Chapter 19: The Tournament Opens
Autumn in Tokyo always arrived at just the right moment. Cloudless and crisp, the weather high above the National Stadium brought an exceptionally refreshing mood. The sunlight poured onto the pristine green pitch, reflecting a dazzling radiance.
Today, the opening ceremony of the 97th All Japan High School Soccer Tournament was being held here. As early as nine in the morning, a massive crowd had already gathered outside the stadium. Fans from all across the country wore the jerseys of the schools they supported, waving cheering banners and boosting the morale for the upcoming match with roaring enthusiasm.
The event organizers had given Hikaru Hoshino a batch of VIP tickets as a token of appreciation for composing the tournament's theme song. Having these tickets pile up in his hands was of no use to him, so Hikaru transformed into a ticket-dispensing fairy, handing out passes to a vast number of people he knew—even if some of them held no interest in the sport whatsoever.
At ten-thirty in the morning, an extended black luxury business van rolled to a smooth halt at the stadium's VIP entrance. The door slid open, and Ichigo Saitou stepped out first, followed closely by Miyako Saitou. She wore a pale blue dress today, looking elegant and graceful. Behind her, the twins hopped down from the vehicle.
The last to exit was Ai. She wore a pair of oversized sunglasses, her long hair tied up into a ponytail, and was dressed in a simple white T-shirt and jeans, doing her best to maintain a low profile.
"So many people," Ruby remarked in awe. "Is that guy Hikaru Hoshino actually going to sing in a place this massive later?"
Evaluating with her years of experience as a hardcore idol fan, she commented, "He's got some skills. Having debuted as a singer for only half a year, he can already land a commercial gig of this caliber."
"But..."
"But it still doesn't compare to Ai's Dome performances," Aqua cut in, finishing her thought.
"It took me eight years to stand in the Dome, you know," Ai bent down, whispering softly right beside the children's ears. "If it's Hikaru, given his current momentum, wouldn't he have a chance to stand on a pinnacle stage like that in half a year?"
"Looking at his current trajectory, it's not impossible," Aqua answered subconsciously. But snapping out of it immediately, he continued to counter, "He aligned himself with a major agency right from the jump, whereas Ai started from a small agency and built her way up step by step. You can't compare the two."
"Exactly, exactly!" Ruby chimed in, backing him up.
"Are you two blaming Strawberry Productions for holding Ai back?" Ichigo clicked his tongue. "You can't play me like that. I was the one who scouted Ai with my own two hands back then. After all these years, even if there's no glory, there's still hard work!"
"Stop bickering, let's get ready to head in. There are too many people, thankfully Hikaru provided VIP tickets." Miyako pinched Ichigo's ear, leading the group toward the entrance.
Just as they were about to step into the corridor, they ran into another group coming from the opposite direction.
"Is that Kana Arima?" Ruby's sharp eyes recognized the wine-red-haired girl in the crowd, and she proactively called out to her. "Kana, over here, over here!"
Hearing a familiar voice, Kana Arima lifted her head to look at Ruby's group, a flash of surprise crossing her face.
"Aqua?"
At that moment, another figure also noticed the commotion. Hearing Ruby's voice, Akane Kurokawa walked over from her father's side.
"Aqua-kun, did you come to watch soccer too?" Akane's voice carried a hint of pleasant surprise.
Looking at the two familiar faces before him, Aqua felt a touch bewildered. "Did that guy Hikaru Hoshino seriously give you two tickets as well?"
"Mm," Kana Arima replied flatly.
Aqua felt a slight headache coming on. "Instead of giving tickets to his actual colleagues and friends, why did he invite a bunch of kids? Is that guy's social circle really that narrow?"
Hikaru (Deadpan): *Sodayo (Yes, it is).*
Kana crossed her arms, replying unhappily, "What's wrong with kids? Aren't you a kid too?"
Aqua, however, saw right through her. "You don't look like you're actually interested in soccer."
He keenly perceived that today's Kana Arima was quite different from her usual self. Her usual sharp, slightly prideful demeanor was entirely gone, replaced by a low, depressed mood that she could hardly conceal. She kept her head lowered, her short hair obscuring half her face.
"...A little bit interested," Kana muttered stubbornly. In reality, she preferred baseball over soccer. But currently, she was in no mood to strike up a conversation; she just wanted to find an excuse to slip away before her mother could say anything.
However, things didn't go her way.
"Is this the famous Ai from the Dome performances?" Kana's mother's eyes lit up, and she instantly beamed with a passionate smile. "I have heard so much about you! I am Kana Arima's mother, Mikako Arima."
Mikako displayed an aggressive eagerness, instantly launching into a relentless stream of words to curry favor with Ai. "Our Kana mentions you all the time, saying you took exceptional care of her on set. Thank you ever so much!"
Caught off guard by this sudden wave of intense enthusiasm, Ai felt entirely flustered, a hint of panic darting through her purple eyes. "Ah, hello... Actually, I didn't really do anything special..."
Noticing Ai's predicament, Ichigo smoothly stepped forward. "Mrs. Arima, a pleasure to meet you. I am Saitou from Strawberry Productions."
Kana lowered her head even further, wishing she could vanish from the spot instantly.
While the adults were exchanging pleasantries, Aqua quietly walked up next to Kana. Seeing that her condition was off today, he spoke in an incredibly hushed tone:
"What's this? The always fearless Kana Arima can have unhappy days too."
Kana turned her head to the side, remaining silent.
Aqua went quiet for a few seconds before suddenly saying, "Do you hate your mother?"
"Huh?!"
Kana snapped her head up as if her deepest secret had been exposed, looking entirely flustered. She stole a cautious glance at her mother, who was currently chatting with intense fervor, and then shook her head.
"It's my own problem," Kana's voice sank with disappointment. "There haven't been any new collaborations lately, so Mom's been in a bad mood, always trying to forcefully pitch me to anyone she sees."
"To be honest, because she keeps trying to network without care for the time or place, it's gotten to the point where I can't land any roles at all now."
Aqua felt a bit puzzled. "Why can't you land roles? There's nothing wrong with your acting, right?"
Kana glanced at Akane Kurokawa standing beside her father, her annoyance deepening slightly when she noticed that Akane had cut her hair short to mimic her own style.
Lowering her voice even further, she continued, "Acting talent doesn't matter at all, does it? Didn't you, who got into the production through the back door before, know this best?"
Aqua pointed out the truth without a single shred of mercy: "It's because you always show off your acting talent, isn't it, Arima? That's why you don't get along with the other actors and have been ostracized from the circle. Directors don't want to bring trouble upon themselves, so naturally, they won't cast you."
"Aqua!" Kana's eyes widened in shock.
Aqua offered a clear path forward: "It's not too late to change. As long as you drop your bad temper and properly lower your posture, you'll start receiving invitations again very soon."
On the other side, a tall, calm, and collected middle-aged man walked over. He wore a dark suit, maintaining an immaculate appearance even on such a casual occasion.
"You must be Miss Ai Hoshino," the man offered a gentle smile. "My daughter mentions you frequently at home. Thank you very much for your guidance and care toward Akane."
Akane Kurokawa stood beside her father, her expression somewhat restrained.
"I am Osamu Kurokawa. I currently work at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, holding the rank of Senior Commissioner." Osamu handed over a business card, his manner humble and polite. "Should there be any need for my assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to ask."
Within the Japanese police hierarchy, a Senior Commissioner was already an exceptionally high-ranking position. Progressing from Officer, Sergeant, Assistant Inspector, Inspector, Superintendent, Chief Superintendent, to Senior Commissioner required many years of accumulation and outstanding performance. To achieve this rank in one's forties proved that Osamu Kurokawa was not only remarkably capable but also possessed a deep, formidable background. If he maintained this momentum, he was highly likely to rise to Superintendent Supervisor before retirement, and could even realistically aim for the position of Superintendent General.
Ai didn't quite grasp what this rank signified, but she accepted the card with a polite smile. "Not at all, it's only natural."
Ichigo, however, was thoroughly astonished. He never imagined that Ai had connected with such a powerful figure without his knowledge.
Meanwhile, Aqua quietly stared at Osamu Kurokawa.
*Someone from the Metropolitan Police Department... perhaps he could be of help in my continued investigation of Ryosuke.*
"Let's head inside," Ichigo spoke up at the right time. "The opening ceremony is about to begin."
The group passed through the VIP channel into the stadium. Walking down a lavishly decorated corridor, the walls were lined with photographs of past championship teams, documenting the glorious history of this tournament. Though it was only a high school league, society as a whole attached great importance to it, and the entire event was organized beautifully.
The moment they stepped out of the tunnel, the massive pitch suddenly unfolded before their eyes. The 50,000-capacity National Stadium was completely packed to the rafters, with spectators in the stands waving all sorts of colored banners, creating a vibrant, multi-hued ocean. The green turf was manicured as neatly as a carpet, and the white goalposts gleamed brightly under the sun.
The VIP seats were located right in the dead center of the front row, offering an unparalleled view. Everyone took their seats one after another, with Ai sitting in the middle, and Aqua and Ruby positioned on either side of her. Kana and Akane sat in a few seats slightly further away.
A temporary stage had been constructed along the edge of the pitch, and staff members were making final adjustments. Massive LED screens hung high above the stands, looping highlight reels of the various competing teams from their regional qualifiers—though they were just a bunch of high school students, the editors' masterclass techniques made the final footage look as if they were playing in the World Cup.
Time slipped away quickly, and with the thunderous boom of a ceremonial cannon, the roaring clamor of the venue gradually subsided.
The host's booming voice reverberated throughout the entire stadium via the amplification equipment: "Spectators and fans, the opening ceremony of the 97th All Japan High School Soccer Tournament has officially begun!"
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