The Golden Winged Of Football: Haruma Kusaka

Chapter 135 135: Meeting The Loved Ones

Haruma stood frozen in place, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly agape as he stared at her in disbelief.Across the lounge, his mother looked back at him, her eyes glistening with overwhelming emotion, her trembling smile struggling to contain everything she was feeling.

Then suddenly, the calm atmosphere shattered as all the other players rushed toward their families all at once, erupting the lounge into a whirlwind of emotional reunions. Hugs were exchanged, laughter broke out, and excited voices filled the air as parents and children embraced after weeks and months of sacrifice.

Amid the chaos of joy surrounding him, Haruma remained rooted to the spot, his eyes never leaving his mother. Then quickly bringing his emotions under control Haruma rushed toward his mother.

At the same time, she moved toward him, opening her arms wide.

Haruma wrapped her in a warm embrace, and she immediately held him tightly in return.

For a few moments, neither of them moved, neither spoke. They just simply stood there, holding onto each other, quietly cherishing the moment.

From nearby, Ryusei was watching with a gentle smile before stepping closer and standing beside them without disturbing the reunion.

And when Haruma pulled back, a wide smile spread across his face, while his mother looked back at him with the same warm, loving smile.

Only then did Haruma notice Ryusei standing beside them.

Without hesitation, he stepped forward and pulled him into a brief hug.

Ryusei smiled and returned the embrace, giving Haruma a firm pat on the back before the two pulled away.

"Best of luck, boy," Ryusei said as he pulled back, looking at him with a proud smile.

Haruma returned the smile and gave a firm nod before turning back toward his mother.

She was still smiling at him, but now there was something else in her expression, a faint trace of concern that briefly surfaced through the warmth.

Haruma noticed it immediately. "What happened, Mother? Are you okay?" he asked gently.

His mother nodded before raising a hand and softly cupping his cheek.

"Yes," she replied quietly. "It's just... we've never really been apart before. And now you're going to a completely different country." Her smile softened. "It's making me worry."

Haruma smiled warmly and gently placed his hand over hers.

"Don't worry, Mother. I'll take good care of myself," he reassured her. "But I want you to take very good care of yourself too. I'll be back before you know it."

His mother's expression softened at his words.

Still smiling, Ryusei spoke up. "So, how long are you going to be there?"

Haruma turned toward him and gave a small shake of his head. "I'm not entirely sure." He replied, "The tournament itself will last about a month and a half," he explained. "It really depends on how long we stay in the competition, but if I had to guess, it'll probably take a maximum of two months before we return home."

"Haruma," his mother called softly, drawing both Haruma's and Ryusei's attention toward her.

Her eyes shimmered with tears and quiet worry as she looked at her son.

"Keep your heart at peace," she said gently. "Winning doesn't matter to me. I just want you to be okay."

At her words, Haruma's smile slightly flattered, Then a faint, reassuring smile appeared on his face, and he gave her a quiet nod in response.

Ryusei placed a comforting hand on Haruma's shoulder.

"Yeah," he said gently. "Make sure the game doesn't affect your mental health. I know what football means to you. I know that after years of hard work and belief, you're finally about to live your dream." He gave his shoulder a light squeeze. "But none of that is more important than you."

Maintaining his faint smile, Haruma nodded once more, this time toward Ryusei.

Just then, Kento approached from behind and rested a hand on Haruma's shoulder.

"Relax, Miss Kusaka," he said in a bright, reassuring tone. "Your boy is our responsibility. He's our star. Our megastar. His health, safety, and comfort are among our highest priorities."

A warm, heartfelt smile spread across Haruma's mother's face as she nodded. "Thank you," she said softly.

Beside her, Ryusei smiled and added, "Well, knowing Mr. Kento will be by his side certainly makes us worry a lot less."

Kento responded with a confident grin.

"And when he comes back carrying that gleaming winning trophy, that Player of the Tournament and Striker of the Tournament to his name… You two will be the proudest people in the crowd, watching this young lad return home."

Haruma's mother and Ryusei broke into soft, warm laughter, while Kento stood there grinning proudly. Beside them, Haruma wore a faint smile of his own.

And with that, the lighthearted conversation continued, blending into the atmosphere around them while the rest of the players remained engrossed in their own reunions with family and loved ones.

A short while later, Haruma picked up his handbag, and taking a deep breath, he tightened his grip on the handle before beginning to walk forward.

Pausing for a brief moment, Haruma turned around.

His eyes landed on his mother and Ryusei, standing alongside the families of the other players.

From a distance, they all were waving at them with their faces carrying a mixture of emotions, proud smiles, glistening tears, excitement, concern, and hope all blending together into one unforgettable sight.

Standing firm, Haruma raised his hand and waved one final time.

Then he turned back to reveal the rest of the squad standing along him. The young guns of Japan, all set to take on the U-19 Asian Cup.

Standing ahead like a true leader, Kurogami took a deep breath before glancing at the team before turning and continuing toward the departure gate.

One by one, the players followed, leaving behind the waving families as they turned their eyes toward the path ahead.

Keeping his gaze firmly on his mother, Haruma took a deep breath.

"I will win."

With that single thought burning in his mind, Haruma turned away and began walking toward the departure gate.

As they moved through the airport corridors, the atmosphere around the squad shifted.

The laughter, the reunions, the warmth of family, those moments were now behind them.

What remained was focus.

Every player walked forward with purpose, their expressions firm and unwavering. Confidence shone in their eyes, while determination settled deep within their hearts as they took the next steps toward the biggest stage of their young careers.

Moving through the aircraft, the squad entered the business-class cabin and gradually scattered to their assigned seats, storing their bags and settling in.

The atmosphere among them was noticeably different now, quiet, calm, and filled with composed intent.

Haruma took his seat and let out a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heart.

Seated beside him was Nagisa who was calm and composed as ever, fastening his seatbelt. Once done he turned slightly toward Haruma.

His eyes lingered on him for a moment, noticing the tension in Haruma's posture, the faint sweat on his forehead, and the nervous energy he was trying to hide.

"First time?" Nagisa asked casually.

Opening his eyes, Haruma turned toward him. "First after a decade or more." he replied

Nagisa gave a small nod before shifting his eyes forward, "Just relax," he said matter-of-factly. "Nothing's gonna happen."

Haruma nodded and quickly secured his own seatbelt. Once settled, he pulled out his phone, and as he was about to switch on airplane mode, his eyes landed on two new messages from Masaru.

A faint smile across Haruma's face as he quickly opens the notification and opens the text which says.

"Yooo, best of luck, buddy. Can't wait to see you on TV again. Play with all your heart, the entire nation is behind you."

Haruma kept his eyes on the screen with a faint smile, then he scrolled down to the second one.

"And a very big news, Toru and Rukia are getting married next month."

Haruma's eyes widened instantly and for a split second, it felt as if his heart had stopped. The noise of the cabin, the conversations around him, the hum of the aircraft, everything began to fade away.

All that remained was the message glowing on his screen.

In a state of utter shock, Haruma just stared at it. His eyes, with disbelief, remained locked on those words.

Then, slowly, he shut his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he tightened his grip around the phone, as if steadying himself against the wave that had just hit him.

For a few moments, he remained completely still.

Then he opened his eyes once again, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

He then typed. "Thanks for the wishes, and don't please congratulate them on my behalf, I'm really feeling very happy for both of them."

His thumb hovered over the screen for a moment.

Then he hit send.

The message was delivered almost instantly.

Haruma stared at it briefly before switching his phone to airplane mode and sliding it back into his pocket.

Beside him, Nagisa glanced over at him, and without saying a word he just held out a pair of headphones toward him.

With a faint smile, Haruma accepted the headphones and slipped them on.

Taking a deep breath, he leaned his head back into his seat and closed his eyes as the music began to play.

Around him, the aircraft slowly came to life, as the engines rumbled, the cabin vibrated softly and then the plane began to move across the runway.

Yet Haruma remained completely still.

His eyes stayed closed, the music flowing through his ears as if he were utterly absorbed in the song, too lost in it to even notice the aircraft beginning its journey.

But the song was just an excuse to lose himself, what exactly was in his mind was something completely different.