Discipline

"Everyone, let's gather at the center first." Nakahara glared at Aoi, who was standing outside of the football field, having his greatest moment hugging a pretty girl, inciting envy in his fellow football players.

Aoi's expression remained impassive, leaving his gaze from Nakahara, focusing on Izumi, staring at him with widened, lovely eyes.

He could not help but force a light smile, still caressing her head, saying, "I have to leave first. Don't forget our date later."

Izumi's cheeks reddened and shyly nodded.

"I know. Don't forget it, too." 

Aoi giggled lightly, causing Izumi to be mesmerized.

Aoi reluctantly pulled Izumi from his embrace, gave her a last longing look, heard the shout of Nakahara at him, and slowly turned his back, running towards the center of the football field.

They were already at the center, and he was the only one they were waiting for.

All the football players stared at the running Aoi, possessing different facial expressions.

Some were intrigued, some were envious, some had a light smile on their faces, and some were angry.

Even so, Aoi could not be bothered by what they felt towards him, as he soon arrived and, just like before, stood at the furthest back of the circle, surrounding Nakahara at the center.

Nakahara stared at Aoi for a while, almost rolling his eyes, but he distracted himself to remain calm and composed.

He swept his eyes to the other football players and then opened the folder filled with a stack of papers.

The football players were curious about what was inside, but then, they had a slight idea of the content.

Nakahara raised the papers slightly from the folder, making sure that every football player could see the papers with their eyes.

He shouted, "These papers consist of my evaluation of each player. Although I can now announce the main eleven players for the football club, I had chosen to decide on the main eleven players before the prefectural tournament started.

Today's performance does not conclude your future performance, the future training will be. However, I warn you… the training will be harsh."

He took a deep breath and shouted at the top of his lungs, "IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE. LEAVE NOW!

I don't look for a player who has the skill but lacks the mental fortitude to continue honing the skill. I don't search for a player who is only playing for the sake of a hobby.

I will be teaching you discipline to the point of finding football mundane and tedious. 

Do you even know what discipline is?"

Nakahara paused, ensuing silence for the moment.

The football players did not respond, that is, until someone from the crowd replied, "It's when you have to do something you hate until you like it."

Nakahara was taken aback, quickly searching for the owner of the voice.

However, he could not be more familiar with the voice, and when he reluctantly discovered the person, he replied, "You are right, Aoi.

It's good that you know."

Aoi's expression remained indifferent while the football players were attempting to grasp what he had just said.

Oka, not holding himself back from questioning, asked in a rather loud voice beside Aoi, "What do you mean?"

Nakahara was about to explain what Aoi had just said, but since Oka asked Aoi before he could do it, he decided to remain silent, waiting for Aoi to elucidate it on his behalf.

Aoi was sensible, knowing that Nakahara let him be the one to explain it. 

He did not mind, and facing Oka, he said, "Everybody loves football, that is undeniable, but does each and every one of you love to train? Performing the same exercise that seemed to lead you to nothing, the tiring training by a coach, who appeared to not even give you any attention because you lack talents.

Simply put…"

Although Aoi wanted to say more, he felt like doing so was tiring, so he went straight to the point.

"Discipline makes you hate something you love, but it also forces you to like it either way."

Oka's head wobbled, not understanding what Aoi meant at all.

Although Aoi and most of them did not understand, it does not mean everyone failed to grasp what Aoi meant.

Kaga quickly comprehended it, so he decided to explain it further,

"I love football but I kind of hate the repetitive training. I want to score a goal, but that temporary celebration needed days of hard work just to accomplish it."

Kaga looked at Oka, who was staring at him with a strange expression, as he continued, "Do you love football, Oka? What do you hate about it?"

"Training?" 

"Do you complain?"

"I do, but I can't say it in the face of Nakahara. So, I just go along with his strict training. 

Also, for some reason, I would find it boring at first, but if I continued, I felt it was not bad."

Kaga nodded.

"That is the result of discipline. You don't realize it but you have already built a discipline. You should be proud."

Oka's eyes widened, still having a strange feeling talking with Kaga, giving a different aura now.

'He seems to have become more mature?'

He was more curious about what he thought of Kaga rather than the idea of discipline.

"Yes," Nakahara said, shifting the attention of the football players toward him. "Oka might appear to be a knucklehead, but out of everyone here, he is more disciplined. That's how he has achieved his incredible skills.

He is stubborn despite how many failures he receives. Not everyone has that discipline. That's why, no matter how talented you are, you will still be left behind by those who work hard just to achieve their dream.

Do you know what separates the dreamer and the winner?"

Nakahara grinned and quickly continued, having a slight feeling that Aoi might have stolen his line.

"It's the action."

The football players were taken aback, slowly being distracted by the desire to comprehend what Nakahara had said.

When they understood, for some reason, their heart burned with relentless desire.

Indeed, everyone was a dreamer, but not everyone worked hard to achieve that dream.

Sometimes, they would miss their moment because of doing nothing but to be satisfied in the temporary comfort zone.

They would never grow if they exchanged their permanent success for temporary happiness.