Takeshi blinked, clearly just as surprised. His mouth parted slightly, but no words came out right away. The air between them felt like it froze for a beat, even as the rest of the restaurant continued with its warm bustle.
"Gabriel…?" Takeshi finally said, uncertainly, as if he wasn't sure he was seeing correctly.
Gabriel stood up halfway from his seat, unsure if he should be angry, glad, or just confused. "You work here now?"
Takeshi nodded slowly, his apron a bit flour-dusted. "Yeah. Been helping the old man in the kitchen for a few weeks now."
Gabriel sat back down, letting out a breath that was part relief and part frustration. "I didn't expect to find you here. I… I was planning to come see you. I got your address from Coach."
Takeshi glanced over his shoulder, then returned his focus to Gabriel. "I figured someone would come check on me eventually," he muttered. Then after a pause, "So… this isn't just a coincidence, huh?"
Gabriel shook his head. "No. It's not."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Takeshi rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"You still want the katsudon?" he asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Gabriel chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, and the soba. But we need to talk."
The look on Takeshi's face changes completely after Gabriel's proposal, "I already know why your here if its about to rejoin the club there no need for you to ask, i quit.."
Gabriel had a confuse look on him as he listen to what Takeshi just said, "Why do you mean you quit?" As he ask, Takeshi just sigh and walk back to the kitchen, "I'll prepare what you asked it should be ready in 30 minutes." With that he just walk back to the kitchen behind.
Gabriel stared at the curtain swaying behind Takeshi, the sound of kitchen utensils clinking faintly beyond. His food sat untouched in front of him, steam curling into the air like the thoughts circling his mind.
"I quit."
The words echoed, sharper than he expected. Not "I can't," not "I'm not ready," but "I quit." Like it was final. Like there was nothing left to say.
But Gabriel didn't believe that.
He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. The cozy warmth of the restaurant clashed with the chill settling in his chest. Takeshi was hurting, that much was clear—but hiding behind a stove and silence wouldn't solve anything.
When Takeshi returned with the food—perfectly plated, he didn't say a word. He placed the dishes gently in front of Gabriel and turned to leave.
Gabriel spoke up. "So that's it?"
Takeshi stopped mid-turn but didn't face him.
"You just walked away like last time and you didn't even tell us why."
"I just did," Takeshi said, not turning around. "I quit."
Gabriel stood, the chair scraping slightly against the wooden floor. "That's not an answer. Are you really telling me that you quit just like that?"
Takeshi turned now, eyes narrow. "You think I want to feel like this? You think I don't miss it?"
"Then what stop you!" Gabriel snapped, louder than he meant. A few customers looked over. He lowered his voice. "We need you."
Takeshi looked away, jaw clenched. "You don't understand what it felt like..."
"Your right i don't understand," Gabriel said, voice firm. "Its why im asking you the reason of why do you want to quit."
Takeshi didn't respond right away. The weight of that his answer is heavier than thought.
Takeshi stared at the floor, silent. Then he pulled off the apron slowly and sat at the counter, across from Gabriel.
"Even if I wanted to play, it wouldn't change a thing," he admitted.
Gabriel look at him confuse. "What could stop you from playing?"
A long silence stretched between them again, but this time, it wasn't filled with tension. Just thought. Takeshi glanced toward the kitchen, where the old man nodded from the doorway, like he'd heard every word but chose to let it play out.
"I can't play football because I don't have enough money to pay for my mother's surgery," Takeshi finally said. "One time a coach told me: poverty is a crime and poor people can't have dreams."
Gabriel finished his meal in silence. Then he walked out into the fading rain.
I couldn't say anything at this moment because its not something i could understand and none of what i said would sound sincere. Gabriel thought walking in the rain.
The next day at the training, Gabriel didn't speak to anyone about his encounter with Takeshi.
"Before we start training, I'd like to check your basic performance, so Gen and Hikaru go take the necessary equipment!" Coach Emaon just said.
As they come back with the material the first test was a record on 100m, Ryota was the first to start running. "Ready, set, go!" with that Coach Emaon blew his whistle.
"Ryota his really fast,"
"Its like to see a real athlete,"
With that length Ryota was the first in the 100m.
[Record 100m]
1. Ryota
2. Hikaru
3. Jun
8. Gen
10. Gabriel
...
"The next will be...a test of stamina the yo-yo." Coach Emaon said with a smirk on his face, it doesn't sound good some of them say. "So what is the yo-yo test, its basically a test to know how many cycle each of you can run, the time given slow down as each cycle is passed then you will have to run faste, 10 second of rest between each cycle!"
With that each of them got aligned. "We're ready." they shout. Coach Emaon blew his whistle, "Go."
"go through the studs properly and came back," As he look at them running "Its easy if you can't pass the first cycle he may time to stop football." As each cycle passed the fatigue could be seen in their face. "Its the 17 cycle! you need to pass before i whistle."
Bip
"Takahashi eliminated go take a rest," Takahashi walk without looking at the others. "For the others don't force yourself!" Bip "Give everything you got, the time is getting shorter and shorter!"
Cycle 40, Only Gabriel and Daichi are the who still running, "Wow...till when they going to keep running like that...?" One of them said.
[Yo-Yo test]
1. Gabriel 50 cycle
2. Daichi 42 cycle
3. Hikaru 32 cycle
4. Kirin 31 cycle
5. Jun 30 cycle
6. Ryota 29 cycle
17. Takahashi 17 cycle
Coach Emaon walk to Takahashi, "He did almost four times your number of laps, im kinda disappointed in you." As he was looking at Gabriel who was sweaty from all these laps.
Takahashi didn't respond he just walk away.
He was still a week before the first game against Kainan, the team was concentrated during practice and push each others to do there best. The ball goes outside of the training ground after a shot from Ryota, "my bad she pass the other side." he said ruffling the back of his head. "Its fine i'll go take it," Gabriel said. Ryota nod and see Gabriel jogged to get the ball back.
"Where is she...?" As he look around he spot the ball.
Two voice get heard as he approach.
"Hey can you really smoke..?"
"The football is an hobby, nothing serious," the second voice said.
As Gabriel peak the ball he turned aside and see Takahashi and an other person wearing the uniform of the school, Takahashi is the first one to talk, "Hey Gabriel, your here to pick the ball." Gabriel look at him bemused, "your smoking?!!" Takahashi looks at him dumbly, "what take you suddenly?" Gabriel just sigh and pick the ball to walk away with it, Takahashi shout "Don't tell anyone about this or we both screwed."
Gabriel walks away and mumbles to himself, "There people who can't even play even if they want."
...
"Im here!" Takeshi said entering in the restaurent, the TV on broadcasting a game of Serie A Parma. [This night the goalkeeper from Parma Suzuki save a crucial penalty against Bologne in the Derby to assure the victory.] Takahashi take the remote and turn the TV off, "Stop putting football on the television!." The old man behind the counter point the food who is placed at the table, "Your finally here take those plates and delivery them to Kagoshima High room 2 in the second floor." Takahashi is surprised at the mention of Kagoshima, he said without looking, "I don't feel well..." the old grin and said "Do you want to see me go?! No then make it quick!"
...
"Hey the balloons need to well inflated! And you two do it better!" Hikaru said looking at Jun and Gen, "Im going to kill him," Jun said Gen replied "I'll help you." Hikaru turn to Akira, "Did you commend the food," Akira nod and say yes.
Someone enter at the door covered with a mask a hat to hide his hair and glasses, "There is your food," Akira advance himself to pay, "How much?" As he tend a card, "that will be 19 395,24 yen" the man respond, as the purchase is made he walk away and said "Enjoy your meal," As he his in the hallway, Pfiou...i was fast nobody recognize me.
"Takeshi!" Gabriel said.
He stop himself in his track, "You got the wrong person," as he continue to walk, Gabriel stop him, "I didn't..." he turn himself looking at the hand blocking him "I told you that im not the perso-" Gabriel stop him before he could explain further, "i recognize the symbol of the restaurant," Takeshi push him against the wall, "if you know it was was me why did you call my name."
"Stop your bullshit and come back with the team Takeshi" Gabriel said as he is pressured against the wall. Takeshi let him go and just walk away, The Coach arrive a few time after that and see Gabriel in the hallway, "What are you doing outside?" Gabriel didn't look at him and just walk back inside, the Coach enter a will after, Daichi welcome him at the moment he enter, "Here Coach," the Coach look perplexed, "Why, is there something i should know?"
PAF confetti burst. In unison they all said, "Lets go to the nationals."
The Coach look indifferent, "you didn't have to all that."
They all sit and start to eat after a while Hikaru stand up, "Sir! I have a request to make." The Coach look at him seriously, "Go ahead," Hikaru stand clear. "I suggest we all start by being on first-name terms with each other" The Coach respond with a nod, "i see if that can help you between each others," Hikaru clear his throats, "I mean even with you Coach"
They all start to agreed with what Hikaru just said.
"Hikaru is right."
"Yeah, lets do like he said."
A vein bursts from the coach's head, "I don't see any problem..."