Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!

After spending two days with his family, the last day finally arrived.

As Lucas waited to board the plane, he was excited for this new phase, but, at the same time, the thought of being away from his family made him a little nervous. Soon he heard familiar footsteps approaching and turned to see his parents and Hana, his younger sister, arriving.

"Oni-chan!" exclaimed Hana, running to hug him with all the strength her little arms could muster. "I'm going to miss you! Who's going to help me with my math homework now?"

Lucas smiled, stroking her hair. "I'll be away, but that doesn't mean I won't be around, okay? Anything, just call me and I'll help you via video."

John, Lucas's father, approached and placed a firm hand on her shoulder, smiling proudly and affectionately at the same time. It was rare to see that emotional gleam in the eyes of his father, who was usually more withdrawn because of work.

"Son, I want you to make the most of this opportunity. But don't forget the basics. Take care of yourself, get at least eight hours of sleep, remember to brush your teeth every night and..." He chuckled slightly in embarrassment, as if he'd run out of options of what to say. "Oh, and without getting into trouble."

Lucas laughed, nodding. "I promise I'll remember, Dad. And I'll try to stay out of trouble."

Ayumi looked at him with watery eyes, holding a small handkerchief in her hand. She pulled him into a tight hug, the kind he felt would stay with him, even on the other side of the world.

"My darling, go and do what you love, and we'll always be here cheering you on, but please don't forget to eat properly and take good care of your health. I know you can get carried away and forget all that when you're there." She looked at him with that smile mixed with concern and affection, typical of a mother.

"Yes, Mom, I'll take care of myself." Lucas hugged his mother tighter.

Hana, still holding onto his arm, looked up with a determined expression.

"And don't forget about us! Text us every day, okay?"

"That's okay, Hana. Every day, I promise. I'll tell you what it's like over there."

The boarding call echoed through the speakers, and Lucas knew it was time to say goodbye. He looked at each of them, recording in his mind that moment and the support and affection that his family had always offered him.

"I love you. And I'm going to make it all worthwhile." Lucas said with a determined smile.

They said goodbye with another collective hug, and Lucas set off towards the boarding gate.

On the plane, Lucas buckled his seatbelt, adjusted himself in the narrow business class seat and cast a discreet glance at Mr. Otsuka, who was standing next to him. He seemed tense, even though his body was perfectly upright in the seat and his fingers manipulated the seat belt with almost exaggerated care. Lucas suppressed a smile: it was almost strange to see someone like Otsuka showing any trace of vulnerability, even if it was simply discomfort with the flight. Leaning slightly towards him, he asked in a low, friendly tone:

"Mr. Otsuka, are you afraid of flying?"

Mr. Otsuka kept his eyes fixed on his belt buckle for a few more seconds before looking up at Lucas with slightly arched eyebrows and a forced smile.

"Afraid? Me?" he replied with a restrained laugh that didn't disguise his obvious nervousness. "I've lost count of how many times I've flown around, kid. Trust me, a man who has flown so much by plane is never scared of that."

Despite his words, Lucas could see Mr. Otsuka's fingers still clenching his seatbelt with a certain amount of force as he gazed cautiously at the window.

Noticing that Lucas was still staring, Mr. Otsuka changed the subject quickly.

"How are you doing about moving country, kid?"

"Playing in England was something I'd only dreamed of, and now I'm on my way to one of the best grassroots leagues in the world. I'm excited."

Mr. Otsuka listened attentively, seeming to relax a little with the new direction of the conversation. He let out a low laugh and nodded.

"That's good. A young man like you should be excited, but I don't see that excitement all over your face. Is something bothering you?"

"I'd say... well, I was a bit disappointed that Team B was created just for me and the other boys in the sieve. I feel like we fell short of their expectations."

Mr. Otsuka looked down the aisle of the plane, where a flight attendant was calmly passing by, handing out glasses of water to some passengers. He let out a sigh, relaxing further into his seat.

"Lucas, I understand what you're feeling, but understand that this is normal. Every big club has a team structure that acts as a stepping stone from one category to another. The U-20 coaching staff have seen your potential, but they also know that you and the other boys still have things to work on."

It was good to know that they weren't underestimating his talent, just adopting a strategy to improve his development. Mr. Otsuka seemed to notice Lucas' lighter expression and continued:

"Unlike many clubs, Brighton only has two youth teams: the Children's team and the Under-20s. They believe it's better for the younger players, 15, 16 and upwards, to play with more experienced players in order to speed up their development. However, they also realize that some players need special attention and special preparation. They created the B Team for this purpose, allowing boys like you to develop their skills in a more focused manner, considering that the U-20 is a semi-professional category."

Lucas nodded, beginning to understand the logic behind the club's structure. "It's as if they wanted us to prepare before being thrown to the beasts, right?"

Mr. Otsuka nodded, his face finally relaxing completely.

"Exactly. Everyone needs time to grow up. And if I were you, I'd see this as a chance to become an even more complete player."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om