Uhm ok I got another idea when I thought I was over I just realized everything I wrote so far was far too easy for Tsubasa. As we say in France, I wanted him to "ramer" (rowing) a little to get Sanae.
Let him sweat a little, and why not, get jealous.
The very special action Sanae will take on the field as a football player is for real. I've seen a goalie do that some years ago Well an actual goalie, mind you.
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She had not waited. And somehow he was the one having told her not to. He had been back from Japan one week ago and still no sign from her. His friends had not told him anything about her as if it was a natural occurrence that she wouldn't be there. He didn't know what was bothering him the most. The fact that she was not there or the fact his friends found it so natural that they didn't even bother to feel strange about it.
He had cornered Ryo about it yesterday.
"She's not in Nankatsu right now." He told him sighing. "Come on let's have a drink somewhere, it's going to take time." He took his jacket and led Tsubasa towards a little coffee shop he didn't know before.
Once they settled in front of a hot cup of tea, they were athletes after all, Ryo started his story.
"It's been really difficult for her you know. She tried her best to make us think she was ok. Well she managed it for nearly a year and a half. Or maybe she indeed was ok. But somehow, and I still don't know why, one day the façade started to crumble. Can you believe what she did at that time?" he smiled in spite of his sad story. "She started to play football" he had a sad laugh. "She wanted to forget you and she played football, really, I'll never understand women," he said.
"Why do you say she wanted to forget me?" Tsubasa interrogated his friend. This one raised an eyebrow as if challenging him. Tsubasa continued. "I mean … well, like you said, if this was her real purpose, that's not a great solution to achieve it, right? We've been exchanging letters and she's never seem that sad to me." He mused.
"Things got worse after your express come back for our game against Holland." Ryo insisted.
"Yeah, this I can believe, because it's been the same for me. Going back to Brazil has been even more difficult than leaving the first time." He confessed. "God I can't believe I'm having that kind of conversation with you".
"Maybe you should have it with her." Ishizaki told him.
"Well that's what I would have done should have she been there," pouted Tsubasa. "When is she supposed to be back anyway?"
"You've got a good month of waiting," Ryo started before Tsubasa interrupted him "WHAAT? What is she doing? Getting ready for the World Cup or what?" he started to tease and was absolutely surprised when he realized Ryo was looking at him surprised.
"Thought you didn't know where she was?"
"You're kidding right? She's started football two years ago and she's been selected in the national team?" Tsubasa was incredulous.
"Well that's Anego for you, she never does anything half" Ishizaki smiled. "She's great on a field you should watch her games, you'd like it. Well even more than you already like her," he couldn't resist in teasing his captain.
"I can't believe no one has ever told me about that. She's never mentioned anything in her letters!" he complained. "Where are they training?" Tsubasa asked. Ryo grimaced at that. "She's been in France for a month now and she's there up until the end of the competition".
"Well that's good because I planned to go to Europe. There are a couple teams I needed to check, plus I wanted to see Taro and Genzo."he said determined.
"You're really going to go there to see her?" Ryo asked.
"Absolutely, there's a discussion we started before I left that we definitely need to end. No if you'll excuse me, I've got to go back home and explain to my mother why I'm about to leave again."
With that, he left Ryo and made his way home. He called Taro on his way home and quickly organized his stay. Now he had to tell his mother about it. This would be tricky because he hated getting her sad and leaving again that soon was not very nice of him.
"Mon? I'm home!" He sat on the stair to take off his shoes and was greeted by his little brother Daichi. After their diner, he took care of Daichi and put him to bed. He had insisted on doing it every night in order to spend much needed time bonding with his brother. He had barely known him from Brazil after all. It pained him that he was going to leave that soon. He came back in the living-room looking for a way to explain it to his mother. To his utter surprise, she was expecting it.
"I've got to say that I would have been disappointed if you hadn't gone after her." She even said.
His mother definitely was the best mother ever! He just had to find a plane and off he would be to France.
Two days later, he was on a plane for a nearly thirteen hour's flight to Paris. Taro would wait for him at the Charles De Gaulle Airport to guide him in the city. He would then fly across Europe to meet with a couple teams and of course, try to see Sanae. He had a look at her career, it was really impressive. He couldn't believe he had missed that important fact about her. He had placed a few calls before leaving and had managed to get in touch with the female team's coach. Lucky for him he was a fan of his. Tsubasa hated using his fame to get favors but his pride be damned, if this was what it takes to get to her, he would do it!
What was bugging him though was how she would welcome him. She was right in the middle of the most important competition ever. He would never bother her during it, this would make her loose her focus. Before he left he had downloaded videos of her games on his computer and he had now the possibility to have a look at them. Wow, Ryo was right, she definitely was really good, no wonder she had been selected in the national team. She had grown up a little and was still as beautiful as ever in his eyes. He was not used to see her with a ponytail but he could understand the need to gather her hair while playing. He even spotted her on a training session wearing Genzo's famous cap, he will definitely have to ask what she was doing with it. He was proud of her achievements but very worried about what it meant for them. Had she forgotten about him? About what he told her before he left? Indeed she had not waited but had she left because she didn't want to stay inactive while waiting? Or had she left because she was done waiting and wanted a new life? Again … he could not believe not one had ever mentioned this to him. He closed his computer and tried to get some sleep otherwise he would suffer from jetlag again. His plane was supposed to land in two hours now, better get some rest.
When he was done getting through customs and he got his luggage back, he looked in the crowd for Taro. His friend was supposed to wait for him. He was happy to see him again, they had talked over the phone a couple times but they had not meet since the latest call for the national team. He was missing him, the golden combi needed practice! As he scanned the crowd he noticed him at the back of the waiting room. He too was wearing a cap. He smiled and waved at him, trying to be discreet.
The two men greeted each other and left for Taro's car. He explained he might have been recognized by paparazzi and teased Tsubasa about making the front page in French people magazine regarding their love affair. Since Tsubasa's plane landed pretty late they were lucky enough to avoid the huge Parisian traffic jam and Taro quickly and efficiently drove back to his house. He was leaving in the West suburb of Paris, close to the PSG training camp in Poissy. Tsubasa was then able to meet Taro's girlfriend, Azumi. They had a quick diner before everyone went to bed. Taro had an early training the morning after and Tsubasa was starting to feel tired as well. Taro guided him to his guest bedroom. As he entered it, Tsubasa was assaulted by a perfume he had not smelled for years. He stopped at the middle of the room taking a deep breath recognizing the smell with no hesitation.
"Has she been here?" he asked his friend.
Taro looked at him incredulous.
"She was there last week-end, I can't believe you can guess it just by entering the room!" Taro said impressed.
"I can still smell her perfume," Tsubasa slowly whispered closing his eyes and loosing himself in his memory.
"Well good night then," Taro left him alone knowing his friend needed some alone time to face the consequences of the decision he took a couple years ago. He knew Sanae had decided to move on but had never succeeded. But this, his friend will have to find out all by himself, he owed that to the girl he now considered as a sister.
Tsubasa and Taro went to the PSG training center the day after. Taro was going to his usual training session and Tsubasa was having a look around, having been approached by the team's management. Playing again with Taro had a huge appeal and he was very tempted but he wanted to check all the teams before making his decision. He enjoyed the tour of the camp they had prepared for him and finally joined Taro on the field. The team members insisted on a golden combi demonstration. Tsubasa and Taro enjoyed their time together as if they had never been separated. It was fun and liberating. They felt like they were 12 again. Needless to say the team and its staff were impressed and reviewed the initial offer they planned to make to Tsubasa.
Tsubasa deeply enjoyed that day and when he came back to Taro's place he nearly was at peace. Up until he entered the guest room to be greeted by this heady jasmine smell. God what he would give to hop on a taxi cab and go see her! To think she was a couple minutes away from him was pure torture. Even more than when they were thousands of kilometers away.
He still didn't know how to approach her. Maybe he should write to her before? Or give her a call? No, not a call. She would see right through him in a matter of seconds. Writing was the right choice. But what to write?
That he desperately needed to see her? That he had been an egotistical prat and he regretted it? That he was in France, waiting for her?
He sighed. Maybe he should just leave for the next club in his list and come back in a couple days? Next in line was in Germany, that way he would get the opportunity to meet Genzo. And maybe ask him about that infamous cap, which now was on Sanae's lovely head.
Luckily for him, the trip to Germany was a very quick one. He was delighted to meet his friend again and regretted Taro could not come with him. Genzo had bought a huge house and was able to host him for a couple days. Which was nice because he definitely wanted to train with him and try his new shoot, so honestly, who better than Genzo Wakabayashi for that, right?
He still didn't know how to ask him about Sanae though. It seemed to him that every single one of their common friends knew something he didn't and it was bothering him greatly. On one evening he decided he had enough and asked him the question that was burning his lips ever since he had seen to video in the plane.
Genzo looked at him amused. "Are you jealous or something?" That got on Tsubasa's nerves. He trusted his friend but he clearly was lost and did not appreciate his humor right now.
"I'm just curious. I've just discovered she's into football and …" that made Genzo chuckle. "What?" Tsubasa asked unnerved.
"Come on, as far as we've known her, she's always been into football."
Tsubasa sighed, "yeah I know, that's not what I meant, I didn't know she played that's all." He paused, contemplative. "I didn't know she played that well, she's great with a ball."
"She definitely is, one day she nearly scored against me. And I'm pretty sure she'll do it for real one day." Genzo said proudly. Tsubasa eyed him suspicious. Could he be interested in her as well? His own friend with Sanae?
"Relax, you know she's more like a sister than anything." Genzo reassured him when he saw his suspicious look. Damned, busted. Tsubasa was graceful enough to blush.
"She doesn't know I'm in Europe and I don't want her to know right now, she's competing in the World Cup, and Japan has just qualified for the quarter-finale, she deserves respect and concentration."
"She deserves to be happy as well you know" Genzo tempted him. Tsubasa looked at him trying to judge whether he was serious or not.
"That would be a pretty awesome encouragement I guess, but you're the only one able to decide that. She's playing against Germany, the game would be on tv if you want to watch it," his friend offered.
"What are their chances?" Tsubasa asked.
"Well Germany clearly is the favorite team here, just like us guys, they don't seem to realize how good the female team has become. Sanae's a replacement I'm not even sure she'll get to play, unless they want to let the usual player have some rest before semi-finale or even the finale" he mused.
"So good enough for you to consider them for the finale I guess," Tsubasa teased his friend.
"Like I said, they're good and have a surprise effect because no one's been expecting them. Sanae is a great asset to the team, they just haven't realize how much yet but that will come. And I'll have to give her my cap," he laughed.
Ah. The infamous cap. "What's up with that cap anyway?" Yeah … smooth Oozora …
"I let her wear it once because she was training with the sun in front of her. She teased me saying she would keep it and I told her I'll give it to her the day she will score against me. She nearly did it that day."
The two men then settled in front of the tv and watched the game. Genzo was right, Sanae entered during the second half and scored the winning goal. Japan was in semi-finale against France!
"Semi-finale against the organizing country is going to be tough," Genzo stated.
"I've seen the French team training the other day with Taro, they're good and have a good spirit, and it's going to be a great game. Too bad I'll miss it, since I'll be in England that day." Tsubasa regretted.
"Will you be back for the finale? We have tickets with Taro, I'm pretty sure we can find one for you." Genzo told him, clearly letting him no other possibility than to say yes.
"Sure thing." Tsubasa answered. His last stop would be Spain and Barcelona. He knew deep down that this was the team he wanted. But he wanted it with her so he could just stay in France a little bit longer and have a good talk with her. That is if she still was interested. His friend understanding his moment of wonder, decided to call it a night. Tsubasa got to his room elaborating his schedule for the next days in order to be able to be back for the finale. He had liked watching her play. She definitely was good and he realized that he liked watching her very much. He wondered if she reciprocated his liking in watching her play. Well truth be told, he wanted to know if she still reciprocated his liking of her at all. He decided to go to sleep and leave the day after.
Tsubasa was in his hotel room in Manchester and surfing through the channels of the huge tv looking for a sports channel that would be airing Sanae's game. He had not realized how female football wasn't as popular as male football in Europe. This was stupid, men or women, it still was football!
He finally found it and happily saw her playing in the second half-time. She had a determined look and her cute ponytail, he definitely found endearing. He frowned as he realized she had difficulties. Just like Genzo had predicted, France was not an easy team to defeat. He know was getting a new understanding of how Sanae must have felt during all these years when she was supporting him. He felt powerless and he didn't like it a bit. Japan and France were in a perfect equality and very few minutes were left. Clearly the first team to score would win its tickets to the finale against none other than Brazil. She suddenly made a lightening acceleration and got rid of a the French defender before making a smart back pass to her striker who scored the winning goal. He was delighted for her. It definitely was time to go back in France, to go back to her.
When he arrived, he just had enough time to hop in a taxi to go to Le Stade de France were the finale was going to take place. The huge stadium was right in the border of Paris's peripheral highway and he was lucky he arrived earlier than he originally planed because it was starting to get huge traffic jam. He called Taro to check where he could join him and quickly found him with Genzo. They went to their places and waited for the show.
And what a show it was. Again, Sanae was not part of the original team. But when the second half-part started, she got to be chosen again and entered the game. Things got crazy when Japan's goalie got injured and had to leave the field. As Japan had already used all its replacements, a decision had to be taken. Someone had to go inside the cage. The guys looked at their female team in wonder, who would do it? They were quite close to the Japanese bench and suddenly Genzo pushed Tsubasa to the side.
"Hide so that she can't see you!" he ordered. Wordlessly Tsubasa did it realizing that Sanae knew Taro and Genzo were there and that she was looking for them from the field. Genzo had a silent conversation with her and he walked as close as possible from the field and throw his cap to her.
"Good luck! If you don't win this I fully intend on getting it back!" he shouted at her.
She chuckled and put it on, together with the gloves her official goalie had thrown away. The guys could no longer see her face but her entire attitude was determined. Once again both teams had scored one goal each and there were very few minutes. Japan had to score because Brazil had one more player.
Sanae was trying to forget everything around and got concentrated on the ball. She remembered her conversations with Genzo about it. She had requested a special training with him in order to understand better how goalies were working. She knew they studied feet positions and angles. When she saw a Brazilian striker arrive in front of her she felt like Luke Skywalker when he tried to shoot down the Death Star. Well it was Genzo's voice in her head, not Yoda. She had to stop her! When she shoot, Sanae seemed to be frozen in the spot, then she dived to the correct side and stopped it, protectively keeping the ball in her hands. With a powerful shoot she brought back the ball into Japan's attack and looking at the timer on the huge screen, took her decision. It was sink or swim. She could hear her trainer shouting at her but she did it anyway.
She rushed ahead in support to the Japanese attack and got the ball back from a Brazilian trying to start a counter strike. She shooting with all the energy she had left and her world stopped when the ball ended inside Brazil's cage. She had scored the winning goal!
She fell on her knees as she heard the referee whistling the end of the game. They were world champions! She felt tears running down her cheeks, she heard the public shouting and singing for them. She heard and felt her team-mates congratulating her. But she was in her bubble, in another dimension. She had thought that winning the world cup would be the ultimate achievement of her life, the most powerful emotion ever. But she felt empty. She felt she had accomplished her mission, but something as missing.
She looked for Genzo's cap, fully intending in giving it back to him as their bet was still on and she definitely wanted to try and score a goal against him. She turned around to realize it still was in Japan's cage. She couldn't move away since her team mates were still hugging her and jumping all over the place. She tried to look for him or Taro in the public when she saw him. She couldn't take her eyes off of him. He was beaming at her, so proud, so happy.
And suddenly the world started to turn again. The bubble exploded as she took in his smile and waved at him. Taro gestured at her that they would try to come down on the field. She couldn't wait. Today anything could happen. And whatever happened would only result in a positive thing for her. This could possibly be the best day of her life! He was here!