Arthur was practicing, it was already 7 p.m., he was performing a series of shots from different positions. He wants to understand the art of shooting, he remembered his coach's advice. "Always your support foot pointing to the place, and your shot where it ends is where it will go."
Arthur took a shot from 20 meters, it went in clearly, but Arthur clenched his knuckles. His goal was not to score easy goals. He repeated it again, he realized that he shouldn't think about how to send it, he doesn't need to think about it so much. He has to visualize the corner, his goal is the corner. That was the art of aiming, not thinking about how to send it, but where. Arthur positioned himself, took a slow, short run, supported his left foot, and hit the bottom of the ball with the inside, the ball came off the ground, grabbing some curve towards the corner, but it didn't quite go in by the corner, the ball rolled several meters, and Vert stopped it.
— Hello Arthur-kun, how are you? You seem quite motivated today, and you're training alone. — He spoke with a kind voice, making a Japanese bow.
— I guess... I am animated, I must improve so I don't fall behind, if I had blocked that shot, we would have tied — He spoke, while lowering his gaze to the other side.
Vert offered a smile — If you want I can help you, Arthur, training alone can be good but you need some help. — Arthur raised his eyebrow intrigued — Yes, I really need some help. My shots always go astray, I could really use some improvement in my aim. —
Vert shook his head slowly — No, Arthur-kun, you need to learn to play with your head without it being glued to the ball — Arthur frowned.
—I don't need that, my peripheral vision already helps me, I can concentrate on the ball.— Arthur spoke, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Vert stopped smiling — Yes, that's right, you have great peripheral vision, but what you're saying is that you don't need a firearm since you have a sharp bullet, and you'll throw it yourself, don't you notice how stupid your reasoning is? — He spoke without any filter, while keeping his eyes on Arthur intensely.
Arthur quickly lowered his gaze clenching his fists, —Maybe... Maybe you're right, I guess. And how can I do it? — He asked, looking for some advice from Vert.
— Do passes against a wall, when making the pass look twice to your sides, when it bounces back to you, look to all sides at least 2 times. You have to get used to it. And to dribble with the ball, try to dribble looking at the ball and then at the imaginary rival or obstacle. — He advised, with his voice now a little less serious.
A few hours later. Arthur is practicing those exercises alone, it's hard, it's like trying to quit bad habits like laziness, it's hard.
Arthur falls to the ground sweating — Huff... I can't... Anymore... — he stared at the sky, he remembered his father and the phrase "Even if you go, what ensures that you stand out or become a professional?". Arthur needs to stand out, because his pride was challenged by his father, that's why he has to improve sooner or later. Maybe these first two courses are not so important, what matters is the third and fourth course, especially the third.
The smell of chalk was abundant in the room, while Professor Mery explained and pointed on the board, Arthur was bored looking out the window. Sonny next to him, taking notes, behind him, Koyi observing them with a neutral expression, next to Koyi was Sofy, taking notes while throwing looks of contempt at Arthur's laziness. The class had gone normal without any conflict or important announcement until Mery announces — By the way, the next match is against 1C, next week. I doubt you will win against that class, but the minimum I ask is a goal. — He announced in a flat tone, Kermin put on an offended expression — Excuse me? Nein nein.... we are going to win, I am going to score a hat-trick — But next to him, Tarmi elbowed him to shut him up.
The bell rang, several students ran out bored, Arthur began to pick up. Vert approached his table with a friendly smile — Arthur-kun, do you want to come with Yami and me to train? — He asked, Arthur nodded slightly and followed them, upon arriving at the grass field, Yami began to do touches as always. Arthur curiously asks — Hey Yami, how can I dribble at your level? — Arthur asked curiously. Yami stopped doing touches.
— I guess you have to be veeery creative, and also stop being afraid. Play as if the rivals weren't there, that they are just a statue that moves. And you also have to have good foot synchronization. — He revealed the secret, although it was not a secret. It wasn't a magic trick, it consisted of being creative and stop being afraid.
Arthur nodded slowly, Sonny arrives with a friendly smile — Hello guys, do you fancy a 2 against 2? — Vert nodded interested, Arthur said nothing, Yami got excited — Of course! That's how we train. — Vert began to say the rules, you can't score a goal if you're not inside the area, and there's no goalkeeper. It's to 3 goals.
The mini match began, Sonny kicked off from the center to Arthur, Arthur remembered Yami's words. Vert came to pressure him quickly, Arthur tried a croqueta but Vert easily cut the dribble and advanced.
Arthur shot out with emergency towards Vert, putting himself in front of him and putting his foot in, but Vert had passed the ball between his feet. Vert advanced without any opposition, entering the area and giving a subtle touch to the ball.
Sonny showed no annoyance, instead with a kind voice he mentioned — Arthur, dribbling is not just about pretty tricks, it's about looking for opening space on some flank. — Arthur nodded listening a little, although he was looking at the ball while clenching his knuckles.
Sonny kicked off from the center again, Arthur received the ball, Yami came to pressure him, Arthur remembered, he has to be creative. Open space, he can't give a pass to Sonny, he decides to turn with the ball, Yami chases Arthur's back, but Arthur was already in front of him, Arthur with his enabled right hand, sent a somewhat curved and low pass to Sonny, Sonny redirected the pass with a subtle touch leaving Vert planted, and inside the area he shot. Yami laughed — That was a very good trick! Art, you are veeery funny! — Yami grabbed the ball, when kicking off from the center, Vert advanced with the ball, dodged Sonny with an elastica, then to Arthur he simply passed the filtered ball to Yami, Yami advanced, waiting for Arthur who was running, and Yami inside the area, finished with a mocking heel.
— Almost Arthur! But I'm better than you. — He laughed while Arthur felt irritated. Sonny kicked off from the center again, Arthur returned it to Sonny but Vert arrived cutting the pass with ease, redirecting it to the space on the other side, where Yami arrived running, Arthur arrives running to stop Yami, but Yami simply had to put a pass between Arthur's legs, Vert appeared in the area and only had to redirect the pass inside the net.
3-1 was the result, it was a mini match, but Arthur made several mistakes, Sonny simply retired while saying goodbye, Arthur also left tired of training.
3 days pass, Arthur has been training non-stop, he has made progress, now he is not so bad. But he is still bad even though he has improved, but now he has stopped being a burden. Nor is he useful, worse he has stopped being a burden for his class.