The vehicle rolled to a stop outside the gates of Tokyo Wolves Academy.
The door slid open and from inside, Kurogami stepped out first, with Haruma and the others filing out behind him.
Kurogami exhaled slowly before turning toward the group.
"Alright, everyone. You've got two hours to recover, then we're back on the pitch." His gaze moved across the team. "We're running technical drills today."
Everyone gave quick, determined nods before making their way toward the academy.
As they moved ahead, Kurogami slowed to a halt and glanced back, only to find Haruma still standing near the vehicle, head lowered as if trapped in his own thoughts.
"Harumaa!"
Kurogami's sharp call cut through the mont, snapping Haruma's head up.
He looked ahead to find Kurogami and the others halted midway, all of them watching him.
Clearing his throat, Haruma spoke up. "Umm, you guys go ahead. I need to be sowhere."
"Where?" Kurogami asked firmly, his eyes pinned on him.
Haruma let out a quiet sigh. "Before leaving for Saudi, Shiori wanted to et."
Locking onto him with firm eyes, Kurogami walked forward and stopped right in front of Haruma, while the others watched from behind.
Keeping his expression hard, Kurogami spoke.
"Haruma! This isn't the ti for you to get involved in all this."
His voice sharpened as he pressed on. "We've got a tournant ahead of us, a nation to represent! Don't let yourself get distracted!"
Haruma kept his gaze lowered, his face unreadable.
"Don't let your hunger die!" Kurogami snapped with a stern voice. "I want Haruma at his fuckin' best!"
He closed the gap, presence pressing down like a weight.
"No distractions. Nothing else in your head."
"Just pure hunger to rip through the net."
Haruma's fist clenched tight. His breathing deepened, chest rising heavier with each inhale as sothing sharp and fierce began to return to his eyes.
Sensing the shift in Haruma, Kurogami gave a firm nod. "Rember, we won't get many chances. Keep your form tight, keep your focus locked… the 2046 World Cup is what we're aiming for."
Haruma answered with a sharp nod, eyes burning with renewed resolve.
Kurogami exhaled once, then added, "Go, et Shiori, and get her out of your mind."
Haruma lifted his gaze briefly, gave a final nod, then turned and settled back into the car.
The engine roared to life, tires biting into the ground as the vehicle pulled away, gathering speed down the road.
Kurogami and the others remained still, eyes tracking it until it faded into the distance…
Inside a park, children darted across the open paths with restless energy, while others strolled alongside pets as the evening light began to settle.
On a bench nearby, Shiori was seated in her casual jeans and a top, a hat pulled low over her face.
She was anxious, checking her phone again, still nothing from Haruma.
She then rose from the bench and started pacing slowly, each step carrying growing unease.
"Co on, Haruma, where are you?" she muttered under her breath, eyes scanning the surroundings.
She checked her phone again, fingers hovering before she began typing another ssage, despite the ten already sent.
Just then a voice cut in behind her.
"Hey."
Shiori spun around instantly and saw Haruma walking toward her.
His sunglasses on, a simple shirt draped over his fra, a hat pulled low, trying to stay concealed.
Her tension broke in an instant, as relief lit up her face. She broke into a bright smile before stepping forward to et him.
They ca to a stop face to face.
Shiori kept her smile steady, eyes fixed on Haruma, who returned it with a warm, relaxed smile of his own.
"Thank you very much," she said softly, voice carrying relief more than anything else.
Haruma's smile widened further in response, and he gave a small nod.
Shiori's expression shifted, lips pushing into a slight pout. "But you're late," she added, glancing toward the fading light. "It's almost sunset now."
"Huh?" Haruma asked, a faint confused smile still lingering.
Shiori's expression softened again, warmth returning as she tilted her head slightly.
"Do you have a ride?" she asked.
Haruma blinked, still a little unsure, then gave a small nod.
Shiori's smile widened in response, gentler and more relieved than before…
With waves rolling in and the wind brushing across the shoreline, the sun dipped closer to the horizon.
Bare feet struck the sand in quick bursts as Shiori ran ahead, then spun back mid-step.
"Quick, Haruma! Quick!"
Haruma followed behind, walking barefoot over the warm sand, carrying his shoes in one hand and her slippers in the other, a calm smile playing on his face.
Ahead of him, Shiori kept moving backwards, beaming with a bright, unrestrained joy with the sun burning low behind her, spilling gold across the beach.
Shiori let out a warm giggle, before turning around and continuing running straight toward the sea.
Behind her, Haruma slowed slightly, watching her with a quiet smile.
Shiori hit the shoreline first, her foot breaking into the shallow water. She spread her arms wide, and in the sa motion, her hat slipped off, caught by the breeze, revealing her hair as it spilled freely.
Haruma halted mid-step. His gaze locked forward, widening slightly.
Under the fading sunset glow, Shiori turned in a slow, effortless spin, her long black hair spilling free for the first ti, flowing out behind her in a wide arc, her arms opened as they were caught by the air.
Haruma was watching her with wide stunned eyes, mouth slightly agape.
Her soft laughs were echoing across the water while the last light of day wrapped around her silhouette.
Haruma's gaze softened instantly, watching her from a distance.
Shiori then turned toward him and lifted a hand in a quick, inviting signal to co over.
Haruma's smile returned and he continued e walking toward her, steady steps cutting across the shoreline.
Bubbling with joy, Shiori then bent down sharply, splashing the water forward in a playful burst as laughter broke from her like a wave light, contagious, impossible to hold back.
She straightened slowly, breath settling, eyes drifting back to the horizon where the sun was setting into the sea.
The energy in her face softened, joy lting into sothing quieter, more relaxed, as the light dimd soft across her features.
Beside her, Haruma stepped into place, eyes fixed ahead, absorbing the sa burning horizon.
For a mont, neither spoke.
Just watching the sea, the sinking sun, and two faint smiles held in the quiet between them.
Haruma kept his gaze locked on the horizon, and then spoke quietly. "It's beautiful."
Keeping her eyes on the horizon, Shiori nodded softly. "It is… it's been my favorite view all my life."
Haruma exhaled, a quiet sigh slipping out before a warm smile followed.
"Maybe it's my first ti really watching a view like this."
Shiori turned slightly toward him, watching as he continued.
"I don't rember the last ti I saw sothing like this… maybe I was too busy chasing my goal."
He paused, letting the words settle with the sound of the waves.
"It's beautiful… and warm." He smiled again, softer this ti, eyes still forward.
Shiori stayed quiet as she looked at him, a soft, faint smile lingering while his words faded into the rhythm of the waves.
Then her expression shifted slowly, warmth giving way to sothing playful, until a small, mischievous smile ford on her lips.
Then in a quick shift, she stepped back and kicked up a splash of seawater, sending it straight on him.
Haruma jolted backward on instinct, water striking his legs in a sharp spray.
He froze for a beat, eyes slightly widened in surprise, then looked up at her.
Shiori stood there smiling, playful and unbothered, the sunset blazing behind her like a slow-burning fire.
"What are you doing?" Haruma asked, a faint smile breaking through.
Shiori's grin widened.
In a quick burst of movent, she kicked the water again, harder this ti, sending another splash straight at him.
Haruma stepped back further, trying to avoid it, but she kept going, each kick sharper, each splash cutting through the shallow surf.
"Hey, stop! Stop!" Haruma chants while trying to avoid the splashes.
She broke into bright, unrestrained laughter, echoing over the shoreline as the water kept flying between them.
As his protests were going unheard, Haruma stepped forward to stop her, only for Shiori to spin on her heel mid-laugh and bolt away across the shoreline.
Haruma pushed off imdiately, breaking into a chase.
The beach stretched wide beneath the fading sun, as Shiori was running ahead with hair flowing freely in the wind, laughter spilling out as she cut across the shore in quick, playful bursts.
Behind her, Haruma was chasing with a bright grin, arm lifting as if to close the gap, eyes locked firmly on her every movent.
Her laughter rang louder, full and unrestrained, carried by the wind over the water while Haruma kept chasing, smiling warmly…
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