Monday morning, Takeshi's mother moved through the sports store with a list from the JFA. Training gear. Thermal underwear for Netherlands. Recovery equipment. Proper cleats.
"You need good socks," his mother said, holding up three different pairs.
Takeshi felt embarrassed. "Mom, I will be fine."
"Let me do this. Please."
Her voice was gentle but firm. He understood. This was how she showed love. By preparing him. By making sure he had everything.
They bought everything on the list and extras she thought he might need. His mother's hand shook slightly when she held the credit card. Her baby was going away for three months. Maybe more if he went far.
Monday evening, he found his sister in her room lying on her bed staring at the ceiling.
"Can I come in?" he asked.
"Whatever."
He sat beside her.
"You okay?"
"You are leaving. For three months."
"Yeah."
"Maybe more if you go far."
She started crying suddenly. "What if you do not come back?"
He pulled her close. "I will always come back. This is home."
"Promise?"
"Promise. And I will bring you something from Netherlands."
She sniffled. "A trophy?"
He laughed. "I will try."
"Okay. But call me. Not just Mom and Dad."
"Every week. I promise."
Tuesday felt like the last normal day. He walked through the neighborhood on purpose. The convenience store where they bought popsicles. The park bench where he talked to Ryo about survival. His school building, empty for summer.
Every place held a memory.
Sato texted: "walking memory lane?"
"Yeah. You too?"
"Yeah. Weird right?"
"Yeah."
They both understood. Saying goodbye to familiar places before becoming something else.
Wednesday afternoon, the train to Shonan coast took an hour.
Akari was waiting at the station in a sundress and sandals. Takeshi wore shorts and a t-shirt, nervous despite everything.
They walked to the beach holding hands. Finding a quiet spot away from crowds, they laid a blanket and sat together watching the ocean stretch endlessly.
Three days until I leave.
Akari spoke first. "Three months is long time."
"I know."
"Longer if you make it far."
"Yeah."
The silence was comfortable but heavy. She turned to him, tears already forming.
"I am scared."
"Of what?"
"That you will go there and forget. Forget about us. About Tokyo. About me."
Takeshi took her hands. "That is impossible."
"You say that now..."
"Akari. Look at me."
Her eyes met his, wet with tears.
"You saved me. Multiple times. After the Daichi match. During the pressure. Every single day."
"You are not something I could forget even if I tried."
"You are part of why I am going. To make you proud. To prove what we built together matters."
She cried and smiled at the same time. Both laughing, both breaking.
"You already make me proud, dummy."
"I will call every week. Text every day. Promise?"
"Promise. And when I come back..."
"Yeah?"
"We will come here again. Same spot. And I will tell you everything."
They spent the afternoon just existing together. Walking along the shore, water cold on their feet. Building a sandcastle like children, which made them both laugh.
She wrote in the sand: "T + A"
A wave washed it away.
"Poetic," she said.
They bought ice cream from a vendor and sat on a wall watching the sunset. Orange and pink sky spreading across the ocean. Her head on his shoulder.
"I will wait for you," she said softly. "Three months. Six months. However long."
"I will be here when you come back."
Him kissing her forehead. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For being you. For staying. For everything."
On the train home as the sun set completely, she slept on his shoulder. Takeshi watched her peaceful face.
This is what I am leaving. But also what I am fighting for.
At her door, they held each other for a long time.
"Two days," she whispered.
"Two days."
"I love you."
"I love you too. Now go be great."
The kiss goodbye was not awkward. It was just right.
Walking home alone, his heart felt full and breaking simultaneously.
Thursday evening, the training ground had most of the team there for summer session.
Coach Tanaka had called everyone for something special.
Takeshi and Sato arrived together to find the team doing light training. Not intense. Just being together. Playing casual games, everyone laughing.
This is what joy looks like.
After training, everyone gathered. Ryo stood in the center as captain.
"Tomorrow Takeshi and Sato leave us," he said.
The team went quiet.
"I want to say something before they go."
Pointing at them both.
"You two changed everything."
"This team was dead. Thirteenth place. Hopeless."
"Then this guy came back after three years."
Gesturing to Takeshi.
"And refused to let us die."
Each teammate spoke.
Kenji: "You taught me I could save anything. Made me believe again."
Yuta: "Showed me courage is not being without fear. It is running anyway."
Hiro: "Gave me chance when I was just bench player. Made me matter."
Takeshi's throat was tight. He could not speak.
Sato was wiping his eyes openly.
Coach Tanaka finally stepped forward. "You boys represent something bigger now."
"Not just Tokyo FC. Not just Japan."
"You represent the idea that quitting is not an option."
"That last place does not mean last chance."
"Go show the world what refusing to die looks like."
They made a circle with their hands in the middle. Last time for three months. Maybe forever like this.
Ryo: "Who are we?"
"Tokyo FC!"
"What do we do?"
"We fight!"
"For?"
"Each other!"
They broke apart. Everyone piled into one big group hug. Takeshi was in the center, feeling all their weight.
This is family. This is home. This is what survival built.
Walking away and looking back once, the team was waving. Some crying. Him and Sato both crying too.
Thank you for everything. I will make you proud.
Friday evening, his mother made tonkatsu, miso soup, rice. Everything he loved.
His father came home early from work, which was rare. His sister dressed up, treating this as something special.
The table was full of food and emotion. Everyone eating slowly, savoring the moment.
His father spoke first. "I never told you..."
Everyone looked at him.
"But I am proud. Really proud."
"Of the football, yes. But more of who you have become."
"After the dark years."
"You came back. That takes strength."
His mother cried quietly. His sister held her hand.
His mother's voice shook. "You will call? Every week?"
"Every week. I promise."
"And eat properly. Training is hard, you need energy."
"I will."
"And if anything happens—"
"Mom. I will be fine."
His father: "Let the boy go. He is ready."
His mother nodded, wiping her tears. "I know. I know he is."
His sister: "Bring me back something cool!"
Everyone laughed, tension breaking.
That night, his room had bags open on the floor.
Training gear. Cleats. Casual clothes. The photo from the final match. Photo booth strips of him and Akari. The small Ajax teddy bear from age eight that fit perfectly in the bag.
Everything that mattered fitting in two bags.
His mother came in with snacks for the trip. "For the train. And share with Sato."
He hugged her. "Thank you. For everything."
She held him tight. "Come back to us."
"Always."
Sleep found him eventually. Tomorrow: departure. Today: goodbye.
Saturday morning at Tokyo Station was 7 AM.
The shinkansen to Narita Airport was leaving at 7:45.
His whole family came to see him off. Sato's family was there too. Parents, younger brother. Both boys wearing Japan national team tracksuits sent by the JFA.
Looking official. Looking professional. Looking young.
His mother hugged him and would not let go.
His father firmly: "Make us proud, son."
His sister: "Do not forget my trophy!"
Sato's parents hugged him. His brother: "Bring me an autograph from someone famous!"
Sato: "I am someone famous!"
Everyone laughed despite the tears.
Akari pulled him aside briefly. Both of them crying.
"Three months," she whispered.
"Three months. Then I am back."
"Promise?"
"Promise. And I will text. Every. Single. Day."
"You better."
One last hug. One last kiss. Public but they did not care.
"I love you."
"I love you too. Now go. You will miss the train."
He walked backward, not wanting to look away. She waved, crying, smiling.
This is what home looks like. Remember this.
The final call announcement came.
He and Sato boarded the shinkansen together. Both turned back at the door.
All families waving. Akari in front, hand over her heart.
The train doors closed. Pulling away from the station. Watching Tokyo disappear.
Sato: "We are really doing this."
"Yeah. We really are."
Both sat, processing the enormity.
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
🎯 Quest Complete 🎯
Tokyo Arc: Finished
Goodbyes: Said
Promises: Made
Rewards Unlocked:
✓ Family bonds deepened
✓ Love solidified (Akari)
✓ Brotherhood confirmed (Tokyo FC)
✓ Ready for next challenge
Next Quest: National Team Selection
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
The flight to the training center took an hour from Narita.
JFA staff were waiting with name boards. "Yamamoto? Sato?"
An official van with the Japan crest on the side. Driving through the countryside toward Chiba.
The complex was massive. Multiple fields. Professional gym. Dorms. Medical center. Scale completely different from Tokyo FC.
This is professional.
Other players were arriving simultaneously. Some from famous academies. All wearing Japan tracksuits. Staff checking them in methodically.
"Report to dorm room 304."
"Team meeting at 18:00."
"Dinner at 19:00."
"Training starts tomorrow, 06:00."
Everything was scheduled. Regimented. Serious.
Walking to the dorm, seeing other players. Some confident. Some nervous. All elite.
Takeshi and Sato looked at each other.
"Not Tokyo FC anymore," Takeshi said.
"Nope. This is the big leagues."
"Scared?"
"Terrified. You?"
"Same. But we have been scared before."
"And we survived."
"So we will survive this too."
Opening the door to room 304, they found two beds, two desks, a small window showing the training fields below.
New chapter beginning.
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
⚡ New Quest Started ⚡
30 Players Selected
23 Will Make World Cup Squad
7 Will Be Cut
Hierarchy: Unknown
Abilities: Unknown
Competition: Maximum
Survive Selection
Earn Your Place
Represent Your Country
The World Stage Awaits
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Lying in the unfamiliar bed, staring at the ceiling.
Sato was in the bed across the room.
"Cannot sleep," Sato said quietly.
"Me neither."
"Miss home already."
"Yeah. But..."
"But?"
"This is what we fought for. Tokyo FC. All of it. To get here. To this chance."
"Yeah. You are right."
"We will make them proud. Tokyo. Akari. Everyone."
"Yeah. We will."
Eventually sleep found them both.
Tomorrow the national team begins.
Tonight: the last moment as Tokyo FC players.
Transition complete.
New world begins.