Kenji was sitting on a bench with the match ball with a devastated look on his face.
*FlashBack*
Kenji had brought himself to leave the pitch meeting Aoi.
Aoi: Why did you agree to something so stupid.
Kenji: .......
Aoi: Listen the whole team basically wants you out, or they're going to leave, I don't think I'll be able to help you out here.
Kenji: .......
Aoi: I don't know if this helps, but here I'm paying you off your contract.
*End*
*FlashBack*
Kenji was with Rafael.
Rafael: You want to leave, is this because of all those articles.
Kenji: No, I want to try my luck back in Japan.
Rafael: Don't do anything on one though, just think about it a little bit longer, okay.
Kenji: Okay.
....
A young Kenji was meeting Rafael for the first time.
Rafael: You must be new, I'm Rafael and this is Lucky.
Nanami: His name is Kenji Takahashi, I'm Nanami, he doesn't speak English yet.
Rafael: I see, nice to meet you two.
...
Kenji and Nanami were with their parents.
Hiroto: Congratulations on your first league title.
Kenji: Thanks dad.
Nanami: Smile for the camera.
...
Kenji was packing his things from the changing room.
Rafael: This is it huh, you're really leaving.
Kenji: I guess.
Rafael: Good luck, me and the rest of the team are hoping it works out for you.
Kenji: Thanks.
Rafael: Remember if it doesn't work out you always have a place here as a member of the team.
Kenji: I appreciate it.
...
Hiroto: You didn't win, so what.
Kenji: But.
Hiroto: It's not about winning, you play for the love of the game.
Kenji: I know but-
Hiroto: But nothing losing isn't the end of the world, life doesn't always work out the way you plan if one door closes another opens, it's all for a reason, you don't ever have to cry about the outcome of the game.
*End*
A drop landed on the ball before another landed on Kenji's hand.
Kenji: You always said it's nothing to cry about, but I can't bare it... I can't bare the thought I failed, I just can't bare it.
At this point Kenji had begun to cry before two hands were put on both his shoulders making him raise his head.
Kenji turned looking for who put a hand on his shoulder.
He got up and wiped his tears grabbing his backpack and the ball walking away.
He stopped at the crosswalk pulling out his phone while crossing the road to look at the time that said 10:59.
: Kid, look out!
Kenji looked up to see a truck coming towards him before hitting him, his phone screen was broken before hitting 11:00.
YOU ARE READING
LOVE OF THE GAME
General FictionA young talented football academy player returns home to Japan to look for a new opportunity to make a name for himself in Japan, he meets a group willing to give him a shoulder after being turned down by the school's football team.
