Bluelock x OC:The Oracle's game

Hikaru perspective:

Later That Day — Post-Training Breakdown

The sun was dipping behind the Milan skyline, leaving a warm orange glow on the training grounds. The players gathered in a semi-circle around Coach, everyone's shirts drenched in sweat. Heavy breaths filled the air, but nobody dared speak.

Coach paced slowly, his eyes sharp as ever. Each step felt like the ticking of a clock before a verdict. This wasn't the time for jokes or small talk. He stopped in front of Marco, his eyes locking onto him like a hawk.

"Marco," Coach said, his tone steady but firm. "Aggression is useful. Recklessness is not. Control your pace. You're fast, but fast without control is like shooting without aiming." Marco nodded, eyes down. He knew it too.

Coach turned, scanning the group again. His eyes settled on me, Raito, and Shion.

"You three," he said, taking a pause long enough to make us wonder if it was a compliment or criticism. "Showed me something interesting today."

My eyes flicked to Shion and Raito. Shion raised an eyebrow, his arms crossed like he didn't care, but I knew him better than that. Raito grinned like he'd already won Player of the Month.

Coach folded his arms, his gaze landing on me. Here it comes.

"Hikaru," he said, his eyes narrowing. "Do you know what you are?"

I blinked, confused. "Sir?"

He took a step forward, his eyes sharper than ever. Unyielding. Calculating. Precise.

"You're not just a midfielder," Coach said slowly. "You're a conductor. A strategist. A... what do they call it these days? A game-changer."

The players around me shifted. I could feel their stares now, like a weight on my back. Some of them glanced at each other, eyebrows raised. It's one thing to hear Coach praise you. It's another to be called a game-changer.

"I'm not saying this to boost your ego," Coach continued. "I'm telling you because from this point on, I'm holding you to that standard. No shortcuts. No 'off days.' I expect you to see plays before they happen. I expect you to control the tempo of the game. Not just your game. Everyone's game."

Everyone's game.

I didn't flinch. Didn't blink. I nodded.

"Understood, Coach."

"Good." He glanced at Raito and Shion. "Same goes for you two. Shion, that versatility as a fullback and winger is rare. Learn to master it. If I need you as a fullback one week and a winger the next, I want you to be ready without missing a beat."

"Got it," Shion said, tilting his head slightly with a smirk. "I'll be ready."

"Raito," Coach said, turning to him. "Big presence. Physical dominance. I can see you're a wall on defense, but a wall without awareness crumbles." He tapped his temple. "Don't just defend. Read. Anticipate."

"Pfft, I already do that," Raito said, half-joking, half-serious. Coach's eyes cut into him like a blade, and Raito's grin shrank fast. "I mean, yeah, yeah, I'll do it."

Coach stepped back, letting his words sink in. His gaze swept over the team one final time.

"Remember this, boys. It's not enough to be good individually. You have to make each other better. The greatest players aren't always the flashiest. They're the ones who make the team unstoppable." His eyes lingered on me again. "Hikaru, I'll be watching."

I'll be ready, Coach.

The room was quiet except for the faint hum of the AC unit. I sat on the edge of my bed, a ball resting on the floor between my feet. Shion was on the top bunk, arms behind his head, staring at the ceiling. Raito was on his bed at the other side of the room, scrolling on his phone.