Hearing manager Oniki’s reasoning, the man infront started to rack his mind to think of a suitable answer to appease the anger building up inside manager Oniki’s body.
Thinking of an answer, the man suggested hesitantly, “Then why don’t we use some youth players for the time being? I heard from manager Makoto that the youth team is performing really well in the Takamado Premier League.”
Upon hearing his suggestion, manager Oniki sulked his head and remained silent for a while. As if he was thinking of something, he looked like he was lost in a deep thought.
While he was lost in his thoughts, surrounding atmosphere around the two of them got eerily silent.
Finally after some moment, manager Oniki lifted his head and opened his mouth while locking eyes with the man infront, “May be we should call Tatsuki until June. And once the transfer market opens in July, we’ll bolster our squad with other players.”
“Then I’ll send the call up letter to manager Makoto.” Hurriedly replying, the man then started to search for his phone.
While he was searching for his phone, manager Oniki asked, “Are there any other good seed in the youth team this time around?”
Stopping his pursuit of his phone, the man answered, “He told me that we’ve got a rather excellent player in our youth team this time around. After that, I looked for his matches. And man I was impressed by his plays. In only two matches he has already registered 6 goals and two assist.”
With his eyes wide open, manager Oniki replied sounding all surprised, “There’s someone that amazing in our youth team?”
“Yes sir. His name is Takahashi Hiro. If you’d like I can show you his match highlights.” Answered the man infront.
The name Takahashi Hiro rang a bell as Oniki started feeling nostalgic. Contemplating, he started to think where he had heard that name.
And after contemplating for a while, Oniki answered somewhat doubtfully, “Is that kid 12 or 13 years old right now?”
“Yes sir, he’s 13 right now. How did you know?” Sounding all surprised, the man infront questioned while perplexingly staring at manager Oniki.
Massaging his temple, manager Oniki answered in a regretful manner, “So it was him. Both those old geezer’s used to brag about this kid during our get together. I thought that they were only bluffing so I didn’t pay much attention to their words. But who knew that all those bragging stories were true.”
And just as he finished his sentence, he removed his hand from his temple and shrugged, “Even so, we still can’t use him anyway. So let’s not talk about him. Just make sure to inform the youth manager’s about Tatsuki’s call up for the senior team.”
Nodding his head, the man infront agreed to his request.
“Let’s end our today’s discussion. It’s already getting late.” Looking at his watch which he was wearing in his left hand, manager Oniki concluded the end of their discussion.
“Yes sir.” Saying such, the man bid his goodbye and walked towards the door.
And just as the man infront of him left the office, manager Oniki exhaled a sigh of relief. While exhaling a sigh of relief, Oniki whispered under his breath, “I wonder if I could even have an opportunity to use him. With this pace of development he’ll be leaving Japan in no time.”
Oniki then smiled a little and mumbled again, “May be it’s best if he leaves for Europe as soon as possible.”
**** ****
April 13th, Wednesday, 2022
Aomori Yamada High School Ground
At times hiding behind the chunk of dark clouds and at times coming out of it’s hiding, it seemed like the sun was playing hide and seek that day.
Just like ink splattered on a piece of paper, dark clouds were scattered all over the blue sky. Slowly enveloping the whole sky into it’s colour, those dark clouds were merging together with the help of the wind. 𝑟𝒶𝒹.𝘤𝘰𝓂
Mild wind which was blowing in the surrounding was creating whooshing sound every time when it grew stronger.
Somewhat humid, a little windy and a little cloudy, anyone who could see and feel could tell that rain was unavoidable that day.
The venue being located at the residential area was a lot quiet as compared to the ground of Kawasaki, despite the presence of 70 something people in the stand.
Arriving early in the venue, Hiro and his teammates were inside their changing room, changing their uniform.
Leaning his back against the door frame, coach Kensuke was keeping watch on the players.
Absent from the locker room, manager Makoto who had to deal with some paperwork was with the officials while Hiro and his teammates were changing into their jerseys.
Tying his laces, Hiro stood from his seat after finishing changing into his jersey. Hiro then walked towards the door.
Noticing Hiro walking towards him, coach Kensuke straightened his back and questioned Hiro thinking that Hiro was walking towards him to ask for his help, “Do you need my help with something, Hiro?”
Letting out a subtle smile, Hiro shook his head and answered, “No sir. I was just heading to the restroom.”
“Is that so. Hahaha…” Smiling awkwardly, he started to make way for Hiro.
While making way for Hiro, coach Kensuke asked, “But do you know where restroom is?”
“Where is it sir?” Asked Hiro, since it was his first time at that venue.
Despite not knowing the location of the restroom, on his way he was planning to ask people for the location of the restroom.
However since, coach Kensuke offered him his help, he no longer required to trouble himself by asking other people for their guidance.
Although he could have directly asked coach Kensuke for his guidance, he wasn’t sure if coach Kensuke would have known about the location of the general restroom either.
“Go straight and then turn left. Again follow that path for a while and at the end of the path at the right side, you’ll find the restroom. Did you get it?” Pointing towards the path infront, coach Kensuke guided him the way to the restroom.