Chapter 449: Show Them What Hakodate Nishi Can Do!
After the meeting was over, everyone left the room one by one. By the time the room was empty, three people suddenly came back again, their gaze serious. Well, at least one of them was, as the other two were just grinning goofily.
Those three were, of course, Higo, Kumiko, and Makino.
"First-time starter, come on!" Higo high-fived his friend with a laugh, clearly ecstatic with the news.
"Yeah, that should be the first game you played, right? Unlike me, who has already played a full half of a game a few days ago." Makino bragged smugly.
"Oh, yeah? Well, at least, I wouldn’t start my national career with an L!" Higo retorted.
A thick vein popped on Makino’s forehead instantly. This had been Higo’s weapon whenever he mentioned the last game, and honestly, this started to get annoying. However, before he could say anything, Kumiko suddenly cleared her throat, interrupting their daily bickering.
"Have enough?" She asked flatly, arms crossing in front of her chest.
"Y—Yes, Ma’am!" Those two straightened their back immediately, all words getting swallowed back to their throat once again.
"Good, because you making it into the main list is not just something to celebrate, but also to be prepared for carefully." Kumiko nodded before taking out her phone. "Unlike JEF, whose main strategy is as simple as chucking the ball to Kleber and letting him do whatever he wants, Jubilo Iwata has a more proper strategy. They are far from being a pushover, so avoid an overconfident state, okay?"
Both boys nodded solemnly, realizing that tomorrow’s game would be far more difficult than they initially thought.
"Unlike JEF, whose financial situation is better and has three proper foreign players, Jubilo Iwata only has one, Adailton from Brazil. However, he is definitely the more dangerous player here. Seven goals out of 33 matches might not be that much, but combined with 12 assists, 90 chances created in a season, and so many attempted assists, he is awarded as the J2 League Best Player of the Year even though the team failed to get promoted last year."
Well, that was an impressive record, definitely. Still, that data alone was not enough to make those two recognize how dangerous that Brazilian Maestro was.
"Here, this is one of so many clips about him that I found." Kumiko suddenly played a video.
Both Higo and Makino got closer to the phone to watch the video. There, a small Brazilian man was playing around casually with the defender close to the center line. For a moment, everything looked okay, and the play didn’t reveal anything other than a time-wasting operation.
However, the moment he started to step into the opposition half, everything changed. His glance wandered around, scanning the whole pitch, before he started to rush forward. His opponent tried to close down the distance and put pressure on him, but the moment they were about to collide...
BAM!
With his outer foot, with a beautiful Trivela technique, that Brazilian man sent a beautiful through ball that went in a curve, moving straight to the penalty box. It was unfortunate that the striker there took too much power in the last shot, failing to execute such an exquisite play into a worldwide highlight.
"Damn, that pass is awesome." Higo whistled lowly, impressed.
"No, don’t just focus on the pass." Kumiko shook her head, rewinding the video. "Look at how his body moves. He doesn’t use any exaggerated, big dribbling movement, but every micro movement he makes is a part of deception. Until the last moment when the ball is released from his foot, you will never know what he will do next. He is a proper Brazilian player, a master of trick and deception."
"...So, how should we stop him?" Makino asked, starting to get worried.
"Wait a second... Ah, I have sent my research to your phone. Read it before going to sleep." Kumiko said while her eyes were still completely on her phone. "There, I include Adailton’s favorite space to roam, which player would he prefer to play a combination tactic, his most likely dribble move, his probability to take a shot depending on the area, and so many more. Make sure you remember them all well, okay?"
Both Higo and Makino groaned simultaneously. Somehow, this feeling reminded them of their time in Hakodate Nishi, where Kumiko would prepare the intelligence, while their task was to remember everything.
"Oh, don’t give me that expression." Kumiko scoffed playfully. "You both are still far from establishing a foothold in this team. Makino-kun may have a slight edge after the last game, but it is still far from enough. Only a good performance in the next game will do, and this is your ticket to do so."
Higo and Makino stared at each other for a moment. They knew what Kumiko didn’t say here. This intelligence was something she compiled alone for them, especially not for the whole team, to give them an edge against the other players in the next game.
"Lastly, here. Everyone sends you a video." Kumiko played another clip. There, all the Hakodate Nishi players stood together, with Hiroshi, Ishinori, and Takaaki being in front of everyone.
"Hey, Senpai! The first time being in the main roster, huh? Damn, that’s awesome!" Ishinori laughed proudly. "You don’t know how green Hiroshi is with envy when he heard the news from Shishida-senpai!"
"Oh, shut up, will you?!" Hiroshi growled, but the tip of his ears turned red as if he had been caught doing something wrong here. "Anyway, Kumiko-senpai asks us to make a video to give you encouragement, but thinking about it... It doesn’t seem to be necessary, right?" He smirked knowingly.
"Come on, Makino-senpai! Higo-senpai! Show them what you both are capable of!" Takaaki chimed in. "Show the national stage that the product of our school is outstanding! We are waiting for your good news!"
Well, this message settled it. Neither boy needed to look at the other to know what they were thinking. If before, there was still a hint of playfulness around, this time, they knew they had to be serious.
’They are right. At least, we have to show the national team that we Hakodate Nishi players are worth a lot of money here!’
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