The World Cup group stage had ended for Team China.
While many fans had predicted the results before the matches even began, the actual outcomes were still hard to accept.
In their first match, they lost 0-2 to Costa Rica. The second match ended in a 0-3 loss to Germany. And in the third match, they suffered a 0-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia.
Before heading to the tournament, the national coach confidently proclaimed their goals: "Score a goal, earn a point, and win a game." At minimum, they wanted to at least match last year's performance.
The results? Worse than last year.
At least last year, they managed to score one goal. This year, they didn't even manage that. Worse still, one of their players scored an own goal, putting the ball into their own net.
Online Backlash
"I've been saying this! These footballers' salaries need to be slashed. That own goal was embarrassing!"
"Right? They're making millions a year, and for what? To lose every game? I could do that for free. Put me in, coach! I'll lose us matches at a fraction of the cost!"
"They don't even have as many abs as our women's football team players!"
The internet was flooded with angry posts. Some commenters hadn't even watched the games but were eager to join the bandwagon of complaints.
Still, who could blame them? Even for those who didn't follow football, it was frustrating to see their national team fail to score even a single goal on such a grand stage. It wasn't just disappointment; it was a feeling of "hating iron for not becoming steel."
In response to the outcry, the Football Association (FA) eventually made a public statement. They proposed measures such as capping players' salaries and replacing the coach. They promised to bring in renowned international coaches and to promote school football programs.
But what surprised everyone was another move by the FA.
Inside the Football Association
In a meeting room at the FA headquarters, several top executives sat around a table, their expressions grim.
"Well, we lost again."
The speaker's tone was heavy, but the others just nodded in silence.
Though the executives weren't the ones kicking the ball, the team's repeated failures were a stain on their reputation.
Year after year, they poured money into the team, yet the results remained dismal. This year's performance—complete with an own goal—was especially humiliating.
"We can't keep going like this. The state of domestic football is just too poor. Should we proceed with our original plan?"
"School football programs? But let's face it—the current education system doesn't exactly leave room for extracurricular sports."
"We have to try. Remember Japan in the 1980s? Back then, they were no match for us. Their football was in a terrible state too. But they kept pushing forward, and now look at them. If we don't act, the gap will only grow wider."
"You're right. First, we need to focus on promoting football in schools. Second, we need to strengthen the youth training systems within our professional clubs. These two pillars will ensure a steady pipeline of talent for our domestic leagues."
"But we'll need cooperation from the education ministry. And we'll also need a strong publicity campaign to get students interested in football. They won't join just because we tell them to—it has to excite them."
"Maybe we could use a manga to promote it?"
"A manga? Well, young people these days do love comics and anime. But who should we hire for the job?"
"I've heard of a manga artist called the Porter. He created a manga about Go in Japan that sparked a massive wave of interest in the game there. And he's one of our own—he's Chinese."
At Ren's House
Ren was playing with Little White when Jada came home from work.
"Ren, I need to talk to you," Jada said, her expression a mix of excitement and disbelief.
"Huh? What's up?" Ren asked, passing Little White to Yueyue and turning to Jada with curiosity.
"Here, take a look at this," Jada said, handing him a folder.
Ren took it, sipping his tea as he opened the folder—only to spit it out in shock.
"Pfft! You've got to be kidding me!"
His eyes widened as he stared at Jada.
"It's real," Jada confirmed, shrugging. "I thought it was a joke at first too, but it's legit. So, what do you think?"
"I... I need to think about this."
The folder contained an official request from the Football Association.
Their proposal? They wanted Ren to create a manga about football—specifically, a story centered around school football.
It didn't take Ren long to figure out why. Clearly, the FA was planning to promote school football as a way to revitalize the sport. After years of failing to make it past the group stage, they must've felt they were running out of excuses.
Still, a school football manga?
Ren's Thoughts
At first, when he saw the FA's request, Ren's mind immediately went to Captain Tsubasa.
Also known as Tsubasa: Road to 2002, this legendary manga had played a pivotal role in revitalizing Japanese football in Ren's previous life.
In the 1980s, Japan's football scene was a joke. From 1980 to 1990, their record against China was dismal. Yet by the 2000s, Japan's team was dominating, and China could barely keep the ball out of their own half.
The turning point for Japan came in 1980, when they failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup after losing 0-1 to China in the Hong Kong qualifiers. That loss marked the low point of Japanese football, which the media dubbed the "Winter Era."
It was during this dark time that Captain Tsubasa was born.
The manga, serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump, quickly became a massive hit. It sparked an unprecedented interest in football among Japanese youth.
Within two years, it was adapted into an anime, and its influence skyrocketed. School football teams overflowed with new recruits. Shops ran out of football gear. Kids everywhere mimicked Tsubasa's moves, spending hours practicing elaborate poses before even kicking the ball.
The craze wasn't limited to Japan. Even in China, many kids discovered their love for football through Captain Tsubasa.
Ren himself was one of them.
As a kid, Ren had fallen in love with football because of the manga. It gave him hope and excitement about the beautiful game. Unfortunately, watching an actual Chinese football match quickly shattered those feelings.