Episode 1:
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The first cries of Toni Safari pierced the dimly lit apartment in Kawasaki. It was a small, cramped space, the walls thin enough to hear the faint chatter from the neighboring apartments, yet heavy with anticipation and worry. Toni's mother, Yumi, gritted her teeth as she pressed her palms against her stomach, feeling the final pangs of labor. His father, Hesei Safari, knelt beside her, eyes filled with anxiety and helplessness. The nearest hospital was far, and the bills were far beyond their reach.
"We... we'll manage, Yumi," Hesei whispered, his voice trembling. "Just... just focus on Toni."
Yumi nodded weakly, sweat streaking her pale face. In that moment, money, fear, and pain merged into a single thought: their son would be okay, no matter what.
When Toni finally entered the world, his cries were faint but persistent. Hesei held him close, feeling the fragile warmth of his newborn son. Despite being born at home under such circumstances, there was something resilient about Toni-a spark that even the darkness of financial struggle couldn't snuff out.
Toni's elder brother, Himeh Safari, was sixteen at the time. He had grown up understanding sacrifice. Every penny of the family's hard-earned money had been poured into Himeh's soccer dreams. He had left Kawasaki to join the prestigious Kawasaki Academy in Tokyo, a step that had required tireless effort and unwavering commitment from both parents. Hesei and Yumi had known that not every dream could be achieved without struggle, but Himeh's passion had earned him that chance.
As Toni grew, whispers of concern followed him. Doctors had warned that he was fragile, prone to illness, and perhaps too weak for the physical demands of a normal childhood. But Toni's heart seemed to beat with a determination stronger than any illness. By the age of nine, he had joined the local Kobe Street Team, a ragtag group of kids who played soccer on cracked concrete pitches with broken goalposts and faded boundary lines.
Even then, Toni's natural speed and uncanny talent were impossible to ignore. He would dart past defenders as if they were standing still, his small frame moving with precision, weaving through challenges effortlessly. Every time he scored, a cheer erupted from his teammates, echoing across the narrow streets of Kawasaki. Yet, financial constraints cast long shadows over his dreams. Hesei often stayed awake at night, calculating expenses, worrying about the next pair of shoes or ball Toni would need. Still, he never hesitated. Every yen, every sacrifice, was for his son.
"You're too fast, Toni!" shouted Kenji, the team captain, laughing as Toni raced past him yet again. "How do you even...?"
Toni grinned, panting slightly, his small hands wiping sweat from his forehead. "Just keeping up with you, Kenji!" he replied. His voice held the easy confidence of someone who had learned early that effort mattered more than circumstance.
Even local coaches began to take notice. The Hisami Juniors School Team, known for their disciplined play, had encountered Toni during a neighborhood tournament. The boy's agility and instinctive understanding of the game left the coaches stunned. Other kids his age struggled to control the ball, yet Toni seemed to command it effortlessly, predicting moves before they even happened.