A heavy door creaked open with a sharp, echoing sound, revealing Haruma standing in the doorway. The butler, who had opened the door from the outside, stood silently beside Haruma.
The room beyond the door was a dim, dark library, the only light coming from a flickering campfire in the corner. Two grand armchairs sat before it, their backs to the door.
Haruma remained standing in the doorway, facing the back of the chairs, the silence of the room pressing in around him. From one of the armchairs, a thick cloud of smoke slowly drifted upwards.
"Come in Haruma!" Ryusei's voice called out from that armchair, breaking the silence.
Haruma then stepped into the room, and with a click the butler closed the door behind him.
Haruma walked further and saw Ryusei sitting relaxed on that armchair, smoke rising from his cigar in slow deliberate spirals. With a subtle moment Ryusei gestures to Haruma to sit on the armchair next to him.
Haruma quickly took his seat, sitting upright and focused.
Ryusei leaned forward, picking up a glass of apple juice and offering it to Haruma. who accepted it with a nod of thanks.
With a casual motion, Ryusei removed the cigar from his mouth, and released a cloud of smoke before asking, "How's your chin now?"
Haruma gently touched his chin which was all bandaged up now, "Yes, it's fine now, I went to the hospital before coming here."
Ryusei nodded, with a hint of pride in his voice he said, "Good! and congratulations on winning the cup. And that final goal of yours was just unbelievable!"
Haruma smiled with a hint of gratitude in his eyes, "Thanks, but how? Did you come to watch the match?"
Ryusei smiled, his tone casual yet knowing, "I wanted to, but I had an urgent meeting. So I sent one of my men to record it live, which I watched on my laptop."
Haruma smiled, understanding the arrangement. He nodded with a slight appreciation in his gaze.
"Haruma," Ryusei said, his voice soft and low, "Your game has taken a very big, sudden turn. Your play, your movements, your control, your pace, everything just changed!" His expressions were a mix of confusion and curiosity, "How? How did this happen?" he asked, his gaze locked on Haruma.
Haruma, with his expressions tinged with concern, replied, "You are right, I can't understand it either. My body… It was just moving on its own, like someone was controlling it, I had no control over my actions, even the decision I was making didn't feel like my own."
Seeming thoughtful, Ryusei nodded slowly, inhaling deeply from his cigar before exhaling a thick cloud of smoke before looking at Haruma, he said, "So I was right, I was watching you closely, and I noticed that it wasn't just your game that changed. It was your attitude, your mindset, your personality, everything about you was completely changed."
Haruma exhaled deeply, his voice low and uncertain "And I'm not sure if I can play like that ever again!"
Ryusei took another drag from his cigar, exhaling the smoke before responding, "I don't have the expertise in football, but I'll suggest you to keep playing and keep practicing, that way you won't lose your rhythm"
Haruma, his expression stoic, nodded in agreement.
Ryusei smiled, a hint of amusement in his voice, "By the way. The way you shoved that striker was cold and completely unexpected from you!"
Haruma's eyes narrowed in confusion, "I shoved someone?"
Ryusei's eyes widened in disbelief, his gaze quickly snapping to Haruma, "You don't remember?" he asked, his voice tinged with surprise.
Haruma, with a look of confusion crossing his face, closed his eyes as if trying to force the memory into focus. After a brief pause he re-opened his eyes and said, "Ooh, that, yes, I remember"
Ryusei, still confused and unsure, continues to gaze at Haruma.
Haruma, smiling faintly, added, "I don't know why I did that… It just happened!"
Ryusei inhaled from his cigar, his gaze fixed and never leaving Haruma.
Haruma then looked at Ryusei, with a hint of curiosity he asked, "Mr. Takinami, can I ask a question?"
Ryusei gave a slight nod of approval, "Yeah go on."
"Whenever I come to your house, why do I always find you here?" Haruma asked.
Ryusei paused for a moment, before lifting his cigar to his mouth, inhaling deeply. He exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, watching it swirl in the air.
"I find peace in this room!" he replied, his voice calm and steady.
Haruma smiled, looking around the quiet, dimly lit library, "Yes, indeed, it's a very peaceful room"
Ryusei was in silence, inhaling deeply before exhaling another cloud of smoke. After a moment he glanced at Haruma and said, "Haruma, for your amazing win, I want to give you something."
Haruma looks at him with a hint of confusion crossing his face.
"If there is anything you want, then feel free to ask." Ryusei asked in a warm, sincere tone.
Haruma smiles warmly, his expressions sincere, "Thank you, but I don't need anything."
Ryusei slowly nodded in understanding, "Alright then, you have to accept whatever I choose to give you!"
Haruma shook his head in denial, his tone earnest, "No, I'm serious, you've already done so much for me, things I can't even repay."
"I haven't done anything." Ryusei replied, in a low, serious tone. In response, Haruma smiled and nodded.
"Mr.Takinami, I should get going now." Haruma said, his smile present.
Ryusei nodded and stood up to his feets, Haruma followed suit, standing up as well.
Ryusei opened his arm and Haruma stepped forward giving him a slight, genuine hug. As they pull apart Ryusei gives Haruma a firm pat on the shoulder.
With his hand resting on Haruma's shoulder, Ryusei smiled warmly, "Keep practicing, keep improving and keep moving ahead, and don't look back, because I always have your back."
Haruma smiled softened, his gaze steady and filled with gratitude, "Thank you Mr.Takinami. Sometimes I feel ashamed of myself for not having anything to offer you in return."
Ryusei smiled, and gave another reassuring pat on his shoulder, "I just want one thing in return, and it's seeing you living your dream."
Haruma's eyes widened, momentarily taken aback by Ryusei's unexpected words.
With a broad smile, Ryusei said, "Lift the World Cup. Make me proud of my decision to support you"
A shiver ran down Haruma's spine as Ryusei's words settled into his core, with his fist clenching tight he gave him a sharp nod, his gaze burning with determination.
Ryusei's smile widened, his pride and belief in Haruma was visible in his eyes...
A black Mercedes pulled up at the entrance of the building, its engine purring to stop. Haruma stepped out, giving a nod to the driver, who drove away into the distance.
As night was settled over, Haruma hurried inside the building, his footsteps quick and urgent.
Haruma was now climbing the stairs, his mind racing with urgency.
"I'm late… Mother must've returned by now!"
"Mr.Takinami was right, I should keep practicing and keep improving, I have to play the next World Cup which is four years from now."
Haruma's determination surged, pushing him to climb faster, "I still have so much to learn, so much to improve. For the next four years I have to sacrifice myself entirely to football."
Reaching his apartment, Haruma swung open the main door, his eyes instantly catching sight of the unexpected scene, causing his eyes to slightly widen in confusion.
There, on the floor, sat his mother, holding a cup of tea, while a man was sitting with his back on Haruma, facing his mother.
Haruma stood frozen in the doorway, stunned and confused, gazing at his mother, who appeared startled, gazing back at him with her eyes slightly wide.
With his confusion growing, Haruma in a hushed tone asked, "Mom, who is he?"
His mother, still frozen in place, shifted her gaze to the man seated ahead of her, causing Haruma to look at that man too, who was still sitting with his back on Haruma.
With a slow, deliberate movement that man turned his head back glancing at Haruma from over his shoulder, revealing himself as Kento Takayama, the father of Mio.
Haruma's confusion shot through the roof, as he stared at Kento with narrow confused eyes.
Kento, with a calm smile, turned his face forward again, gently placing the cup of tea down. He stood up with his back still turned to Haruma, who remained frozen, eyes locked in deep confusion.
With a slow, deliberate turn, Kento began turning around, his shoulder pivoting to reveal him wearing a casual shirt bearing the Japan U19 logo emblem on its chest.
At a slow pace, Haruma's eyes began to widen in utter disbelief, and his heartbeat raced as if it would explode at any second.