Intro. The afternoon sun beat down on the dirt field, stirring up dust with each hurried step of the children. Lucas was running from one side to the other with his already stained number 11 uniform, his hair stuck to his forehead from so much sweat and his knees were scraped without him even noticing. He was shouting for the ball, totally focused, as if he were in a championship final
Akio was standing near the field fence, watching. He was also 9 years old, but at that moment he seemed calmer, just following his brother's every move carefully.
Lucas runs down the side, trips, almost falling, but recovers and continues as if nothing had happened
— Play it for me! I'm free! I'm VERY free!
The ball finally comes his way. Lucas straightens his gangly body, shoots hard... and the ball scrapes the post.
— AAAAH! Almost! Did you see that?!
He immediately turns towards the fence, looking for Akio among the people.
— Akio! Did you see? It was close! If the goalkeeper blinked, it was a goal!