Blue Dream Trail (Soccer) - Episode 11

※From Hayato Onizuka’s point of view

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On the day the 2026 World Cup finals team members were announced,

I checked it on my smartphone after team practice.

There was my name.

There was no surprise.

I thought it was natural and that this was the “right” answer.

But――

In the list,

His name wasn’t there.

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“……teeth?”

I couldn’t help but look at my smartphone screen twice.

No, I looked at it three times.

The words “Naoe Ren” are nowhere to be found.

When I opened social media, I saw that some fans were in an uproar.

“Why isn’t Ren here?” “Is there any point in leaving him out?”

The public was surprised that such a calm person was no longer there.

But the reason I was surprised was different.

(…I knew he would come.)

Ren has made me angry many times,

I don’t want to admit it again and again,

nevertheless–

I thought, “If I’m going to stand on the world stage, I want to stand alongside him.”

So I was a little annoyed that I wasn’t invited.

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I didn’t tell anyone.

To his teammates and the media.

However, on the bus ride home,

I happened to open Instagram and saw that he had posted.

The photo shows the usual grounds.

There was nothing in the caption.

There is just one photo of Ren’s back, standing on the ground at night.

The moment I saw it, I felt kind of pissed.

But if you look closely,

His back was burning quietly, as always.

Ah, I thought so.

(You’re not the kind of guy to stop there.)

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The night city passes by outside the bus window.

Next time we meet on the pitch,

It doesn’t matter if it’s for the national team, a club, or anywhere.

He was still so quiet.

Because I know that he will become a player who will move the world.

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