The next day finally arrived, the day of the tournament opener: Japan 19 vs Qatar U19.
Under the massive stadium floodlights, the venue buzzed with electric energy. A massive crowd was still surging through the gates outside, while an even larger crowd had already flooded the stands, packing the seats to capacity.
The air was thick with excitement, a huge portion of the stadium was painted in white and red, packed with Japanese fans who had their faces painted, holding the national flag high. On the other side, the Qatari supporters waved their flags with intense national pride. There was no doubt about it, both fanbases were loud, ready, and roaring for kickoff.
The television was blaring inside the expansive hallway of a grand mansion. On the couch sat Masaru, Toru, and Rukia, their faces lit up with excited smiles. All three of them were proudly wearing Japan jerseys, each one sporting the number 22 with HARUMA printed across the back.
