The day after the final, Team Japan didn’t waste too much time in this foreign country. As a losing team, they didn’t have any luxury to enjoy everything, so instead, the team decided to go back home as quickly as possible.
The journey took around half a day, going straight without having to stop in Dubai first like usual. Still, the time difference between the two countries was enough to mess with their mind. The moment they set foot back in Tokyo, the boys felt disoriented for a moment, finding their shoulders to be heavier than usual.
"Fuck! I swear, the departure a month ago is not this bad!" Naoya cursed while clutching his forehead, suffering from a slight headache.
"Well, that is because right now, the fatigue accumulated from the tournament is still in effect, so your body will be quite weak for this kind of long trip. Here, have some warm water." Kumiko offered him a bottle of water. "Also, this is the medicine to alleviate your headache. Your journey back home shouldn’t be that far, right? If you still have time, take it slowly first, and get a good nap in the nearest hotel. It will make you feel better."
Naoya just smiled weakly, but his instinct as a local lothario still took over. "Thank you, Kumiko-san, you are an angel. I don’t know what that bastard Ryusuke deserves to have you."
"I can hear that, Bastard!" Higo kicked the boy playfully on the butt. "Anyway, let’s go, Kumiko-chan! Teme has been waiting for us!"
"Oh, okay!" Kumiko nodded before turning to Naoya one last time. "Goodbye, Naoya-kun! Thank you for being friendly with Ryukkun during his time in the national team!" She bowed slightly before jogging a little behind Higo, leaving Naoya shaking his head in exasperation.
’What a lucky bastard...’
After they arrived in Japan, they were greeted by people from the federation. Fortunately, Kageyama-sensei shielded them from having to face so many formal events that would give them a headache, allowing the boys to go back home in peace.
This was also the man’s last act as their head coach, because after this, the team was truly disbanded. Even if they would still be able to play for the same national team, their age would’ve already reached 20, making them ineligible to play in the same tournament anymore.
This was always the fate of a junior team, so no matter how sentimental the boys were, they couldn’t avoid separation at the end of the day.
"Mamoru-kun, Yamane-san, bye! The next time we meet, I hope you guys are the ones who go to Europe!" Higo waved at the two boys from Shizuoka.
"Yeah, let’s keep in touch, Higo!" Miki Yamane nodded.
"Bye, Higo-san! Don’t embarrass us in German, okay?!" Mamoru added.
One by one, the boys started leaving the group. They were going to fly straight back to their hometown, where all the fame would be waiting for them. Higo, Makino, and Kumiko were also the same. Even though the boys were still suffering from jet lag, that didn’t diminish the thought of going back to Hakodate. Moreover, it would be a lie if they said that they didn’t miss their family.
Higo could even still hear the hysterical cry from his mother on the phone call yesterday as she expressed how much she missed him during this month.
"How could you be so thin like that? Did the national team not treat you well? Don’t worry, we have so much seafood back home! What do you want to eat, steamed fish? Sushi? Takoyaki? I can even get you a shark fin soup, if you want!"
Higo felt a cold sweat rolling down his back when he remembered that. The boy didn’t know how, but somehow, his mother started learning how to handle different types of seafood, and honestly, if he didn’t stop her yesterday, he was so sure that his mother would go berserk back home.
’If this is her reaction for me leaving only for a month... What would happen if I left for a few months or a year to be with the team?’ Higo couldn’t help but shudder secretly.
Both Makino and Kumiko also saw his strange behavior, and when they heard his reason, those two teenagers just looked at him in pity.
"I hope you will survive this, my friend." Makino patted his shoulder solemnly. "Don’t worry, I will remember all the good things you have done in the world."
"Oh, stop being dramatic!" Kumiko slapped the boy in the back. "Don’t worry, I will also help you in this matter. Also, Aya-nee will be there as well, so you don’t have to worry about how to handle Minami-obaasan. Just leave her to us."
Well, at least, this was reassuring. Higo just let out a relieved sigh, shaking his head slightly to get rid of that unnecessary thought.
The journey back to Hakodate was quite uneventful. Honestly, with all the things they had achieved so far, Higo and Makino would think that someone would notice them on the journey, and yet, most of the people they met only minded their own business. This made them look so awkward, and Kumiko couldn’t help but laugh at them.
"You guys are just a goalkeeper and a defender, far away from the spotlight. Only those good enough like Morita-san or loud enough like Kawabe-kun will be known by people outside!"
This was the harsh reality of a junior tournament. If they didn’t win it all, only those who were fanatic enough to follow them would recognize the boys in public. As for the others, even a miracle wouldn’t be enough to let them notice the boys were the members of the national team.
They spent the next four hours on the plane in an awkward silence. Besides the fact that both Makino and Higo were too embarrassed to say anything, they were also a little bit tired from all the trips they had to take in the last few days.
Fortunately, soon enough, they finally arrived at Sapporo. It would still take a few hours for them to arrive at the final destination; at least, right now, they could finally let out a relieved sigh for finding a familiar sight around them.
’After a month... We are finally going to be back at home!’