The Dreamers
Drop each other

Two months passed, Zekka tournament was in sight. Hiro went through every exercise he did in earnest. In that time, in total Hiro has scored 100 goals in 6 months at Zekka Academy. Takashi as a coach, is very confident that his team, which is the age group of 12-14 years, can step up to the final round at this tournament.

…

Today's afternoon is the last practice before next week the tournament will start. Takashi gave a final message before ending today's training. "Everyone, listen to me. This team is the best team I have trained in the academy. For those of you chosen, please prepare for next week. In the first game, we will face the age group of 10-11 years."

All of Takashi's foster children gave a positive response. "Good coach!"

"Take this spirit, because we are..?!"

"The champion!" Replied Hiro and the others in unison.

That's the yel-yel from the age group 12-14 who always be an encouragement every exercise.

...

All the children of the same age in the academy have gone home. Hiro and Ryota are still waiting for a car invitation from the Ryota family by the side of the road near the academy gate. They both can't wait to play next week in the tournament.

"I can't wait!" Ryota said while rubbing his palms. "Tomping our first easy opponent! just a 10-11 year team,"

"Eh, it can't be so Ryo. I've seen the way the boys from the 10-11 group play and they're pretty good" Hiro said.

"Yes I know. But it's still good we're not?"

"I'm not sure" said Hiro.

"Ah, you're always this low. Come on, admit you're great!" Ryota. "You're the best, right? 100 Goals in 6 months is amazing for our age group!"

"The best? I still want more!" Hiro was determined.

"Hahaha, you've always wanted to fight hard huh? hehe,"

The conversation between Hiro and Ryota must be interrupted by the arrival of Daichi and his group from the age of 15-17. They came over to Hiro and Ryota. It was clear that Daichi and his friends had come to carry out a mental attack.

"Hey! I'm Daichi, maybe you two already know me" Daichi said when he first met. "I heard there's a kid named Hiro who broke the record at junior level? where is she?" Daichi's eyes looked up instead of down.

"A-I'm here, my name is Hiro," Hiro said softly.

Daichi's eyes, which were originally looking up, were now looking down, precisely from Hiro's voice. "Oh, is this Hiro? I'm sorry I didn't see you because you're too small,"

"You should ask your mother to buy you milk to grow up!" Said one of Daichi's friends.

Daichi's mockery was greeted with laughter by his other friends. Daichi's words really entered Hiro's heart. He wanted to be angry but could not. He wanted to tell others, but there was no one there but them. Hiro could only shut up.

Daichi and his friends are still trying to mentally knock the little boy down. Until finally Hiro cried but did not make a sound. Only water ran down his cheeks.

Seeing Hiro cry, Daichi and his friends were more and more satisfied. They had managed to get Hiro mentally exposed.

"Haha! take look! she's crying! ahaha! go home and whine to your mother!"

"How do you become a great player if you are mentally like a vegetable?! ahaha!"

All those words were addressed to Hiro. Ryota who heard Daichi and his friends immediately did not accept Hiro being treated like that.

"You've had enough! you're just brave with little kids huh!" Ryota snapped in a high tone. "That hiro no longer has a mother!"

Daichi was silent for a moment. He only realized that he had gone a little too far to a child.

Daichi and his friends left with sinister faces. Actually they left not out of fear because of the threat of Ryota, but they left because they felt that they had succeeded in playing with his opponent mentally.

"See you at the tournament.., Hiro," Daichi told Hiro and Ryota before he left. In this way, his opponent would feel fear and trepidation towards them.

After Daichi and his group left, only Hiro and Ryota stayed by the quiet side of the road that afternoon.

"Hiro, don't cry, they're gone" Ryota calmed Hiro down.

But Hiro still could not forget what just happened. "W-Why is Daichi saying such words to me? what's wrong?" Hiro said in tears.

Ryota felt very much what his best friend felt. "I understand Hiro. Your heart must be hurting, right?"

Hiro nodded.

"But you have to keep looking at it all with a better perspective. It could be that Daichi and his friends do not know that your mother has left you. Then what happens, please forgive them." Ryota.

Hiro wanted to interrupt the conversation, "T-But," His severed breath made Hiro speak indistinctly.

Ryota still stroked Hiro's back to calm down. "Here you go, all this is to be grateful for Hiro,"

"W-Why?"

"I think I know why Daichi wants to make you cry."

"Isn't he?"

"Yes. It seems that Daichi thinks of you as a balanced competitor to him. So he wants to bring you down,"

Ryota's words are correct. Many times other people don't like to see us at the top. Most of them want to keep dropping us. And when we fall, nobody wants us to get up again. Only those who love us are fully willing to help.

...

"Come on Hiro, stop crying. A star player has to stay strong right? hiya,"

"I-Yes, yes I stopped crying," Hiro swept away the flowing tears.

"Well, that's it," Ryota was happy to see Hiro calm down.

Hiro can smile again just before Ryota's pickup car arrives. "Let's go home Hiro!"

They both came home with valuable experiences. A great man will try to destroy his toughest competitor.

...

To break up the awkward atmosphere, Ryota opened the topic of conversation in a makeshift car.

"We both need to focus on next Sunday's tournament. Remember, all Japanese league talent scouts will see firsthand! if we play well, maybe we will be recruited the same football club! hehe,"

"Yes," Hiro was still propping up his chin and looking out the car window, looking at the densely packed street scene.

Hiro still felt something in his heart. Something Hiro had never felt before, namely.hate.

Daichi felt that it had made Hiro lose his confidence. But in reality, this little boy was stronger than Daichi had expected. Hiro will always remember Daichi's name from today on what he has done to him.

"Daichi.., I will defeat you in that tournament!" Hiro's determination is in my heart. A great man will try to destroy his toughest competitor.