RISING CAREERS

Osiko wiped the sweat from his forehead as the Hajita A team's evening training session came to an end. His muscles ached, but he refused to show any signs of fatigue. Each session was a new test, and he knew that his future depended on his ability to prove imself. Matsui grinned as he walked past him as he tied his shoelaces.

"Today wasn't bad, rookie. But don't relax too much. The real test is yet to come," Matsui said before entering the locker room.

Osiko didn't answer. He didn't know what Matsui had against him. The truth was that Matsui was jealous of Osiko and thought that his place was in danger, but he tried not to show it, always appearing confident and egotistical. He had learned that words didn't matter here, only actions. He had to be ready for the upcoming league match, where Tutusiki would make the final decision on whether to keep him on the roster or send him back to the lower team after his work was done.

Lying in bed that night, Osiko thought about his journey so far. From his father's influence to the difficulties he faced at the Hajita Academy, everything had led him to this moment. He had come here by defeating Setoshi. But he was on a better team, yet Osiko still loved this team. He clenched his fists. "I've come too far to fail now, even my place here is an achievement," he thought before falling asleep.

Thousands of miles away, Setoshi stood in the tunnel of a Norwegian National Team stadium, taking deep breaths as he prepared to step onto the pitch for a friendly match against Yuto FC. Floodlights cast long shadows across the pitch, and the atmosphere was perfect. In Japan, the youth teams were not given much importance, but here, there were many fans who had come out to watch the team they would face, Club Brugge U17, and even choreographed for the team's coach.

As the players lined up, Setoshi saw the European scouts in the stands. His heart was pounding. This was his chance to make an impression, to get one step closer to his ultimate goal: playing in the best leagues in Europe.

The whistle blew and the game began. Setoshi took control of the midfield and orchestrated the plays with precision. He could sense the defenders closing in on him, but he kept his composure and used his quick footwork to evade them. The game was intense, and every touch of the ball was a statement.

In the 38th minute, he received a perfect pass. Without hesitation, he passed his opponent with a rainbow dribble and placed the ball with his right foot from outside the penalty area. The net rippled as the ball reached the top corner. The stadium fell silent for a brief second. The fans, who had been chanting with flares since the beginning of the match, were suddenly shocked by Setoshi's perfect goal.

Setoshi did not celebrate excessively; instead, he turned to his teammates and signaled them to focus. He knew that one goal was not enough. He had to dominate the match.

The game resumed and Setoshi felt the weight of expectation pressuring him. The opposing team, now fully aware of his threat, tightened their defensive lines. They doubled down on him, turning every touch of the ball into a challenge.

In the 52nd minute, a defender aggressively tackled him and Setoshi struggled to keep his balance. He stumbled but remained on his feet, refusing to fall to the ground. The referee allowed play to continue. The pain was sharp, but Setoshi pressed on despite it – this was his moment, and he wasn't going to let anything take it away from him.

Yuto FC struggled to take the lead as the Norwegian team adapted to their style of play. Setoshi knew he had to change tactics. Instead of aggressively pushing forward, he started dropping deeper, taking defenders out of position. He quickly turned and made a high pass to his teammate running down the wing. The attack developed rapidly, but the final shot was a mess. Still, Setoshi acted like a leader and congratulated his friend.

The clock was ticking and the pressure was increasing. The European scouts were scribbling in their notebooks, their expressions unreadable. Setoshi knew he needed one last moment to prove himself.

In the 81st minute, he intercepted a loose pass and immediately charged forward. Two defenders were closing in, but he anticipated their move. With a deft feint, he separated them and took aim from just outside the penalty area.

The stadium held its breath.

The ball curled hard into the top corner, but at the last second, the goalkeeper reached out and cleared it away. A collective gasp echoed through the stands.

Setoshi put his hands on his hips and exhaled. He had come so close. But when he looked up, he saw something that reassured him: the scouts were nodding their heads, whispering to each other.

He might not have scored again, but he had shown them what he could do.

When the final whistle blew, he left the field, sweaty and exhausted. Nakamu approached him and patted his back.

"You made an impression today," he said. "If you ask me if it was enough, we'll find out soon enough, but the scouts are definitely taking notes."

Setoshi nodded, his heartbeat slowing. His journey was just beginning.

On the other hand,it was the day of the league match in Japan. Osiko stood in the middle of the field, surrounded by both starters and substitutes. Tutusiki watched closely from the sidelines with his arms folded. This was Osiko's last chance to prove that he belonged here. Their opponents were Zioni FC. This would be his first official first-team match.

The match started and Osiko felt the pressure immediately. Matsui and the others did not hold back. Every time he got the ball, he was faced with aggressive challenges. Instead of panicking, however, he trusted his instincts. He protected the ball, made quick passes, and got into open spaces.

Then the moment came. He saw his opponent's short pass and immediately intercepted it. Without hesitation, he quickly moved forward, passing the defenders. Near the edge of the penalty area, he faked a shot, cleared his way, and then calmly fired the ball into the bottom corner.

The field was silent. The other players congratulated him on the goal, although they were biased, except for Matsui. Tutusiki nodded slightly. Matsui seemed unwillingly impressed. Nevertheless, the match ended 1-1 due to a goal conceded due to a defensive error.

Tutusiki approached him after the match. "You're improving, Osiko. Keep working like this and you can earn your place on this team."

Osiko smiled. It wasn't an endorsement, but a step forward. He had survived another hardship and his journey continued.

But one thing was certain: They were no longer just kids chasing a dream. They were warriors, fighting their way to greatness.

The road ahead was long, full of obstacles and uncertainties. But both Osiko and Setoshi overcame the challenge, knowing that each trial brought them closer to their ultimate destiny.

They knew they were at the beginning of their journey...