Then another boy stepped forward, dark hair, sharp eyes, and a small tattoo resting along his neck.
"My na is Tenjiro," he said in a steady voice. "I'm a striker. I played for Sagan, and I finished as the third-highest scorer in the tournant."
His introduction imdiately caught Haruma's attention, his focus sharpening toward him.
Keeping his expression firm, Tenjiro added, "Representing Japan will be my honor."
Kento gave a quick clap as Tenjiro stepped forward and joined the side, a faint smile crossing his face.
Then another boy moved ahead, taller than everyone else, arms folded across his chest as he stood with quiet pride.
"My na is Rensora," he said with a soft smile. "I'm 19, probably the oldest here."
A few chuckles spread through the group.
"I played as a goalkeeper and captain for Hokkaido. I also played in last year's U-19 Asian Cup."
His smile thinned slightly.
"It didn't go well."
Then his eyes sharpened with renewed belief.
"But let's make sure we do better this year, together."
Applause broke out as he stepped forward and joined the group.
Haruma watched him with narrowed, studying eyes.
"Hmm, he's experienced." He thought to himself. "He's 19, which ans he played this tournant when he was just 16. He must be insanely good."
Then another boy stepped forward with a wide smirk stretched across his face.
"My na is Koujin Jr! I'm 18, I played as a forward for Chiba," His grin widened further. "And in one match, I dribbled past Kabuto."
Kabuto's jaw instantly tightened in irritation. anwhile, the rest of the group, including Kento, broke into soft giggles
With his smirk still intact, Koujin continued. "I'm a huge fan of Neymar Jr, and my goal is to beco the Neymar of Japan."
Kento-sensei looked impressed and broke into applause, quickly followed by everyone else.
Koujin held onto his smirk as he stepped aside and joined the group.
Next, another boy stepped forward. "My na is Yuya. I'm 18, and I also played as a forward for Kashiwa."
He bowed his head slightly. "And I'm thankful to Kento-sensei and the authorities for trusting , I'll pour my heart out for Japan and this team."
Applause surrounded him as Yuya stepped forward and took his place beside the others.
Another boy stepped forward next. "My na is Tomoya," he said with a bright, wide grin. "I'm 17 and I played in defense for Kashiwa."
His smile sohow widened even more. "I genuinely love playing football, and I'm really honored to get the chance to represent Japan." He lowered his head in a respectful bow. "Thank you for having ."
The group responded with warm applause and smiles.
Tomoya straightened back up, shoulders rising with pride before he stepped aside and joined the others.
Then another stepped forward. "My na is Souma, but you can call Sam," he said with an easy grin. "I played as a forward for Niigata, and now I can't wait to represent Japan. I'm happy… and I'm confident." He bowed.
Kento started applauding first, quickly drawing in the rest of the group.
Souma let out a light, joyful laugh as he stepped aside and joined them.
Then another boy moved forward.
Average build, steady posture, dark eyes locked ahead with quiet confidence radiating from him without a word.
"My na is Senji," his voice cut through the air, sharp, steady, unapologetic. "Umm, I play as a defender, and wasn't in JFC, and I've never played in any professional football."
A ripple hit the group instantly, eyes slightly widened. The calm rhythm of introductions broke for a beat.
Haruma stared at him, caught off guard, attention fully locked now. From the side, even Kurogami held a still focused look, asuring him in silence.
A proud smile ford on Kento's face. "I scouted him." he revealed.
The words landed like a shockwave.
For a mont, the air tightened again, this ti heavier.
Haruma's eyes remained wide while Kurogami's expressions were sharp, disbelief and curiosity flickering at once.
And Senji just stood there, calm, composed, like he had already expected every reaction.
"Scouted by Kento sensei?"
Haruma thought to himself, eyes locked on Senji.
Keeping his smile steady, Kento continued. "I saw him playing on the street, and I knew it instantly. He's what we need. What Japan needs."
The words settled hard, a heavy silence followed, thick, uncertain, like the group was still processing what they had just heard.
Then Kento broke the silence with sharp, loud clapping. One by one, the others followed, the tension easing into acceptance.
Senji gave a small nod, calm as ever, then stepped forward and joined the line with the others.
Another boy stepped forward. "My na is Hiryuu. I'm 17, I played in the middle for Kashiwa." His voice carried a quiet excitent. "It was an amazing tournant, I enjoyed every second of it. I can't wait to play together under one flag, Japan."
Next ca another. "My na is Kota. I'm 18, and played as a defender for Yokohama." His expression softened as he spoke. "I've been playing football since childhood, representing Japan was my dream. I still can't believe it's real. Thank you for having ."
Applause followed as he joined the side.
Then the last one stepped forward. "Hey everyone, I'm Arata. I was a midfielder for Chiba." He glanced across the group, steady and confident. "I can't wait to play with all of you. I believe together, we'll beco a great team and make Japan proud."
A final wave of applause echoed as Arata stepped back into line, sealing the formation of the Japan U-19 squad.
Kento stood still for a mont, a quiet pride settling across his face as his gaze slowly swept over the team he had shaped.
His eyes moved across them, each one chosen, each one tested by ti, pressure, or instinct.
The squad stood firm now, no longer scattered nas, but a single unit with their shoulders squared, chins lifted, breaths steady.
Koujin Raya, Rensora, and Kota carried warm, grounded smiles. Izaya, Takezu, and Souma stood with quiet, unshaken confidence.
Jiho, Kabuto, and Koujin wore sharp smirks, eyes already carrying edge and fire. Jotaro, Arata, and Gaku held easy grins, relaxed but ready.
And Nagisa and Senji stood composed, calm faces, controlled energy, eyes steady like locked steel.
Among them, Kurogami stood tall and composed, eyes steady, focus locked in a quiet, commanding calm. Beside him, Haruma carried a faint smile, gaze sharpened with intent.
Watching the group settle, Kento gave a small nod.
"Now, let introduce your captain." A brief pause. "...Kurogami Shikyo."
The air tightened instantly.
Without breaking his composed aura, Kurogami stepped forward, walking ahead with each step controlled, deliberate, cutting through the attention of the entire squad.
Kurogami moved forward and took position beside Kento, turning to face the squad head-on. His posture locked, arms folded behind him, eyes steady and unshaken.
"Japan," he said, voice firm and commanding. "This is the na we are playing for."
The words hit clean and heavy, as the last traces of excitent faded from faces across the squad, one by one, replaced by sharper focus, attention tightening, expressions hardening into intent.
Kurogami held his stance, continuing with his voice sharp and commanding.
"I want one thing clear, we are not just playing for the nas on our backs!"
"We are representing an entire country. Millions of nas. Millions of expectations."
"So when you step onto that field, you play like it."
Every gaze stayed fixed on Kurogami, absorbing each word in complete stillness. Only focused eyes, sharpened attention, and the quiet weight of responsibility hanging over the squad.
Kurogami's voice sharpened further, each word landing with controlled force.
"Stepping onto that field… our intent, our focus, our priority is one thing, victory!"
"Give everything you have. Trust your team and move forward."
The air tightened again.
"Doesn't matter if we're ten goals behind or twenty. Doesn't matter if the opposing teams are world champions."
"None of that matters."
His tone dropped into sothing colder, heavier.
"What matters is this, when we play, we play our souls and hearts out."
The squad's chests lifted as sothing deep ignited inside them, fire sparking behind their eyes, sharpening every breath into intent.
Kurogami clenched his jaw, then snapped forward with a sudden, thunderous force in his voice.
"We are playing with ten goals behind, are we losing?"
"NO!"
They all roared as one, raw and unified, shaking the stillness.
"We are playing with just nine active players, are we losing?"
"NO!"
Louder. Heavier. Burning with conviction as the sound rolled through the entire squad.
Kurogami let out a sharp, satisfied smirk as the energy in the squad surged to its peak, while Kento watched with a quiet smile, eyes reflecting approval.
Kurogami nodded once, then spoke again, voice still carrying that commanding edge.
"In a few days, we'll be in Saudi. We are not wasting a single mont. Every second from now is training and only training."
"Push yourself. Prove yourself. And we don't stop until, together, we bring glory back to Japan!"
"YAAHHHHHH!"
The squad erupted into roaring cheers, claps crashing through the air as raw adrenaline took over, the entire group unified in one rising wave of energy and belief.
Surrounded by crashing applause and surging energy, the entire squad looked transford.
Haruma wore a faint, confident smirk, eyes still burning with conviction. Raya and Izaya were smiling brightly, caught in the rush of montum.
Jiho and Kabuto stood charged up, wild smirks lingering as adrenaline still rippled through them. Nagisa held a sharp, confident smile, calm but fully ignited.
Hands clapped, shoulders lifted, breaths heavy with excitent, the entire group unified in raw, electric belief, fully charged for what was coming next.
User Comments
0 comments from readers