The Road

Upon hearing his coach's words, he looked down, trying to avoid his gaze. But he couldn't pretend not to hear him. Coach Nakamura was present right before him, expecting an answer from him. And, it would only appear as if he were fleeing had he chosen to remain silent. 

A mixture of embarrassment and guilt flashed in his eyes as tried to speak his heart, "I just want to get better, Coach. I feel like I need to do more."

He was well aware that he had breached the rule. And, he shouldn't be saying such stuff right now. Instead, he should be apologizing. But yet, he couldn't bring himself to apologize either. He felt as if he had to offload these unsettling feelings off of his heart.

"I understand," Nakamura replied gently. "But sometimes, less is more. Pushing yourself too hard can lead to burnout or injury. You need to find a balance. Trust in the training sessions, and trust in yourself."