Prologue: The Last Attempt
My name is Jun. I'm 16 years old, and I've always dreamed of stepping onto a soccer field as a professional player. But reality is cruel—I wasn't born with natural talent, I stand at only 1.49 meters, and to make matters worse, I suffer from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
I've trained relentlessly, yet no club has ever shown interest in me. I don't fit the mold of what a soccer player is supposed to be.
Even so, today I'm transferring to a new academy. And although I have no reason to believe things will be any different this time, something inside me refuses to give up.
—"JUN! Get down here! Breakfast is ready, and Sakura is here!" my mother calls from the kitchen.
—"Coming!"
When I arrive, I find my family having breakfast, and Sakura, my girlfriend, waiting for me with a smile.
—"Good morning, Jun," she says, greeting me with a kiss.
—"Good morning," I reply, returning the gesture.
We've been together for a year, and even though she's taller than me, she's never cared about that. As we eat, I feel her hand gently squeeze mine under the table.
—"Do you think this time will be different?" she asks softly.
I lower my gaze and take a deep breath.
—"I hope so."
We finish breakfast and head out together, hand in hand.
—"You have volleyball practice today, right?" I ask.
—"Yeah, I'll be staying late," she replies with a smile.
The walk to the station is short, but it feels special. When the time comes to say goodbye, Sakura dramatically exaggerates her voice.
—"Oh, my love, this is the moment our souls part ways…"
I play along.
—"No, my divine love, why must fate be so cruel?"
We both laugh, pressing our foreheads together.
—"See you later," she says, giving me one last kiss before stepping onto her train.
When mine arrives, I barely manage to squeeze in among the crowd.
—"I'm getting crushed!" I complain, struggling to breathe.
Through the window, I see the academy's soccer field. It's perfectly maintained, the grass glistening with morning dew.
"This will be my last attempt…"
The Beginning of the Challenge
Upon arriving at the academy, I'm amazed by the sheer number of sports clubs. Each booth is decorated with flashy images, promoting their teams.
—"This is amazing…" I whisper as I walk through them.
When I see the soccer club, my heart races. They're holding selection trials. Without hesitation, I grab a flyer.
After the first class of the day, I decide to head to the field. Upon arrival, I see tall, athletic players—clearly experienced. I swallow hard but step forward with determination.
—"Hurry up! Put on the green or orange bibs!" the coach orders.
—"We don't accept mediocre players in the Tigers," adds a third-year player with an arrogant grin.
As I get ready, I feel a tap on my shoulder.
—"Hey! Looks like we're on the same team. My name's Toru, what's yours?"
His friendly tone catches me off guard.
—"Jun… nice to meet you."
—"No need to be so formal, relax. What position do you play?"
—"I don't really know…"
—"If you want, stay on the right midfield. I'll be up front as the right winger."
—"Alright."
—"Alright, let's start the match!" the coach announces.
The whistle blows, and the game begins.
The orange team dominates possession from the start. They attack aggressively. A forward gets a clean shot in the box and…
—"Goal!"
The scoreboard changes to 1-0.
—"They're strong…" Toru mutters, wiping sweat from his forehead.
—"Especially their number 10. What's his name?" I ask, watching him closely.
—"Ren. He's the central midfielder, the brain of the team."
We restart play. The ball reaches Toru, and his expression shifts.
—"Let's see how good they really are…"
With quick movements, he dribbles past two defenders. Then, he makes a one-two pass with a teammate, surges forward, and without hesitation, takes a shot.
The ball curves perfectly and smashes into the top right corner.
—"What a goal!"
—"That was incredible!" I exclaim, amazed.
The first half ends with the score tied at 1-1.
Second Half and the Change
At the start of the second half, Ren takes the ball and advances fearlessly. He effortlessly dribbles past five players.
—"I'll stop him!" I shout, sprinting towards him.
But with a single move, he leaves me behind.
—"Damn it!"
Ren keeps advancing and, spotting his forward in a perfect position, sends a spinning pass.
I sprint with all my strength, trying to intercept it.
—"You're not catching up, shorty," the forward mocks.
I leap with everything I have, barely grazing the ball. The forward heads it…
Post!
The ball rebounds and hits me square in the head. My vision blurs.
Suddenly, I'm on my feet. Something inside me has changed. My mind feels foggy, but my body moves on its own.
I charge at Ren with an intensity I don't recognize.
—"Huh?" Ren frowns, noticing my gaze.
I cut off his teammate's pass and, without hesitation, send a precise through ball to Toru.
—"What a perfect pass!" he exclaims, surprised.
I sprint towards the box, and Toru instantly understands. He crosses the ball to me with pinpoint accuracy.
—"I won't make it…"
But my body doesn't agree.
I leap into the air, strike the ball with a flawless volley, and…
—"Goal!"
Teammates and opponents alike stand in shock at what just happened.
The match ends 2-1. My teammates rush to embrace me, but I… I don't understand what just happened.
—"That was incredible, Jun."
—"Amazing shot!"
—"Great play!"
Ren, still on the ground, clenches his fists and pounds the turf in frustration.
—"Damn it!"
The coach steps forward.
—"I'm about to announce the selected players."
My heart pounds in my chest.
After so much effort, after so many rejections…
—"Jun, you've been selected."
The words echo in my mind. I can't believe it.
—"I… I did it…"
My legs shake. My eyes fill with tears.
—"I DID IT!!!"
His journey was only just beginning.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Thank You for Reading!
I hope you enjoyed this introduction to my first story, which I'm creating with great excitement and passion. Soon, I'll start publishing longer and more detailed chapters. Let me know what you think and if you'd like to see more!
Instagram: @Jaiderlara11
See you next time! ✌️