Blue Dream Trail (Soccer) - Episode 38

──Monday, October 2, 2028

The week before the 2nd round of the Champions League. Two days after the victory in the 5th round of the Bundesliga.

Augsburg, Germany. Morning clubhouse.

Ren was staring at the whiteboard in the meeting room.

A clip from the match.

A scene where the ball collapsed in the center.

The goal was born from teamwork on the sidelines.

–There was certainly a faint hope.

But behind the same footage,

It also showed passes that didn’t convey their intention, defenses that didn’t return, and players who remained silent.

“Are you thinking alone again?”

It was Kemar who called out from behind.

“…What do you think will help everyone to ‘understand’ more?”

“You have to say it.”

“You can’t convey it unless you put it into words. People won’t follow you if you’re just good at playing.”

Ren nodded slowly.

(Let me tell you what’s going on in my head.)

After team practice.

Ren himself asked the staff if he could use the tactics board.

The players are slowly starting to gather.

Someone says.

“…Isn’t this the first time Ren has explained something outside of a match?”

Ren began to speak, carefully choosing his words.

“When I got the ball here,

If you get into this position, the opponent’s line will break.

But if the timing is off, it won’t go through.”

“In the last game, it worked just once.

So I want to recreate that.”

Ren traced the whiteboard with his finger.

A diagonal arrow is drawn on the right side.

“Maybe I was being self-centered, too.

But if we can all create this shape, I think we can score more points.”

There were a few seconds of silence.

After that, forward Himmel nodded slightly.

“I’ll run there properly next time.”

“Could you please tell me the timing again?”

Hearing those words, Ren finally relaxed his shoulders.

(It was conveyed. Even if only a little, it “reached” me.)

night.

Ren had his notebook spread out on his bed.

“How do I put into words the ‘scenery’ I’m feeling?”

That was the moment I started to face it.

(I want my team to win, so I have to take it a step further.)

By “communicating,” Ren began to “take on the responsibility” for the first time.