After dinner, I headed back to my room. It was unusually warm, and just as I opened the window, Mom walked in holding a cup of hot chocolate.
Lucas:
"Mom, hot chocolate? Seriously? Who drinks this stuff in their twenties?"
She chuckled and placed a gentle hand on my head.
Marie:
"You used to love this when you were little. Did you forget already?"
Lucas:
"Ehhhh!? That was ages ago! I'm way too old for this!"
Kuro:
"Pfft! Look at this 40-year-old grandpa chugging cocoa like it's the '90s!"
Marie:
"Alright, honey. Sleep on time, okay?"
Lucas:
"Yeah, yeah. I will."
She closed the door behind her. I flopped onto the bed.
Lucas (thinking):
Finally, some alone time. Let's get to work on the formation.
I replayed every detail—shooting drills, defense lines, stamina tests. My brain turned into a live projector. Every movement, every misstep—it all came back crystal clear. Maybe this was the power of youth.
After 15 or 20 minutes of nonstop analysis...
Lucas (smirking):
"I got it… the perfect formation."
The classic 4-4-2.
Balanced. Simple. Solid. The flat-back four allows full-backs to support attacks. The midfield has clarity and control. The twin strikers create constant pressure. Great for counterattacks, adaptable for various playstyles, and—most importantly—easy to teach.
Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United made it legendary in the 2000s.
But hey, this is just a school team. No one's thinking like this... right?
Haha.
Still, I scribbled down my starting XI—though I really wanted Aria as center forward. She had raw, untapped potential. Not ready yet... but I had a plan.
Lucas (laughing to himself):
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Marie (muffled from the next room):
"Honey!? Why are you laughing like a demon? Go to sleep!"
Lucas (hurried):
"Okay, okay! Sleeping now!"
The Next Morning
Same routine—breakfast, quick goodbyes, off to Queen High. But as I walked toward the locker room, something felt... off.
Every girl smiled at me.
"Good afternoon, Coach!"
"Hi, Coach!"
I waved back awkwardly.
Lucas:
"Hi, Sofia."
She turned red and bolted past me without a word.
Lucas (confused):
"What's wrong with her? Is she sick?"
Kuro:
"She's blushing, you dense fossil. 'Legendary manager,' my foot."
In the locker room—
Victor:
"Good morning, son. How are you?"
Lucas:
"Same as always. And you?"
Victor:
"Alive and kicking. Let's get to work."
We headed to the pitch. The girls were already in position, buzzing with energy.
Lucas (blowing whistle):
PHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
"Three lines, now!"
They lined up. I took a deep breath.
Lucas:
"Alright. We're switching formations. From now on, we're running a 4-4-2."
Confused faces all around—even Victor raised an eyebrow.
Nadia (raising hand):
"Coach, why the change? We trained so hard for the last one."
All eyes were on me.
Lucas:
"I know. And I respect that effort. But after analyzing each of you, this formation brings out your strengths better. I'm asking you to trust me."
Team:
"Yes, Coach!"
Victor stepped forward.
Starting XI:
GK: Elena "The Wall" Vasquez
RB: Mira "Iron" Petrov
RCB: Leah "The Rock" Donovan
LCB: Aisha "The Shadow" Diallo
LB: Camille "The Flash" Bernard
CDM (C): Nadia "The General" Cruz
CDM: Tasha "The Engine" Okoye
CAM: Isabel "The Maestro" Silva
CAM: Rina "The Spark" Tanaka
ST: Jess "The Rocket" Chen
ST: Diana "The Phantom" Rossi
Substitutes:
Lena "The Viper" Müller – RW/LW
Zara "The Bulldozer" Khan – CB/CDM
Nadia:
"Coach, can my little sister stay here with us today?"
Lucas (smiling):
"Of course."
I scooped the tiny girl up and let her sit nearby.
Lucas:
"Alright girls, warm-up laps! Twenty laps—go!"
They dashed off. I stood there, thinking.
Then—
Voice:
"Yo, old man."
I turned. Aria.
Lucas:
"You showed up!"
Aria:
"Don't get excited. I'm just here to watch. It's not like I joined or anything."
Lucas (grinning):
"Haha. Stubborn as ever. Fine. Watch training. You'll want to play soon enough."
Kuro:
"What's he plotting now…?"
Later
PHHHHHHH!
Lucas:
"Good job! Now, time for a quick mini-match. 3v3. First to 3 goals wins. Let's have some fun. And—our guest today, Aria, will be watching. So, show your best!"
Aria (muttering):
"I'm not a guest, old man. I'm just a girl."
Lucas:
"Yeah, yeah."
Mini-Match Teams:
Team 1: Nadia, Tasha, Diana
Team 2: Zara, Aisha, Jess
The match kicked off—fast passes, tight control.
Nadia to Tasha to Diana—shot!
Blocked by Zara.
Jess:
"Nice block, Bulldozer!"
Zara:
"Who're you calling Bulldozer, you retired striker!?"
Counterattack. Jess and Aisha combined slick one-twos. Jess fired—BAM!
Goal.
Jess:
"Hah! Told you!"
Team 2 took control. 2–0 in minutes. Team 1 was struggling—Zara's physicality was a wall.
Lucas (to Aria):
"See why I picked Zara? She's a tank at CB."
No reply. Aria's eyes gleamed as she watched.
Suddenly—Diana twisted her ankle.
Diana:
"Ouch! My leg...!"
Lucas (rushing in):
"Stop! PHHHHHHH!"
I helped her to the bench.
Lucas:
"Let's not risk it. You sit. We'll sub you."
Nadia:
"Coach, who's coming in?"
Lucas (grinning):
"Why not our guest?"
Aria:
"Wha—no, I'm good!"
Nadia (grabbing her hand):
"Come on. It'll be fun!"
Aria (sighing, then smiling):
"Okay, okay."
The match resumed. Aria stepped onto the field, quiet.
Zara (laughing):
"She's just a kid. Let's finish this."
Jess got the ball, turned—but Tasha blocked!
Nadia:
"Let's go!"
Pass... intercepted. Zara charged—
Then—BAM!
GOAL.
Aria.
Stunned silence. Then—
Nadia:
"WHOA! GOALLLLLLL!"
She grabbed Aria and spun her in the air.
Aria (laughing):
"Hehehe, thanks!"
The game continued. Nadia lobbed a chip—perfect arc.
Aria:
"C'mon, Zara…"
BOOM!
Volley. Another goal.
Lucas (watching):
"She's... something else."
Team 1 rallied. Aria danced on the field. Nadia scored the winner. Team 1 wins.
Lucas (to himself):
This game... it's beautiful. It brings people together.
Lucas (blowing whistle):
"PHHHHHHH! That's it for today! Great work, girls. Remember, rest is part of training too. See you tomorrow!"
Team:
"Yes, Coach! Thank you!"
Lucas:
"Nadia, help Aria to the locker room, yeah?"
Nadia:
"Yes, Coach!"
Later, after training
Aria was drying off when a small girl approached.
Girl:
"Big sister!"
Aria (turning):
"Huh?"
The girl handed her a rose.
Girl (grinning):
"You're my idol now! Like a superhero defeating villains!"
Aria (stunned):
"Huh…?"
Girl:
"Please join the team! I wanna see you play again!"
Aria (softly):
"I'll think about it…"
Girl:
"Please!!"
Outside the school gate
Lucas:
"Yo. Why the long face?"
Aria:
"Nothing. Why are you even here?"
Lucas:
"Pfft. My house is on the way. Totally not here to escort you."
Aria:
"Tch. Whatever."
As we walked, I pointed to the park.
Lucas:
"Hey, remember this place? Where we first met?"
No response. Just silence.
Aria (quietly):
"Old man… let's play one-touch. Just five minutes."
Lucas:
"Sure."
We dropped our bags. Tok. Tok. Tok. Silent passing under a soft sky.
Then—
Aria:
"Hey… can I tell you something?"
Lucas:
"I'm all ears."
She looked up. Her eyes trembled.
Aria:
"My sister… she was a footballer. Her dream was to be the best. But one day, she… she just ended her life."
My chest tightened.
Aria:
"She taught me everything. How to shoot, pass, dribble. And then she was gone."
A tear rolled down her cheek.
Aria:
"That little girl today… said I was her idol. Just like I used to say to my sister."
...
Aria (crying):
"Coach… I wanna play. I wanna remember her through this game. I want to honor her dream. Can I… join?"
I pulled her into a hug without hesitation.
Lucas (softly):
"Then play. I'll help you become the greatest the world's ever seen. Welcome to the team, Aria."
That night, under the soft glow of the moon—
Aria officially joined Queen High School's football team.
End of Chapter 9.