Chapitre 18: One Hand Forward, One Hand on Your Heart

Riku Kazemachi walked through the school grounds, his mind preoccupied with the usual worries of a high school senior. The warm afternoon sun cast long shadows on the pavement as he made his way towards the sports field. He had no particular reason for heading there, just following the path that led him past the familiar surroundings of Seiryuu High School.

As he neared the field, the sound of cheers and applause reached his ears. Riku paused, curiosity piqued. What could be drawing such a crowd? The noise grew louder with each step, and he quickened his pace, intrigued by the excitement in the air.

Riku rounded the corner and saw a throng of students gathered around the flag football field. He pushed his way through the crowd, catching glimpses of the game being played. His heart skipped a beat when he realized it was Seiryuu High's flag football team competing against another school. A sudden thought crossed his mind, and he couldn't help but laugh to himself.

How crazy would it be if my brother was playing? Riku thought, shaking his head at the absurdity of the idea.

Sota had sworn off football after his injury, and it seemed impossible that he would be on the field now. Riku scanned the players, searching for the familiar figure of his older brother, but saw no sign of him. He felt a pang of disappointment and a strange mix of relief, convinced that it was indeed a ridiculous notion.

Just then, a murmur rippled through the crowd, growing louder with anticipation. Riku's attention snapped back to the game. The Seiryuu team was lining up for a play, and the quarterback was preparing to make a pass. Riku's breath caught in his throat as he saw the ball snap back into the quarterback's hands. With a fluid, practiced motion, the player arched his back in a familiar javelin-throw position and launched the ball with breathtaking speed.

The pass cut through the air like a bullet, hurtling towards the end zone. Riku's eyes widened in recognition. He had seen that pass countless times before, thrown with the same precision and power. His heart pounded in his chest as Kaminari sprinted to meet the ball, his arms outstretched. The crowd held its breath.

Kaminari caught the pass, just barely, his fingers grazing the ball before securing it in his grip. He tumbled into the end zone, and the crowd erupted into cheers. The sound was deafening, but Riku stood frozen, eyes fixed on the quarterback. The player pulled and turned around, revealing his ocean blue eyes on top of his matching blue hair—Sota.

Emotion welled up inside Riku, and tears began to blur his vision. He quickly wiped them away, but more followed, streaming down his cheeks. He was crying silently, overwhelmed by a mixture of joy, pride, and relief. His brother was playing again. It may not have been football, but Riku could see the passion and excitement in Sota's every move.

He's enjoying every moment of it, Riku thought, his heart swelling with happiness.

The game continued, but Riku barely noticed. His eyes were glued to Sota, watching every pass, every play. Sota moved with a grace and confidence that Riku hadn't seen in years. It was as if the injury and the subsequent fear had never happened.

Despite their best efforts, Seiryuu High ultimately lost the game. The final whistle blew, and the crowd's cheers turned to a murmur of disappointment. But Riku couldn't contain himself any longer. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, his voice ringing out above the quieted crowd.

"That's my brother! That's my big brother right there!"

Heads turned, and the crowd erupted into cheers once more. Students who had been feeling down about the loss now shared in Riku's infectious enthusiasm. The Seiryuu team, exhausted and sweaty, looked up in surprise. Sota's eyes found Riku in the crowd, and a smile broke across his face.

Sota also smiled briefly even though he was wondering why his brother was right there. There was no time to ask anything though since the next set was being played.

— — — — —

When Riku was younger, he often felt adrift, lacking a clear direction or dream to pursue. Unlike his brother Sota, who was a star quarterback, Riku didn't have a passion that ignited his soul. This weighed heavily on him, especially since he looked up to Sota, who seemed to have everything figured out.

One evening, Riku found himself sitting on the edge of his bed, his room dimly lit by the setting sun. He could hear the faint sounds of Sota practicing in the backyard, the rhythmic thud of the football against the ground a constant reminder of his brother's dedication and talent. Riku sighed, feeling a mix of admiration and frustration. How could he find his own path when he had no idea where to start?

Determined to seek advice, Riku headed outside. He found Sota, drenched in sweat but still full of energy, practicing his throws with a fierce intensity. Every throw had purpose, and it always hit the target which was on the other end of their backyard.

Taking a deep breath, Riku approached him.

"Big brother," Riku called out, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Sota paused, wiping sweat from his brow, and turned to face his younger brother. "Hey, Riku. What's up? Can't sleep?"

Riku shuffled his feet, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Yeah..." He trailed off, wondering why he interrupted his brother's practice in the first place.

A soft smile appeared on Sota's face as he approached his brother. "Well, if my younger brother needs some brotherly advice, then speak up. What's on your mind?"

Riku took a deep breath, trying to articulate his feelings. "I... how can I be like you, Sota-nii?. You have football, but I don't have anything like that. How are you so passionate about it? I can't seem to find anything like that..."

Sota's expression softened, and he placed a reassuring hand on Riku's shoulder. "Riku, it's okay not to have all the answers right now. Everyone finds their path at their own pace."

Riku looked up, meeting Sota's steady gaze. "But you have to start somewhere, right? Where do I start? I don't know."

Sota smiled, his eyes filled with wisdom beyond his years... quite frankly, he was just glad that his younger brother was asking for his advice. It was finally his time to say something cheesy.

"You have to go at your own pace. Don't rush yourself or compare yourself to others. Once you find something that sparks your interest, follow it. Get your momentum going, and then ride on it. Let it take you as far as you can go. Ride it like the unstoppable wind!" He continued.

Riku nodded slowly, absorbing his brother's words. "But what if I never find it? What if I never have a dream like you do?"

Sota's smile grew wider, and he looked off into the distance, his eyes reflecting his own dreams. "You will, Riku. Trust me, you will. Just keep exploring, and trying new things. Your dream will find you when the time is right."

Riku felt a weight lift off his shoulders, Sota's encouragement giving him a newfound sense of hope. "Thanks, Sota. That means a lot."

Sota chuckled, ruffling Riku's hair affectionately. "Anytime, Riku. Remember, everyone's journey is different. But whatever it is, it's yours to take. Grasp it with one hand, and always keep your other hand to your heart... then sing the national anthem or something hehe~"

"What's your dream, Sota-nii?" Riku asked out of nowhere.

Sota's expression turned serious, his eyes blazing with determination. "My dream is to get to the nationals and win. I want to prove to myself and everyone else that I can do it." Clenching his fist, Sota raised it up into the sky, his eyes sparkling as he dreamed of standing in front of a crowd with a football in hand.