— Flashback, a few years ago in France —
"Hey Rikuo, what would your first celebration be if you scored your first professional goal?" asked Alicia, his mother, while cooking. Rikuo was only 10 at the time.
"My celebration… uh… I'd celebrate like Ronaldo, maybe. That'd be so cool," said Rikuo.
"Hahaha, don't you think you should come up with your own celebration for your first pro goal?" Alicia laughed.
Rikuo got up from the table.
"In that case, I don't really know, Mom… Dad, do you have an idea?"
Takeshi, reading his newspaper, replied:
"I don't know, son. You're not there yet. You'll figure it out when the time comes. A first pro goal is really important… I'm sure your celebration will be memorable."
"Yeah, your dad's right," Alicia added with a smile. "For now, just focus on doing your best so that moment can come one day. And when it does, we'll be watching… and we'll see your answer. Knowing you, it'll be super cool, like you say hahaha."
Rikuo smiled.
"Alright, Mom, Dad… I actually have an idea. But I'll only show it the day I score that goal haha."
— Back to present —
72nd minute.72nd minute.
"Looks like Tokyo's coach is about to make a substitution… number 77 is getting ready to come on."
"Yes, Miyazaki-san… but who is this player?"
"Good question, Heishi-san! Number 77 is a new Tokyo CF player, ladies and gentlemen. His name is Rikuo Amada. He came from France, and today is his first professional match. He's young… and he's coming on at a crucial moment, replacing number 8, Ryo!"
The whole stadium was curious.
Murmurs spread everywhere.
Who was this player?
Only a few people who followed the club closely had seen him online. But no one really knew what he was worth.
But they were about to find out.
One man in the crowd already knew.
Seat E257.
"Rikuo…! I'm nervous, my son… you're about to step on the pitch… these emotions… I can't even describe them. Alicia… are you watching? Our son is about to play his first professional minutes…" said Takeshi.
He glanced at the empty seat next to him.
And for a second…
He felt a presence smiling.
— Back on the sideline —
The assistants didn't understand Sato's decision.
"Why is the coach sending in Rikuo? He's only been here a few days… in a moment like this?"
"I don't know… but he told us he feels like Rikuo is going to change something…"
Sato stood in front of Rikuo, giving final instructions.
"Alright. This is your moment. Show me what I saw in training and everything will be fine. My friend Senda told me to trust his instinct about you… so I'm trusting it now. Are you ready?"
Rikuo looked at him, determined.
"Of course, coach. I've been waiting for this since the start of the match. Sit down, watch us… we'll celebrate the win in the locker room. I owe you that for trusting me… and for Senda bringing me here."
Sato smiled slightly.
"Perfect. That's what I wanted to hear. Go on. Follow Minato. We switch to two attacking midfielders. Kenji will stay behind you."
Rikuo nodded.
"Mom… Dad… I'm going… watch over me… I'll make you proud…" thought Rikuo.
The ball went out.
Substitution.
Ryo high-fived him.
"Good luck, genius."
"Thanks. Well played," replied Rikuo.
He stepped onto the pitch.
Applause.
"It's big… it's loud… yeah… I made the right choice continuing football… this is exactly why I'm here… to feel this…" he murmured.
Throw-in for Tokyo.
Shun played it.
The ball reached Kenji, who started moving it around.
Tokyo clearly had possession now.
Rikuo touched his first balls.
Quick exchanges with Minato.
Two touches.
Switch to Raizo.
"Tokyo is moving the ball well… you can feel something coming, right Heishi-san?"
"Yes, it's fluid. They're switching sides to break the defensive block… and the young number 77 looks very comfortable. The ball doesn't burn his feet."
Rikuo drifted to the right wing.
On the left, Raizo, Minato, and Shun were combining in triangles.
Suddenly—
Rivelinho dropped as a pivot.
Minato played him.
One touch back.
Then—
"Minato! Play me!" shouted Rikuo, wide open on the right.
"Nice movement, little prodigy—here!" Minato replied.
A perfect lobbed pass behind the defender.
"What a pass! First touch will be key to keep the speed!"
Perfect control.
With hisRight foot.
He is now Into the final meters before the box.
Only the fullback left.
A first feint.
The defender froze.
Second feint.
He slipped.
"WOW! What a show! Kashima's number 3 is on the ground! Incredible technique from Rikuo Amada!"
The crowd rose.
Everyone rose.
"Perfect… space is open now…" thought Rikuo.
He looked up.
Minato came close.
Pass back.
One-two.
"Thanks, magician!"
He drove into the box.
"Genius! I'm here!" shouted Rivelinho.
"Not so fast, kid!" It's Akira.
He was back and In front of him now
"Damn… he came back quick… but that won't stop me…" Rikuo smirked.
— Flashback, day before the match —
"Minato, I have a question."
"Go ahead, genius."
"If a defender comes back while the winger is about to cross… what should he do?"
"…Are you serious?" Minato said.
"Would that really stop you?"
"…No… I don't think so."
"Then what's the problem? Beat him… and cross. Simple."
— Back to present —
Rikuo faced Akira.
Akira shifted to block the cross.
"You really think that'll stop me from crossing?" Rikuo said.
"What?! You're way too cocky, kid! Give me the ball now!"
Akira lunged.
Too late.
Nutmeg.
Then he made an acceleration Into the box
"WOOOOOOOAHHH!!!"
The crowd exploded.
Rivelinho was now completely free.
All Rikuo had to do… was pass.
But a defender rushed at him.
Exactly what he wanted.
"Genius… what you're doing is crazy…" thought Minato, smiling.
Quick right-foot cut.
Defender gone.
Goalkeeper rushed out.
"Rikuo! Shoot! Do it, my son!" shouted Takeshi.
"Rikuo is one-on-one with the keeper!!!"
A soft lob.
Over the keeper.
The ball rolled…
Rikuo turned.
Arms open.
He already knew.
"GOOOOOAAALLLL!!! WHAT A GOAL!!! A WONDERFUL GOAL FROM NUMBER 77, RIKUO AMADA!!! TOKYO EQUALIZES!!!"
"YEEEEESSSSS!!!" the crowd roared.
On the bench—
Shock.
"He shot?!"
"Senda… you were right… this kid is special…" murmured Sato.
"What a goal, genius! Now we win this!" shouted Rivelinho.
"Incredible!" said Raizo.
Minato clapped.
"First goal, genius… now we have to win»
Rikuo smiled.
Then…
He turned to the crowd.
"I'll show it to you the day I score…"
"Mom… Dad… this is it…my celebration""Mom… Dad… this is it…my celebration"
He pointed.
Toward his father.
And the empty seat.
Then pointed at his back.
"AMADA"
Number 77.
His mother's birth date.
Takeshi realised.
"My son… your celebration… it says everything… thank you…"
For a second he looked at his right and—
He saw Alicia. She was the presence he felt before.
Smiling.
"Congratulations, my son… I'm proud of you… your celebration is super cool hahaha…"
Takeshi laughed then said in tears.
"I get it now… the second ticket…was for her.. thank you… I'm proud of you too…"
Then turned back.
The game resumed.
1–1.
82nd minute.
"What a moment! This is why fans come to the stadium! I can't wait to see the end of this match!"
"Absolutely, Miyazaki-san!"
"Fiiiuuuuu!"
8 minutes left.
Rikuo Amada.
First professional goal.
And now his team is one goal away from victory.