Rikuo went back home, his body still heavy with fatigue, his heart filled with a mix of excitement and nerves.
The match was over, the pros' compliments still echoing in his mind… but he had to keep everything secret.
No word about the trials, no hint about what had happened.
At the dinner table, his father watched him closely.
He didn't say anything, but his curious gaze pressed lightly on Rikuo.
As if he was trying to guess what was going on inside his son's head.
A few seconds passed in silence.
Then Takeshi said quietly:
"Just tell me when you're ready."
Rikuo gave a small, surprised smile.
"Yes, Dad,"
he answered calmly.
Dinner continued peacefully.
Rikuo drifted back into his thoughts—the dribbles, the passes, Takuma's shocked expression, Rivelinho's and Minato's compliments.
All of that… he had to keep it to himself.
This secret belonged to him.
His fight, his moment, before the final answer.
After eating, he went up to his room.
He set his clean boots on the edge of the bed and looked at the picture of his mother on his desk.
Her smile seemed to watch over him, reminding him why he had chosen this path.
After every match in France, his mother was always there, waiting for him with that big proud smile.
Now she was gone… but the face of his father he saw when he came home, and the smile of his mother in the frame, calmed him.
He took a deep breath.
Tomorrow, he would know.
Tomorrow, he would find out if everything he'd done was enough to enter Tokyo CF for real.
Tomorrow, the prodigy who had set crowds on fire in France, would discover if his dream life ,being a professional footballer was finally about to begin.
He lay down, though sleep took its time.
He looked at the moon through his window, the stars shining as if whispering to him:
Anything can happen tomorrow.
Rikuo made himself a promise:
If he succeeds, he will do his best to make his mother, up in the sky, proud of him, as well as his father.
And as the city fell asleep, the young King smiled to himself, imagining his return on the pitch, imagining his rise beginning for real.
Tomorrow was the day of the verdict…
but tonight, he already felt more alive than ever.
The next morning
It was 8 a.m. when Rikuo finally woke up.
"Good morning, Rikuo. Breakfast is ready. I'm heading to work so I won't be late. Make sure to lock the door when you leave," Takeshi said.
Yaaawn.
"Yeah, yeah, Dad, I got it…"
Rikuo got up.
The sun was shining, the house felt warm and cheerful.
Rocky and Yuki—their dog and cat—came running to his feet, begging for pets.
Once he was ready, he stood at the door.
This was it.
Destiny was moving.
The young King was ready to climb the steps toward the summit—
and the first step was the test results waiting for him today.