The Dreamers
Number 9
🚕🚕🚕
...
Taxi speeds are slowing. The sound of the old car brakes squeaking becomes a sign that Hiro and Saki have arrived at their destination, Heerenveen City.
The snow that was piling up on the car windows fell out when Hiro opened the door.
...
"Bdankt," Hiro thanked the taxi driver in the local language.
The driver smiled kindly as he lifted his hat. The taxi man then closed his car window and stepped on the gas pedal again to take the next passenger.
...
Hearing Hiro speak Dutch, Saki laughed. "Hahaha, your voice is not suitable for speaking Dutch,"
Hiro glanced at Saki who was still curled up. "Let's just, the important thing is to try as much as possible, hehe."
...
❄❄❄
...
In the cold air of almost zero degrees Celsius, Hiro and Saki pulled over and rested on a food truck by the side of the road and ordered some of their menus. The smell of food. The bonfire that was deliberately made by the merchant, made the atmosphere as well as the bodies of Hiro and Saki become slightly warmer.
...
After finishing the break and eating, Hiro again invited Saki to step back to the office owned by Heerenveen club.
"Yuk, we go on" Hiro said as he looked at the map on his phone. He traced the fastest way to FC Heerenveen's office.
Saki nodded and stood up. Then he took Hiro's gloved hand. "Not far away?"
"No. It might be a ten-minute walk" replied Hiro.
"OK," Saki said.
The two brands also walked through the cold of the European winter wind. Since the snow has fallen behind him. Every now and then they stopped and picked up a handful of snow and threw it again for no reason.
...
...
And exactly 10 minutes later, Hiro and Saki arrive at a second-floor building by the side of a large road. The yard is so wide that it is overgrown with various kinds of evergreen trees that look white along the side of the wall of the building.
"This is the place?" Ask Saki. His face was red from the cold.
Hiro checks his phone to make sure that this is the right place, the office of Heerenveen football club.
"Yes, right, this is the place" replied Hiro.
Saki smiled with relief. "Finally, me and the cold outside."
Saki ran towards the building lobby. Hiro. The security guards could only smile looking at these two people like children playing outside.
...
Arriving in front of the building, Hiro calls Darwin to ask where he is. Hiro said he had arrived in front of the club.
"You're in, but before that you have to confirm your arrival at the reception" Darwin said by telephone.
"Oh, so. Alright."
"Yes, I've been, I've been waiting inside,"
Tuutt...
The phone just closed. Hiro shook his head. "Where's the reception?" Thought Hiro.
...
Hiro also took off his thick jackets, hats, and gloves. Same with Saki. Hiro now lives wearing a suit and scarf hanging from his neck.
After feeling himself worthy enough to enter the building, Hiro stepped in with Saki while smiling at the security guards who had been watching him.
Inside the building, Hiro finds out where his reception is. After a while, Hiro finally found her.
With her English stammered, Hiro tried asking the woman at the reception.
...
"On behalf of Miyoko, Takehiro? is true? "
"Eh, yeah..,"
Hiro is surprised by the answer of one of the receptionists who turns out to speak Japanese.
...
"Your manager has advised me to deliver this message to you." The woman took something from the desk drawer.
"Alright, here's your identification card. You've been waiting for Mr. Darwin on the second floor, precisely in room 206. After climbing the stairs, you can look to the left. Thanks." Say the receptionist lady in fluent Japanese.
"T-Thank you," Hiro took his identification card.
Hiro leaves the reception and invites Saki to the other side of the room. Saki who was next to him laughed looking at the slightly sullen Hiro.
"Hahaha, what's wrong with you?"
"A, gapapa. Dah tired of learning English right in the taxi, uh it turns out that there are Japanese. It's in vain."
"Hahaha, don't cry. Later in the hotel we learn again huh?"
Hiro nodded.
...
"We sit there first yuk," Take Hiro while pointing at the row of chairs in the middle of the room.
Saki sat back in a comfortable waiting chair. While Hiro was gathering the intention to ascend to the top. Hiro looks paced.
5 Minutes passed...
...
...
"Eh, yes, too," Hiro rubbed his sweaty hands. He was gathering the determination and courage to go upstairs.
"Ih, what the hell are you? gausah fear. It's just up there," Saki hounded Hiro to climb to the top.
"Ee, now huh?"
"Well, when is it?"
"Jaudah. Wait, yes" Hiro's message.
"Yes, there's a sneak,"
Hiro walked slowly towards the stairs while looking at Saki who was sitting casually on the chair. Saki who was waiting below was still smiling amusedly looking at Hiro's behavior.
...
Up above, Hiro was looking for the room that the receptionist meant earlier. His behavior looks nervous. And finally Hiro found the room in question. Room 206.
"Is this really his space?"
Once again Hiro tidying his tie and hairline to make it look neat. After that, he opened the door of the room slowly.
Hiro looked inside the room nervously. But the nervousness was gone when Hiro saw there was Darwin who was sitting waiting inside.
...
"Ah, he has arrived. Come in Hiro." Darwin.
Hiro entered with courtesy. He forgot that he was in Holland, not in Japan anymore. Hiro immediately sat down on the available seat beside Darwin.
"Excuse me" Hiro said.
...
In a room that looks modern with the typical style of wood brown walls, there is a closet that looks to be a cup storage area obtained since the year of the establishment of the club.
Unfortunately, the closet did not look full. Only a few domestic cups, as well as pre-season trophies, can even be counted on the fingers.
The feeling of nervousness is now changing into a new challenge that must be completed. The first impression after seeing the cupboard FC Heerenveen club is to continue to add to the collection of trophies in the closet. Even if necessary to increase the number of cabinets.
"I want to see the closet is full" Inner Hiro.
Meanwhile, in front of him today, there is a white man around the age of 50 years with hair color mixed between black and white. His face looks friendly but with an aura that remains authoritative.
"Is this the owner of the club?" Thought Hiro.
...
"Nha, Hiro, he is the manager of the marketing department of FC Heerenveen. Please introduce." Darwin opens the conversation.
It turned out that the man in front of him was the marketing manager of the club. The man smiled and asked Hiro to shake hands.
"My name is Danny,"
"Nice to meet you,"
The manager's name is Danny.
"Me too" Hiro said.
...
Later, Darwin explained the purpose of his arrival and Hiro here. Away from Japan to the Netherlands, to answer offers from the club. What else must be done to prove Hiro's seriousness to be part of Heerenveen's club?
A player of high talent can be said to have entered at the age of maturity this year, which is 23 years.
Darwin said, "Hiro is already confident in his decision to choose this club as his new home in Europe. It's all thanks to you and your team that can convince my players. He is also always working hard for a better performance than before. I hope you can answer Hiro's belief, because I know Hiro is a good player and will be a good fit for your team."
...
...17.12...
......................
The meeting went well. It was because both sides had been asking for cooperation from the very beginning. This is just a formality in a series of introductions from the agent to the management. Now, Hiro just ask for the salary and terms he wants to agree a contract agreement with FC Heerenveen.
...
"20.000..,"
"14.000?"
"I'll take 15,000,"
"Deal?"
Hiro is back with the club manager. They have agreed to work together on a two-year contract with a salary of 15,000 Euros per week. That includes the high ones in this team. Hiro is honored and a heavy burden for him to continue to prove himself worthy.
...
Now, Hiro has officially become an FC Heerenveen player, and will compete in the Dutch League 1 this season.
...
Danny asks Hiro back about something he thinks is important enough. He asked me what number does Hiro want?
Hiro tells Danny that he will think about it later. But Danny insisted that Hiro must answer immediately, because after this jersey with the name 'Takehiro' will be made soon.
Hiro thought for a moment and replied steadily, "Nine,"
...
Darwin seems confused by Hiro's decision. "Why nine? Your position isn't Target man?"
Naturally Darwin questioned this, because the number 9 is usually used by players who are high in position as attackers. While Hiro is a Playmaker as high as 179 cm who should use the number seven, eight, eleven, or other Playmaker numbers.
Hiro did not want to be in doubt over his wishes. At that time Hiro immediately explained the reason to Darwin.
"I chose this number because it is a number to commemorate the long struggle to get to this point. Exactly nine years ago, when I was 14 years old, was the first time I could dream of being a footballer. That's why I'm sure this number will bring me good luck in Europe."