"Passport?"
"Here."
"Phone?"
"On the pocket."
"Ticket?"
"Aya-nee brought it."
"Are you sure the snacks haven’t been left behind?"
"I am sure, Mom. Even if I accidentally left it behind, I could get something at the airport later."
"What about—"
"Mom, I love you to the moon and back, but I can assure you that everything is ready here." Higo sighed helplessly as his mother was gushing over him. "My toothbrush is there, you also picked three warm clothes for me to wear, complete with the hats, scarf, and gloves if the weather there is still cold. Don’t worry, I am ready."
It was the morning before their departure, and right now, Kumiko, Minami, Ayaka, and Higo were gathering in Sapporo International Airport one last time before the pair of brother and sister would board for Tokyo.
Yeah, it was decided that Ayaka would accompany Higo. No matter how much Minami trusted Koisuke Fujita with her son, it was always reassuring to have a family member together, and coincidentally enough, Ayaka was just as free as he was, what with her being on a short holiday before the start of the term right now.
She and Kumiko just stared at each other, amusedly as they watched their boy being treated like a little child by the mother. What made it funnier was the fact that Higo loved Minami too much to interrupt her until the end.
In the end, the big sister finally took pity, interrupting their heartfelt conversation here. "Okay, Mom, don’t worry, we are just going away for four days. No matter the result, we will be back first, including Ryukkun. This is just a short time; there’s no need to be so anxious like this."
Minami looked at her oldest child for a moment before finally taking a deep breath. "Yeah, yeah, you are right. This is not the first time Ryukkun is out. He has been doing so from Niigata to Yokohama, and this will be no different. I am sure he will be back sooner than I could ever think of."
Seeing his mother like this, Higo couldn’t help but feel guilty. He knew his mother had a problem whenever he was out, but the boy had never thought it would be this severe.
’It is like a separation anxiety, right?’ He recalled a medical term he read in the past. ’With Aya-nee and me being out of town, she will only be more lonely. No, that wouldn’t do. Once everything is settled down, I have to bring her in, at least for a peace of her mind.’ He clenched his fist secretly, having already determined what to do in the future.
Minami didn’t notice the change of expression on her son’s face. She just hugged him tightly, having his head resting on her shoulder. "Listen to your sister and just do your best, okay? Go out there and have fun, and always remember, no matter how you are doing there, I will always be proud of you." She choked at the last part, trying to hold back her cry.
"Yeah, don’t worry, Mom, you will see me soon with good news back home." Higo smiled a little here. When he turned to Kumiko, the boy’s expression dimmed for a moment. "I thought you would also be there for me, you know?" He joked a little, trying to hide his uneasiness.
Yeah, this feeling was quite understandable. Since he joined the football team, Kumiko was always in the back, watching him with her silent support. This was the first time Higo would go alone without her by his side, and the boy couldn’t help but start to overthink.
In return, Kumiko just smiled softly, so soft that it was enough to melt Higo’s heart. "Don’t worry, I know you will be okay." She hugged him tighter than ever. "Don’t forget that you promised me you would accompany me to Germany, so this is your time to fulfil that promise, okay?" She smiled teasingly.
"Ha! Don’t worry, just wait back home together with mom for my good news!"
Soon enough, after more teary words between each other, Higo and Ayaka finally went on the plane, but not before waving at his mother and Kumiko strongly in the waiting room. Once their presence was out of his sight, he couldn’t help but get his eyes teary.
"I am not crying." He said the first thing before Ayaka could say anything else, wiping them all from the corner of his eyes. "I just got dust in my eyes." He said stubbornly.
Ayaka was just quiet for a moment, shifting her attention from her phone back to her little brother. "You know you are allowed to cry, right? Just like you are allowed to feel fear, nervousness, or anxiety. You don’t have to look strong in front of me."
"...I know." Higo nodded, shaking his head strongly. He took a deep breath, trying his best to change his mood right now. "Aya-nee, I have decided." He said firmly.
"Oh?"
"I will crush the trial two days later, and we all will be back with great news in our hands. I promise you that." His eyes were burning with determination.
Ayaka stared at him for a moment before giving a simple nod. "Well, then, let’s go. It is time for us to board."
Soon enough, they found themselves flying to Tokyo. The journey was quite quick, and at this point, Higo had been on this kind of trip so many times in the last couple of months that the boy also got used to the atmosphere around.
Even the baby’s cry in the background was not enough to wake him up from his comfortable sleep, as the moment the boy sat on his seat, his consciousness slipped away instantly. It was only after they reached Haneda International Airport that Higo finally woke up, and after going for a quick lunch with the bento sold there, they finally found Koisuke Fujita waiting for them.
"Ah! So, here you both are!" The man’s eyes lit up instantly when he found them. "So, how is it? Ready for your new adventure?"
Higo straightened his back immediately before giving his best nod here. "Sure, let’s spread the name of Hakodate Iron Wall to Germany, eh?"