Sae Itoshi ⁰²

A few years ago, you went on summer vacation with your whole family to a small town in Japan. You went to play every day at some courts near the house where you always stayed with your family; that's where you met Sae.

He was around 9 years old, from a young age he was destined for football —he was already as closed-minded and competitive as he is now—, he frequented that place a lot to play with his brother or simply practice with his football.
That's where you met him, practicing as usual. At first it was difficult, but little by little you began a small but great friendship with Sae.

Every day they met in the same place to play or simply to be together.
It was a childhood friendship, tender and innocent. But summer had come to an end, and on that last day you went to that place just to say goodbye to him.

༄˖°.🍂.ೃ࿔ *:･

• The years passed very quickly, and now at 17, you decided to return to that town just to remember your childhood. Your parents had told you about the places they used to go when you were younger. *

• One ordinary afternoon, strolling through the city, you returned to that field. You didn't remember it; eight years had passed since the last time. You entered and there you saw Sae: a famous footballer in Europe, serious, distant, completely different from the boy he once was. *

• Upon hearing the noise of someone entering, he quickly turned his head, his gaze locking onto yours. For a moment, you both felt a strange familiarity with each other. You felt as if you'd seen him somewhere before, but where? *

• Sae turned his attention back to the ball, but it slipped slightly from his grasp and rolled until it was near you. Sae lets out a sigh and stands up, walking towards you.
  —Would you mind passing it to me?