THE STRONGEST WILLS MAKE THE STRONGEST DECISIONS

The morning sun was shining on Hajita's training ground, and Osiko arrived early. The smell of the grass crushing under his feet and the silence of the empty pitch were motivating him as usual. Although he felt tired after yesterday's match, he was determined to start training before everyone else this morning.

But he wasn't alone. Matsui was there too. He was bouncing the ball on the tips of his feet, glancing sideways at Osiko.

"Do you think you've proven yourself?" he asked sarcastically.

Osiko continued to dribble without looking up. "It was just one match, I played well and that's all." he replied.

Matsui smiled. "Yes, just one match. It's not enough to shine in one match. You have to be the best all the time. You play well in one match and poorly in another, while I never play badly, at most I play at an average level. Remember, form is temporary, talent is permanent! And according to Tutusiki, talent is pouring out of me!!!"

Osiko knew what he meant. He was too egotistical, but maybe he was right, he shouldn't let this be a one-game performance and should work harder. The goal he scored yesterday was just the beginning. The real question was whether he could maintain that level in every game. His mind was stuck on the last sentence he said, did Tutusiki really tell him that he was very talented? If he did, it wasn't a good development for him, he wanted to stay on the team and Matsui was his rival.

On the other hand, Setoshi's big day had arrived in Norway. The day after the match, multiple club managers wanted to meet with him. Yuto FC's technical director Nakamura called him to his office.

"Setoshi, some clubs asked about you last night," he said, raising his eyebrows. "There's a chance you'll be invited to the Anderlecht youth team."

Setoshi's heart began to race. Anderlecht had one of the best youth systems in Europe. However, Nakamura's voice remained serious.

"But that's not guaranteed. They'll need to invite you to an official trial camp to see you. There's also talks for a few more members of the team, so we'll be staying in Istanbul, Turkiye for a week before returning to Japan."

Setoshi nodded. "I won't miss this opportunity!"

Hajita A increased their training throughout the week. Osiko noticed that Coach Tutusiki was starting to give him more chances. This was a big step for him. However, one afternoon, he received unexpected news.

Tutusiki approached him after training. "Osiko, we talked about your future with Kojima for a long time, and we came up with the idea of ​​loaning you to an U21 team!"

Osiko's eyes widened. "An offer?"

"Yes. Hajita, it's not certain how much time you will get in the A team, if you show yourself in another club, you will have a higher chance of receiving offers and a place in the A team, but don't feel pressured. You don't have to go, you can choose to stay, but you will have to work hard and as I said, it will be very difficult to get playing time."

Osiko paused. This was a big step for him. But there was a problem: if Hajita stayed in the A's, his rivalry with Matsui would continue and his chances of breaking into the starting 11 in the A's would be more difficult. Going on loan to the U21s would mean he would get more time to develop, but could it also be a step back?

He had to make a decision.

In Turkey, they were doing their training at Altınordu FK fields, because there was a club agreement between this club and Yuto FC. The players were going out and having fun, and in the evening they were doing training. On the first day they came to Turkey, Altınordu FK was also on the same field and they were playing perfectly. 2 days before they were going to return to Japan, Nakamu came and told him that he had talked to the Altınordu FK manager and that if he accepted, he could transfer to the Altınordu FK U19 team. At the same time, Anderlecht had made an official offer, and this was the first time Setoshi would have to make such a difficult decision.

This was an opportunity he could never have imagined. However, he could only choose one.

Setoshi and Osiko's paths had started to diverge, but both had difficult decisions and new challenges ahead of them.

This story was no longer just a struggle for talent, but also a struggle to make the right choices.

Osiko couldn't sleep the whole night after receiving a loan offer to the U21 team. Everyone said it was a great opportunity for him. He could get more playing time in the U21, improve, and eventually make it to the senior team permanently. However, this decision came at a price: if he went to the U21, everything he had fought for to get a chance in the senior team could be for naught and forgotten.

Matsui came up to him during morning training. "I heard you're going to the U21," he said, his voice as sarcastic as ever. "You obviously don't belong here, maybe you could get some substitute time in the U21."

Osiko frowned. "I haven't made up my mind yet."

Matsui smiled, but there was relief in his eyes. "You should go. You'll at least get more playing time there. We both know you won't last long here."

Osiko sighed. He knew Matsui really wanted him to go. But what did that mean to him? Run away or make a smart decision?

That evening, Tutusiki called him to his office. He had thought about it all evening and made his decision.

"Osiko, you need to make a decision by tomorrow," he said, leaning on his desk. "You've got an offer, from Yuto FC U21. That is, from the team above Setoshin's team. Consider it well..."

Osiko quickly intervened. "I'm… staying."

Tutusiki narrowed his eyes. He hadn't expected such a clear and quick answer. "Are you sure? You can play every match in Yuto U21."

Osiko answered confidently. "I want to stay here and take my place in the A team. I also don't want to block Setoshin's path, he might be promoted there, no matter what, he's my friend, being rivals doesn't change that. If I'm good enough, I won't have to go anywhere else to play."

Tutusiki smiled slightly. "A brave decision. But then, be prepared to work harder." It was obvious that Osiko was surprised by Osiko's emotion as he said this.

Osiko bowed his head. "I'm ready."

So, Osiko decided to continue fighting. But this decision was the beginning of a bigger rivalry, not just on the field, but off the field as well. He also cared about Setoshi, but he didn't want Setoshi to know it. He thought Setoshi saw him as a rival, after all, he had only made it to the team because he had been eliminated.

Setoshi was stuck between offers from Anderlecht and Altınordu FK. Altınordu was a big club that valued young talents. Anderlecht had trained many great footballers. But he could only choose one.

His technical director Nakamura came to his room and asked: "Which team do you choose, Setoshi?"

Setoshi took a deep breath. "I... I want to stay on the team."

Nakamura was surprised. "Really? Are you going to reject European clubs? You can develop better there!"

Setoshi was aware of this too. He had taken a step in Europe but now he didn't want to go and leave his family there, he was only 18 years old. He was aware that he wouldn't be able to stay in European academies and wanted to develop himself in Japan first. In a firm tone of voice, he said, "Yes Nakamu, I want to be a legend at Yuto FC!" He said. What he didn't know was that Nakamu wanted Osiko for the U21 team because he was certain that Setoshi would leave, he didn't know about their connection and when Osiko rejected the offer, he started looking for players for the U21 team. Now that Setoshi was staying on the team, he could move up to the U21 team.

That night, he picked up his phone and sent a message to Osiko.

Setoshi: "Osiko how are you? We haven't seen each other in a long time, are you happy and well in Hajita U18?"

There was no reply for a while. Then a message came from Osiko.

Osiko: "I've moved up to the A team."

Setoshi smiled. "So we both chose our own paths. I also moved up to the U21 team in Yuto FC! It seems we won't be seeing each other for a while."

Osiko was shocked, he was the one who caused Setoshi to move up to the U21 team and Setoshi didn't know that. "I made the right choice!" he thought.

Even though their destinies took different directions, they were both determined to follow their dreams.