It's late and Takeshi stops off at a small shop to buy some pastries, more specifically Monaka. He heads for his small flat, climbs the stairs and, on entering, you can see that the dishes have been neglected, as have some of the chores. He walk in a direction to one of the room he can hear the Tv. "What a miss from Mitoma, with that Manchester is in Final of FA Cup." As he enter he can see his mom sitting on her bed watching the game, as she said with a soft voice, "if it had been you, Takeshi, the penalty shoot-out wouldn't have lasted as long as it did." Takeshi doesn't answer and picks up the remote control lying next to the bed and turn off the Tv he give hers the pastries he just buy, "you should eat more mom."
She take the pastries and start to eat slowly as she look up at the sky and spoke, "i miss the days when you played football... you always had a smile on your face when you came back from training, but today if it wasn't..." Takeshi clench his fist and take a big breath he knew what she was going to say so he cut her before she could go further, "Stop mom...i'll help as long i can but please don't speak about the past, its not cause of you that i quit football...its about time you move on!" As he say that he took the rubbish to throw them away.
Outside leaning against the door he take another deep breath and walk past the stairs as he turn away he spot Gabriel he sigh and think Did i do something to offend the god he continue to walk without looking at him, "just go if its t speak your nonsense from this morning, im not in the mood." Gabriel look at him walking and say, "money, if its about that we can find a way to fix this problem, like that you can play again if we fi..." Before even finishing his sentences Takeshi hit him on the face Gabriel fall against the wall, Takeshi said with a tired look, "ive enough of football...come back again and you'll end up worse." When he said that he throws the bin bag away and leaves, he walk for a moment and sit on a bench to take a break as he was in his thoughts and recall the events that have just taken place.
After a few moments, still deep in thought, two voices called out to him. Takeshi snaps back to reality and turns round angrily, thinking he's heard Gabriel again, but his face softens when he sees that it's Ryota and Kenta. They sit down opposite him, and he looks at them surprised and asks, "What are you doing here?" Kenta looks at him and replies, "we wanted to see you with Gabriel..." Takeshi's eyes darken, Ryota notices his change of emotion and replies cheerfully, "We saw the state you left her in..." Kenta scoff and said, "well he judge himself that is better if he don't come with us...we wanted to ask you to come back, Gabriel explain us in brief the reason of why you stop but we can find a solution..." Takeshi sigh.
"How much player in the team you think could go pro no how much of them do you think could live of football?" He said looking at both of them they look surprised by what he just said, Takeshi continue to speak, "around 80-90% of players give up competitive football after university, less than 1% sign a professional contract straight after high school, around 95% of high school students stop playing football at that stage, and what about those who go on to university? Less than 20% of university players go on to have a significant professional career... But those who continue knowing their chances are slim. I respect them."
The next day at the training ground the team was ready to start the practice Coach Emaon spoke, "we'll start straight away with a little game so put on your chasubles." After that he was counting the number of each player he notice that a player is missing, suddenly Takahashi arrive in a run, "sorry, i was in the bathrooms" he wears his chasubles and position himself, at the same time Gabriel was glaring at him Ryota and Kenta who were close too him look at each other Kenta spoke, "Hey don't you see that Takahashi change?" he ask looking at Ryota who just shrugged his shoulders "i don't know its not like its the first time someone come late," he position at his turn on the pitch. After that the Coach whistle for announcing the start of the game.
The ball is in the feet of Takahashi he look to see if he was not guarded he remark he was indeed alone, Gabriel on the opposite team directly utter a high pressing, Gabriel throws himself at the ball without thinking, allowing Takahashi to eliminate him, the coach seeing this is pleased to see some commitment in training. Its good to see them motivate like that the Coach think. Takahashi advancing with the ball have Hikaru on his left shouting at him, "pass, look behind you," hearing him Takahashi didn't have time to notice but Gabriel charge at him and plays shoulder-to-shoulder but that not enough Takahashi is bigger than him and keep the ball and continue to advance with it, Gabriel don't stop and unleash an agressive tackles to win the ball who goes outside and leaves Takahashi on the ground. Gabriel just replace himself at his position leaving Takahashi on the ground who swears in his head.
The game restart with a touch effected by the team Gabriel on who pass it to him, Takahashi come to press in his back feeling him Gabriel execute a light faint right left and a cross-section to stretch the game with the game concentrated on the other side Takahashi take this time to approach Gabriel and say with an annoyed tone, "you could've injured me back there with that slide what's wrong with you." Gabriel with his back to him, replies angrily "you...you are my problem," he said has he turn to face him "your smoking, you start to coming late to training your not even trying to this seriously when your the captain, why don't you just leave." Takahashi angrily grab him by his collar, "what did you just say" Gabriel didn't even faze and say looking at him in the eyes, "some can't even play when they want, your the only one that acting like everything was granted..." Everyone stop playing as they see the two of them starting to arguing but things start to escalate when Takahashi throw a punch at Gabriel and he respond with the same energy the two of them start fighting.
looking at the scene the Coach shout "stop them," Ryota and Kenta grab Gabriel by his arm who was in the top of Takahashi Daichi and Akira goes to Takahashi and help him to stand up with that the training stop, and Gabriel and Takahashi are called into the coach's room. They are dismissed of training till the start of tournament. With both of them walking out the room "You should be happy, now you have all the time you want its was just an hobby after all." Gabriel said with sarcasm and still angry cause of the events that just occur, Takahashi pin him against the wall "To the very end, you continue to mock me." The door of the office open and the Coach call out Takahashi name.
Inside the office Takahashi is seat looking at the Coach who start talking "what happen lately you start to come late, you don't have the same the energy than before tell me what's going on." He said slamming at the table trying to provoke a reaction from him, Takahashi didn't bugle and said nothing the Coach just sigh and let him go. As he walk down the road he pass by the training ground he see Gabriel with Ryota, Kenta and Daichi doing a Brazilian. Kenta talk as he does a pass in direction of Gabriel, "Why did the both of you fight?" He ask, Gabriel control the ball with his torso and pass it to Daichi as he say "Im the one who start it, i should't have react like that." Takahashi looking from a distance just sigh and continue to walk. As he arrive in front of his house sited in the last floor of the building.