POV: NANA RENJIROU, 9 years old
Dear Diary,
OMG. I just HAD to write today because everything at school was SO crazy! Like, Rika-chan almost screamed in my face and Yui actually tripped over her own shoe because they just watched my big brother's match on TV last night!!
Yup, that match. The one where Masaki-nīchan scored that mega-crazy, fireball, super-spin, BOOM GOAL. You know what I'm talking about! Even the teacher, Mr. Hamada, said, "Nana-chan, your brother really has golden feet, huh?" And I was like, "He was born with them, sensei."
✨✨My brother is FAMOUS✨✨
…and I'm not even kidding.
People ask me all the time, "Is Masaki your real brother?" Like duh! Of course he is. I live with him, I've seen him with messy bed hair, I've stolen his cookies, and once he even screamed because I accidentally turned his football socks pink in the laundry (they were white). LOL.
At recess, everyone surrounded me like I was a celebrity. Kota, who's usually annoying and always brags about his Beyblade collection, said, "I saw your brother do that kick—it was like a fire dragon!"
So I said, "He trained with real dragons." (Okay, I was joking… but Kota believed it and his jaw dropped. Hahaha.)
Yui asked, "Does he practice at home?"
I nodded. "Yup. He kicks air at imaginary goals, watches games until 2 AM, and eats weird protein snacks that smell like old bananas."
Also: Masaki eats everything.
The other day, I opened the fridge looking for my limited-edition banana pudding. GONE. Like magic.
Me: "WHO TOOK IT?"
Masaki: (mouth full) "It was an accident. I was blind from hunger."
So I wrote a big warning on my lunchbox:
"DO NOT TOUCH – Property of NANA THE LEGEND."
And guess what? He still took the jelly cups.
⸻
Anyway, back to school.
At lunch, Rika-chan asked me what Masaki's like when he's training. So I told her:
"He's like Goku if Goku also cared about conditioner and having perfect socks."
That got some laughs.
Then I said, "But he's also super focused. Like, laser-focused. When he's on the pitch, he's like Picolo that train goku and vegeta to do fusion"
(Yes, I did that in the middle of the cafeteria with milk cartons as cones. I'm an artiste.)
⸻
At night, I had a dream I was Masaki's coach.
"Listen up, team," I said in my dream. "Pass to Masaki, get snacks later. Win the match, I'll let you pet my unicorn plushie. Deal?"
Then I rode a giant eagle and gave tactical instructions from the sky. It was epic.
Later, Masaki came into my room and said:
"Thanks for defending my honor at school, Coach Nana."
Me: "Don't thank me. Pay me."
He gave me his last strawberry pocky stick. Fair trade.
Anyway, after school I ran home as fast as I could because Mom said Onii-chan was coming back tonight for dinner! He hasn't been home for a while since he's been super busy with International tour, training camp, interviews, and probably kicking more dragons or whatever footballer people do.
While waiting, I helped mom make curry rice-Masaki's favorite! I even chopped carrots into football shapes. (Well… they looked more like blobs, but the love is what counts.)
Dad came home from work with this giant grin and said, "I saw our boy on the news again!"
Mom rolled her eyes and said, "He's only fourteen. Don't get carried away."
But I could tell even she was proud. She made extra rice and used the good plates—the ones with the golden rims we never use except on New Year's.
When Masaki walked through the door, he looked super tired but also super cool. His hair was messy like always, his bag looked heavy, and he smiled the second he saw me.
"Nana," he said.
"Onii-chan!" I yelled and ran up to hug him. He lifted me up like I was a kitten.
Then I whispered in his ear, "Your socks are still pink."
He groaned.
At dinner, I told him how everyone at school was talking about him.
He just rubbed the back of his head and said, "That's kinda embarrassing."
"Embarrassing?!" I shouted. "YOU'RE A HERO!"
Mom served the curry, and I sat next to him. He gave me his shrimp. (Best brother EVER.)
Dad started asking him a bunch of football questions, like, "Was that last goal a planned strategy or instinct?" and "How's your fitness routine?" Meanwhile, I just poked his arm and said, "Can I have your autograph for my lunchbox?"
He laughed and signed it with ketchup on a napkin. (I laminated it later. Don't judge.)
Then he did something funny. He ruffled my hair and said, "You're always watching, huh?"
I said, "Of course. Someday I'm gonna be more famous than you! Or maybe your bodyguard."
"You're nine," he said.
"Yeah, but I'm scary," I replied. I showed my best growl. He wasn't impressed.
After dinner, we all sat in the living room. Mama brought out pudding. Dad replayed the match on the big screen. And we watched that free kick again.
The part where Masaki fooled everyone and curled it in.
Even though I'd seen it a million times, I screamed again. "THAT'S MY BROTHER!"
He blushed. I could tell. Just a little.
Then we talked about Brazil. That's where the next tour nii chan will be,World cup. Dad said we're going to watch you from this tv. I already have my lucky Japan scarf and a flag with "Renjirou ⚽ GOAL KING" that I made with glitter pens.
Before bed, I snuck into his room. He was stretching on the floor, looking all serious again. So I sat beside him and said, "You know, I really like when you're home."
He smiled and said, "Yeah… me too."
Then he flicked my forehead. "Now go sleep, goblin."
"Rude," I said and stuck my tongue out.
But secretly… I was happy.
⸻
Later That Night
I couldn't sleep, so I drew a new picture. It's Onii-chan in his Japan uniform, holding a giant trophy with sparkles around him.
In the corner, I drew myself jumping and cheering with a big foam finger.
Then I wrote:
"My brother is not just a player.
He's a dream-chaser.
And I'll chase him too—until I become someone as awesome as him!"
– Nana R.
Someday I want people to ask me for autographs. Maybe not for football. But maybe for art… or being the best little sister in the world. That counts, right?
Anyway, good night, Diary.
Tomorrow I'm going to bring my brother's napkin autograph to school.
Rika's gonna be SO jealous.
Love,
🌸 Nana Renjirou 🌸
P.S. Masaki's socks are still pink. Heehee~
⸻