Takeshi woke at 9 AM, which was basically the equivalent of winning the lottery.
His entire body screamed in protest when he tried to move. Legs like cement. Arms feeling like they belonged to someone else. This was what two matches in one week did to you—even if one of them was just a draw, the physical toll was real.
He lay there for a solid five minutes, mentally preparing himself to get out of bed. Conditioning his fifteen-year-old body to do something his adult mind was all too familiar with: basic movement.
The system notification floated quietly in his awareness:
REST DAY ACTIVE
CONDITION: 61% → 65% (recovering)
RECOMMENDATION: Light activity only
At least someone approved of him not moving.
Dragging himself downstairs felt like an achievement. His sister took one look at him and said: "You look like a zombie."
"Feel like one too," he mumbled, collapsing into a chair.
His mother placed breakfast in front of him. "No training today?"
"Coach's orders. Rest day."
His father was reading the sports section of the newspaper. The headline caught Takeshi's eye: "Tokyo FC Survives Again - Can They Keep It Up?"
Not exactly encouraging, but accurate.
His phone started buzzing. Multiple messages, all from Akari.
8:05 AM: "Morning! How are you feeling?"
8:32 AM: "You're still sleeping aren't you"
9:06 AM: "ZOMBIE BOY WAKE UP"
He couldn't help but smile.
Him: "I'm alive. Barely."
Akari: "Rest day right? Want to do something later?"
His heart did that weird thing it had been doing more often lately. Actually hang out. Like... properly.
Him: "Yeah. Let me see what Sato's doing first?"
Akari: "Okay! Let me know ❤️"
That heart emoji. He still didn't know what to make of it.
School felt different without morning practice. The weight in his legs was still there, but the mental exhaustion from training was gone. Classmates kept asking about the penalty save, about whether they could actually survive relegation. He kept redirecting credit to Kenji, who deserved it.
Then Sato arrived at his desk during lunch, and something was off.
His best friend was bouncing his leg constantly. Checking his phone every thirty seconds. Nervous energy radiating like he was about to go into battle.
"You good?" Takeshi asked.
"Yeah! Totally. Why wouldn't I be?" Too fast. Too defensive.
Something was definitely up.
During lunch in the cafeteria, Sato barely ate. Just pushed food around his tray, mind clearly somewhere else.
"Okay seriously, what's wrong?" Takeshi pressed.
"Nothing's wrong!"
"Did we lose and I forgot?"
"No, we— that's not funny."
But Sato was smiling now at least, which was progress.
Then Sato's phone buzzed and he checked it immediately, his entire face going red. He quickly put the phone down, but too late.
Takeshi was already grinning. "Is that a girl?"
Sato's hands flew to cover his face. "What? No. Maybe. Shut up."
Other classmates were starting to glance over.
"You like someone!" Takeshi announced.
"Can you not be loud about it?" Sato hissed, voice dropping to an urgent whisper.
After lunch, walking to class, Sato grabbed his arm. "Actually... can we talk? After school?"
His face was serious now.
"Yeah, of course. Everything okay?"
"Yeah, I just... need advice. From someone who has experience."
Takeshi: "Experience with what?"
Sato giving him a meaningful look: "...Girls."
Oh no.
Oh no no no.
Takeshi's internal panic was immediate: I have ZERO experience! Adult life I died alone! This life I barely talk to Akari without being awkward!
But externally: "Uh. Sure. Yeah. I can... help."
Sato looked relieved.
Takeshi was internally screaming.
The park bench after school—the same one where he'd talked to Ryo days earlier. Apparently it was becoming their spot for serious conversations.
Sato sat down with nervous energy absolutely radiating off him.
Takeshi waited, using the patience technique he'd learned from Akari.
Finally: "Her name is Yumi."
Sato opened up completely. "She's in class 2-B. We have cram school together. We've been talking for like... two months? Started with homework help, then just... talking."
He smiled while describing her. Actually smiled.
"She's funny. And she actually likes football."
"Comes to some of our matches even."
Takeshi blinked. "Wait, she comes to our matches?"
"Yeah, the last two. Wore a Tokyo FC scarf."
How had he not noticed? Too focused on survival, apparently.
"I've never actually dated anyone before," Sato admitted, running a hand through his hair nervously. "And I think maybe she likes me too, but I don't know how to like... make it official."
Takeshi related hard: "Yeah, me neither. Well, kind of? I don't know what Akari and I are..."
"Dude, you're basically dating," Sato said immediately. "Everyone knows. You text constantly, she makes you lunch, she literally ran onto the pitch to hug you after the Daichi match."
Fair points.
"So I was thinking..." Sato took a breath. "Maybe we could do a double date?"
Takeshi processed that. Double date. Actual date. With Akari. Officially.
His face must have shown panic because Sato quickly added: "Like, you and Akari, me and Yumi? That way it's less pressure? And you're there if I mess up?"
"No, that's... that's good. Smart," Takeshi said, working through the idea.
"When were you thinking?"
"This weekend? Since we have a match Wednesday but then Thursday-Sunday is rest period?"
"You already checked the schedule?"
Sato blushed. "I wanted to be prepared..."
Takeshi found this endearing in a way he couldn't quite articulate.
"Okay. Yeah. Let's do it."
Sato's face lit up. "Really?"
"Yeah. But you're asking Yumi yourself."
"Obviously! And you're asking Akari properly."
"...Properly?"
"Yes! Like 'Hey Akari, want to go on a date with me?' Not 'wanna hang out maybe idk'"
He was calling him out accurately.
"Saturday afternoon," Sato said, already in planning mode. "Arcade, dinner, maybe walk around. I've been researching."
"You researched dates?"
"I'm not going in unprepared!"
Same energy he brought to football training. Kind of admirable actually.
Walking home alone, Takeshi spiraled.
I have to ask Akari on a date. An actual date.
His adult brain should help here, right?
Except his dating experience from his past life was exactly zero. Died at thirty-four having never had a serious relationship.
Great combo.
In desperation, he scrolled through his phone contacts. Can't ask Sato. Can't ask parents. Can't ask his sister.
He saw Elsa's contact.
She was a girl. She'd know what girls like, right?
Time difference calculation hurt his tired brain, but he texted anyway: "You awake?"
Elsa's response came after five minutes: "It's 11 PM but yes. What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong exactly..."
"Takeshi. What happened."
"How do I ask a girl on a date?"
Three dots appeared and disappeared.
Then: "...Akari?"
"Yeah."
A longer pause.
"Just be honest. Tell her you want to take her somewhere nice. She'll say yes."
"That simple?"
"That simple. She's been waiting for you to ask properly."
"How do you know?"
"Because girls talk. And she's made it very obvious."
Had he really been that dense?
"Thanks, Elsa."
"Anytime. And Takeshi?"
"Yeah?"
"Have fun. You deserve it."
Something bittersweet in that message he didn't fully understand.
That evening, Takeshi stared at his phone for way too long.
Just ask. Like Elsa said. Simple.
He typed: "Hey"
Deleted it.
"So I was wondering"
Deleted that too.
The system notification appeared unhelpfully:
OBSERVATION: Your combat efficiency is higher than your romantic efficiency
RECOMMENDATION: Stop overthinking
Even the system was judging him.
Deep breath.
He finally sent: "Hey. Want to go on a date Saturday? Like an actual date. Arcade, dinner, walking around. With me. If you want."
Sent before he could overthink.
Immediate regret flooded through him.
That was terrible.
Three dots appeared.
Took forever.
Akari: "Took you long enough 😊"
"Yes. Definitely yes."
"Also Sato already told Yumi who told me so I knew you'd ask"
Of course she did.
Him: "Double date okay?"
Akari: "Perfect. I like Yumi, she's sweet."
Him: "Saturday 2 PM?"
Akari: "It's a date ❤️"
He stared at his phone for a solid minute, small smile spreading across his face.
Saturday suddenly felt very close.
And very terrifying.
But somehow?
He was excited for both.