CHAPTER 54: U-17 JFC

Next day, On a sunny afternoon, Kurogami ran through the field with all the teammates following closely behind him, as they were running around the field with everyone face set with focus.

At the middle of the field Raon was watching them, before he spoke out loud, "Come on, come on, we have five more laps to go, speed up!" his voice rang out with energy.

Kurogami and everyone behind fastened their speed, Haruma running among them fastened his speed, his face a mask of focus and determination...

Kurogami stood focused before the nets, as a ball came to his left, causing him to dive and deflect the ball before quickly regaining his footing and diving again to left, deflecting another shot and again regaining his footing, repeating the process...

Itsuki, Nagisa, Izaya and Jiho all stood in a circle with training mannequins settled before them, as all four of them were exchanging one touch passes between the mannequins, all appeared focused and precise...

Haruma, Raya and Jiho, all three were juggling balls standing in a row.

Haruma was sweating profusely wearing shorts and a sleeveless shirt, his eyes fixed on the ball with razor sharp focus.

Watching them closely, Raya blows out the whistle, causing the trio to tap the slightly higher in a unison before stepping back and striking the ball in a volley kick sending it flying forward and all the three balls went inside the nets.

Jiho let out a pumped up roar and jumped on both Raya and Haruma celebrating with them...

Haru, wearing just shorts ran to the left and extended his left foot to toe touch a training disc on the grass, before running back to right, extending his right foot, toe touching the training disc and repeating the process again and again...

All the players were gathered in the center of the field, some were sitting some standing, drinking water appearing exhausted, while Raon stood before them, his voice sharp and filled with fire as he drilled his team with powerful tips and lessons, his energy pushing through every word.

Covered in sweats, all the players were listening to him intently, though their breaths were heavy but they kept their gaze forward.

Just then Minato sensei appeared walking towards the team holding a paper sheet.

First one to notice him, Izaya quickly stood up, followed by everyone, causing Raon to look back at Minato sensei and he himself stepped aside letting Minato sensei take the spotlight.

Minato sensei stood firmly before the players, his presence commanding.

With a firm tone he spoke up, "Schedule of this year’s JFC U-17, Japan’s U-17 Football Championship"

His words bring a new wave of energy and determination across the faces of all the players. Haruma stood confident, his face a mask of determination and confidence.

Minati sensei continued, "Sixteen teams will play a round of sixteen, then we’ll have, quarter finals, semi finals and then the final." He paused before continuing, "The tournament will begin in three days. Our first game is after four days where we’ll be facing Fukuoka Tengu’s in our round of sixteen, if we lose we are out!" He pauses letting the words sink in.

"The tournament will be held around the different cities, our first game is here in Tokyo, and... The Final will be held here too!"

His words bring a wave of excited chatter and murmur’s among the players. Haruma listens with slightly wide eyes.

"Final in Tokyo?" Haruma thought to himself, "It means, if we made it to finals all our families and friends will be there to support us!"

Minato sensei spoke up, "Playing finals in your own stadium and crowds is an advantage and an honor but a responsibility too, so give your best. Not just me, the entire Tokyo would want to see their team playing and lifting the trophy in their own city."

Minato sensei then held out the Tournament fixture list to Kurogami who tooks it, watching it closely.

Minato sensei folded his arms, "Get back to practice, the players this year are not the ones to take lightly, they have serious talents and skills, all will be fighting to prove themselves. And only time will tell which player will win this year’s Japan’s Rising Prodigy Award!"

Jiho’s smirk widened, crackling his fingers in confidence. Nagisa’s eyes were sharp with focus and determination.

Izaya smirked, biting his tongue. Raya’s draw in a breath, his face a mask of determination.

Itsuki smiles, executing confidences and excitement. Kabuto’s wicked grin kept persisting.

Kurogami looks up from the fixture list, his eyes cold and focused. Haruma stood tall, his arms folded back, forehead dark with shadows, eyes cold and focused...

All the players were scattered across the middle of the field, with some juggling, some running, some doing drills, with Minato sensei giving advice to the defenders.

Haruma was stretching his legs along with Raya, Jiho and Izaya.

"God damn I can’t believe it!" Raya said with a warm smile, "After four days we’ll be playing our first professional game!"

Jiho’s smiles widely, "Yeah, and knowing it would be broadcasting gives a chill man!"

Izaya stretched, grinning widely, "That’s crazy just how many people will be watching us live, and among them there will be our family and friends too!"

Maintaining his smile, Jiho added, "Yeah! my parents and my entire school would be there chanting my name!"

Izaya giggles, "Yeah, my family and my sisters are planning to blow the stadium up with my chants!"

"My Family and friends will be there too!" Raya said with a smile, "Not just my family but my relatives and all the family friends too, it will be a heck of an atmosphere!"

All the three laughed together, as Raya, smiling, instinctively turned to Haruma who was stretching in silence.

"Hey Haruma." Raya spoke up, "Your family and friends will be there too right?"

Haruma paused while stretching, and replied with a low tone, "Yeah my mother will be there."

Raya, Izaya and Jiho were looking at him with slight confusion.

"And your Father?" Jiho asked.

"He’s Dead!" Haruma replied with a cold low tone, shocking the trio who appeared taking aback.

"Ohh, I’m sorry!" Jiho replied with a low shocked tone.

Haruma sighs slightly, "The only two people to support me will be my mother and Mio, and they are good enough for me."

Jiho, Izaya and Raya were looking at Haruma with sad and concerned gazes.

"Heeeeyyyy!"

Just then a voice called out loud, drawing everyone’s eye to find The waitress Shiori standing behind the main gate of the field, wearing a casual outfit and a headcap, appearing nervous.

Raya’s smile widened, shooting a teasing glance at Haruma, "Ooh I guess not two, it’s actually three!"

He walked towards Minato sensei, leaving Haruma who was watching Shiori with slightly wide shocked eyes.

Raya walked to Minato sensei and said, "Sensei, that friend or mine is here, the one I told you about."

Minato looks at Shiori standing behind the gate, nervously waiting.

Giving a nod, Minato sensei turned to Raon, "Welcome her, and make sure she is comfortable on the stands."

Raon nodded in agreement and ran towards the gate to let her in.

Haruma watched from a distance, as Raon opened the door, warmly welcoming her in and guiding her towards the stands. As she sat there watching everyone with a warm smile on her face.

(Will be fixed soon) All the players were scattered across the middle of the field, with some juggling, some running, some doing drills, with Minato sensei giving advice to the defenders.

Haruma was stretching his legs along with Raya, Jiho and Izaya.

"God damn I can’t believe it!" Raya said with a warm smile, "After four days we’ll be playing our first professional game!"

Jiho’s smiles widely, "Yeah, and knowing it would be broadcasting gives a chill man!"

Izaya stretched, grinning widely, "That’s crazy just how many people will be watching us live, and among them there will be our family and friends too!"

Maintaining his smile, Jiho added, "Yeah! my parents and my entire school would be there chanting my name!"

Izaya giggles, "Yeah, my family and my sisters are planning to blow the stadium up with my chants!"

"My Family and friends will be there too!" Raya said with a smile, "Not just my family but my relatives and all the family friends too, it will be a heck of an atmosphere!"

All the three laughed together, as Raya, smiling, instinctively turned to Haruma who was stretching in silence.

"Hey Haruma." Raya spoke up, "Your family and friends will be there too right?"

Haruma paused while stretching, and replied with a low tone, "Yeah my mother will be there."

Raya, Izaya and Jiho were looking at him with slight confusion.

"And your Father?" Jiho asked.

"He’s Dead!" Haruma replied with a cold low tone, shocking the trio who appeared taking aback.

"Ohh, I’m sorry!" Jiho replied with a low shocked tone.

Haruma sighs slightly, "The only two people to support me will be my mother and Mio, and they are good enough for me."

Jiho, Izaya and Raya were looking at Haruma with sad and concerned gazes.