Dear Ryo
I'm glad the international confederation is treating you well. I really wish I could say the same for the Chudley Cannons. I'm sorry I didn't invite you to watch my training sessions earlier, but the truth is I quit four years ago. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to be disappointed.
The fact is the entire Chudley Cannons seemed to have it in for me. The new manager, Kurt Wolfgang wouldn't let me train with the others, I was not allowed to use the facilities and when I could train, most of my Quidditch sessions would become a deathmatch, ending with broken bones and bloody noses. I didn't know teenagers could be so violent. Wolfgang is making it clear he doesn't want me in this team. I don't know if it's because I'm a squib, but he made the sessions I attend feel like hell.
I may have quit the academy, but I never gave up on Quidditch. I still put on my Chudley Cannon robes every day, and every time I head elsewhere to train. On my own terms. If they thought I was going to give up easily, they're sorely mistaken. As I write this letter, I am getting ready for the 16+ Selections. All I can say is, by the time you read this I will be a Quidditch player, whether they like it or not. I won't disappoint you.
Your brother
Toyotomi.
The young teenager finished up the letter and attached it to the family owl. Toyotomi got up ready to leave, already dressed in his Chudley Cannon robes, which were now too small. He paused for a moment, adjusting the robes in his mirror. It's evident that in the past four years, Toyotomi had changed substantially. The once innocent young boy was long gone. Replaced by a new and improved chassis, all thanks to his main sponsor. Puberty.
Toyotomi now stood at the height of 5ft 10, a significant increase from his younger years. His facial features were also now more chiselled and squarer, quite similar to Sora's, although they were more dominated mainly by his Asian heritage. Toyotomi also let his jet-black hair grow substantially and now sported a slick back style. Looking remarkably like the Japanese actor Takeru Satoh (his Mum, would say.) At 16 years old, he also had scars. Mainly on his arms and face, they were a testament to the gruelling training he had put himself through. He went through hell. Evolving from a boy to a man. Tomi to Toyotomi.
A lot had changed with his family as well. Sora had moved out and became the main seeker for the Wimborne Wasps, helping his team become top three consistently. He was also shortlisted for the highly competitive Ireland Quidditch team. Naturally, Japan had already approached him, but he turned them down, hoping to get selected for the Ireland squad. It is only a matter of time now.
It hasn't all been well for the family though. Riley had been expelled from Hogwarts the previous year. It seemed he had been gathering a mass underground following in Slytherin. Setting up a minor crime organisation, mainly interested in supplying Hogwarts students with illegal substances and materials. With brute force and intimidation, he achieved this with high success. He had also become a bitter young man. His anger seemed uncontrollable these days and his jealously towards his Quidditch playing brothers reached new heights. To cope he seems to shut himself from the rest of the family. A concoction of anger, resentment and even guilt were building up inside of him. Toyotomi could only predict a devastatingly tragic ending to this scenario.
"Good luck Tomi," his parents hugged him tightly, as they realised another one of their children had grown up well beyond their parental scope. Toyotomi wanted to tell them to stop calling him by his childhood name but thought better of it. They were going through a lot.
Toyotomi didn't reply but instead released himself from their embrace, waved them goodbye and set off towards the Chudley Cannons home ground. He understood that to become a Quidditch player sacrifices had to be made. His determination and work ethic were definitely there. But Toyotomi knew he had weaknesses, his soft nature and timidity had no place on the Quidditch pitch, he had been working tirelessly to improve his technique but also his character and felt ready to show Wolfgang, he deserved a place on the team.
