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One by one, or in groups, the Hinami players filed into the dressing room. The air was saturated with anticipation, each breath resonating like an audible machine functioning slightly overclocked.

The setup was straightforward – a bench for the players running along the black and white painted walls, with a large space in the center dominated by a white table lined with refreshments. Usually, Gonda would stand in the center, as he gave his usual lectures, tactics and pep talks.

The most peculiar object of all probably was the… spooky biology skeleton mounted in one corner. As if that weren’t enough for weirdness, he also wore a peculiar eye patch, and had a worn, and weary name tag…

“Skelly!” Totori had remarked when Reo asked about it. Apparently he was their 12th man, their emotional support. Or just a weird mascot, that resembled the skeleton crest of the Hinami Pirates.

Shuna also spoke of a legend, where a former player had abducted the model from biology class, but no one is really sure if the source is credible.

Next to Skelly, stood the coach assistant and source of the rumor in question, leaning against the wall.

In the heart of the room stood the maestro, the puppeteer himself – the ingenious Takehiro Gonda. A simple tactics whiteboard lay in his left hand, while a black marker was gripped in the other. A cigarette dangled from his lips, the smoke swirling around without the worry of setting off the non-functional fire alarm. Why wasn’t it working anyway?

His demeanor commanded the silence in the room, and amidst the quiet, he finally spoke clearly and without hesitation.

“As we all know from the previous match, Kame Hama is a team that shouldn’t be taken lightly. We paid the price for that last week…”

Several lowered glances shifted across the floor. No one enjoyed the bitter taste of defeat, and the prompt reminder stirred an extra layer of discomfort among the players.

“But we know their game. And all we need to do is stop it, and enforce our own.” Gonda cleared his throat, and with his marker made a circle around one of two dots in midfield. “Shuna.”

He then nodded at his daughter, who stepped forward calmly. She was wearing a pair of glasses, and held tightly on a clipboard of her own.

“Their number 8, Yuzuru Sakanami. As you’ve realized from our last encounter is the brain of the team. Not the strikers, not the number 10… not even the coach himself. His ability to read the game and move accordingly to intercept the ball is second to none.” Shuna nodded, pushing the thin frame of her glasses up her nose. “…Be that as it may, he’s far from unbeatable. In fact, he severely lacks in the technical department. Misplaced passes, slow dribbling… and the list goes on.”

Then… what’s so good about him if he can’t convert his knowledge onto the pitch? Reo raised a brow.

“…But, this season, Kame Hama had an influx of first year students. Amongst them, Sakanami seemed to have found a partner in the middle of the field. A very useful puzzle piece. The kind of piece a game master like Sakanami could benefit from utilizing.”

Some strained faces appeared on the Hinami players who battled the pair last week, and had come out defeated.

“Nanami Yonemura, a player who’s already showed us his qualities. Quick, strong, great at passing and even better at shooting. He’s got all the technical qualities a midfielder needs in order to dominate. All but one.” Shuna sighed, raised her index finger, and tapped at her temple. “And that’s football IQ. Simple things, like where to pass, when to shoot. But also more complex things, for example who to press and when, where to move and receive the ball.”

With his marker, Gonda connected the two together with a thin line.

“That’s where the previous number 6 comes in. With his directions, orders and pieces of advice, number 8 moves like a knight on a chess board. Number 6 is there so 8 can shine, and their union brings about a heck of a mountain to climb for the opponents in midfield. Akihiko would know, since he saw it first-hand…” Gonda, who took over, gave Hatate a look.

“Not this time…” The young man muttered, clenching his fists.

“Not this time, indeed.” Gonda smiled reassuringly.

“What I need from you out there is to play our usual game. Simple but intense…” The instructor moved a few dots that represented the Hinami players further up. “Press high, and try to win the ball quickly. Don’t let it reach their midfield. If the ball can’t get to them, then their connection is useless.”

The team nodded, and Gonda returned a smile to his analyst and daughter. “Thank you Shuna.”

The girl removed her glasses with a nod, before her father continued.

“In instances where we’re in possession, try to bypass the midfield as much as possible.”

“B-But coach Gonda I—“

Hatate tried to intervene, slight panic in his tone. Rightfully so, since he was the team’s ace after their last number 10 had vacated. He was the brain of the team. If he was shut off, then how would Hinami play? Where would he fit in if the midfield, his domain, was bypassed and the ball flew directly to the attack?

“Don’t worry Hatate.” The coach reassured, and split the field in three horizontal parts. “Speaking through basics, the field is essentially divided into three parts for reference…”

“Defense.” Gonda pointed to the lowest and first part.

“Midfield.” Then to the middle one. “And lastly, attack.” He then indicated the last part further up, before explaining once more.

“If the opponent has superiority in the midfield part, and the ball is in the first part, which means in our defense, then surely a long pass to the attacking final third that bypassed all in between is fairly reasonable.”

The team nodded in unison.

“That nulls out our midfielders however. And our very own maestro, Akihiko.”

While the young man loved the praise, he was still rather skeptical about his role.

“That’s why our number 8, Akihiko Hatate, would bypass midfield himself, and work as the number 10 instead, where he will deliver final passes.”

“Oooh…”

A few exclamations filtered through the team members, while Shuna gave a comment.

“That means he’ll make forward runs to receive passes, from the targets of the long ball. Essentially working as a midfielder, but not in his domain, but rather, in the attacking final third. The markers following him will have too much on their hands to focus solely on him too…”

“Ooooh…”

“With that in mind, here’s our lineup.” With a glint in his eye Gonda flipped the board around, and showed a number of magnetic bullets lining a 4-2-4 formation. A classic formation to bypass midfield, by beefing the attack. Its key strength is the ability to create overloads in advanced areas of the pitch, with 4 attacking players stationed in dangerous areas waiting to pounce. These players are also able to press opposition defenders, pick up loose balls and wreak havoc in the channels.

Of course, the three numbers indicated the number of players in each line, or part as was explained, on the pitch. A 4-2-4 meant 4 defenders, 2 midfielders, and 4 attackers. Two of the defenders, commonly referred to as center backs always stayed centrally and never attacked, while the other two were constantly going up and down between attack and defense. Their name? The known wing backs. Right back, and left back respectively to each side.

In similar fashion, two of the attackers would stay centrally in the opponent box, and rarely move out of it, mostly referred to as Strikers, or Center Forwards while the other two attackers on the flanks, would make occasional runs inside the box or stay outside to cross it in, these were the so called wingers.

While some wing backs attacked, some wingers also were seen defending, and since there were a pair of players in both sides, they interchanged positions to attack and defend equally. These positions applied to mostly ALL football formations.

And of course, the most difficult part of the field to play in, was the midfield. Midfielders, labeled either as 8 or 6 numerically, were in charge of connecting the attack to the defense with their passes and positioning. They mostly occupied the central area of the pitch, the middle part, but could move to the sides when attacking depending on where they spotted space.

As the team gazed at the tactics board, a few disappointed looks crossed some of the players’ faces. On the other hand, some were simply delighted to see the starting 11 for this evening.

And Reo’s head was full of a similar mixture of emotions. His name wasn’t there…

I’m not starting, huh?

Kyogo Haneda was in goal, “Do your best again today, Kyogo.” Gonda gave a firm nod, before he moved to the defense.

In the center of defense were Takasaki Housen, the captain of the team, and next to him was Junya Asagiri, his main partner in defense. “Housen, you know what I need from you. Be calm as always.” Gonda then turned to the eccentric Junya.

“Jun, I need you to seek out your teammates more readily today. Bypass the midfield like we said. Kick it away, long, and hard, but be precise.”

“Yes, coach.” Although he was definitely hard to find common ground with, Junya nodded at the words of his coach with determination.

In the left side of defense, played the strong and fast Aki Magowski, while on the other hand one of the two twins, Wataru Futatsuki who specialized on defending. “Aki, I need you to run up and down constantly like always. Wataru, keep those midfielders in check when everyone is up and attacking.”

In midfield was the ace, Akihiko Hatate and the strong and sturdy iron wall of Ayase Ishiguro. “Akihiko, move like I told you to, and don’t hesitate to shoot. Ayase, I need you to look out for any of their counters when we lose the ball.”

In the attacking flanks, the names Kaoru Nakatani and on the other side Mikki Asano were displayed. “Kaoru, we need your fluid dribbling today. Mikki, get in behind their defense and try to score like you usually do.”

And finally, the two up front were the strong and tall Toraichi, and the nimble, short but agile Totori. “Tora and Toto will be our strikers for today. As you’ve realized we’re going all out with two strikers. We need the win after all.”

While Gonda showed a hint of anticipation in his gaze, Totori’s eyes glistened in bliss.

I was starting!

His face practically screamed, and Reo felt like he could actually hear it.

“Toto, get physical with them, push, shove, run, run and never stop running. Press and show your spirit.”

“Yessir!”

“Tora, get in position in the box and the ball will drop. You just need to finish the chances.”

“I understand.”

While Totori gave a boisterous reply, Toraichi’s was more subdued. Yet the tiger’s eyes burned brighter than any time Reo had seen them until now. Everyone was fired up, and all they needed was to hear the first whistle to start running.

“Like we said and practiced, guys. Go out there with intensity and show them who the Pirates are!”

“Aye, sir!”

The team cried passionately. It was the first time Reo had seen them all so worked up.

“Coach Gonda, may I?”

“Of course.”

Gonda retreated knowingly, and Housen, positioned at the forefront of the bench, rose to his feet and laid his hand on the table. Everyone quietly gathered around, and even Reo, with no room for protest, found himself pulled into the huddle.

Every pair of hands formed a stack, and Housen's commanding voice echoed within the confined room, creating vibrations that seemed to resonate through the walls. As much as Reo was reluctant to admit it, Takasaki Housen definitely possessed more than enough charisma to be the captain.

“Last year, we missed out on the league…” The captain gulped, and raised his voice. “But, this year will be different. When that whistle blows we’ll be ready for anything. We will fight, and we will WIN. This is Hinami, and we all know what that means! So, let’s go out there and show them what playing for the pirates is all about!”

“Aye, sir!”

“1...”

Housen’s voice thundered like a storm, as he began to count.

“2…”

Everybody’s expression hardened, and Reo could feel their grip on the team hold tighten.

“…3!”

Then as one, all the players raised their voices.

“HI-NA-MI!”

“Let’s go!”