
Regalos
-- Regalo
recibido Estado de energía semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Piedra de
Poder