Two days had passed since the big announcement.
But Richard's small house in Surabaya was still like a never-ending party.
Lintang ran around carrying the old jersey he'd worn to play in the alley.
Tasya taped a note reading "Good Luck, Bro!" to the living room wall.
Mrs. Sumi cooked more than usual—as if her son had just returned from war.
In fact… Richard's war was just beginning.
In the Netherlands.
And the day of departure finally arrived.
---
A Hard Morning to Leave
Richard woke at 4 a.m.
Not to the alarm, but to the sound of the pan from the kitchen and the aroma of his favorite fried rice.
"Mom woke you up so early," Lintang complained from the sofa.
"Mom… I'm afraid I'll miss something," Mrs. Sumi replied, rubbing her puffy eyes.
Richard sat at the table, staring at his mother. She looked older than her age. Since the divorce, she had worked from morning to night to put her three children through school. And now—her first child was flying to Europe.
"Eat a lot," said Mrs. Sumi, pushing the plate away.
"You'll be cold there, son… it's far…"
Her voice trembled.
Richard held his breath.
"Mom… I promise. I'll come home with a bigger one," he said softly.
"Our future changes here."
Mrs. Sumi smiled, though her eyes were teary.
---
Journey to the Airport
The FC Utrecht committee car picked us up at 6 a.m. There were Dhio, Rafi, and a staff translator named Mr. Hasan.
The car drove slowly through the still-quiet streets of Surabaya.
The orange sky was still half peeking through.
The voices of schoolchildren were still audible.
In the car, only Dhio was chatty.
"Hey, Rich. Don't embarrass Indonesia in the Netherlands," he said, elbowing Richard on the shoulder.
"Relax," Richard replied dryly.
Rafi sat in the back, clutching his bag tightly. "I still can't believe we were actually chosen…"
Dhio grinned. "I believe it. But I don't believe this LAMONGAN kid made it."
Richard smiled slightly. "If you don't believe it… well, that's fine."
Mr. Hasan, up front, laughed. "You guys… you're already making a fuss as soon as you leave. Wait for the Dutch coach to get angry, and you'll be quiet."
They all laughed—including Richard.
But his smile quickly faded as he looked out the window.
He saw the road to his house getting farther and farther away.
Far.
So far.
And he knew, when he got home… nothing would be the same.
---
Juanda Airport — Gateway to the New World
As soon as he got out of the car, Richard was greeted by the cool smell of the airport air conditioning and the hustle and bustle of travelers.
This was his first time in an airport this big.
Lintang pulled his hand.
"I want to go abroad too…"
"Wait, big guy," Richard replied, ruffling his hair.
Tasya stared at the large plane through the glass, her mouth agape. "Bro… that… that's the plane? Why is it so big?"
Richard laughed.
"It's big so it doesn't sway."
Tasya hugged her brother tightly. "Are you coming home, bro?"
"Definitely."
---
A Heartbreaking Moment
When the boarding announcement began, the atmosphere changed.
The bustle of the airport seemed to fade from the small family's consciousness.
Richard stood in front of his mother.
Mrs. Sumi held his face with both hands.
Her son was now taller than her.
"Son… I just wanted to say…"
She paused, holding back tears.
"…you've made me proud. Always have."
Richard looked into his mother's eyes, and for the first time since he was little… he couldn't hold back the tears.
"Mom… I'm sorry I couldn't help much. I'm sorry I've only made you tired all this time…"
"No." Mrs. Sumi shook her head.
"You gave me hope. That's enough."
The hug was long. Long, warm, and painful.
Lintang and Tasya joined them in the hug.
Richard hugged his younger siblings tightly.
"You take care of Mom, okay?"
Lintang nodded vigorously.
"I'll help Mom sell things too!"
Tasya raised her small hand.
"Me too!"
Richard laughed, patting both of their heads.
"Okay."
But before he could leave, his phone rang.
A message.
From: Aquila Van Den Mer
>"I heard you're finally flying to my country.
Send me a picture later, okay?"
Richard smiled slightly.
"I'll read it later," he thought.
---
Departure Moments
"Passengers bound for Amsterdam and transiting through Singapore, please board…"
The announcement sounded more tense than yesterday's life-or-death duel.
Richard picked up his bag.
He glanced back one last time.
Mrs. Sumi waved.
Lintang and Tasya jumped up and down.
Richard raised his hand in a salute.
Then he stepped inside.
Each step felt heavy…
but also filled with confidence.
---
Inside the Plane
He sat by the window.
The plane began to shake.
Dhio looked up from the seat next to him.
"Are you ready, Richard?"
Richard took a deep breath.
"Not yet," he answered honestly.
"But I'm going anyway."
Dhio smiled. "Good answer."
Outside the window, Surabaya seemed to shrink.
The houses became tiny dots.
The sea looked like a wash of blue.
Richard placed his hand on the window.
"New life," he whispered.
---
System Notification Appears
As the plane pierced the white clouds, a familiar blue screen appeared.
---
[New Major Quest Unlocked: European Dream]
Objectives: • Survive in the FC Utrecht academy (minimum 6 months)
• Enter the academy's first team
• Avoid being sent home early
Additional Bonuses: • +1 All Stats
• Skill Unlock (Random)
---
"If you guys knew I had this…" Richard chuckled to himself.
But no one should know.
Not Dhio.
Not Rafi.
Not even Aquila.
This system was his—and he would use it to climb to the top of the football world.
---
Chapter Closing
The plane pierced the thick clouds, then entered the vast blue sky.
Indonesia disappeared below.
And for Richard…
this was no tourist trip.
It wasn't just a walk.
This was his first major battle as a professional footballer.
The Netherlands waited.
FC Utrecht waited.
Aquila waited.
And the world would soon know:
Richard Ardiansyah — The Indonesian Prodigy.