Chapter Text
The trip had been planned for months, so even though he wanted with all his might not to go, to give up and run away, he had no choice. His mother said it was for the good of their family. His brother-in-law was opening a new branch of his company in Berlin, Germany, and as supporters and executives, his family was destined to go and be a part of this great moment. Because of this, his parents made him and his older brother study German for months to prepare.
That said, perhaps he wasn't doing as well as his older brother in this regard, some things were still confusing to him and despite his brother's failed attempts to get the more difficult words into his head, there wasn't much result.
According to his parents, it could be a disaster to take him to this party if he simply couldn’t say “good night” properly in German. Such a shame, they were the Itochi family, executives at the Akashi Corporation’s parent company. And once again, they decided to leave their youngest son behind. As usual, his older brother protested against this, but just as he started, his father shut him up with a look and everything ended just as he had hoped.
At six years old, his parents thought that Rin could take care of himself and would leave him alone in the hotel room. They showed him the phone numbers he could call when needed and left, leaving him behind with some money and a cell phone in case he needed to call, but he shouldn't unless it was a major emergency. After all, Rin might not be as good as his older brother Sae, but he was still very smart.
And so, the door closed.
Rin was alone in that big hotel room, with nothing really to do. His parents had said that if he behaved, they would buy him toys when it was all over, but those were promises they weren't going to keep, since they were so busy every day. So, there was only one thing to do: explore .
Despite being the opposite of what his brother told him to do, Sae was very clear when he said that Rin should stay inside the room. And as expected, despite obeying his brother more than his parents, Rin did the complete opposite of what he was told and left the hotel room. He had his cell phone and money with him. Rin would be fine.
The hotel wasn't nice, it was just like the others his parents had taken them to before, so he didn't feel excited about it at all. People didn't even look at him when they passed by, so it was very easy to go down the elevator and reach the lobby.
The streets were much more interesting than the hotel room, there were more lights, although there was more noise from cars and people too. These same people didn't care if Rin was shorter than them or not, and they didn't care if they bumped into him when they walked, almost knocking him over. But that didn't stop Rin, exploring the terrain isn't easy, there will be challenges and the hero will be the one who overcomes the obstacles.
Rin only had one toy, a superhero doll that was the only thing her parents let her take. It was safely tucked away in her backpack, as emotional support.
Rin didn't feel lonely at all, he had his brother. His older brother was amazing and always played with him, gave him food when he was forgotten. His brother was smart and strong, it didn't matter if they were adults or older children, Sae always found a way. If Rin dyed the doll's hair pink because of Sae, no one needed to know and if they noticed, they didn't say anything.
His brother also played soccer very well, everyone said he was a prodigy. Even his parents, who wanted Sae to follow in his footsteps at the company, praised his skills in the rare games they showed up to watch them. Rin hummed in admiration at the memories. If Rin could, he would stay with his brother forever, but sometimes he has to leave and that makes Rin a little sad.
***
After walking for what seemed like hours, because Rin still has tiny legs, Rin finds a worn and broken soccer field. There is no grass, only sand. The lines that define the field are completely faded and almost gone. What should have been the goal posts are eaten away and fallen backwards. Rin is sure that he could catch some disease if he cuts himself with that iron.
No one in their right mind would be alone on the street playing soccer, unless you were really addicted and had no other options for training and were desperate. But hey, Rin is still a kid and can easily make mistakes in these situations, after all, there was someone there, playing alone. The movements were rough, but precise. You could see how much effort the boy put into these movements every day. Of course, his brother was better, but that didn't stop him from praising other people.
Looking around, there were no other people around, neither adults nor children. The boy was truly alone at this moment, but it was no fun to play alone when it came to soccer. Whenever Rin played with his brother, he was happy, however, Rin didn't know this boy and didn't know whether he would be hostile to him or not, but seeing the boy play also made Rin want to move.
It had happened before, the moment when Rin's body reacted on its own to soccer. He just knew he could score the goal and while everyone was annoyed with him, Sae was proud and that was reason enough to motivate Rin to train, even if it was in secret since he was too young to join the team.
And now, it happened again, one moment the ball hit the post when the boy missed the shot, the next, Rin dropped everything and ran, jumping as high as he could and kicking the ball back for a sure goal. The ball went straight through the broken post and hit a worn and cracked wall a few meters away from the old court.
Sae would have scolded him for getting into trouble and leaving the hotel room in the first place. His parents would sigh and tell him how it was expected of him to get involved in something he wasn't invited to. Because that's how he was, too curious and nosy for his own good. He was very tiring to deal with, they said a lot. Surely it wouldn't be strange if the boy got angry and started a fight for interfering in his game. Instead, the boy stared at him with his mouth open and eyes wide, as if he was amazed and impressed by his movements.
Aside from Sae, no one had ever praised him before, but the boy was running towards him, like a furious dog looking for its target. And just like the time he had disrupted the other boys' soccer game at school, Rin thought that this time, without Sae to protect him, he would definitely get punched and then everyone would find out that he had left the hotel room. And his plan was to not get caught.
– The war is amazing! [1]
Rin didn't really understand much, other than the word "amazing" that his mother insisted he learn to praise the people and food at the party.
– Spielst du Fußball? Wie alt bist du? [2]
He tilts his head to the side, he knows the boy is talking about football, and he also understands that the boy asked his age. He always had to be prepared to say that he knows his age, it seemed adorable to people he knew, his mother said. Unfortunately, Rin understands more of the words than he can answer, so he just nods in agreement and shows his fingers, holding up six fingers.
– Rin. – He points to himself. – Itochi Rin. Name [3]. Du ? [4]
The boy looks and waves.
– Michael Kaiser. – Kaiser also points to himself and then to Rin. – Rin, spielen [5]?
Rin doesn't know if Kaiser understands what he's saying, but he seems to have easily figured out that Rin is a foreigner. Looking closer, Rin notices his old, torn clothes, a little dirty. He's barefoot and his feet are scratched, as if he's been walking around barefoot for a long time. Even so, Kaiser looks at him expectantly.
– Play. – Rin agreed.
After grabbing his bag and leaving it in a safe place, Rin thought it was unfair that Kaiser was the only one barefoot, so he took his off and jumped into the sand, burying his feet in it. It felt good deep down. His parents had always been very meticulous in making their children look presentable.
Rin and Kaiser played soccer as if there was no time limit. They ran and collided with each other in a funny attempt to look like professional players, but they ended up missing their shots and dribbling. At that moment, Rin felt that he didn't need to try hard to be a genius at his age, he played for fun. Not that Sae didn't play for fun, but for Sae, they always had to win, otherwise there would be no point in it all.
Football didn't have to have meaning for Rin. The running and kicking, the exhaustion of not standing still, the dirt, the sweat, all of it was football. That's what it was. Kaiser understood this, because his smile was wide and his gaze no longer seemed distant as he played alone.
Even though they spoke different languages, they could understand each other through soccer. And for Rin, that was enough.
***
Kaiser watched Rin gasp and widen his eyes as he looked around. He didn't understand anything. One moment, they were having fun and the next, Rin was messing with his phone and looking horrified. Rin ran back to him and showed him the screen, the time. If it were any other child, Kaiser would be scared too for being away from home for so long, but his father didn't care, but Rin must have people who cared about his disappearance.
That day was the first time anyone had played with him. Not his mother, not his father. Whenever they passed by him, they ignored his condition, no matter how terrible it seemed. No one reached out to him. No one looked at him; it was as if he were just an ant passing by on the street, a nuisance.
Rin surprised him.
At first, Kaiser thought it was just another curious child who would be snatched away from him at any moment by his parents. However, Rin simply ran and kicked the ball, with a technique that should not belong to a child. It impressed Kaiser.
Kaiser wasn't stupid, that boy wasn't from there, the clothes, the features, Rin certainly didn't belong to that country. Even so, even if just a little, Rin managed to communicate with him and when Kaiser called him to play, for the first time, someone accepted. Someone played with him. Someone looked at him and didn't look away.
For the first time in his miserable years of life, always wishing that tomorrow would come soon, that he could grow up and leave home, away from everything and everyone in this dirty city, Kaiser wished that the night would never end, because he wanted to stay there, playing with Rin.
– Hotel. – Rin says and points to the street. – I need to go to the hotel.
Rin's German wasn't very good, a little rough and with tonal errors in the words, but Kaiser understood, as if he were talking to a newborn baby learning its first words.
– Okay. – Kaiser agrees a little sadly, not wanting to show it, he can't stop Rin from going. Kaiser watched as Rin didn't move, just stood there, staring at him. – What's the problem?
– I don't know the way. – Rin says finally.
– Oh.
That's the only thing Kaiser says, and he decides he's going to take Rin back to his house. Rin cleverly takes out his phone and uses it to translate, writing down a few sentences and then telling him where the address of the hotel he's staying would be. Kaiser luckily knows the way, although he avoids it with all his might. People always look at him like a bug when he walks around these more upscale areas.
Snob bank.
The two talk in a strange way, without completely understanding each other, with Rin using the translator to talk about broader things and understand Kaiser at times.
When they arrived in front of the hotel, the security guard was already looking at them seriously and ready to whisper something on the phone, so Kaiser doesn't take another step. He's afraid that they won't let Rin in either if he's with him, so that's the most he'll do.
– Michael-san, today was fun. – Rin takes a few steps forward and turns around, smiling happily. – Bye, bye.
Kaiser raises his hand and waves back, feeling a pang of sadness creep up inside him. There goes his first friend. Kaiser will probably never see him again. Still, Kaiser lowers his hand and clenches his fists, turning and leaving the place, heading back to his own home, even though it shouldn't be called that.
– Itochi... Rin. – Kaiser looks at the dark sky. – I won't forget.