He opened his eyes.
But he couldn't see anything.
Everything around him felt… distant. Muffled. As if the world itself had been wrapped in thick fabric.
His body—
He couldn't move it.
Not his arms. Not his legs.
Nothing responded.
The only thing he could do…
Was cry.
"Waaah—!"
The sound came out uncontrollably, high-pitched, fragile… not his voice.
"…What the hell…?" his mind screamed.
"Shiiit…!"
Panic surged through him, but his body refused to obey.
No strength. No control.
Only instinct.
Only helplessness.
And just like that—
Darkness took him again.
Warmth.
Softness.
Voices.
This time, when consciousness returned, he didn't open his eyes immediately.
He listened.
"…Look, Ryusuke… our son… he's so beautiful."
A gentle voice.
Warm.
Full of love.
He slowly opened his eyes.
Blurry shapes came into focus.
A woman.
She had green hair, soft and vibrant, her skin glowing with warmth and life. She was tall, elegant… and incredibly beautiful.
She was holding him.
Carefully.
Lovingly.
And beside her—
A man with black hair, tall and broad-shouldered, smiling with pure joy as he looked at them.
"…My family…"
The old man—no, the new him—froze internally.
"Ryusuke, look at him… he's perfect," the woman said, smiling brightly.
"Hahaha! Of course he is! He takes after his father!" Ryusuke replied proudly.
The woman puffed her cheeks, pretending to be offended.
"Oh, please! He clearly got my looks, that's why he's this cute!"
Ryusuke laughed, raising his hands slightly.
"Alright, alright, you win…"
But inside—
Man… my little buddy… I'm gonna need your help dealing with this tigress…
"I feel like you just thought something offensive."
The woman's voice cut through the air.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
Ryusuke stiffened.
"N-No! I would never think something like that, my love!" he said quickly, smiling nervously.
Inside, however—
That's terrifying… how is she always so accurate…?
The baby blinked slowly.
"…These two…"
Something strange stirred inside his chest.
Warmth.
Real warmth.
Days passed.
Then weeks.
Then months.
The baby grew.
And so did his awareness.
He learned their names.
Maria.
His mother.
A vibrant Brazilian woman, full of personality, expressive, emotional, and endlessly warm.
And Ryusuke.
His father.
A simple man—but strong, determined, and kind in a quiet, steady way.
"…So this is my new life…"
He accepted it faster than he expected.
Because unlike before—
He wasn't alone.
Time flew.
Five years later.
The boy stood in the living room, full of energy.
Shintaro Midorima—that was his new name.
Green hair.
Sharp eyes behind small glasses.
And a mind far beyond his age.
Thanks to his photographic memory, learning had become effortless.
Languages.
School subjects.
Even complex ideas—
Everything stuck instantly.
But what truly defined these five years…
Was not talent.
It was love.
His parents never held back.
They spoiled him.
Hugged him.
Encouraged him.
Laughed with him.
Maria was loud, emotional, dramatic—and absolutely hilarious.
She carried the spirit of Brazil in everything she did.
To her, football wasn't just a sport.
It was freedom.
Expression.
Life.
And Ryusuke—
He was the foundation.
Calm. Reliable.
Always there.
Always supporting.
Together—
They gave him something he never had before.
A home.
"…I love them…"
The realization came naturally.
Without hesitation.
Without doubt.
For the first time across two lives—
He felt truly blessed.
The backyard.
Running.
Laughing.
Kicking a ball against the wall.
Falling.
Getting back up.
Again.
And again.
Those moments—
They were simple.
But they were everything.
And now—
At five years old—
Everything was about to begin.
"Dad! Please! I want to start football!"
His eyes burned with determination.
He had asked countless times.
Begged.
Insisted.
Refused to give up.
Ryusuke scratched the back of his head, smiling.
"You're really serious about this, huh…"
Before he could answer—
"Oh, let him go!"
Maria stepped in immediately.
"Football is essential for a child! It builds character, discipline—and most importantly, it makes you alive!"
She placed her hands on her hips, full of conviction.
"In Brazil, kids grow up playing in the streets! That's where passion is born!"
Then she looked at Midorima—
And her expression softened.
"…And besides… he already loves it."
Her smile widened.
"And that makes me proud."
Midorima froze for a second.
"…Mom…"
Something tightened in his chest.
But he didn't show it.
Instead—
He smiled.
Today.
His first day of football training.
Standing in front of the field, the sound of balls being kicked echoed through the air.
Voices.
Energy.
Competition.
His heart started beating faster.
Stronger.
"…This is it…"
His grip tightened slightly.
This wasn't just a hobby.
This wasn't just a childhood activity.
This—
Was everything.
"All the dreams I couldn't achieve…"
His eyes sharpened.
"…I'll achieve them here."
The air around him felt heavier.
More real.
More intense.
"This is the starting point."
A slow breath.
From this moment forward—
There would be no hesitation.
"No running away."
His gaze hardened.
"This time…"
A faint smile appeared.
"…it's a war."
A step forward.
"…and a marathon."
Another step.
"I won't lose."
To be continued.
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