May 2015 – Lightning Strikes Twice
The letter arrived at dawn.
Sae opened the envelope silently in his Madrid apartment. Inside was an official document from the Japan Football Association:
> "Congratulations. You have been selected for the Japanese national team's senior squad for the upcoming friendlies against Tunisia and Uzbekistan."
It was official.
At just 16, Sae Itoshi had broken into the Samurai Blue.
Not as a mascot.
Not for experience.
But as a weapon.
---
The Media Storm
Within hours, Japan's sports media exploded.
NHK ran a special:
"The Youngest Samurai: Itoshi Sae, Our New Midfield General?"
Even foreign media caught on. Spanish outlets called him "El Genio Silencioso."
Japanese Twitter trended with:
> #サムライ冴
(#SamuraiSae)
But Sae didn't respond to any interviews. As always, he remained silent, focused. The only comment he gave through his representative was:
> "I'll play. That's all."
---
Meeting the Legends
When Sae arrived at the national team camp in Tokyo, all eyes turned.
Veterans like Keisuke Honda, Shinji Kagawa, and Shinji Okazaki greeted him with cautious smiles. During the first training session, Honda pulled him aside.
"You don't talk much, huh?"
Sae just stared, then replied, "Words don't win matches."
Kagawa chuckled. "You'll fit in just fine."
But underneath the jokes, there was tension. Sae's presence was a signal. A generational shift.
During the first intrasquad scrimmage, Sae played behind Okazaki and split the defense with a single through ball—one that none of the other midfielders had seen coming.
Honda jogged back, panting slightly. "Damn. You're serious."
Sae didn't reply.
---
Meanwhile – Barcelona, La Masia
Rin Itoshi sat in front of a TV in the La Masia dorm lounge, surrounded by teammates.
They were watching the press conference.
A Japanese reporter asked Honda: "How does it feel to play alongside Itoshi Sae?"
Honda answered, "He's… different. We've never had someone like him before."
Rin clenched his jaw.
His roommate, Kojiro, said, "Isn't that your brother?"
Rin stood up. "No. That's someone I need to destroy."
---
Champions League Semifinal – First Leg: Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich
Back in Madrid, Sae was once again trusted by Ancelotti to start at the Bernabéu.
It was the first leg of the semifinal against a juggernaut: Bayern Munich.
Alonso. Lahm. Müller. Lewandowski.
Pressure? None.
Sae took the field as if it were training. 80,000 fans roaring—but he heard only silence.
In the 19th minute, he drifted left, pulled Lahm toward him, and slipped a no-look pass inside to Ronaldo.
Goal.
Bayern pushed back. The match turned violent, physical. Sae was fouled repeatedly. One crunching tackle from Alonso had him down for a moment.
Ancelotti prepared a sub.
But Sae stood.
> "I'm not done yet."
In the 73rd minute, he picked up the ball on the edge of the box, feinted twice, and curled a shot past Neuer—
Off the bar.
But Bale pounced on the rebound.
2–0.
The match ended with Madrid on top, but bruised.
---
National Team Friendly – Japan vs Tunisia
Just five days later, Sae flew to Tokyo. Jetlagged. Exhausted. But he started.
In the 38th minute, he lobbed a perfectly weighted ball over Tunisia's defense for Kagawa to volley.
1–0.
In the second half, he dribbled past three midfielders and laid it off for Okazaki.
2–0.
By full time, Japan had won—and Sae had two assists.
Even Honda bowed slightly as they walked off the pitch. "You're not the future," he muttered. "You're already the present."
---
Pressure from the Shadows
After the match, JFA scouts gathered in a private meeting.
One scout, Nakamura, mentioned: "There's another Itoshi. Younger. Still at La Masia."
The others murmured. "Two generational talents from the same bloodline?"
One man suggested: "We should look at Rin too. His numbers… they're not far off."
Unbeknownst to Sae, his brother's name was entering national discussion.
---
Rin's Response – U17 Youth Tournament
In France, Rin started for Japan's U17 side in a friendly tournament.
Against France U17, he scored twice and assisted once—drawing praise from European scouts.
After the match, a reporter asked, "You and your brother might both play for Japan soon. Thoughts?"
Rin smirked coldly. "We won't play together. Only one of us can stand at the top."
---
Champions League Semifinal – Second Leg: Bayern vs Real Madrid
In Munich, Sae faced his biggest challenge yet. Bayern came out aggressive. Lewandowski scored early. Madrid were rattled.
But Sae calmed them.
He slowed the tempo. Controlled possession. Drew fouls.
In the 62nd minute, he received a pass from Kroos and feigned a back-pass—only to slice through the midfield and release Bale again.
Goal.
Madrid advanced to the Champions League Final.
After the match, Alonso approached him. "You'll wear this crown someday. Just remember—it's heavier than it looks."
Sae didn't blink. "I already feel it."
---
Epilogue – Collision Course
Sae returned to Madrid as a starter, a Samurai, and a future legend.
But across Spain, a fire was building.
Rin's matches were drawing scouts. Barcelona media called him "the second Itoshi—but more ruthless."
The world was beginning to ask:
> "Who is the real genius?"
And as Rin stared at his reflection, he muttered:
> "I'll prove it. The name Itoshi belongs to me."
---
End of Chapter 13