The Dreamers
It's not too late

Hiro's heavy heart was thinking about something about what happened. He has abandoned his dream of becoming a football star and prefers to be an exemplary student who has no definite dream.

...

When Hiro got his wish scholarship, he decided to lower the tempo of his studies first. Hiro realizes that since he is always learning, he does not have enough time for his friends, including Ryota.

One day, Hiro tries to speak to Ryota for the first time since the past week. At first Ryota cuek when Hiro greets him, but later, Ryota starts to respond to Hiro.

...

At lunch break, in the school cafeteria..,

...

"Oh..? did you get a scholarship? congratulations" Ryota said briefly. He still ate his lunch voraciously regardless of Hiro.

"Yes, hehe," Hiro was very clumsy. He knew that Ryota was a little angry with him for rarely meeting and playing these days.

"Eee.., Ryota..? I'm sorry, yeah,"

"For what?" Ryota was still chewing his food.

"Yes.., you know what, right? I haven't noticed you lately at school or at home. So I thought you must be mad at me, right?"

"Why am I angry?" Instantly Ryota stopped chewing his food and turned to look at Hiro's face. "I'm not angry,"

"K-You okay?"

"Yes, don't think about me. I also understand why you do that. You just want to make your dad happy because you're an only child, right?"

"Y-Yes,"

Hiro immediately remembered his father's words at that time. "You'd better not be disappointed the next day, son, think well, it's not too late, it's not too late,"

...

"Oh yes Ryota, I want to ask you something" Hiro said.

"Ask what..?" Ryota continued his lunch.

"What do you think if I go back to playing ball?"

...

deg.deg..

...

"PPFFFRR!!! What?!" Ryota was so shocked that the food he chewed spread out of his mouth.

"I told you, I want to play ball again,"

Ryota still said nothing. Hiro is also ready if Ryota gets upset with him.

"Haha!" Ryota laughed out loud.

Hiro frowned in surprise at his friend's behavior. "Why laugh?"

"Haha! I'm sorry," Ryota cleaned up the food spill. "Only, I feel that you are so stupid!"

"Huh?"

"try to think. You used to say that you wanted to stop playing football because you wanted to focus on education in order to get a scholarship. But now, after you get it, you say back if you want to go back to playing ball. What exactly do you want? ahahaha!"

"Yes-yes.., I suck, but can you stop laughing? We are the center of attention of the people in the cafeteria..!" Whisper Hiro.

"All right.., hahaha!" Ryota still did not finish laughing until he shed tears.

...

After Ryota calms down, Hiro explains to Ryota about his decision. "Actually, things have gotten complicated lately. I can't explain it to you all."

"All right, I get it. But why do you suddenly want to play ball again?" Ask Ryota.

"That's it, I can't explain it."

"All right, all right, so.., what do you want to do now?" Ask Ryota curiously.

"Hmm..? what if we play ball on the school field later in the afternoon?"

"PPFFR!" Ryota spouted his food again.

"Ryota! stop wasting food!"

...

...

Finally the afternoon after school, Hiro and Ryota head straight for the quiet school grounds. There was no one else but the two of them.

...

"Can we start now?"

"Yes!"

Hiro and Ryota are in the middle of the field. They both practiced with the ball. They are far apart on the field.

"Well Hiro.., we'll start over! I'll throw the ball at you, then you kick the ball into the net in front of you! you gotit?! Ryota had to shout to hear Hiro.

Ryota kicked the ball high into the air. The ball went to Hiro. Hiro just needs to control it and kick the ball into the goal.

However, "ADUH!"

"Eh? what happened Hiro?" Ryota immediately approached Hiro who was like in pain.

"Oh.., I got the wrong focus..! my legs hurt," Hiro said.

"Huh? wh why? shouldn't this be easy to do? or maybe..?"

Ryota approached Hiro's ear and whispered, "Have you forgotten how to play ball?"

Hiro was immediately embarrassed. He denied Ryota's statement. "Ah where possible! I still get it! I can't possibly forget!" Hiro. "Only, I feel like my touch is not as usual. Has my skills been declining?"

"That's for sure, you think.., how long haven't you been exercising?" Ask Ryota.

Hiro just remembered that he had not touched the ball for several months or exercised heavily. "Hehe, it's been a while?"

"Well, this way I know what you're gonna do Hiro.." Ryota said.

"What indeed?"

"You should ask Takashi again to train you again. Don't tell me you forgot Takashi, too?"

"Where might I forget! It's just, I feel that if he won't want to train me again" muttered Hiro.

"What makes you think that? Only he can train you!"

"That's because the last time I met him, he didn't look so happy with my decision to stop playing football" Hiro said.

The last time Hiro met Takashi was when he said he would withdraw from the academy. That was months ago.

...

"Then you want to go back to playing ball, right? I'm sure Takashi will retrain you, too" Ryota said.

"You think so?"

"Yes!" Ryota reached out his hand to Hiro so that he could get up after falling to the ground after having sprained his leg earlier. "Let's go. I'll take you home" Ryota said.

Hiro reached Ryota's hand and stood up slowly.

"Tomorrow I'll accompany you to talk to Takashi, how?"

"Can!"

...

Ryota then takes Hiro to the bus stop. At the bus stop, Ryota massages Hiro's legs slightly.

...

"Ouch! get sick!" Erang Hiro is in pain.

"Oh sorry, hehe," Ryota stopped massaging Hiro's legs. "Hmm, it looks like your leg's ankle is seriously injured. Today, let me drive you home in my car, how about?" Tawar Ryota's.

"Good idea, thank you,"

...

Moments later, Ryota's invitation arrives. Hiro and Ryota return home in a car.

"Thank you, yeah,"

"Ah is okay. You're sick again,"

...

After arriving at Ryota's house. Hiro was also asked to get off here. "You got off at my house first, Hiro."

"Eh? why am I down here?" Hiro's confused.

"In your house it is empty. Who will take care of you then? let's just get off" take Ryota.

"Alright," Hiro had no other choice.

At Ryota's house, Hiro is given medicine by Ryota's aides. Ruka also occasionally looked at Hiro's condition.

...

After a while, Hiro's legs have improved, Hiro's legs until given a thick bandage by Ryota's helpers.

"It looks like my legs have improved, can I go home now?" Ask Hiro.

"Don't, you'd better stay here" Ryota said.

"Ah don't want to, I've inconvenienced you enough today, I just go home," Hiro still insisted on going home.

"Yes already then, I won't help you ask Takashi to retrain you,"

"Eh! don't do! W-Well I'll stay here. Tomorrow don't forget to help me talk to Takashi, will you? hehe," Hiro changed momentarily from stubborn to submissive.

"Yes-yes I promise, now rest in the room I prepared for you," Ryota showed the bedroom to Hiro.

"All right, I'll get some rest." Hiro went to his room.

That night, Hiro slept in a spacious room and a soft mattress. Hiro was happy because he finally felt the sleep using air conditioning. "That's cold, '" Hiro was happy.

Hiro was able to rest in peace and sleep soundly. He's ready for tomorrow. Hiro wants to ask Takashi directly for help to retrain him to get back to his best.