The security team tightened their formation, creating a protective bubble around Hiro. Even if soone tried to get close to Hiro, they were quick to interrupt their advance.
Hiro remained in the bubble of protection and advanced unhindered.
However as Hiro moved forward, fans surged closer, eager to catch a glimpse of their new hero. Hiro could audibly hear the growing chant, "Vamos! Takahashi."
The growing chant echoed across the crowd, a testant to the imnse expectations placed on the young Japanese.
Even though Hiro advanced slowly, he soon reached the black car parked outside the airport. Upon reaching the car, Hiro paused briefly before entering the car awaiting him. Turning back to the crowd, Hiro raised his hand and gave a respectful bow-a gesture of gratitude and humility that resonated deeply with the supporters. The cheers grew deafening.
Inside the car, Hiro leaned back in his seat, exhaling deeply. His heart was still racing, not from nerves but from the sheer intensity of the welco.
The response of the Atletico fans overwheld him. He could tell from their welco that they expected great things from him. The hype outside clearly indicated the weight of expectation placed upon him.
For a mont, Hiro felt overwheld.
However, he didn't feel scared. Thinking about the expectant gazes he received, Hiro felt even more pumped.
'I can't let them down,' Hiro thought, determination ablaze inside his heart.
While Hiro got seated, Pablo glanced at the rearview mirror. He was worried that Hiro might feel overwheld by the reception.
However, to his surprise, Hiro appeared much calr than he expected.
"Quite the reception," Pablo remarked with a grin as the car pulled away from the airport.
Hiro nodded, gazing out at the sea of fans still waving him off. "Yes," he said softly. "I hope I can live up to their expectations."
"Don't feel pressured. You have only arrived here," Pablo said. He was well aware even star players sotis struggle to adapt.
So, unlike the expectant fans outside, he wasn't impatient.
Having seen Hiro's past performances, Pablo believed that Hiro was quite a good signing. Well, considering the price tag, he even believed that Hiro was a much better deal than Joao Felix.
In comparison to the clubs that paid hefty sums to sign promising young talents, it could be said that they had snatched Hiro on a bargain.
To be able to sign one of the hot prospects for a asly sum of 30 million euros, what more could they ask?
Hence, Pablo was satisfied with the deal.
Well, it would have been a different case if the signing had been done before the World Cup when Hiro was still relatively unknown.
********
After a few days of his arrival in Madrid, Hiro was on his way to the club for the first ti. Having traveled from afar, the eting with the club president and staff was placed on a later date.
Also, accessing his dical report right after the plane landed would be rather unreasonable. In the anti, Pablo helped him familiarize himself with the town. The club had already prepared an abode for him to reside. So, there wasn't any need for him to go out of his way to look out for a temporary residence.
This also saved him a lot of ti and effort.
Having arrived here in the middle of the season, the club was as hectic as it could get. Right now, Atletico was comfortably sitting in the third position behind the league leaders Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Even though Hiro had arrived unannounced, Kubo after learning of his arrival had welcod
him.
Inside the car, Hiro glanced at his phone, his screen displaying the blessings and welco ssages of his teammates and people close to him.
The atmosphere inside the car was rather silent.
Breaking the silence, Pablo asked, "This is your first ti visiting the club in person right?"
Hiro nodded, his figure reflecting on the phone screen. He wore a black sweater, and formal loose-fitted grey pants, and layered the sweater with a black trench coat. His chunky black leathered boot produced a thudding sound every ti he moved.
"Don't get wrong for saying this but I find you quite unusual," Pablo said, his tone polite but filled with curiosity.
It being winter, Pablo had dressed cozily.
The black shirt he wore was tucked inside his formal black pants, and a red tie hung from his neck. Inside he had worn a thermal t-shirt to keep him cozy, and he had layered a black blazer to complete his outfit.
From the day Hiro had arrived, the hairstyle of Pablo was the sa. It was almost as if he wore a wig or perhaps he always set his hair.
Upon hearing this, Hiro looked at Pablo and said nonchalantly, "I get that a lot."
Well, hearing such a comnt wasn't anything unusual for Hiro. After all, he heard those kind of comnts frequently. So, Hiro didn't feel anything when he heard them.
"Precisely because of such a response, I found you unusual. For so reason when I'm talking to you, it doesn't feel like I'm talking to a young kid. But rather it feels like I'm talking to soone my age," Pablo said steering the steering wheel.
The car rounded up a corner, and the streets Hiro had passed a few days earlier ca into
sight.
"Even on the first day, you didn't reveal any nervousness in your face despite being sward. And now as well, you appear unusually calm," Pablo continued with his gaze fixated on the
road.
The street outside was rather silent, the European-style cafes and shops providing an aesthetic charm to it. Compared to the first ti, he had passed this street, it was rather
empty.
Back then it was bustling with people.
The cafes were filled with people and the atmosphere was rather bustling.
However, now, it was entirely different. It felt like an entirely different place.
Maintaining the calm on his face, Hiro answered, "I wouldn't be called a professional if I panicked and beca nervous every ti, would I?"
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