Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!

With the sun slowly setting over the horizon, Nishida and Lucas walked side by side through the streets of their neighborhood.

The day had been a rollercoaster of emotions for Lucas, and he felt the weight of memories and longing as the distance between him and his teammates became real. However, he was happy and grateful to have friends who supported his dream with such dedication.

Lucas was about to comment on Yukihiro's moves, but Nishida stopped abruptly. He turned to Lucas with a serious expression that was at odds with the relaxed atmosphere of minutes before. Lucas stopped next to him, confused by the change in tone.

"Tanaka, we need to talk about something." Nishida said, his eyes fixed on his friend as his dyed blond hair swayed.

Lucas frowned. "What are you talking about, Nishida?"

"I'm happy for you, of course... but that doesn't change anything between us. If you think you can just get ahead like that, you're wrong. I'll catch up with you, and when I do, I won't take it easy."

Lucas let out a light laugh, still not disarming his surprised expression. The truth was that he hadn't expected such a statement from Nishida at a time like this. They had always been friends and rivals from the start, but seeing how seriously he took it only increased the respect Lucas had for his friend.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Do you think I'm going to make it easy for you, Nishida?" Lucas replied, now with a defiant smile that reflected the same sentiment as his friend's. "Forget it. If you want to catch up with me, you're going to have to run a lot faster. Because I'm not planning on stopping anytime soon."

Nishida took a step forward. "I know that. That's why I'm going to run faster than ever. And I'm going to catch up with you. I've made up my mind: the next one out of here to go pro is me."

The two stared at each other in silence, both trying to gauge the determination in the other's gaze. It was as if they were back on the pitch, facing each other before a decisive play. But this time, there was no ball between them, no crowd around; just the wind rustling their clothes and the certainty that, even with the distance that would open up between them, the bond they shared was strong enough to withstand the rivalry.

"I'll be honest with you, Nishida. I expect nothing less. I want to see you catch up with me. I want you to be the person I really compete with one day. After all, when we get up there, it'll be our surnames on the shirts, right?"

"And don't think I'm going to let you be the only name people remember. I'll make sure the whole world knows who Nishida is."

Lucas couldn't help but laugh when he heard that. He knew that tone and that glint of ambition in his friend's eyes. It was something that always motivated them to go further, to surpass each other.

"You always say that, but when we get there, who gets the better of us, huh?"

Nishida raised an eyebrow, pretending to be offended. "Don't get cocky, Tanaka. The difference is that now I know I have to really improve. I'm not going to leave you at the top for long."

They sat in silence for a few moments, enjoying the tranquility of the almost deserted street. Lucas looked at his friend, then down, and then held out his right hand:

"I'm going to miss this."

Nishida looked at his hand, but turned away without replying. "Me too, Lucas. But I guess that's part of it, right? We grow up, we go our separate ways, so save that handshake for when we have to shake hands when we meet again in Europe. And when that happens, I won't take it easy."

"Me neither." Lucas put his right hand in his pocket and turned around too. "Until then, Nishida."

"Show them what a boy from the Japanese countryside can do, Tanaka."

Lucas cast one last glance over his shoulder and watched Nishida, the figure with the straight back and determined stride. His friend also stopped briefly and, even without looking back, seemed to be conveying a silent message: he would not go back on his decision to catch up with Lucas, and they were both aware that the road to doing so would not be easy.

Lucas smiled, more to himself than to his friend. 'He'll make it sooner than he thinks,' he thought to himself.

After all, Lucas really did know Nishida's future. In fact, he knew Nishida's exact path. In the future that Lucas had experienced, Nishida would become a respected striker in Europe, a No. 9 for one of Germany's biggest teams. Although he couldn't tell Nishida directly, knowing this was a kind of incentive for Lucas to keep going and not be overtaken by Nishida.

Night was beginning to take over the streets when he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket without much haste. The screen lit up his face as he unlocked the device and, before he could even think about calling someone or checking messages, an eye-catching notification appeared at the top of the screen: a message from Mr. Otsuka. He opened the app, curious.

[Mr. Otsuka: Tanaka, great news. All the paperwork was approved faster than we thought. I pulled in some favors with some friends, and we managed to speed up the process. Your ticket is already booked. In two days, we'll be flying to England.

Mr. Otsuka: Get some rest, pack your things tomorrow and enjoy the short time with your family. Say goodbye properly.]

Mr. Otsuka, the man responsible for opening the door to the Brighton test, had really outdone himself this time. He knew that Otsuka had contacts and influence, but he hadn't imagined that the process would be so quick. The words "in two days" seemed to vibrate on the screen, like a countdown that pushed him straight into the future.

He thought about replying to Otsuka with a quick "Got it", but hesitated and replied with a "Thanks for everything!". He then put his cell phone away in his pocket, sinking his hands into the sides of his jacket, and continued walking aimlessly, enjoying the last few moments in that city, in the calm and comfort of that familiar environment.