Wushia High School was deserted when Lucas Tanaka arrived at the gate. Of course it would be, after all it was a vacation Saturday and so there weren't even any club activities going on.
The only people around were a few n from a gardening company who were pruning the grass and trees.
Passing through the gate, Lucas headed for the entrance to the main building. As usual, he removed his shoes at the entrance and changed into school shoes, a common practice in all Japanese schools. He looked at the empty corridors and wondered if any soul other than himself and the coach would be there that day.
As he walked slowly down the corridor towards the teachers' room on the second floor, he could only hear footsteps.
As he reached the door to the teachers' room, he heard sothing he hadn't expected: laughter. One of them, hoarse and with a slight wheeze, was unmistakable - it was Coach Yamamoto's. The other laugh, a little younger and thicker, belonged to soone Lucas didn't recognize.
"Who could that be?" Before knocking on the door, he thought. But instead of imagining it, he decided to see who it was and knocked on the door three tis.
Imdiately, Yamamoto's familiar voice sounded.
"Co in."
Lucas opened the door slowly, entering the room which, like the rest of the school, was practically empty that day. The teachers' room was usually full of teachers preparing lessons or marking exams, but now it was devoid of the usual bustle. Only Coach Yamamoto was there, sitting at the center table next to a man Lucas had never seen before.
The strange man's hair was slightly graying on the sides, suggesting that he was in his forties. He was dressed in casual clothes and smiled when he saw Lucas.
"Ah, Lucas, how nice of you to co!" Yamamoto said, approaching him and putting a hand on his shoulder. "I want you to et soone very special to .
The coach then gestured towards the middle-aged man.
"This is Takashi Otsuka, a very old pupil of mine who also played here, at Wushia High School."
"Eh? Have you been a teacher that long, Mr. Yamamoto?" Lucas asked.
Yamamoto laughed softly. He pulled out a chair for the young man to sit on and gestured for him to make himself comfortable.
"Yes, Lucas, I've been a teacher for longer than you might think. I sotis forget how many years have passed," said Yamamoto, with a nostalgic smile. "Takashi was one of my first students, at the start of my career, and I've watched him grow into an exceptional person."
Lucas had always known that Coach Yamamoto had a long career, but he hadn't imagined that he had helped train older people like Takashi Otsuka.
"And what do you do now, Mr. Otsuka?" Lucas asked.
Otsuka picked up the pot of tea on the table and started pouring it into a cup for Lucas.
"Well, I've been working in soccer for over 20 years. My history with soccer began here, at Wushia High School, playing on the sa pitch where you train today. Of course, it's not literally the sa, it's been modernized. Anyway, after finishing school, I went to High School, but my heart was always in soccer.
Soon after graduating, I got an opportunity to work abroad, and it was there that my career really began to take shape. I've managed a few teams during my career, and I've had several offers to work as a manager in J-League teams."
"Ow...."
"Between you and , Tanaka and Mr. Yamamoto, I've never really liked bureaucracy. I love pure soccer, on the pitch, seeing the developnt of players, tactics, moves, the growth of teams. I'm not a big fan of the comrcial side of it." Continue your adventure with empire
"Is that why you didn't accept the positions?" Lucas asked.
"Yes, exactly. I prefer to travel, to see soccer being played around the world, to understand the different cultures, how the sport connects with people in different countries. I can't imagine being stuck in an office, dealing with contracts and paperwork."
Lucas couldn't hide his admiration, because it showed on his face as he listened to Ostuka speak.
"If you prefer to travel, then what made you co to Wushia High School?" Lucas asked. "Business in Japan?"
Otsuka laughed, as if he had expected this question. "I was back in town to visit my family. It had been a few years since I was last here. Just listen. I was walking down the street when I overheard two n talking about how well the Wushia High School soccer club was doing in a school championship in Nagoya. It was a surprise, to be honest.
I didn't know that Wushia High School still had such a strong team. I was curious, so I decided to investigate further. I watched your entire match against Gekokujou High School, and that's when you, Lucas, caught my eye."
Lucas was speechless for a mont. He didn't know what to say. Why would soone so experienced in the world of soccer, soone who had already worked abroad, be interested in him?
Otsuka seed to notice the confusion on Lucas's face. "What chard about you wasn't just your technical talent, although you have plenty of that. It was your ability to adapt, the way you read the ga and adjust to situations, the way you work hard and give your all. You don't just play soccer - you think about soccer. And that, at the level you're at, is rare to find."
Lucas felt his face blush slightly at the complint.
"After that, I decided to look for more of your gas. I watched so recordings of previous matches and was impressed by your progress. Maybe I'm being hasty, but you're the kind of player that hardly exists in Japan."
"I... don't know what to say." Lucas finally admitted, with a slightly nervous smile. "It's an honor, Mr. Otsuka. I've always strived to improve, but to hear this from soone with your experience in soccer is sothing that really leaves speechless."
"Otsukada still hasn't ntioned the most important part of the conversation," said Mr. Yamamoto.
Lucas looked between the two n, confused. "The most important part?"
Takashi Otsuka gave a reassuring smile, passed Lucas his tea and leaned his elbows on the table. "Lucas, I'm not a scout for any Japanese club, nor am I a manager of a J-League team or any other team. Although those people could probably start contacting you in the coming days and months, especially after your performance in the league. My role in soccer is a little different.
I'm an assistant coach for a Premier League team in England."
Lucas blinked, completely surprised. Premier League? The most watched league in the world, where so of soccer's biggest stars played. He didn't know if he could even imagine the scale of it.
"Yes, I'm an assistant coach at Brighton FC. The season ended two weeks ago and I decided to rest for a few days here in my hotown."
Brighton FC wasn't just any team. Although not one of the globally renowned giants like Manchester United or Liverpool, Brighton played and competed in one of the most competitive leagues in the world.
Lucas looked at Yamamoto, seeking so confirmation that this was real and not a joke.
The coach, noticing the boy's state of shock, laughed lightly. "There's more."
"More?" asked Lucas.
"As I ntioned, I ca to Japan to rest, but I can never completely disconnect from soccer. After watching your matches and following your progress, I got an idea in my head. I spoke to so colleagues at Brighton, and they told that the club is about to hold a series of try-outs to collect potential talent to help the youth teams."
Lucas blinked, trying to take in every word.
"The screening will be held next week at the club's properties in England. It's an open competition, where any player can sign up if they pay the fee, but they said that several players with potential will be invited. They asked if I had anything in mind and you ca to mind, not just because you're talented, but because I see sothing unique in you.
I'm not going to lie to you, Lucas, it's a long road. Even if you stood out in the sift and got into the youth team, you'd start in the youth team, playing in a lower division in England and..."
In the middle of Otsukada's explanation, the words started to beco distant to Lucas because it was much more absurd than he had expected for his life at that mont, after a defeat.
"But I'm still... I'm still in high school." Lucas stamred.
"Don't worry, if you pass the sift, you'll have the chance to move to England. There, the club offers a school for developing athletes. You'll continue your studies, but with a routine that allows for professional training and gas. Brighton also has a special program for young foreigners that includes personal and psychological support and even financial support.
It's not just an opportunity to play soccer, Lucas. It's a chance to change your life."
A school for athletes? To join the youth ranks of a Premier League club? He thought about his current life - at Wushia High School, the daily training sessions, the matches, the friends he had made, his family. The thought of leaving it all behind was daunting, but at the sa ti, how could he turn down a chance like this?
"Of course, this is sothing you need to discuss with your parents, with your family. But I agree with Otsuka - opportunities like this don't co along every day." Mr. Yamamoto said. "Think carefully, because it's not a guarantee either and as well as paying for the ticket, you'll need to stay for at least three days there for the screening.
Your parents would need to spend between 150,000 and 300,000 yen. Of course, this cost would be paid right from your first salary as a youth player."
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