581 Early Session

Sweeping his gaze across the empty field, Hiro struck the ground with his cleats, the crisp sound echoing in the stillness. After a light round of warm-ups, he launched into his solo session, running laps around the field to get his muscles primed.

Once his basic drills were complete, he started setting up the cones and equipment meticulously, preparing for a focused practice on dribbling and shooting.

Satisfied with the setup, Hiro took a moment to admire his handiwork. “All done. Time to begin,” he muttered with a sense of satisfaction, then threw himself into his drills, weaving between cones and launching powerful shots at the goal.

Just as he was getting into rhythm, a faint sound caught his attention from the stands.

“Is someone on the field?” came a voice from behind the bleachers.

Startled by the noise, Hiro paused. He glanced toward the tunnel where a few members of the stadium’s maintenance crew had gathered. They had just arrived and were in the middle of pulling on their orange uniforms, preparing for a day of field upkeep.

“What are you talking about?” one of the crew members said, clearly confused. “The players aren’t supposed to be back for another week.”

Another voice grumbled, “Yeah, they’re all off enjoying their holidays while we’re stuck working in the freezing cold. Not that anyone cares about what we do.”

“You’re right,” another chimed in, shaking his head. “No one ever realizes that we’re part of the team too. We make sure everything runs smoothly, but all the glory goes to the players.”

An older man, likely the most seasoned among them, sighed as he stood up. “Quit complaining. It’s our job. We get paid for it. Who cares if we’re appreciated or not?” He was clearly unimpressed by their complaints, his tone gruff with experience. “We’re here to do the work. Nothing more, nothing less.”

The younger staff exchanged glances, still clearly frustrated. “What’s wrong with wanting a little recognition?” one mumbled. freёweɓnovel.com

“Yeah,” the other agreed. “Without us, the players wouldn’t even have a field to play on.”

Out on the field, Hiro continued his practice, but now with a distracted mind.

He spotted the older man who had just spoken, a stern-looking figure with a lean build, standing at the edge of the field. The bright orange uniform gave him away as part of the maintenance crew, and Hiro immediately recognized their role in the team’s success.

Realizing they might not know he was there, Hiro paused, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he walked over to the crew. He figured it wouldn’t hurt to say hello.

“Morning,” Hiro called out as he approached them. “Sorry if I surprised you guys.”

The older man glanced up, startled, but nodded in acknowledgment. “Didn’t expect anyone out here today, especially not a player.”

“I just needed some extra practice,” Hiro explained with a small smile. “And you guys… well, I know the work you do is just as important as what we do on the field.”

The younger staff members, who had been mid-grumble just moments before, fell silent, their eyes widening a little in surprise.

One of them spoke up, “You… you think so?”

Hiro nodded earnestly, “Of course. The field, the equipment, everything we need—it’s all thanks to you guys. Without your work, we wouldn’t be able to play the way we do. So, thank you.”

The crew seemed taken aback, unused to hearing such direct appreciation. The older man, though still reserved, allowed a faint smile to tug at the corners of his mouth, “Not many players say that,” he admitted, his tone softening.

“Well, they should,” Hiro replied with a chuckle. “We’re all part of the same team, right?”

The maintenance crew, who had started their day feeling overlooked, now exchanged nods of respect with Hiro.

The grumbles faded, replaced by a quiet pride. Hiro waved as he jogged back to continue his practice, leaving the field with a renewed energy that wasn’t just about his dribbling or shooting—it was about connection.

As he resumed his drills, the cold air didn’t feel so biting, and the field, though empty of fans, felt fuller, as if he wasn’t alone in his pursuit.

On normal days, there would be some fans watching the practice unless it wasn’t a closed-door session. After he ended his solo drills, he went to greet the maintenance crew. After all, he had yet to introduce himself formally. And it wouldn’t hurt to be a little nice, would it?

Exchanging a couple of words with the maintenance crew, Hiro left for the showers and ended the morning session. Later in the day, he helped Shun with his shopping.

Since he was moving abroad, he required quite a lot of stuff.

The news regarding Shun’s transfer was already causing a sensation on the news. With his brilliant performance the past season, many people paid close attention to him. There were also media personnel who were after him. However, due to the limited schedule, he had to push them away for the time being. Yet still, he had agreed to a single interview before he set off. In the days to come, Hiro spent his days training and helping Shun. They also visited the academy to express their gratitude to the coaches who taught them. They also interacted with their juniors. Although most of them were still away from the club they got to meet a few on their way. Even though it had only been about a year since he left the camp, he found a lot of their photos plastered over the walls. Well, considering the impact they had on the team, it was to be expected. Still watching them firsthand, Hiro couldn’t help but feel slightly embarrassed. While they conversed with their previous coaches, the matter regarding Hiro’s transfer was brought a lot into the discussion. But Hiro who had vowed to keep the news confidential refused to reveal the truth. Although he felt a bit guilty, he felt that it was the best option. After all, he hadn’t even revealed the news to his parents yet. So, how could he reveal this to anyone else before?