After making a short trip to the room he was assigned, he returned back to the field with his cleats.
While he was about to step inside the field, his father who had completed his purpose of his trip by accompanying him to the hostel, was preparing to bid his farewell to his son.
“I must leave now Hiro.” Takashi mumbled while pausing infront of the door of the U-15 pitch.
Upon hearing him, Hiro who was about to enter the pitch paused as well. He then turned around and casted his glance at his father.
“Can’t you stay here for a little longer?” Hiro pleaded while looking at him.
He wanted him to witness his first training session with a professional youth team.
“Unfortunately I can’t Hiro. Remember the cab driver is waiting for my arrival outside the gate. And I can’t make him wait more.” Takashi slightly shook his head and refused his plea.
Hearing his reply, Hiro lowered his gaze and drooped his shoulders.
Upon witnessing his son’s stooped posture, Takashi stretched his arms forward and put his hands on top of Hiro’s shoulder.
Just as he placed his hands on his shoulder, Hiro lifted his head and turned his gaze towards his father’s face.
“I know you’re gonna do well. I believe in you my son. Plus you’ll be surrounded with all these amazing players. And you’re finally walking the path of your choice. So please don’t give me that pitiful expression.” Takashi mumbled with a smile on his face while looking him in the eyes. “So please take care of yourself. Me and your mother, we’ll always be supporting you.”
Saying such Takashi pulled him closer and wrapped his arms around him. “You’ve already grown so tall.” He mumbled under his breath, while embracing him.
Back in his previous life, he couldn’t experience such moments with his father because of his untimely death. But because of his choices, the future had changed.
“I’ll be alright dad. So please take care of yourself as well.” Hiro mumbled with a smile while tightening his grip around Takashi’s back.
They continued to hug each other for a while. And just as both of them loosened their grips, Hiro chuckled;
“You should carry a bouquet of roses before you get home tomorrow. You’ll need it.”
Saying such, he stormed towards the pitch. Takashi who didn’t understand the meaning behind his words was left dumbfounded at his place. His eyes blinking rapidly, Takashi stood frozen at his place watching his son fade into the pitch filled with players with a stupefied look on his face.
After staring at him blankly for a while, he then left the compound and walked outside of the gate.
**** **** .
As Hiro approached manager Nozomi with his cleats, manager Nozomi handed him a pair of jersey and a training bib.
“Go get changed. There’s a changing room inside that warehouse.” Nozomi instructed him to get changed, while pointing his finger at the warehouse.
As instructed by manager Nozomi, he ran towards the warehouse and came back after getting changed into the jersey and training bib provided by manager Nozomi.
“Follow me.” Saying such manager Nozomi walked towards the middle of the pitch.
“Okay everyone stop what you are doing and gather here for a second.” Nozomi yelled while standing at the kickoff spot.
Upon hearing his command, all of the players stopped their training and started to gather around the manager, forming a circle.
“Who is he?”
“A new player?”
“But I thought the trial was cancelled this year?”
“And I didn’t even see him in previous trials.”
“Was he with you in your batch?”
The players began to gossip among themselves while gathering around the manager.
“Silence!! Everyone pay attention now. I want to introduce all of you to your new teammate.” Nozomi announced.
Hearing his announcement, everybody stopped gossiping. And as they stopped talking, the pitch which was filled with gossiping noises of the players got silent all of a sudden.
And as he got the attention of the players, he turned his head towards Hiro and spoke;
“Go on, introduce yourself to your new teammates. For the next 2 minutes the stage is all yours.”
Hiro then stepped a little bit forward and began to introduce himself in a loud voice.
“Hello everyone. I’m Takahashi Hiro. A 12 year old attacking midfielder form Tokushima prefecture. And I’m sure that a lot of you would be questioning about my arrival. But rest assured, I too have earned my spot in this team fair and square, after passing the trial set by manager Makoto and manager Nozomi. Isn’t that right manager Nozomi?” After introducing himself, he finished his sentence with a question while turning his head towards manager Nozomi.
‘So you’re good with words too huh.” Nozomi thought while revealing a slight grin on his face, after hearing his introduction.
Nozomi then stepped forward a little and paused to clear his throat. And as he cleared his throat, he began to speak;
“Indeed! Just as he mentioned, he did pass our trials. So don’t have any negative ideas about his arrival. Just like you all, he has earned his spot in the team with his own efforts.”
While manager Nozomi was speaking, Hirato and Takekazu who were behind their backs were gossiping with each other in a low voice.
“Seems like you’re wrong Hirato. Coach Nozomi said that he came here after giving a trial.”
“They could be telling lies to divert the public opinions. Nobody from the previous trial recognises him afterall. So who knows he might have not undergone any trials.” Hirato whispered while narrowing his eye towards Hiro.
It was clear from the manner of his speech that Hiro didn’t appear soothing to Hirato. Hirato was unusually cautious of Hiro.
Since Hiro was the only new player joining them that year and he also played the same position that of Hirato, Hirato couldn’t help himself from being wary of him.
“Everybody get along well with him. Shun Yabuzoe, since he’ll be sharing the room with you help him to get familiar with the surrounding, okay?”
Hiro was sharing his room with Shun, the tanned skin guy with spiky straight hair.
“I’ll do as you say coach.” Shun yelled.
Following Shun’s voice, Hiro who was curious about his roommate turned his head right towards Shun.
‘Why do I always get stucked with spiky hair people.’ Hiro thought after noticing the appearance of Shun.
“Okay then everybody let’s continue our training with a mini game.” After finishing his announcement, Nozomi decided to play a mini game.
“Let’s play a mini game between the players with and without the training bibs. And don’t you dare take this match lightly as I’ll be deciding the players for the Sunday’s friendly match against Chiba Middle School from this match.” Manager Nozomi completed his sentence with a reminder.
The players with the training bibs were the reserves and the players without the training bibs were the starting players.
“Argh!! Those starters are monsters. How can we compete against them? And we also have to lookout for this newbie. It’s like telling us to go and lose the game.” One of the player in the reserve team complained.