THE PAIN - Inazuma Eleven Go Fanfic

CHAPTER 67: SUBTLE SHIFT

The sun had finally dipped below the horizon, leaving behind streaks of fading gold that stretched thin across the sky. The field, once echoing with shouts and pounding footsteps, now stood quiet-its dust settling, the weight of the day sinking into the earth.

Training had ended. But the silence Raimon carried wasn't just from exhaustion.

Dust-streaked and sweat-soaked, the team followed Arion down the dim path toward the soccer league building. Their steps were slow, muscles aching, but none of them spoke. There was a heaviness-not just in their limbs, but in their thoughts.

At the front doors, a calm voice met them.

"Good evening, everyone."

Sage stood waiting, arms loosely folded, a faint smile playing at his lips. The fading light caught the edge of his glasses.

"Evening, Sage," Arion replied, his tone relaxed but focused. "How's your team?"

"They're doing well. We finished the drills Coach Taiki assigned." Sage's gaze briefly passed over the Raimon players, noting their silence, and the subtle disarray in their steps. "As for your team-Shizen's already gone home. I made sure none of them will be here tomorrow morning."

The Raimon players exchanged quiet, puzzled looks, but Arion nodded, expression unreadable.

"Thanks. I appreciate it," he said.

Sage's smile lingered, a touch more knowing this time. "As you requested. No one will know Raimon's staying here tonight. It's been handled."

Then, gesturing to the hallway behind him, he added, "Dinner's already prepared in the dining hall. Figured they'd need something after today."

Arion offered a faint smile. "Thanks for helping me out, Sage. I'll take it from here."

With a small nod, Sage turned and disappeared down the corridor, his footsteps fading into the distance-leaving the team behind in the quiet hum of the building's entrance.

As Raimon stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. The sharp edge of the training field was gone, replaced by something softer. Calmer. The sterile hallway lights above hummed gently, casting a warm glow over tiled floors and whitewashed walls. It wasn't home-but it felt like a pause. A breath held between storms.

Arion turned to face them, his gaze sweeping over the team. His voice, when it came, was calm-measured, but not cold.

"I know you're all tired," he said. "So from this point on, I recommend you remain inside the building until training weekends."

A few heads lifted, brows furrowed. Whispers stirred.

"You'll be staying here for the rest of the week," he continued. "That way, you can rest immediately after training-recover properly."

The players exchanged glances, caught between confusion and surprise.

"You'll be using the second team's quarters-second floor, left-wing,"

Arion added, already turning slightly to lead the way. "Everything you need is already there: uniforms, essentials, even fresh towels."

He paused at the base of the staircase, glancing back.

"Change into clean clothes. Meet me in the dining hall in thirty minutes."

With that, he started walking, the quiet tap of his footsteps echoing behind him.

None of them said anything at first.

But slowly, they began to move-up the stairs, into the quiet space that had been prepared for them, carrying the weight of exhaustion... and something else they hadn't quite named yet.