**JANUARY 24, 2025 - MONDAY**
**KUROSAWA KAITO'S APARTMENT, VALDEBEBAS, MADRID**
**07:15 AM**
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Kaito woke naturally at 7:15 AM, his body having recovered enough from Saturday's debut that the deep muscle soreness was now just a dull background ache rather than the pronounced stiffness that had greeted him yesterday morning. Nine hours of sleep combined with proper recovery protocols had done their work—he felt rested, functional, ready to resume full training.
The morning routine flowed smoothly now, familiar after a week of repetition. Cold shower to activate his nervous system. Careful attention to breakfast following Dr. Ramírez's prescribed meal plan. Review of his schedule for the day while eating, mentally preparing for each commitment:
**MONDAY, JANUARY 24 - SCHEDULE:**
**09:00** - Depart for Valdebebas
**10:00** - Full team training session (tactical work, technical drills)
**11:00** - Meeting with Jorge Castillo (agent) - Conference Room 3, Building C
**12:30** - Lunch (team meal, mandatory)
**14:00** - Afternoon training session (strength and conditioning)
**16:00** - Individual technical work (optional but recommended)
**17:00** - Departure from Valdebebas
A full day. Professional routine resuming after Sunday's recovery period.
Kaito was dressed and ready by 8:52 AM, his training bag packed with everything needed for the day ahead. Juan would arrive at precisely 9:00 to transport him to Valdebebas, the driver's German punctuality as reliable as the sunrise.
While waiting, Kaito scrolled through the morning's football news on his phone:
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**[REAL MADRID NEWS - JANUARY 24, 2025]**
**MARCA (07:34):** *OFICIAL: Nico Paz se marcha cedido al Como de la Serie A italiana. El centrocampista argentino-español firma hasta junio con opción de compra. Real Madrid mantiene cláusula de recompra.*
*(OFFICIAL: Nico Paz leaves on loan to Como in Italian Serie A. The Argentine-Spanish midfielder signs until June with purchase option. Real Madrid maintains buy-back clause.)*
So it was confirmed. Nico Paz was leaving—not permanently, but on loan to Como where he'd get guaranteed first-team minutes in Serie A rather than fighting for playing time at Castilla. The move made professional sense for a player who needed consistent football at a higher level to continue his development.
But it also created an immediate vacancy in Castilla's squad. Nico had been their primary creative midfielder for the entire season before Kaito's arrival. His departure meant more responsibility would fall on whoever took his place—namely Kaito and the other attacking midfielders in Raúl's system.
**AS (07:41):** *Camavinga sufre una lesión en la rodilla que podría apartarlo 2-3 semanas. Tchouaméni también en duda para el próximo partido. Ancelotti podría recurrir a Castilla para reforzar el centro del campo.*
*(Camavinga suffers knee injury that could sideline him 2-3 weeks. Tchouaméni also doubtful for next match. Ancelotti could turn to Castilla to reinforce midfield.)*
The first team midfield crisis was real and worsening. Camavinga out for potentially three weeks, Tchouaméni's fitness uncertain—that left Real Madrid with Modrić, Bellingham, Valverde, and Dani Ceballos as their available central midfielders. If another injury occurred or if rotation was needed during their congested fixture schedule, calling up players from Castilla wasn't just possible but likely necessary.
This was Kaito's opportunity, approaching faster than he'd anticipated.
**RELEVO (08:03):** *Real Sociedad sigue de cerca a Kurosawa Kaito. La Real está interesada en una cesión hasta final de temporada para que el japonés sume minutos en Primera División. Real Madrid, por ahora, se niega a negociar.*
*(Real Sociedad continues to closely monitor Kurosawa Kaito. La Real interested in loan until end of season so the Japanese player accumulates minutes in Primera División. Real Madrid, for now, refuses to negotiate.)*
The transfer speculation that Raúl had warned him about yesterday was already appearing in reputable sources. Real Sociedad—the club that had successfully developed Takefusa Kubo during his loan spell—apparently saw Kaito as a similar project. The interest made sense from their perspective: a talented young Japanese player with excellent technical ability who could contribute immediately while generating commercial interest in Japan.
But as Raúl had advised, this was speculation to be ignored until it became something official requiring actual decisions.
At exactly 9:00 AM, Kaito's phone buzzed with a text from Juan indicating the Mercedes was waiting downstairs.
Time to work.
---
**[09:47 AM - VALDEBEBAS TRAINING COMPLEX]**
The locker room atmosphere when Kaito arrived was noticeably different from Saturday's pre-match tension. Players were relaxed, engaging in casual conversation while changing into training gear, the pressure of competition temporarily absent as they prepared for a Monday training session focused on recovery and tactical work rather than match preparation.
Chema was already at his locker, scrolling through his phone with an expression of mild amusement.
"Did you see the Nico news?" he asked when Kaito approached his own locker space.
"This morning. Como loan until June."
"Good move for him. Serie A is better level than Primera Federación, and he gets guaranteed minutes. But it means more responsibility for you and Antonio now. Raúl will need you both to step up in creative midfield roles."
Kaito began changing into his training kit—the all-white Real Madrid Castilla gear that had become his daily uniform. Around him, teammates were engaged in similar preparations, the professional routine so ingrained that conversation continued without interrupting the physical tasks.
Antonio David appeared beside them, having overheard the discussion about Nico.
"More responsibility means more opportunity," he said, sitting on the bench to lace his boots. "I've been waiting all season for a chance to show I can play higher than just box-to-box midfielder. Now with Nico gone, maybe Raúl gives me more creative freedom."
The competitive edge in Antonio's voice was impossible to miss. He and Kaito were now direct competitors for the creative midfield role that Nico had vacated. Professional friendliness could coexist with athletic rivalry, but the tension was real.
"May the best player win the spot," Kaito replied diplomatically.
"Exactly. Nothing personal—just competition. Keeps us both sharp."
At 9:58, Raúl entered the locker room with his assistant coaches, tactical tablet in hand, whistle around his neck. The conversations quieted immediately as players gave their coach their attention.
"Buenos días. Before we go out, brief team meeting."
The squad gathered in a loose semicircle around Raúl, who remained standing near the tactical board.
"First, as you've all seen by now, Nico Paz has joined Como on loan. We wish him well and expect him to succeed in Serie A. His departure creates a vacancy in our squad that will be filled internally rather than through emergency signings. Antonio, Kaito, Pol—you three will compete for the creative midfield minutes. Form and performance in training and matches will determine selection. Merit, not favoritism."
Professional expectations clearly stated. The opportunity was available to whoever earned it through their work.
"Second, several of you will be training with the first team this week. I've been informed that Kaito, Chema, and Marvel will join first team sessions Wednesday and Thursday. This is an opportunity to learn from world-class professionals and potentially earn call-ups if the injury situation worsens. Treat it with the seriousness it deserves. Questions?"
Kaito felt his pulse quicken despite his attempts to remain composed. Wednesday. In two days, he'd be training alongside Modrić, Bellingham, the players whose level he aspired to reach.
No questions were asked. Everyone understood the implications.
"Good. Now let's train. Light technical work this morning since your bodies are still recovering from Saturday. Possession drills, passing patterns, positional play. No sprinting or high-intensity work until afternoon session. Vamos."
---
**[10:14 AM - TRAINING SESSION - TECHNICAL WORK]**
The morning session was exactly as Raúl had described—technical rather than physical, designed to sharpen skills without overstressing bodies that were still recovering from Saturday's competitive match.
They began with possession drills in groups of eight versus four—eight players keeping the ball away from four defenders in a confined space, emphasizing quick passing, intelligent movement, and the kind of technical precision that separated professional players from talented amateurs.
Kaito's group included Chema, Antonio, Marvel, and four other players. The drill started, and immediately the tempo was high—the ball moving rapidly between players, one-touch or two-touch maximum, the four defenders pressing aggressively to try and win possession.
Kaito received the ball from Chema and immediately felt pressure from two defenders closing down. His first touch took the ball onto his right foot, creating just enough space to assess his options. Antonio was showing for a pass ten meters away, but a defender was already moving to cut off that passing lane.
Instead, Kaito played a sharp pass back to Chema, who'd moved into support position immediately after passing to Kaito. The ball arrived at Chema's feet perfectly weighted, and the Spanish midfielder played it first-time to Marvel on the far side of the grid.
"Good!" one of Raúl's assistants called out. "That's exactly what we want—quick decisions, accurate execution, constant movement!"
The drill continued for twenty minutes, players rotating between possession and defending roles every five minutes. The physical demand was minimal compared to match intensity, but the technical and mental demands were significant—constant decision-making, precise execution under pressure, communication with teammates to create passing angles.
After possession drills came passing patterns—structured repetitions designed to reinforce specific movements and combinations that Raúl wanted to see in matches. The squad split into smaller groups working on different patterns simultaneously across the training pitch.
Kaito's group focused on progressive passing from defense to attack—center-backs to defensive midfielder to number eights to forwards. The pattern was simple in theory but required precise timing and positioning to execute smoothly:
Marvel starts with the ball at center-back. Chema drops between the center-backs to receive. Kaito positions himself in the left half-space, checking his shoulder to see what's behind him. Marvel passes to Chema. Chema receives on the half-turn and immediately plays to Kaito. Kaito receives facing forward and plays a through ball to the striker making a diagonal run.
Reset. Repeat. Again and again until the pattern became automatic, until bodies knew where to be and when without conscious thought.
"Kaito, you're receiving too square," Raúl called out after the fourth repetition. "Adjust your body position before the ball arrives so you can receive on the half-turn, already facing forward. Save yourself a touch and a second of time."
Kaito nodded, making the adjustment. The next repetition felt smoother—his body angled differently before receiving, allowing him to control the ball and immediately see the forward passing option without needing to turn after receiving.
"Better! That's the difference between good and elite—the small details that accumulate into significant advantages over ninety minutes."
They worked through various patterns for forty-five minutes, each one reinforcing specific tactical concepts that Raúl wanted embedded in their decision-making. By 11:03, Kaito's legs were tired despite the relatively low physical intensity—mental fatigue from constant concentration was just as draining as running.
"That's enough for this morning," Raúl announced, checking his watch. "Some of you have other commitments before lunch. Afternoon session begins at fourteen hundred—strength and conditioning with the fitness staff. Dismissed."
Kaito jogged toward the locker room with most of his teammates, checking the time on the stadium clock: **11:06 AM**. His meeting with Jorge Castillo was scheduled for 11:00, which meant he was already six minutes late.
He accelerated into a proper run.
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**[11:09 AM - BUILDING C, CONFERENCE ROOM 3]**
Kaito arrived at Conference Room 3 slightly out of breath from sprinting across the Valdebebas complex, his training kit still damp with sweat from the morning session. He knocked on the door twice and heard a male voice call out in Spanish: "Come in!"
The conference room was modest but professional—a long table with chairs arranged around it, a large screen mounted on the wall for presentations, windows offering views of the training pitches. Two people were already seated at the table: Jorge Castillo, the agent Kaito had met briefly yesterday, and a young woman who looked up when Kaito entered.
"Ah, Kurosawa-san, come in, come in!" Jorge stood to greet him with a warm handshake. "Don't worry about being a few minutes late—we know training schedules can run long. Please, sit."
Kaito took a seat across from Jorge and the young woman, who was studying him with an expression that managed to be both professionally assessing and genuinely curious.
"This is my daughter, Sofia," Jorge said, gesturing to the young woman beside him. "She's interning with my agency while completing her degree in sports journalism at Complutense University. She'll be helping manage some of your media coordination and social media presence."
Sofia Tanaka extended her hand across the table with a confident smile that suggested she was completely comfortable in professional settings despite being only seventeen. She was striking in a way that wasn't conventionally beautiful but undeniably attractive—half-Japanese features inherited from her mother blended with Spanish characteristics from her father, creating a unique appearance that reflected both cultures. Her figure was curvy but athletic, the kind of build that came from genetics rather than gym obsession. Long dark hair pulled back in a professional ponytail. Sharp eyes that seemed to see more than casual observation would reveal.
"Nice to meet you, Kurosawa-san," Sofia said in fluent Japanese that carried only the slightest Spanish accent. "Or should I call you Kaito? I know Japanese culture prefers surnames, but we'll be working together closely, so maybe first names are better?"
Her Japanese was significantly better than Kaito's Spanish, which immediately made communication easier.
"Kaito is fine," he replied in Japanese, grateful to speak his native language. "Your Japanese is excellent. Did you grow up speaking both languages?"
"My mother is from Osaka, so Japanese at home, Spanish everywhere else. I'm functionally bilingual, which is useful in my father's business since many of his clients are from South America or Asia."
Jorge cleared his throat, bringing the conversation back to business. "Before we begin formally, your mother should join us via video call. Let me set that up."
He pulled out a laptop and initiated a video call, and moments later Kurosawa Yuki's face appeared on the screen. She was sitting in what looked like the hospital break room, wearing her nurse's uniform, her expression carefully neutral as she assessed the two strangers who would be representing her son's interests.
"Kurosawa-san, thank you for joining us," Jorge said in Spanish that Sofia simultaneously translated into Japanese. "I'm Jorge Castillo, and this is my daughter Sofia who will be assisting with Kaito's representation. We're here to explain how this arrangement will work and ensure you're comfortable with the structure."
For the next forty-five minutes, Jorge walked through the details of the representation agreement with methodical precision:
**REPRESENTATION STRUCTURE:**
- Jorge would serve as Kaito's official agent, handling all contract negotiations with Real Madrid and any other clubs that expressed interest.
- Sofia would manage media coordination, social media strategy, and commercial opportunity screening.
- All decisions required approval from both Kaito and his mother until Kaito turned eighteen, at which point he could make independent choices.
- Jorge's commission was the standard 10% of any contract value or commercial deals, but this was paid by Real Madrid or the commercial partners, not deducted from Kaito's earnings.
- The arrangement could be terminated by either party with thirty days written notice if the relationship wasn't working.
**CURRENT PRIORITIES:**
- Protect Kaito from predatory commercial offers that would exploit his age and ethnicity for profit without fair compensation.
- Manage media requests to prevent him from being overwhelmed by interview obligations that interfered with training.
- Monitor transfer speculation and communicate with Real Madrid about any legitimate interest from other clubs.
- Develop a social media strategy that built his personal brand without consuming excessive time or creating distractions.
**IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:**
- Sofia would audit Kaito's current social media accounts (Instagram, Twitter) and develop a content strategy that required minimal time investment while maintaining fan engagement.
- Jorge would communicate with Real Sociedad to formally decline their loan interest on Kaito's behalf, reinforcing that he wasn't available for transfer.
- A commercial opportunity screening system would be established—any company wanting Kaito for endorsements would go through Jorge first, preventing him from being bombarded with direct offers.
Throughout the presentation, Kaito's mother asked pointed questions that revealed she'd done research on sports agent practices and wasn't simply accepting everything at face value:
"What happens if Real Madrid wants to renegotiate Kaito's contract before it expires? Who determines if the new offer is fair?"
"What percentage of your current clients have successfully transitioned from youth teams to first-team football? What happened to those who didn't make it?"
"How do you handle conflicts of interest if you represent multiple players competing for the same position?"
Jorge answered each question with professional patience, providing specifics rather than vague reassurances. By the end of the meeting, even Yuki's cautious expression had softened slightly.
"I appreciate your thoroughness, Castillo-san," she said through Sofia's translation. "Kaito is only fifteen, and this world is very new to our family. I need to know he's being protected, not exploited."
"I completely understand, Kurosawa-san. You're trusting me with your son's career and future earnings—that's not something I take lightly. If at any point you're uncomfortable with how I'm handling things, you can terminate this arrangement with thirty days notice. My reputation depends on my clients succeeding, so your interests and mine are aligned."
After a few more minutes of discussion, Yuki seemed satisfied. "Very well. Kaito, what do you think?"
Kaito had been mostly listening rather than actively participating, letting his mother ask the hard questions while he absorbed information. "I think it makes sense. I need someone handling the business side so I can focus on football. If Real Madrid trusts Jorge enough to assign him to me, and if we can terminate the relationship if it's not working, then the risk seems minimal."
"Then we agree," Yuki said. "But Jorge-san—I will be watching closely. My son's welfare comes before any commission you might earn."
"I wouldn't expect anything less from a responsible parent."
The video call ended, and Jorge began packing up his laptop and documents. "Well, that went better than some initial meetings I've had with concerned parents. Your mother is admirably protective."
"She's had to be," Kaito replied quietly. "We've been through difficult times. She doesn't trust easily."
"Trust is earned, not given. I understand that completely." Jorge stood, preparing to leave. "Sofia will stay to discuss the social media strategy with you, if you have time before your next obligation?"
Kaito checked his watch: 11:57 AM. Team lunch was at 12:30, which gave him about thirty minutes.
"I have time."
"Excellent. Sofia, I'll see you at home tonight. Kaito, pleasure formally beginning our working relationship. I'll be in touch soon about the Real Sociedad situation."
Jorge departed, leaving Kaito alone in the conference room with Sofia, who had pulled out her own laptop and was already typing rapidly.
"Okay," she said, switching to Japanese with the casual comfort of someone who navigated between languages effortlessly. "Let's talk about your social media presence, which is currently a disaster."
Kaito blinked, caught off guard by her directness. "Disaster?"
"Well, maybe disaster is too strong. Let's say 'underutilized and poorly managed.' You have an Instagram account with 89,000 followers—which is actually impressive for someone who just made their professional debut—but your last post was three weeks ago, and it's just a generic training photo with no caption. Your Twitter has 34,000 followers but even less activity. You're not engaging with fans, not building your brand, basically just existing on these platforms without leveraging them."
"I've been focused on football," Kaito said defensively. "Social media isn't really a priority for me."
"Which is why you need someone managing it for you. Look—" Sofia turned her laptop so he could see the screen, which displayed analytics from his Instagram account. "You gained 23,000 followers in the past forty-eight hours because of your debut. These are people interested in following your career, potential fans who could become long-term supporters. But if you don't give them content, they'll lose interest and unfollow."
"What kind of content am I supposed to post? I'm training every day. That's not exactly exciting."
"You'd be surprised what fans want to see. Behind-the-scenes training footage. Recovery day routines. Even just photos of Madrid with captions about adjusting to life in Spain. The key is authenticity—fans can tell when content is forced or fake, so we keep it natural but strategic."
Sofia pulled up a document on her laptop. "Here's what I'm proposing: We create a content calendar that requires maybe two hours per week of your time, maximum. I'll handle all the editing, posting, and engagement with comments. You just provide the raw material—photos, short videos, thoughts about matches. I make it look professional and post it on schedule."
"Two hours per week is manageable," Kaito admitted. "What's the benefit for me?"
"Multiple benefits. First, it builds your personal brand, which increases your commercial value for future endorsement deals. Second, it keeps Japanese fans engaged with your career, which creates pressure on Real Madrid to actually play you rather than let you sit on the bench. Third, it creates a narrative around your development that media outlets can reference, which means better coverage and more positive press. And fourth—" she smiled slightly "—it's genuinely fun when done right. You get to share your journey with people who care about your success."
Her pitch was compelling, delivered with the confidence of someone who knew exactly what she was talking about.
"Okay," Kaito agreed. "But I want approval over anything that gets posted. No surprises."
"Of course. I'll send you drafts, you approve or suggest edits, then I post. Full transparency." Sofia extended her hand across the table. "Deal?"
"Deal."
They shook hands, and Sofia's grip was firm and professional. "Great. I'll audit your current accounts this week and send you a content strategy proposal by Friday. For now, just send me any photos or videos you take during training or around Madrid. Even if you think they're boring, send them anyway—I'll determine what's usable."
She closed her laptop and stood, gathering her materials. "I should let you get to lunch. Team meal is mandatory, right?"
"Yeah, starts in twenty minutes."
"Then go. But Kaito—" she paused at the door, her expression becoming slightly less professional and more genuine. "I know this is all overwhelming. Agents, media strategy, social media management—it's a lot for someone who's fifteen and just trying to play football. But my dad is really good at his job, and I promise I'll make the social media stuff as painless as possible. Just trust the process."
"I will. And Sofia—thanks for explaining things in Japanese. My Spanish is improving but complex business discussions are still difficult."
"Anytime. I'll probably text you this week about content ideas. Don't ignore me like you ignore most of your messages—I've seen your response rate on Instagram, it's terrible."
She flashed a quick smile and left, leaving Kaito alone in the conference room feeling like he'd just been swept into a professional infrastructure he hadn't fully prepared for.
An agent. A social media manager. Commercial strategies and brand building.
This was the business side of professional football, and it was apparently just as demanding as the athletic side.
---
**[12:34 PM - TEAM MEAL]**
Kaito arrived at the dining hall four minutes late, having taken longer than expected to shower and change after the morning training session. Most of his teammates were already seated and eating, the room filled with the ambient noise of conversations and the clatter of cutlery against plates.
Dr. Ramírez gave him a pointed look as he entered—punctuality was expected even for meal times—but didn't comment as he grabbed a tray and moved through the buffet line.
Today's lunch followed the standard training day protocol: lean protein (grilled chicken or fish), complex carbohydrates (brown rice or sweet potato), vegetables (steamed broccoli, carrots, mixed greens), and fruit for dessert. Everything portioned according to individual nutritional needs that Dr. Ramírez's staff had calculated based on body weight, position, and training load.
Kaito selected grilled chicken, brown rice, steamed vegetables, and an apple, then carried his tray to where Chema and Marvel were sitting with several other players.
"How was the agent meeting?" Chema asked as Kaito sat down.
"Professional. His daughter is going to manage my social media since apparently I'm terrible at it."
"You are terrible at it," Marvel confirmed. "I follow you on Instagram. You post like once a month, always the same boring training photos. You need to show personality, not just existence."
"That's basically what Sofia said."
"Sofia is the daughter?" Antonio asked from across the table, his tone casual but his eyes showing definite interest. "What's she like?"
"Seventeen, studying sports journalism, bilingual in Spanish and Japanese. Very professional. Also very direct—she called my social media presence a disaster within five minutes of meeting me."
Several players laughed at that.
"I like her already," Marvel said. "Someone who tells you the truth instead of just what you want to hear is valuable. Especially in football where everyone blows smoke about your talent until you fail, then they all disappear."
The conversation shifted to other topics—speculation about who else might be called up to train with the first team, discussion of Saturday's upcoming match against Atlético Madrid B, complaints about the afternoon strength and conditioning session that everyone knew would be brutal.
Kaito ate steadily while listening, absorbing the team dynamics and banter that created chemistry beyond just tactical coordination. Professional sports teams succeeded not just through talent but through genuine relationships that translated into trust during matches.
At 13:04, Dr. Ramírez stood and called for attention.
"Afternoon session in fifty minutes. Until then, rest period—use the recovery room if you want, but no intense physical activity. Your bodies need time to digest before we do strength work. And remember, several of you have first team training Wednesday and Thursday. That means tonight and tomorrow you need optimal rest and nutrition. No staying up late, no alcohol, no junk food. Professional discipline."
The implicit message was clear: this was a test not just of their football ability but of their professional maturity.
---
**[14:03 PM - STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING SESSION]**
The afternoon session was significantly less pleasant than the morning's technical work.
Real Madrid's strength and conditioning staff ran the Castilla players through a comprehensive program designed to build the physical attributes required for professional football: explosive power for sprints and jumps, core stability for balance and change of direction, upper body strength for physical battles with opponents.
The session began with Olympic lift variations—power cleans, deadlifts, squats—all performed with proper form under the supervision of strength coaches who corrected technique constantly:
"Kaito, your back is rounding on the deadlift. Reset your spine before you lift—straight back, chest up, pull through your heels."
"Depth on that squat was shallow. All the way down until your hips break parallel, then drive up explosively."
After forty minutes of compound lifts, they moved to plyometric exercises—box jumps, lateral bounds, medicine ball throws—designed to develop explosive power that would translate to faster sprints and higher jumps during matches.
Kaito's legs were burning by the time they finished plyometrics, the accumulated fatigue from Saturday's match, this morning's technical session, and now the afternoon's strength work creating a deep tiredness that would require another round of recovery protocols.
The final component was core work—planks, Russian twists, leg raises—thirty minutes of controlled torture that left everyone's abdominal muscles screaming in protest.
At 16:08, the strength coach finally called an end to the session.
"Good work today. Ice baths are optional but recommended for those who played Saturday. Foam rolling is mandatory for everyone—your muscles will thank you tomorrow. Dismissed."
Kaito dragged himself to the recovery area and spent twenty minutes foam rolling his legs, working through quadriceps, hamstrings, IT bands, calves. The process was deeply uncomfortable but necessary, breaking up adhesions and promoting blood flow that would accelerate recovery.
By 16:34, he was showered, changed, and ready to leave Valdebebas. His body was exhausted but in the satisfied way that came from productive training rather than the depleted feeling of overwork.
Juan was waiting with the Mercedes, and the drive back to his apartment passed in comfortable silence as Kaito stared out the window at Madrid's Monday afternoon traffic.
---
**[17:52 PM - APARTMENT - EVENING NEWS]**
After arriving home and preparing a simple dinner following Dr. Ramírez's guidelines, Kaito allowed himself to check the evening's football news while eating:
**MARCA (17:23):** *Ancelotti confirma: "Llamaremos a jugadores de Castilla para entrenar esta semana. Tenemos problemas en el centro del campo con las lesiones, y es una buena oportunidad para evaluar a nuestros jóvenes talentos."*
*(Ancelotti confirms: "We will call up players from Castilla to train this week. We have problems in midfield with injuries, and it's a good opportunity to evaluate our young talents.")*
**AS (17:35):** *Los tres elegidos: Kurosawa Kaito, Chema Andrés y Marvel viajarán a Valdebebas el miércoles para entrenar con el primer equipo. Fuentes internas sugieren que Ancelotti está particularmente interesado en observar al japonés de 15 años.*
*(The three chosen: Kurosawa Kaito, Chema Andrés and Marvel will travel to Valdebebas on Wednesday to train with the first team. Internal sources suggest Ancelotti is particularly interested in observing the 15-year-old Japanese player.)*
**RELEVO (17:48):** *Florentino Pérez bloquea personalmente la cesión de Kurosawa Kaito a la Real Sociedad. El presidente considera al japonés "intocable" y parte fundamental del futuro del Madrid.*
*(Florentino Pérez personally blocks Kurosawa Kaito's loan to Real Sociedad. The president considers the Japanese player "untouchable" and a fundamental part of Madrid's future.)*
So it was official: Wednesday he would train with Real Madrid's first team. And Florentino Pérez himself had intervened to prevent any loan move, which sent a clear message about how highly the club valued his potential.
The pressure was building, each news cycle adding layers of expectation and scrutiny.
But pressure was just another variable to manage. Kaito had survived poverty, grief, discrimination, and the relentless demands of elite athletic development. Media pressure was uncomfortable but not insurmountable.
He finished dinner, spent thirty minutes reviewing tactical videos of Real Madrid's recent matches to understand how their first team midfield functioned, then prepared for bed at 21:30.
Tomorrow: more training, continued preparation for Saturday's match against Atlético Madrid B.
Wednesday: training with the first team.
The journey continued, each day bringing new challenges and opportunities.
And Kaito was ready to meet them all.
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