Rika sat on her bed, arms crossed, staring at the half-packed suitcase in front of her. Clothes were messily thrown inside, soccer jerseys crumpled at the corners, and a few random items—like her shampoo bottle and an extra pair of cleats—were somehow lying on top.
She let out a long sigh.
"Tokyo, huh?"
Just a few days ago, she was on the field, playing one of the most intense matches of her life. Now she was packing up her entire world and heading straight into enemy territory.
She threw herself back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.
"It's just a school. It's just soccer. It's not like I care if Shun is there or not."
But something about it annoyed her.
Her father had casually dropped another bombshell on her this morning:
"Oh, by the way, I enrolled you in Fukura High. It's one of the best for both studies and sports."
Rika: "...Wait. What?"
"Fukura High. Your new school."
Her brain lagged. That name sounded way too familiar.
Then it hit her like a truck. That was Shun's school.
Her reaction?
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!"
Her father just shrugged. "What's the problem? I heard there's a strong soccer program there."
Rika groaned, slamming her forehead against the mattress. "Of all the schools in Tokyo, why did it have to be that one?"
But at this point, it was too late to argue.
Saying Goodbye
The next day, she met up with her teammates one last time before leaving.
"So, Tokyo, huh?" One of them smirked. "You sure you won't miss us?"
Rika rolled her eyes. "Tch. Don't get all emotional on me now."
But despite her tough words, saying goodbye felt… weird.
Her teammates grinned as they huddled around her.
"Remember us when you become a Tokyo big shot."
"Yeah! And don't forget to bring back souvenirs!"
"And if you ever see that Shun guy again, tell him we're watching his every move."
Rika clicked her tongue."What's with you guys and him?!"
They just laughed, and before she could snap back, her train was already calling for departure.
With a final wave, she stepped onto the train, her heart strangely heavy.
Arrival in Tokyo
The train ride was long, but she barely noticed. When she finally reached Tokyo Station, she was hit with the overwhelming buzz of the city.
People rushed past her, the air filled with the sounds of trains, announcements, and the occasional "Excuse me!" from people trying to get through the crowd.
She slung her bag over her shoulder and breathed in.
"Alright. New city. New school. New team. I can handle this."
Little did she know, this was just the beginning of a whole new kind of chaos.