The interview requests started flooding in after Javier's MMA match announcement went viral across multiple platforms. Sports networks, humanitarian organizations, and major media outlets all wanted to speak with the young man whose story had captured international attention.
"We've got interview requests from ESPN España, Valencia Today, and three international sports podcasts," Sofia informed him as they sat in the cycling club's meeting room, now converted into an impromptu media headquarters. "Plus, the Humanitarian Network wants to feature you in their monthly spotlight."
Javier nodded, reviewing the list with the same focused attention he brought to his training. "Which ones will reach the most people?"
"ESPN España has the biggest sports audience, but the humanitarian networks have international reach through your father's connections."
His first major interview was with Valencia Sports Weekly, a local program that had followed his cycling career before the accident. The interviewer, Carmen Rodriguez, had known him since he was fifteen.
"Javier, for viewers who might not know your full story, can you walk us through what happened and where you are now?"
"Three years ago, I was cycling competitively and training in MMA," Javier began, his voice steady and clear. "I had an accident that put me in a coma for over two years. When I woke up, I had experienced something during that time that gave me a mission—to find a Japanese girl I had helped before my accident and make sure she knows someone cares about her well-being."
"Tell us about that encounter."
"I found her in a park during a rainstorm. She looked broken, and her hair had been severely neglected. I spent time helping her, washing and detangling her hair carefully. By the end, she looked completely different—not just her appearance, but her whole spirit. It was a meaningful moment for both of us."
"And during your coma, you experienced something that convinced you to search for her?"
"I believe I was given information that could help her, yes. Whether people think that was real or just my mind processing trauma doesn't matter to me. What matters is completing the mission."
The interview resonated with viewers immediately. Within hours, clips were being shared across social media, and Javier's follower count spiked by 50,000.
His next interview was with an international humanitarian podcast that reached audiences in over thirty countries.
"Javier, your story combines athletic achievement, personal tragedy, and this spiritual mission. How do you balance all of these elements?"
"They're not separate things for me," he replied. "My training, my recovery, my search—they're all part of the same purpose. I need to be strong enough, focused enough, and visible enough to complete what I was entrusted with."
"What would you say to people who might be skeptical about the spiritual aspects of your experience?"
"I'd say that's completely understandable. I don't need anyone to believe what I experienced. I just need them to share my story so it reaches the right person."
The podcast episode became one of their most downloaded, with listeners from Japan, the United States, Australia, and across Europe discovering Javier's story for the first time.
Comments began pouring in from new followers around the world:
"Never heard of this guy before the podcast, but his determination is incredible. Sharing his story everywhere I can."
"I don't care if his coma experience was real or not—helping someone find peace is always worth supporting."
"This is what using your platform for good looks like. Mad respect."
His appearance on ESPN España brought him to an entirely different audience. The sports-focused interview highlighted his athletic achievements and MMA training, but always circled back to his larger mission.
"You were a promising cyclist before your accident," the host noted. "Do you miss that version of your life?"
"I appreciate what cycling taught me about discipline and endurance," Javier replied. "But I've never been more motivated or focused than I am now. Having real purpose changes everything."
"And the upcoming MMA match—how does that serve your search?"
"Every platform, every audience, every person who learns my story increases the chance that it reaches someone who knows her. If stepping into that cage helps one more person see this story, then it's worth whatever risks are involved."
The ESPN interview was clipped and shared by major sports accounts, introducing Javier to audiences who had never heard of him before. His follower count surged past 600,000 as athletes, fans, and sports media personalities began sharing his content.
Professional athletes started reaching out with support:
"Your story is inspiring, brother. Using your platform to help others—that's what being an athlete should be about. @JavierVarela" - Posted by Miguel Torres, professional cyclist
"This is what real strength looks like. Not just physical, but purpose-driven. Respect. @JavierVarela" - Posted by Ana Gutierrez, Olympic judoka
But it was his interview with International Humanitarian Today that reached the audiences Javier cared about most. The program was distributed through aid organizations, cultural exchange programs, and international student networks.
"Your family has a long history of humanitarian work," the interviewer noted. "How does that background influence your current mission?"
"It taught me that helping others isn't just something you do when it's convenient—it's a responsibility. When you have the ability to make a difference in someone's life, you have an obligation to act on it."
"What would you want to say directly to the person you're looking for?"
Javier looked directly into the camera, his intensity making viewers feel he was speaking personally to them. "I want her to know that someone is thinking about her and wants to make sure she's okay. That the moment we shared meant something, and I hope she's doing well in her life."
The humanitarian interview was translated into multiple languages and distributed through networks that reached Japanese communities worldwide. Within days, Javier was receiving messages from people across the globe who had been moved by his story.
"Sharing this in all the Japanese student groups I'm part of. Someone will recognize this story."
"Your dedication to helping someone you barely know gives me hope in humanity."
"I don't know if you'll find her, but your search is inspiring people everywhere to be kinder to strangers."
As his media appearances continued to expand his reach, Javier remained focused on the personal mission at the heart of his growing fame. Each interview ended the same way—with a direct appeal for information about the Japanese girl whose brief encounter with kindness had become the driving force behind his international platform.
Somewhere, Aiko was continuing her life, knowing that a determined young man had become a global phenomenon giving interviews to major media outlets, but torn between her curiosity about his message and her commitment to the future she was building with Hiroshi.
The search had grown beyond anything either of them could have imagined, but for Javier, it remained intensely personal—a sacred trust he was determined to honor, no matter how far his story spread or how many people became invested in its outcome.