As the plane cut through the dense clouds over the vast expanse of land, Lucas looked out of the small oval window next to him. The landscape below was engulfed in a thick fog, and only the constant hum of the engines could be heard from anywhere in the plane.
Next to Lucas, John was leafing through a magazine about tourist destinations in England, although his eyes didn't seem focused on the colorful images of countryside and historic cities. He seed to be lost in his own thoughts.
Lucas closed his eyes for a mont and felt the comfort of the Business Class seat. Thanks to Mr. Otsuka's contacts, Lucas and John had managed to get good and relatively cheap tickets considering how urgently they needed to buy them.
Suddenly, John closed the magazine he was holding and asked:
"So, Lucas... have you told Nishida yet?"
Lucas, who had almost fallen asleep, opened his eyes abruptly.
"W-what?" Enjoy exclusive content from empire
"Well, he's your best friend, isn't he? I thought you were going to tell him about the sieve."
Lucas scratched the back of his head. "Oh... about that..." He sighed. He sighed. "I... haven't said anything yet."
John raised his eyebrows, turning his body slightly towards his son with a look of restrained surprise.
"What do you an you haven't said anything? You're going to another country, Lucas. Don't you think he should know?"
Lucas avoided eye contact with his father's direct gaze. He knew he couldn't avoid the conversation, but that didn't make it any easier.
"I know, I know... It's just that I didn't want to say anything because... I'm still not sure how it's all going to happen, you know? I an, I don't even know if I'm going to pass the tests. And the club's training doesn't start until next week. I thought I'd wait and see how things turn out before telling everyone.
It might not work out here, right? Besides, I thought he might get a bit annoyed... After all, Mr. Otsuka only recomnded one of us."
John let out a long sigh, but his tone remained calm.
"I understand, son. But regardless of how this ends, you must be honest with the people around you. Especially Nishida, who has been your teammate for so long. He'll notice your absence, and if he doesn't know why, it could lead to misunderstandings."
Lucas knew his father was right. Nishida, as well as being a teammate, was a friend, soone with whom he shared the tensions and joys of soccer. Leaving him in the dark seed wrong, but at the sa ti, Lucas was still dealing with his own uncertainties. What if he failed the tests? What if this opportunity was just an illusion?
The silence between them persisted as the plane continued its journey, now flying over vast territories.
"But you know what you're doing, son... However, if you pass, you won't be able to avoid a conversation."
"I know, I know..."
After a few hours of flying, the dim cabin lights dimd even more, signaling that night ti had arrived. Most of the passengers were already asleep. Lucas, however, couldn't sleep a wink. He stared at the dark sky outside, where stars barely stood out against the clouds.
Lucas's mind wandered to different imaginary scenarios and topics. Although he knew this trip was a once-in-a-lifeti opportunity, he still couldn't help the twinge of fear he felt when he thought about the future.
John noticed Lucas' pensive state and, with a gentle smile, reached out to pat his son's shoulder.
"It's going to be okay, Lucas. You're ready. Maybe not the way you think, but you are. Try to get so sleep, because your body needs rest."
Lucas looked at his father and smiled.
"Right, Dad..."
When they finally landed at Heathrow Airport, the soft impact of the wheels against the ground woke Lucas up.
The pilot announced their arrival in London, and the passengers began to move, picking up their belongings and preparing to disembark.
As soon as they got off the plane and walked through the terminal, the difference between Japan and England began to make itself felt. The air was different, a little more humid and charged with a chill that cut gently even during the sumr. The voices around them spoke in English, at a pace that, although understandable, seed faster than Lucas was used to.
John looked at his son with an encouraging smile.
"Welco to London, Lucas."
Everything seed different. From the architecture to the sll of the air. The first thing that hit him was the culture shock, sothing he had underestimated while still on Japanese soil. The signs, the notices, the conversations between the people around him - everything was in English. The accents, in particular, caught his attention.
So passengers and airport staff spoke with the typical British accent, sothing he had always associated with movies and series, but which now, there, in person, sounded much more intense.
As they walked towards passport control, Lucas widened his eyes like a child with each new discovery.
"It's subtly different, isn't it?" John comnted.
"Subtly? It's very different." Lucas replied.
The immigration officer greeted them with a neutral expression, asking the usual questions: the reason for the trip, the length of stay and, finally, he stamped their passports with a quick gesture.
"Welco to England," he said.
As they passed through the automatic doors and out into the public area of the airport, the chill of London that morning welcod them with an icy hug.
John held up the collar of his jacket, trying to shield himself from the wind, as he looked around for the cab that would take them to their hotel.
"Now we just need to find a cab to take us quickly to London Victoria Station," he said, rubbing his hands together to warm up.
"Taxi? But wouldn't it be quicker to go by train?" Lucas asked.
"Yes, but what fun would that be? Trains are for local people to move faster, not for us tourists. We have to take the opportunity to see places we've never seen before, don't you think?"
"I..."
"Hey, Taxi!"
The sharp sound of tires sliding on asphalt echoed as the cab pulled up in front of them. It was one of London's iconic black cabs, with its robust design and old-fashioned charm. The driver, a middle-aged man with a thick moustache and a tired look, lowered the window and leaned out slightly.
"Where are you going?" He asked in a heavy but friendly accent.
John was the first to approach, opening the door and signaling to Lucas. "London Victoria Station, please."
"Oh! A long journey. I'm happy to take you."
The interior of the cab slled faintly of aged leather mixed with the discreet perfu of the driver.
Minutes later, Lucas was admiring the city. The narrow, winding streets, flanked by red brick buildings, made the scenery very different from any city he knew in Japan. For him, everything was both new and fascinating.
"Well, now we're officially in London. And you'll see that the city has a lot more to offer than just soccer."
The cab drove through streets that were still not very busy, passing through neighborhoods that blended the old and the modern in a unique way. Lucas observed the closed store windows, the historic façades, the cafés with outdoor tables covered by awnings, and the pedestrians hurrying along, perhaps on their way to work.
At every corner, he was surprised by sothing new - the signs, the architecture.
"Have you been here before, Dad?" Lucas asked.
"Once, many years ago." John replied, smiling with a hint of nostalgia. "Before you were born, on a business trip."
The cab driver, who had remained silent until then, looked in the rearview mirror and, with a discreet smile, comnted:
"Where are you coming from, if I may ask?" It was a small gesture, but it instantly made feel more at ease during the long cab ride.
"From Japan." John replied quickly. "We've co to try out for a soccer club here."
The driver let out an admiring whistle. "Japan, eh? What a long journey. And soccer, you say? So, you're fans of our good old sport, are you?"
Lucas decided to get involved in the conversation and show his father so of his English.
"Yes, I play soccer in Japan. I'm going to try out for a club here in England."
The driver arched his eyebrows. "Ah, so you're one of those talented kids! If you're coming all this way for a trial, you must be good, right?"
Lucas gave a shy smile. "Well, I'll try. But I still don't know if I'll pass the test."
"Oh, don't worry." the driver replied with an encouraging tone. "If you're here, you're already on the right track. London has a lot of good clubs and it also has a tradition of welcoming international talent. You'll do well, I'm sure. I'll pray for you, after all, I always want my passengers to do well."
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