Coach Erwin didn't say anything at first. Just kept looking at me like I was a riddle he hadn't figured out yet. He finally spoke.
"Practice after class. You're with me now."
[New Quest Unlocked: Train with Coach Erwin]
Objective: Attend 5 training sessions
Reward: Unlock Skill Tree: Vision (Beginner Tier), +1 Coach Bond
That afternoon, the sun scorched the open court as I jogged out behind the school building. There was no proper field. Just cracked concrete, faded lines, and rusted metal goals without nets. But it was all I needed.
Coach Erwin tossed me a proper ball—clean, inflated, and slightly worn.
"Let's see if you've got more than tricks."
He drilled me on fundamentals—passing, positioning, and endurance. My body wasn't where it used to be, but my muscle memory and mindset carried me through.
Skill Progress:
Ball Control → Level 2
Passing: Unlocked (Level 1)
"You play like someone who's lost before," he said during a water break.
"I have," I replied.
He didn't ask more. Just nodded. Maybe he understood more than he let on.
By the end of the week, I was drenched, blistered, and more alive than I'd felt in years.
Quest Progress: Train with Coach Erwin – 1/5 Complete
As I left the court, kids I didn't even know nodded at me. A few whispered.
"Hey, that's the football kid."
It wasn't much. But it was a start.