The Dreamers
Before the sun goes down
September 02, Heerenveen
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Tomorrow is a competition break, following the FIFA schedule this September. Great players will be called up to defend their country.
Today, Hiro only spent time together with some of his colleagues who were practicing independently. Eduardo did not attend coaching because he was allowed to vacation with his family at the break of this competition. Some players who are not called their national team also decided to take a short vacation.
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Even by late afternoon. On the pitch there are only three players, namely Hiro, Bastian, and Marteen. Bastian was on the afternoon of the pitch because he was called up by the senior Italy national team, while Marteen was called up to the Netherlands U-20 national team. So far, only Bastian and Marteen have been called up. Tomorrow each of them will depart to defend their country in FIFA Matchday.
But what does Hiro do with them? Hiro wasn't even called by Yamamoto.
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As long as the sun had not sunk, Hiro was still confident that he would be summoned. Bastian and Marteen are as confident as Hiro.
"Why aren't you called? I think you deserve the level of the national team. Moreover, tomorrow's game is just a friendly, I think the coach should take advantage of the friendly match to try new players in the national team right?" Bastian said as he ran around the field along with Marteen and Hiro.
"Yes that's right. But if today you really weren't chosen by the Japanese, I don't think you should be discouraged. You're still young enough, the opportunity must have come to the man who tried Hiro." Sahut Marteen's.
"Yes, I don't force the senior national team to call me always. It's just, I want to fight for my own country too." Hiro.
Bastian and Marteen could only nod in understanding. The three of them decided to make the final lap before pulling over and finishing training today.
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After they cleaned up and packed the training items, the three of them expected the best of each other. Marteen will remain at Heerenveen tonight and will be leaving for the Netherlands U-20 training camp tomorrow. For Bastian, midnight will have to leave for Roma and join the Italian national team that will play Georgia in a friendly.
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Bastian put a scarf around his neck as he pulled his suitcase towards the car. "See you next week. I'll head straight to the airport."
Hiro and Marteen, who are walking with Bastian, split up in the parking lot. They shake hands and clap each other's backs.
Finally, Bastian's car left Marteen and Hiro standing on an empty parking lot.
The street lights started to light up in the afternoon this evening. Marteen also had to immediately return to his apartment to prepare everything for him tomorrow.
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"Yes Hiro, I'm going home too. Thank you for practicing today."
"Yes no problem. Be careful on the road."
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Shortly after, Hiro also began walking away from the Heerenveen training complex.
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Hiro's hand continued to fumble around his pants pocket where he placed his phone. As long as Hiro walked towards the train station, he was always looking forward to anxiety. Hiro always waits for his phone to vibrate because there is an incoming message from the Japanese national team.
Although Hiro tried not to be too hopeful, but he would still wait until the last moment before the player call limit tonight.
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🚈🚋🚋🚋🚋
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While standing crowded on the train full of people who wanted to go home after work, Hiro was still holding a cell phone in his pocket. Hiro is still waiting.
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When he reached Amsterdam at 19:30, Hiro started to take his hand off his phone. After all, today is already night, there can't be any summoning of players anymore. Although it is still 19:30 in the Netherlands, now in Japan it is 02:30 in the morning. Tomorrow is not expected. If this is the end, maybe Hiro will also choose to vacation with Saki to fill this competition gap.
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While waiting for a taxi to arrive, Hiro is startled by his suddenly vibrating phone. Hiro's face returned suddenly. He quickly pulled the phone out of his pocket and opened it.
But the bright face full of beautiful expectations from Hiro must be disguised again because it turns out that the one who sent him the message was Ryota.
Message from Ryota:
"Hey Hiro! how are you?"
"Still busy at the moment? haha."
Hiro smiled at the message from his best friend in Japan.
"I'm doing fine. How are you?"
So focused on replying to Ryora's message that made Hiro not aware there were already several taxis passing in front of him.
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"Thank God,"
"I am still struggling to compete with my team-mates in Liga Malaysia. Language is an obstacle for me."
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After exchanging news with each other, the topic of conversation changed and began to focus on Hiro.
"Oh yes, since I'm already very sleepy, I would like to ask if you were called up by the national team at this month's game?"
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Hiro's face did not look happy.
"Yes, that's how it seems like Yamamoto chose to play the usual players.
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"So you weren't called?"
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Hiro simply replied to the message with the anime sticker in tears.
That was enough to explain to Ryota.
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"Yes, already then, keep the spirit huh Hiro, you have to become even more powerful than now."
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"Yes, I hope so too. You're the same, don't give up because of language barrier. Haha,"
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When his last message was read only by Ryota, Hiro also decided to close his phone. Hiro saw the current clock showing at eight p.m. Hiro looked back and looked for an empty taxi before it was too late.
After a while, Hiro finally let out a sigh of relief when he managed to get a taxi that was willing to drive him home.
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This exhausting day was at least not as bad as one might imagine. When Hiro opened his door, he received a warm welcome from his girlfriend who was still wearing an apron and gloves while holding the grill he just took out of the oven.
Saki smelled a delicious smell of cake when Hiro stepped into the house.
Saki's smile emanated from her face. "Yoko.., you came home? How's practice? Did you get the national team call?"
Hiro was too tired to answer all those questions. He could only smile and say, "Yes,"
Understand his girlfriend who looks tired. Saki put down her gloves and apron and sat on the sofa with Hiro holding her forehead.
Saki serves the cake she just made to Hiro accompanied by a cup of coffee, adding to the impression that today is the same day as the previous days.
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"If you're tired, you can just go to sleep, I'm ready for the mattress" Saki said gently.
Hiro nodded. He cleaned up the leftovers and coffee cups and washed them.
Saki also decides to go to sleep after Hiro asks her to quit tonight and clean the dining table and living room together.
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At 21:30
Not too late, but too tired for Hiro. The real Saki still wants to do the household thing has no other choice but to accompany Hiro tonight.
The two of them also talked to each other on the bed, whispering, making time run quickly, until finally Saki who fell asleep first.
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Seeing Saki already asleep, Hiro fixed the position of Saki's blanket to make it more comfortable. Hiro kissed Saki.
"Good night" said Hiro.
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🌙
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While correcting his sleeping position and about to go to sleep, Hiro heard the sound of vibrations from his phone. Hiro almost ignored his phone. But because the notifications that keep coming make Hiro disturbed by the sound of the vibration of his phone and decided to check it. What keeps his phone vibrating.
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