Chapter 24 - Adaptation

The next day, Kazuki came to the main team's training ground. Assistant Coach, James ward, helping Kazuki tour the training ground used by the major team. Kazuki was given the number 28 jersey and a locker in the corner of the dressing room. This showed Kazuki's status in the dressing room was the lowest.

Kazuki accepted that without protest, he knew sooner or later this would change. Kazuki was also good friends with Hugo, Vicente, and Dean Smith. The three of them were friends of Endo, but after Kazuki moved to the main team, Kazuki's relationship with these three were direct friends, without Endo's intermediary.

On the first day, Kazuki also had mini-games with the main team.

If there was the thing that had always been Kazuki's weakness, it was the tactical aspect. The [Dream Training] had always been Kazuki's training ground, had a fatal flaw. [Dream Training] cannot imitate the tactical aspect. Because of that, every time Kazuki simulated a premier league match, the tactical aspect seemed to be lost.

When Kazuki trained with the first team, he felt tactics advantage. Kazuki's ability in exploiting space was completely hampered because the gap in the opponent's formation only occurred for a short period. That was the problem, in such a short time, which meant Kazuki have to exploit the gap as quickly as possible, but the person carrying the ball also had to provide the pass with the right timing.

Since it was Kazuki's first time training with the main team, his comrades had a hard time adjusting the pass with the right timing for Kazuki. The pass was sometimes too slow so Kazuki had been in an offside position. There was also a pass that was too fast, as a result, Kazuki couldn't catch the ball and the opportunity was simply wasted.

In that training match, Kazuki who failed to adjust to his comrades was pulled out by George. No one was disappointed by Kazuki's poor performance on his first day of training with the first team. Because they never expected much from Kazuki. The players in the first team had their pride, they thought that Kazuki would only be an extra player instead of a core player.

After being pulled out of match training, Assistant Coach, James Ward approached Kazuki.

"Are you having trouble adapting to first-team tactics?" James asked.

Kazuki nodded, "I feel like no one can understand my movements."

Running without the ball has always been Kazuki's main ability. To make the best use of this ability, his partner had to know when Kazuki decided to break through and when Kazuki decided to give back the ball, and so on.

"They are used to Belliand's presence as a target man, that's why a striker of your type struggles with Southampton's passes and strategies. Kazuki, I know your abilities, that's why I will help you adjust to this team."

Adjusting meant that Kazuki would also have to learn how to deal with tight defenses when there were no gaps he could take advantage of. In [Dream Training] Kazuki had trained this many times but after all, without strong physical abilities, it was difficult for Kazuki to fight in defense without gaps.

But it is time for Kazuki to seriously change his playing style which is more like a striker poacher, to a traditional striker playing style. In top-level league matches, it takes special moves of the whole team to create gaps in the opponent's formation. Without that, the gap will not appear. Unfortunately, for now, Southampton cannot use such complicated tactics. Therefore as a striker, Kazuki should be able to fight without relying too much on gaps.

Kazuki knew that therefore he was willing to adapt his playing style for Southampton. Of course, adjustment of the playstyle is not something that can be done in 1 or 2 days.

Changing the playing style didn't mean that Kazuki would lose the ability to run without the ball. However, it made Kazuki less dependent on it. The adjustment of the playing style was not only done by Kazuki. Southampton players also began to adapt to Kazuki's style of play.

***

The next day, Kazuki came to Southampton hospital to visit Rustan. Even though Rustan probably wouldn't be his partner anymore, Kazuki didn't want to cut off his friendship with him.

After arriving at the hospital, Kazuki asked the receptionist where Rustan's room was. After knowing it, he went to Rustan's room with the fruits he brought.

Kazuki pushed open the door of the room where Rustan was being treated, he greeted Rustan who was lying on his bed.

"Good afternoon, Rustan."

"Good afternoon Kazuki. I didn't expect you to visit me." Rustan looked both surprised and happy with Kazuki's arrival. Perhaps, he thought that Kazuki would forget about it after the Japanese player moved to the first team.

"Of course, I won't forget you. Japanese people won't easily forget their friendship. By the way, how are you doing?" asked Kazuki.

Rustan was silent for a while before opening his mouth and whispering, "I'm fine."

Kazuki looked into Rustan's eyes. He felt the strangeness in Rustan's expression. However, If Rustan didn't want to tell the problem, then Kazuki wouldn't have asked.

"In the first team, no one can understand me. I miss your presence and Ryan. Now, I have to adapt to the team. If I don't adapt quickly, my debut will be delayed."

Kazuki took the initiative to tell his problem. Not because he wanted a solution from Rustan. Rather so that Rustan knows that Kazuki considers Rustan as a friend and hopes that Rustan also considers Kazuki as a friend.

A few moments passed, Rustan suddenly said, "Every day, I have nightmares. I dream that one day I will get injured, then I have to retire from football. I am afraid. For me, football is very important. I don't want to stay away from football too early."

"Are you scared?" asked Kazuki.

Rustan replied, "Yes, I'm afraid."

"What you dream of is indeed a possibility." Kazuki paused in his speech. "However, if you talk about possibilities. There will be many possibilities in this world. You might have an accident while driving a car. You might get injured while walking on the stairs. You might get stuck in an elevator. Do not fear the possibility. You should know, I'll be waiting for you in the first team."

After saying that, Kazuki let Rustan ponder. He did hope that a teammate from the reserve team would be called up to the first team. It would be nice if there was someone who could understand Kazuki.

Even so, that didn't mean Kazuki needed help. He could sense that soon he would be adapting to Southampton's tactics, when that time came his debut would also come.

"As a striker, I still have many shortcomings.. But it doesn't matter, the advantages I have are enough to make me confident."