Restored Hope

Miyu Yamamoto is a jobless 20-year-old living with his aunt because his parents died when he was 13. He lost motivation to do anything after becoming out of shape. He was a prodigy, some might say no one could compete with him, but after graduating high school, a mix of bad friends and loneliness after moving out of his aunt's house changed him. He became an addict with no life, just drugs and beer. Well, that’s until an old coach of his came to him.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"Who the heck is this?" he shouts while walking to the door.

Miyu opens the door, looking at the coach angrily. "What the hell do you want?"

"Miyu, is that you?" he says, looking sad that a prodigy like him is in this shameful state. "You really changed."

"What do you want from me, you dumb shit?" he says, showing no respect to his old coach at all, he tries to close the door.

The coach puts his leg to prevent the door from closing. "Miyu, do you even remember me?" he says with a sad voice. "Because I know you won't treat me like this. Let's have a talk."

"Fine, but don’t ever come to my house again," he says angrily, he opens the door for his coach. "Now, what the hell do you want?"

"Look, Miyu, I know you're having a hard time, and I feel concerned for what's happening to you," he says with a concerned tone. "So I want to make you play football again."

Miyu gets a memory of him playing football with his team. They were unstoppable, and he was the top scorer of the football team, winning every tournament, every award, even getting the highest grades in the school. He was a complete football player and student. Miyu had many fans and was very happy all the time, until he was 18; everything changed. He decided to move out to another city, leaving his aunt to pursue his football career. He met some bad friends, and they changed him to what he is now: a fat addict with no life.

As Miyu snaps back from that memory, he says to the coach, "Coach, it's already too late. I'm 20 and out of shape, and to be honest, I was tired just by opening the door for you."

"No, Miyu, it's never too late. Remember that I was an addict at 15, living on the streets until I was 30. But now, I've changed, so it's never too late. Miyu, you need to move on," he replies, looking happier as he's close to getting Miyu back to his old self.

"I tried, but I could never quit because I would be a jerk around my friends," Miyu cries as he remembers his parents and how they said he was a good kid and that he would be the best player in the world. He felt like he betrayed his parents.

"Don't worry, Miyu. I will always be here for you," he says, hugging him. At that moment, Miyu felt a sense of relief, like he was hugged by one of his parents.

And after that moment, Miyu decides to come back. "Okay, coach, I will do my best," he says determined to come back stronger and better.

And so, the training starts. He gets on a strict diet and a gym routine while also training his stamina. After one year, Miyu couldn’t believe it. He was in good shape and had good stamina, but the coach told him he wasn't done yet and trained him for another six months on football basics all over. He managed to master them flawlessly, and it was his birthday on the same day he finished training; he has now turned 21. So the coach decided to celebrate this accomplishment.

"Miyu, you have come a long way, so it's time for me to show you a surprise," he says excitedly while Miyu was trying to guess the gift.

The coach then decided to have Miyu open the gift. "I wonder what it will be," Miyu thinks as he opens the gift.

But then the gift was opened, and Miyu couldn’t believe it. It was a printed paper of an open tryout for Luton Town, a recent Premier League team. But then Miyu realized that he didn’t have any money. "But, coach, how are we gonna get there? We have no money," he says with a sad tone.

"Don't worry, Miyu. I already took care of it," he says, bringing out two tickets to England.

Miyu was happy, expressing his appreciation to the coach.