Game Changer | Petalz 🌸🍃

Chapter I

F.C. Tokyo signs rising soccer star Nakamura Kazuha

F.C. Tokyo fans are buzzing with excitement as the club has just announced the signing of a young rising star, Nakamura Kazuha. The 19-year-old forward has already made a name for herself and may prove to be a real game changer for the team...

The signing of Nakamura is particularly noteworthy given the recent return of Miyawaki Sakura (24), the team's star striker who had been out for several weeks due to an injury. Miyawaki is widely regarded as one of the best players in the league, and her absence was keenly felt by the team that finished second last season.

Of course, the question on everyone's mind is how Nakamura will fit into the team's existing lineup, and how she'll work with Miyawaki up front...

As the Japan's national team gears up for the World Cup qualifying stage, fans are already speculating who will make the final lineup. Just a few months ago, Miyawaki was the top contender for the striker's position, but now with her form uncertain...

Sakura's lecture is interrupted by the sound announcing Tobitakyū station. She tears her gaze away from the newspaper being read by the man sitting across from her, stands up from her seat, and adjusts the strap of her duffel bag before stepping off the train.

Although it's still early in the morning, she can already feel the sun's warmth on her bare arms, exposed by the short sleeves of her t-shirt. But despite the pleasant, sunny weather, her mood is far from bright.

She knew she shouldn't have read that damn newspaper. It was an old issue, anyway. But she noticed the headline and curiosity got the best of her, as usual. Now, the word uncertain keeps echoing in her mind, annoying and mocking.

It doesn't make sense to be so bothered by one, stupid word. The new season hasn't even started yet; they've only played a few friendly matches. And while it's worth noting that she has scored in every single one of them, she understands that those non-competitive games, in which she didn't even play the full 90 minutes, cannot be seen as true tests of her post-injury form.

So, no matter how she looks at it, there's no better word to describe her situation than with the word uncertain. But maybe that's exactly why she hates it so much. She hates how everything was so certain until, in a matter of seconds, it all became un-certain.

And so it also happens to be the exact word that has been plaguing her mind for the past several weeks. It reminds her of the excruciating pain, shooting through her leg, of hours spent in the hospital room, waiting for the doctor's diagnosis, of weeks spent on treatment and rehabilitation, of—No.

She cannot let herself become so hung up on the past. What's certain right now, and what matters the most, is that she's back to playing. And because of that she needs to regain her focus. No more wallowing in misery. No more distractions. Her goal, her dream, the promise she made - they all remain the same.

...Miyawaki was the top contender for the striker's position...

She'll prove them that it's not was but is. After all, the only thing that matters to her, the only thing that ever mattered to her, is winning the World Cup.

"Kkura!"

A loud, familiar voice interrupts Sakura's thoughts. She looks up and spots Yunjin, their goalkeeper, as she stands beside the stadium's entrance.

And where's Yunjin, there's Chaewon, their midfielder. She waves at Sakura with her cap as if afraid she won't notice them, which would be impossible given that Yunjin's long, blond hair are noticeable from a mile away.

The two are the only Korean players on their team and are basically joined at the hip. Sakura sometimes feels like she's third-wheeling, which is funny considering that she and Chaewon knew each other first with Yunjin joining the team a year later. Given that her grasp of Japanese was limited when she first arrived, the goalkeeper naturally gravitated towards Chaewon. Despite their quite contrasting personalities, the two clicked right away and now, they even live together.