October 30, 2021
After spending almost an entire year in his home, he was set to depart for Kawasaki.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic which started from December of the year 2020, a nationwide lockdown was imposed.
And because of that every schools, hospitals, sports clubs and public places had to shut their door for almost about a year.
While the league games were played closed doors in an empty stadium, the youth league had to be suspended for the entirety of the 21-22 season.
And because of that his arrival at the club was also delayed. Even though he was scheduled to depart for Kawasaki right after his graduation, his departure was pushed further for more than five months because of COVID-19 pandemic.
While he graduated from elementary school in the year 2021, he was scheduled to attend the middle school from the april of that year. However due to the pandemic, he had to attend the classes from his home via his electronic devices for about six months.
And the middle school which he attended online was a middle school based on Kawasaki which was affiliated with the club.
But now that the restrictions were lifted, he was on his way to join the club.
Early in the morning as the warm rays of the sun entered his room via window of his room, the particles of dust which were invisible to naked eyes danced underneath the sunlight. 𝒃𝒆𝒐𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝙘𝙤𝒎
Unlike the days before, his usually messy room was unusually tidy that day. With his bed sheets neatly tucked and blankets folded, his bed was empty that day even though it was only 7:30 in the morning.
Usually at that time of the morning, he would still be in his bed, lying atop it, while sleeping like a pig.
However that day, he was nowhere to be seen in his room. The poster’s of the players which he idolised were still hung on the walls. The medals and certificates, he accumulated throughout his elementary school years were proudly displayed at his cupboard.
**** ****
Dressed in a slim fitted blue jeans and white t-shirt, his outfit was completed by overlaying a light green coloured varsity jacket over his plain white t-shirt and a Nike Jordan 1 retro high pine green beneath his feet.
While he didn’t pay any attention towards his attire before, he had paid extra attention towards his attire that day because he wanted to leave a good impression on his new teammates with whom he was going to share his accommodation with during his time at the club and he didn’t want them to see him as somekind of country bumpkin.
That’s why he had spent almost an entire day scavenging through the internet in search of trendy attires which were trending at that moment.
Just as he finished tying his shoe-laces, he stood up and began to dust his clothes. And as he turned around and lifted his gaze towards his mother, he found her with eyes full of tears.
“Why are you crying mom? I’m only leaving for Kawasaki. I’m not leaving the country you know. And I’ll be back for every holiday.” Hiro mumbled while stretching his hands towards her face to wipe away the tears from her eyes.
“I know. It’s just I’ve never been away from you before.” His mother replied in her crying voice.
“Don’t worry mom, I’ll be alright.” He exclaimed with a smile on his face.
Hearing him exclaim such, she casted her gaze towards him. Upon seeing the smile on his face, she felt at ease. She then wiped away the tears from her eyes and looked at him.
“Actually that’s what I’m worried about. You never wake up on time and you’re always late. I wonder how would they deal with your laziness.” She teased him with a slight grin on her face.
Hearing her teasing words all of a sudden, he got flustered.
“Mom!!” He intoned while raising his voice.
Just then his father opened the main door and interrupted them.
“Hiro we’re leaving.” He mumbled while entering the house.
And just as he entered and casted his gaze towards the mother and son duo, he paused while witnessing their smiling faces.
Hiro and his mother were cheerfully laughing.
“What’s up with you two? Did I interrupt you two?” He questioned while looking at their smiling faces.
“No, no, we were just talking about something with each other.” His mother replied with a smiling face.
Her response left him dumbfounded. Takashi couldn’t understand the reason behind their smiles.
“Oh okay!! Then say your bye to your mother Hiro. The cab is waiting outside. So we’ll need to leave asap.” Takashi mumbled while lifting Hiro’s suitcase. Not wanting to pry in their discussion, Takashi acted as if he wasn’t interested in their discussion.
And just as he exited the house with Hiro’s suitcase, Hiro spoke;
“I’ll be going mom. Take care of yourself. Don’t worry too much about me and don’t nagg dad too much.”
“Ummmm….” She nodded her head.
“And when did I ever nagg your dad?” She intoned with her brows arched and eyes narrowed at him.
It was clear from her facial expression that she wasn’t pleased with Hiro’s poor choice of words.
Sensing trouble, he immediately changed his sentence.
“Er.. No.. What I meant was forgive dad if you ever find him sneakily drinking beer late in the night.”
“Huh!! He drinks beer sneakily late in the night when I’m sleeping?” She intoned while looking at him with her eyes wide open.
“Let him come home after the trip. I’ll take his classes.” She whispered underneath her breath.
‘Sorry dad. You need to become the scapegoat of her wrath. If I didn’t tell her about this then she would have definitely started to nagg at me.’ He thought as he noticed her face turning red with anger.
“Hiro hurry up!!” His dad yelled while calling out his name from outside the door.
“Yes dad, I’m coming.” He yelled back as well.
“Okay mom. I’ll be going then. Take care of your health. Bye!! Bye!!” Saying such, he threw himself towards her and locked his arms around her back.
“You too son. Take care of yourself. I’m gonna miss you so much.” The tone of her voice changed as she wrapped her arms around him and resonated to his feelings.
After a moment of tight hugging, he loosened his grip from her and retracted his step.
She too loosened her grip and set him free.
And as he retracted his step while keeping his gaze fixated at her, he suddenly paused his movement just as he reached the door. He then gently waved his hands towards her while revealing a smile on his face and said;
“Bye!! Bye!! Mom. I’ll be back after making a name for myself.”
She too waved her hand towards him with a smile on her face while standing straight at the same place.
He then left the house and walked towards the cab. Infront of the cab, his father was waiting for him.
And just as he reached the cab, his father opened the door of the cab for him. He then hopped on the car and casted a final glance at his house.
He noticed his mother who had followed after him standing infront of the door.
“I’ll be back honey!” His father spoke as he hopped on the cab as well.