Game Changer | Petalz Ðÿœ¸ÐÿƑ Chapter XXIX

Sitting in the backseat of the taxi, Sakura anxiously taps her fingers on her phone. The blare of car horns and the low murmur of a traffic report on the driver’s radio trigger a dull ache behind her eyes, a sign that her morning headache is about to return. Outside, a sea of red brake lights stretches endlessly ahead, casting a glow through the late afternoon haze.

She glances at the time on her phone for the fifth time, feeling her heart rate spike with each passing second. On a normal day, it would take around an hour to get to the airport from where she is now. However, as it’s been proven multiple times already, today is anything but normal.

“Is there any way we can get around this?” she asks the driver, trying to keep the edge out of her voice.

The middle-aged man, with a kind but weary face, glances at her in the rearview mirror and shakes his head. “Sorry, miss. It’s rush hour. People are coming back from the Christmas break. We’re stuck for now.”

Sakura leans back against the seat, closing her eyes for a moment to steady her racing thoughts.

The driver’s GPS shows that they’ll arrive at their destination in two hours. Kazuha said her plane leaves in around three hours but that was almost a half hour ago, which leaves her around thirty minutes to find Kazuha and tell her everything. That’s way too little time for her to feel comfortable.

She stifles a groan of frustration. She can’t believe she came so far only to be screwed over by a fucking traffic jam. Opening her eyes, she stares at her phone and wonders whether she should just call Kazuha and tell her everything over the phone, but that just doesn’t feel right. Instead, she calls Chaewon’s number.

“Hey, Sakura, what’s up? “

“Chaewon. Fuck. I don’t know what to do. Kazuha’s plane leaves in like two hours, and I’m stuck in traffic.”

“Wait, wha—? Actually, never mind. Where are you? “

She looks out at the congested road and reads the street’s name and number from one of the signs.

“Okay,” Chaewon says in a rush, and judging by all the shuffling noises, Sakura guesses she’s getting ready. Thank God, they’re back in Tokyo. “I’ll send you the location. Meet me there in 10.“

She disconnects the call and, a moment later, Sakura gets a message with an address that’s just a street away from where she’s currently.

Opening the car’s door, she quickly pays the taxi driver, who stares at her perplexedly, and hops out. “Thank you!” she calls over her shoulder, running through the maze of honking cars.

A sudden screech of tires startles her, and she slaps her hands onto the hood of a sleek, red car that stops inches from her knees. The heat of the engine radiates through the metal, and her heart pounds in her chest as she stares wide-eyed at the vehicle.

The driver’s window rolls down, revealing a man with a flushed, angry face. “Are you out of your mind?” he yells at her. “Do you have a death wish or something?”

Sakura’s fingers tremble on the hood. “I’m… I’m so sorry,” she stammers faintly as she stumbles away from the car and continues her run, this time more mindful of her surroundings.

Reaching the address Chaewon gave her, she sees the familiar black Suzuki Swift as it rounds the corner at a speed that doesn’t seem legal by any means before it comes to a screeching halt right next to her.

“Get in!” Yunjin shouts from the passenger seat, and Sakura barely has time to shut the door before Chaewon hits the gas.

Her friend drives like she’s possessed, taking sharp turns and sudden stops, zipping down the side alleys and avoiding the traffic on the main streets. Sakura clutches the door handle, her knuckles white. The cityscape blurs outside the car’s windows, and she feels her stomach drop with each wild maneuver, as if she’s on a rollercoaster.

“Woohoo! This is just like in the movies!” Yunjin exclaims, sounding way too excited.

Sakura’s heart races, matching the speed of the car. She glances at Chaewon and gets a little concerned by the wild look in her eyes. She’s enjoying it as much, if not more, as Yunjin is.

“Chae, I really appreciate your help and dedication, but can we please slow down a little?” she asks, her voice wavering as they take another sharp turn. “I feel like I’m about to throw up.”

“Well, do you want to make it before that plane leaves, or not?” Chaewon shoots back.

“I do. But I’d also want to make it there in one piece!” Sakura shrieks as she tumbles to the side when Chaewon dodges a slow-moving truck with a sudden swerve. “I already almost died twice today. I don’t want to tempt fate anymore.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll get you there in one piece. I promise.” Chaewon assures, still not taking her foot off the gas pedal.

“Hold on tight, Kkura. We’re almost there.” Yunjin glances over her shoulder at her and winces. “Geez, you look a bit greenish. Want a paper bag?”

“I’m fine,” Sakura mutters, closing her eyes, still lying on the side.

At least, with all that adrenaline cursing through her veins, she no longer feels like she’s about to have a headache.

“So, wanna tell us how you finally realized that Zuha is the love of your life?” Yunjin asks with a teasing lilt in her voice.

Sakura smiles inwardly, appreciating the blonde’s efforts to distract her from the morbid thoughts of crashing into the nearest tree and dying in a ball of fire. She recounts to them everything that happened today, from her conversation with Kaname to her confronting her dad and then her visit to Coach Ikeda’s house.

“Wow, no offense, but your dad is kinda shitty,” Yunjin sums up her story.

“Non taken.” Sakura lets out a humorless chuckle. “But honestly, I’m no better myself. I shouldn’t have given up on her so easily. I should have fought for us instead of making her leave.”

“Hey, you’re fighting right now, aren’t you?”

Sakura lowers her gaze, asking quietly, “What if it’s too late?”

Sure, Kazuha agreed to talk to her, but that doesn’t mean that she’ll forgive her. And if she doesn’t, then what?

“Oh hell no! We’re not doing this negative thinking bullshit again! Quick, snap out of it!” Yunjin reaches her hand to literally snap her fingers right in front of Sakura’s eyes, successfully yanking her out of her thoughts. “You didn’t do that to Zuha because you’re a shitty person, but because a shitty person manipulated you into doing that. What matters most is that now you see it, and you can fix it.”

“We’re here!” Chaewon announces and hits the brakes.

They all jolt forward, and Sakura almost rolls off the backseat. When she lifts herself up, she sees that they’re right in front of the terminal, where Kazuha is supposed to be waiting for her.

“Well? What are you waiting for? Go get your girl,” Chaewon says, looking over her shoulder at her.

“Thanks, guys. I owe you,” she tells them before practically leaping out of the car.

Rushing into the terminal building, she makes her way through the crowd, her heart pounding even harder than during the wild ride with Chaewon and Yunjin. Finally, she reaches the waiting area and scans the sea of faces, but Kazuha is nowhere to be seen. Panic sets in as her eyes dart from one stranger to the next.

Has she already left?

“Kazuha!” she shouts out of desperation, not caring that the people around her look at her like she’s lost her mind.

That’s how she feels, anyway.

“Sakura,” the soft, familiar voice calls from behind her.

She spins around, and there she is—Kazuha standing in her baggy jeans, wearing the same white, cropped hoodie she wore the first time she stepped into the F.C. Tokyo’s locker room. She looks at Sakura, worry evident in her eyes, as she sets her duffel bag on the ground.

“Haachan,” Sakura whispers, smiling, until she realizes Kazuha’s already dressed for the LA weather.

Her throat tightens as the familiar, dreadful fear wells up inside her chest, but she stifles it down and blinks back the tears. It doesn’t matter if Kazuha is about to leave; she has to tell her. Otherwise, she’ll spend the rest of her life wondering what if.

It’s right here, right now.

Stepping forward, she looks into Kazuha’s hopeful eyes. “I love you, Haachan,” she says, choking the words out. “I love you so much. More than anyone. More than anything. And I’m so sorry I haven’t told you sooner.”

Kazuha’s eyes widen. “S-sakura…“

Sakura steps even closer, inhaling the familiar jasmine scent she missed so much.

“I was just so scared,” she says, her voice steadier this time. “Getting on the team and winning the World Cup, keeping the promise I gave my dad, was everything to me. I thought it would somehow fix him. That it would fix our family. But it won’t. I’m sorry it took me so long to realize that. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. And I’m so sorry that I’ve hurt you.”

Hesitantly, she reaches for Kazuha’s palm, relieved when the girl doesn’t recoil and lets her hold it.

“You were always so patient with me. You reminded me how fun soccer can be and how much joy it brings me. The trophies, the medals, the titles—none of it really matters. Because you gave me something much more important than that. You showed me what it means to have a family that loves you unconditionally. And I just want to be with you. Whether you’re in Tokyo, Europe, or freaking LA, I don’t care. I’ll no longer second-guess myself. I want you to be my girlfriend. Please just give me one more chance.”

Kazuha blinks, her eyes glassy, and her hand gently squeezes Sakura’s. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say so many words at once.” They both chuckle at that. “But can you please say it again?”

“Wha—? L-like all of it?” Sakura stutters, taken aback.

Kazuha shakes her head. “Just that first sentence, please.”

Sakura smiles in recognition.

“I love you, Hacchan,” she repeats softly, wiping a stray tear from Kazuha’s cheek. “I love your stupid cropped hoodies that you wear even in winter.” She tugs at the hem of the said hoodie, eliciting another chuckle from Kazuha. “I love how hopelessly bad you are at video games and oddly good at flirting. I love your silly goal celebrations during training and your even sillier conversations with Hana-chan. I love your pretty, soft eyes and–-“

Kazuha doesn’t let her finish. She pulls her in by the collar of her winter coat, silencing her with a kiss—one that’s long and slow and, oh so perfect.

When they finally pull apart, Kazuha bumps their foreheads together and whispers, “I love you, too, Saachan. More than anyone. More than anything.“

Sakura feels her heart swell—a surge of happiness so strong and sudden it almost staggers her. She throws her hands around Kazuha’s neck, holding her tightly to make sure this moment is real and not just in her head.

And it is real.

Kazuha holds her close.

Kazuha loves her.

Kazuha has just given her a second chance.

🌸🍃

After that very public love confession, which apparently got them trending on Twitter, according to Yunjin’s recent congratulatory message, they head to an airport café. Kazuha still has some time until her flight, and Sakura wants to make sure that this time there won’t be any unspoken parts between them.

Once again, she recounts everything that happened earlier today, while Kazuha listens with a frown that deepens each time Sakura drops another revelation on her.

“So your dad told Coach Ikeda not to draft you? And he doesn’t have any rules against couples? And you know this from Kaname, who now dates Sachiko?” Kazuha asks.

Sakura nods to each question. “Yeah, I know. It’s a lot to take in.”

“Yeah, definitely,” Kazuha replies, looking like she’s still processing the information. “But I don’t understand. Did he just assume we would never find out about Juri and Shiori?”

Sakura shrugs, sighing. “Maybe he himself didn’t know about them. Plus, I think that as much as he wanted to keep me out of the team, he also just wanted to impact your performance, and what better way to do that than break us apart?”

Kazuha’s creaes in thought. “Do you think that he…” she hesitates, but Sakura knows exactly what she wonders about.

“He’s involved in your transfer? I don’t think so. I don’t think his influence reaches that far. Ikeda was his friend so that was easy. Besides,” she leans forward with a playful smirk on her lips. “It’s not that hard to believe that better teams are interested in you. They don’t call you a soccer genius for nothing, after all.”

Kazuha’s cheeks tint red, and she gives a small nod, but when her eyes meet Sakura’s again, there’s only concern in them. “It must have been hard for you,” she says quietly.

Sakura slides her hand across the table and into Kazuha’s, lacing their fingers together. “It’s easier now,” she admits with a smile.

Kazuha smiles back, but it doesn’t reach her eyes as her gaze fixes on their connected palms.

“Listen, Haachan,” Sakura says, catching her attention. “I won’t tell you to stay. But I also won’t tell you to leave. It has to be your choice. I’ll accept it either way.”

Kazuha chews on her bottom lip. “I’ve signed the contract already but it’s only until the end of this season. After that, I’m supposed to decide if I want to stay, provided they still want me,” she says, lowering her gaze.

“Zuha.” Sakura reaches over, gently cupping her cheek. Kazuha leans into her touch, their eyes meeting again. “Like I said, I want to be with you even if we’re going to be thousands of kilometers apart. And if, after the loan ends, you want to stay there, I’ll come to you. And if you decide to come back, I’ll be here, waiting. It’s a promise.”

She offers her pinky and watches how Kazuha’s lips break into the sweetest, most adoring smile. Wrapping her pinky around Sakura’s, Kazuha presses their thumbs together.

“I have to go now.” The sad frown from a moment ago makes it’s appearance again on Kazuha’s face.

“Please text me the moment you land, okay?” Sakura says, taking Kazuha’s palm and bringing it up to her lips to press a soft kiss against her knuckles.

“Ugh,” Kazuha groans, wincing. “You aren’t making this easy for me, you know?”

Sakura chuckles lightly. “I’m sorry. Let’s go, then. I’ll see you off.”

They kiss one last time before Kazuha leaves for the security check-out. It’s a bittersweet feeling watching her walk away just after they reconciled, but something tells Sakura that they’ll see each other sooner rather than later. The next qualifying match is in a month, and with her dad out of the picture, she finally has a fair chance to make the team.

She waves at Kazuha, then shoves her hands into the pockets of her coat, and that’s when she realizes she still carries the little box with the necklace. “Ah, Zuha!” She runs to the girl, catching up to her just in time.

“What happened?”

“Christmas gift.” She hands her the box, and Kazuha doesn’t waste time opening it.

“Sakura, it’s so pretty,” she says, holding up the necklace and gazing at the twirling cherry blossom pendant. “Thank you.”

“Maybe it’ll bring you luck.” Sakura reaches behind the collar of her button-up, taking out the necklace with the leaf pendant. “Mine sure did.”

Kazuha beams as tears glisten in her eyes and she nods. “I’m sure it will.”

They hug, and Sakura remembers how she used to wonder if the two of them led different lives, would their paths still cross at some point? Although she can’t be sure and she never will be, she hopes they would, because, as Yunjin rightly noted, Kazuha truly is the love of her life.

And even this farewell can’t dampen the happiness that blooms in her heart. She loves Kazuha, and Kazuha loves her, so they will be fine.

This is not the ending, but just the beginning.

🌸🍃

Sakura knew that it wouldn’t be easy. Tokyo is 16 hours ahead of Los Angeles, after all, but she also knew they would make it work regardless.

She spends her every break face-calling Kazuha, who, around that time, is already at home, resting after her training. And Kazuha tells her everything that happened that day, down to minute details like what she ate for breakfast and how many cats and dogs she met on her way to the stadium.

“No, Sakura, like I swear, I’m not even exaggerating. Chipotle is just so crazy good.”

Sitting on the substitution bench, Sakura laughs, staring at her phone and Kazuha’s delighted expression. It’s 8 pm in LA, and she’s already in bed, the phone propped against the pillows as she lays on her stomach.

“Told ya!” Yunjin shouts as she sidles up to Sakura and leans in to get into the camera’s frame, waving at Kazuha. “By the way, we’ve watched your last match together. That header in the last minute was so sick.”

“I told her already,” Sakura mutters, rolling her eyes.

“Thanks, Yunjin. Shame we ended that game only on a draw,” Kazuha says wryly.

“Hey, it was still impressive. Not your fault your goalkeeper sucks,” Sakura rushes to assure.

“Yup, yup, listen to your wise girlfriend.” Yunjin pats her on the head. “Okay, I’ll leave you two alone. Just behave yourselves, ‘kay? You’re in public, remember?” The blonde nudges Sakura on the arm, wiggling her eyebrows at her.

“Ughh, seriously?” Sakura makes a grimace of disgust and nudges back the blonde while Kazuha laughs in the background. “Go, shoo! Go pester Chaewon, or something.”

“Okaay, byee!” Yunijn sing-songs and skips away. “Wonnie! Kkura told me to pester you~!”

“Ahh, I miss you guys so much.” Kazuha pouts, then adds, “I can’t imagine myself staying here. I mean, sure, it’s fun. The matches are on a whole new level. Chipotle is crazy good. The girls are nice.”

Sakura raises her eyebrow, which elicits a smirk from Kazuha.

“As in, they treat me nicely.”

“I’m not saying anything,” Sakura mutters nonchalantly, her eyes veering beyond the screen of her phone.

“You didn’t have to,” Kazuha says, and Sakura can perfectly imagine the cheeky grin on her face, which sure enough is there when she looks back at her phone.

“It’s only been a month,” Sakura says. “You don’t have to decide now.”

“Yeah, I know.” Kazuha agrees. “You know what else I like here? How popular soccer is at schools among girls. I wish it was like that in Japan. Maybe one day I could start a school program to promote it or open a soccer academy,” she ponders, tapping her finger against her puckered lips.

Sakura smiles, confident that whatever Kazuha decides to pursue, she’ll succeed. “That sounds like a plan,” she says while thinking to herself that she’ll do everything in her power to make Kazuha’s dreams come true, whatever those may end up being.

“Still, playing here without you is just… I don’t know. It’s hard to explain, but it’s not the same. Like it doesn’t feel quite right.”

“I know what you mean,” Sakura says. “Whenever I make a cross into the penalty area, I can’t help imagining you leaping into the air for a header. And then I realize that you’re not there. It’s a strange feeling.”

She once told Kazuha that they wouldn’t play together forever, but now that they are on different teams, somehow she feels like this isn’t how it’s supposed to be.

“Mhm,” Kazuha hums thoughtfully. “I keep re-watching our November matches. I even showed some to Cindy.”

Sakura tries to ignore the sting of jealousy that she feels whenever Kazuha mentions her new roommate and a teammate. She knows it’s unreasonable, but she just can’t help it. Currently, she’s just jealous of anyone who gets to see Kazuha in person every day.

“She said it really looked like we were reading each other’s minds.”

“Because we do, don’t we?”

Kazuha squints her eyes. “Oh yeah? Then tell me, what am I thinking right now?”

“I can’t.” Sakura smirks before she leans in closer and whispers, “I’m in public, remember? “

Even through the phone’s screen, she can see how Kazuha’s cheeks flush red, confirming Sakura’s allegations that her current thoughts aren’t by far of the purest kind.

“Can we discuss this in more detail once you’re back at home?” Kazuha asks, lowering her voice as her forefinger starts drawing circles against the bedsheets.

A spark of heat ignites below Sakura’s belly button and she runs her hand through her hair, looking around to make sure no one has heard them. “Maybe,” she whispers teasingly.

Kazuha bites down on her bottom lip, making Sakura squirm in her seat. The need to be on that bed with Kazuha feels a bit too overwhelming right now, and she tries to shake off all the indecent images that suddenly flood her consciousness.

“I have to go now. The break is over,” she says as she notices Chaewon waving at her from across the field. “Talk to you later. Love you.” She blows a kiss at the screen.

“Love you, too. Byee!” Kazuha makes a kissy face as she waves at her, and then the screen goes black.

Sakura leaves the phone on the bench and joins her friends, ignoring Yunjin’s comments about her red ears.

In a week, the squads for Japan’s next qualifying match will be announced. And if everything goes according to plan, in two weeks, she’ll be able to finally meet Kazuha. She can’t wait, but she also shouldn’t be really thinking about it right now unless she wants to hear more of Yunjin’s teasing.

🌸🍃

“I feel like I’m about to throw up,” Sakura mutters, wringing her palms and bouncing her right leg as their team waits in the locker room for Coach Takahashi to join them.

Even though Sakura’s goals and assists have kept their winning streak alive and Kazuha is performing impressively well with her new team in LA, Sakura doesn’t think she has ever felt this stressed in her life.

Except, perhaps, for that time she was stuck in a traffic jam in a taxi on the way to the airport.

“Please don’t.” Chaeown gives her a mildly concerned, side-eyed look.

“Chill, Kkura. I bet you both got in.” Yunjin pulls her in for a side-hug, but it does nothing to alleviate her nerves.

Just then, Coach Takahashi enters the locker room with a broad smile on his face and his clipboard tucked under his arm. He stops in the center, his gaze settling over Sakura.

“Miyawaki-san, congratulations. Coach Ikeda wants you on the team.”

“What about—?”

“Yes, Nakamura-san got in, too.”

Her teammates start clapping and congratulating her, while Sakura just slumps against her locker and closes her eyes, feeling how the tension leaves her body. Tears fall from her eyes unbidden as a smile makes its way to her lips.

She thinks back to that one evening months ago, when she was coming back from training with Kazuha. Her face bathed in the soft orange glow of the street lights, a gentle breeze playing with her hair and her words:

Let’s win the World Cup together.

Back then, it was the ‘win‘ part that she wanted to believe in the most. Now, it’s the ‘together‘ that truly matters to her.

🌸🍃

The next week, Sakura flies with most of the Japanese team to Kuala Lumpur, where the next qualifying match will take place. Most because Kazuha, for example, flew there a day earlier from LA. They agree to just meet each other at the hotel since they’ll be sharing a room anyway.

Sakura worried before the flight that maybe Coach Ikeda would arrange separate rooms for them, but thankfully, that didn’t happen.

After their plane lands, Sakura rushes through the airport as though someone were literally chasing her, but it’s useless anyway because they have to wait ages for their luggage.

“Gee, calm down. No one’s gonna steal that girl of yours,” Shiori quips from beside her.

They got acquainted at the airport before the flight and then sat next to each other on the plane. Apparently, Shiori already knew quite a lot about Sakura from Kaname’s stories. And surprisingly, her ex didn’t seem to paint her in a bad light, so despite Shiori’s perpetually haughty expression on her face, they hit it off quite well.

Sakura replies to her words with a lopsided smile and stops craning her neck to see whether her bag is already on the conveyor belt.

When an hour later they finally check-in at the hotel, Sakura bursts into the room, dropping her bag by the door, but to her disappointment, no one greets her. Her shoulders slump as she wonders where Kazuha might have gone when the door to the bathroom opens, and Kazuha steps out with a broad smile on her face.

Her hair is slightly damp, and her sun-kissed skin is on full display as she only wears a pair of shorts, a sports bra, and, of course, the familiar silver necklace. Sakura feels like she’s about to melt on the spot as heat flares up inside her and her mouth goes dry.

“Would you look at that? They gave us only one bed,” Kazuha says, glancing at the queen-sized bed.

Sakura shakes her head, amused, but plays along. “What a terrible oversight.”

“Mhm.” Kazuha nods as she saunters up to her, and Sakura begins to feel a little weak in the knees.

“And let me guess. You’ve forgotten your pajamas,” she asks once the girl reaches her and wraps her arms around her waist, pulling them closer together.

“Me? Never.” Kazuha feigns an appalled expression before looking up in thought. “Or wait, maybe I did. Yeah, I’m afraid I did.”

“I missed you,” Sakura says, throwing her hands behind Kazuha’s neck, and then she yelps when she’s suddenly hoisted up and has to wrap her legs around Kazuha’s torso.

“Show me how much.” Kazuha gushes with that familiar wolfish grin that never fails to make Sakura’s heart rate spike to dangerous levels.

“I don’t know. I’m starting preparations for my senior national team debut tomorrow,” Sakura muses, looking up to the ceiling and biting back a grin when Kazuha dips her head to pepper kisses along the column of her neck. “I have to be well-rested.”

“Mhmm, I can do all the work then. I don’t mind,” Kazuha mumbles in between kisses while walking them towards the bed.

“I was joking,” Sakura clarifies after she’s carefully deposited on the bed with Kazuha hovering above her.

“Oh, I know you were, but I’m afraid you’ll still have to wait for your turn.” The girl’s voice drops to a husky whisper as she leans in, but Sakura ducks out of her way and jumps off the bed.

“Shower first!” she exclaims as she runs to the bathroom, laughing when Kazuha catches up to her, and they both stumble under the shower.

“Let me help with this,” Kazuha murmurs as she starts unbuttoning Sakura’s shirt before reaching behind her and turning on the shower.

And as the lukewarm water soaks Sakura’s clothes and she cranes her neck to capture Kazuha’s lips in a searing kiss, she thinks this situation vaguely reminds her of something…

…Aah right… their first kiss…

Her hands settle over Kazuha’s hips, reaching for the waistband of her shorts but Kazuha quickly grabs them and pins them above her head.

A sound between a gasp and a chuckle escapes Sakura’s lips.

“Nuh-uh, what did I say? Patience Miyawaki-san. Patience,” Kazuha whispers above her ear before gently biting on it.

Sakura stifles a groan of protest.

Well… they sure have come a long way since that first kiss… Not that she complains… She’ll just have to be a little… patient…

🌸🍃

“You look good in blue,” Kazuha says as she leans against the locker, giving Sakura a once-over. “Maybe you should dye your hair blue.”

Sakura raises a skeptical brow. “Wouldn’t it be too much?”

“I think it would be hot.” Kazuha shoots her a cheeky wink.

Sakura flushes, her heart rate picking up again. Throughout those five days they spent preparing for the match, Kazuha has been taking every opportunity she could to shamelessly flirt with Sakura and make her blush.

Sakura loved every second of it and, of course, made sure to pay Kazuha back with words that never failed to leave her girlfriend adorably flustered.

“Don’t you find it cute how we have each other’s numbers?” Kazuha reaches her hand to slowly trace the eleven at Sakura’s chest with her forefinger.

Sakura looks down at the gold numbers against the blue. She used to be so fixated on getting her number nine, but now that Kazuha mentions it, it really is quite cute.

“Come on, you dork. We have a match to win.” She swats the girl’s hand lightly.

She felt a bit jittery about her debut, but now all of that nervousness is gone, and she only feels the familiar exhilaration that accompanies her whenever she’s about to play a match with Kazuha by her side.

They bump their fists and, together, leave the locker room.

🌸🍃

Entering the stadium, Sakura’s eyes scan the stands, catching glimpses of waving flags, painted faces, and the vibrant colors of the national team’s supporters. Somewhere in that sea of faces, she knows her mother is watching. As for her dad, she has no clue, but whether he’s watching or not, she doesn’t really care.

She figured some time ago that holding grudges against him might end up feeling just as draining as worrying about his opinions used to be, so she just lets go of his memory entirely and focuses on what’s here and now.

Her eyes meet Kazuha’s, piercing and dark, as they stand facing each other, waiting for the referee’s signal to start. Her body thrums in anticipation, her knees and arms tingling.

“Let’s dance, shall we?” Kazuha’s grin turns a little wicked.

Sakura feels a pleasant shiver run down her spine. “I thought you’d never ask.”

The referee’s whistle cuts through the humid, warm air, and from the very first touch, Sakura knows that this game will be like no other they’ve ever played before.

Kazuha darts forward at breakneck speed, slicing through their opponents with ease. The Malaysian players stumble over each other as they try and fail to keep up with her. With a perfectly timed kick, she passes the ball, and Sakura takes over, weaving between players as if they were mere training cones.

Drawing the defenders’ attention to her, she senses an opportunity and sends a swift, powerful pass back to Kazuha, who receives it in stride, her pace never faltering. She surges forward and strikes the ball. It soars past the outstretched fingers of the goalkeeper and crashes into the back of the net.

The stadium erupts in a roar of applause and cheers. The scoreboard lights up, and the first goal of the match belongs to them.

Air gets knocked out of Sakura when Kazuha collides into her, enveloping her in a bear hug. “I can already picture us eating those Parisian croissants,” Kazuha murmurs against her ear, making laughter bubble up deep from within Sakura’s chest.

The match resumes, and they continue to dominate the field. After the sixth goal, Sakura starts to feel a bit bad for their rivals but can’t really hold back herself from scoring yet another goal. Kazuha just makes it way too fun for her with her silly celebrations and flirtatious banter.

In the end, they win, scoring 8 goals and losing none. Four of those belong to Sakura, three to Kazuha, and one took their captain, Nanako. Overall, Sakura couldn’t have asked for a better national team debut.

After the game, they briefly meet with Sakura’s mom outside the stadium.

“Mom, meet my girlfriend, Nakamura Kazuha,” Sakura says, the words making her heart flutter.

Kazuha gives a sheepish grin as she bows her head in greeting. “Nice to meet you, Miyawaki-san.”

“Please, call me Sayaka.” Sakura’s mother smiles warmly. “I’m happy to finally meet you as well, Kazuha-chan. Sakura told me so much about you.”

Holding onto Kazuha’s arm, Sakura observes them wordlessly as they fall into easy small-talk about the game.

“Thank you for making my daughter so happy. I don’t remember when was the last time I saw her smile so much.”

“Well, it’s easy when she makes me the happiest girl in the world.”

Sakura blinks, finding Kazuha’s soft eyes gazing lovingly at her.

“Zuha… ” she grumbles against her arm, feeling warmth flood her cheeks.

“What? It’s true.”

Sakura looks up at her with a slight frown. Is she really being honest? After everything she put her through? Despite them spending time mostly separated by thousands of kilometers? She still feels this way?

Kazuha grins like she’s perfectly aware of all these sudden doubts and fears swirling inside her mind and leans in, kissing her on the forehead before she pulls her in for a hug.

And that’s all the answer Sakura needs for all her doubts to be dispelled.

Unfortunately, Sakura’s mom has to leave for her flight as she has work tomorrow, but they make plans to meet each other for dinner once the league season in the US is over and Kazuha returns to Tokyo.

Sakura already can’t wait for it.

🌸🍃

Reuniting Miyawaki with Nakamura turned out to be a real game changer. The Japanese striker duo once again proved that together they are simply unstoppable, setting high expectations for Japan’s performance next year in Paris…

“What are you reading?” Kazuha asks as she jumps onto the bed and lays down on her stomach next to Sakura, her jasmine scent invading Sakura’s senses.

“Just skimming through the articles about the match,” Sakura says, looking over at her girlfriend with a smile.

Kazuha brushes away the hair from her shoulder and presses a soft, lingering kiss against it. “And what are they saying?”

“That we’re unstoppable.” Sakura chuckles when the kisses turn into gentle nips.

“Mhm, sounds about right,” Kazuha murmurs as she takes the phone from Sakura’s hand and places it on the nightstand. “You know what else is unstoppable?” She asks, gently pushing Sakura onto her back.

“What?” Sakura raises an amused eyebrow.

“My love for you,” Kazuha states, her grin unabashed.

“Ugh,” Sakura groans in embarrassment but can’t keep herself from grinning as well. “Just kiss me already.”

“Your wish is my command,” Kazuha whispers against her lips before closing the last distance between them.

Tomorrow this distance will grow to thousands of kilometers, but tonight she’ll lose herself in Kazuha’s embrace, in her searing kisses and gentle touch, once more, savoring…every… single…second of it…

🌸🍃

A torrent of bubbly champagne sprays over Sakura, soaking her face and jersey as she shrieks. The locker room fills with a cacophony of joyful shouts and laughter, echoing off the tiled walls. She wipes her face with her jersey, blinking away the droplets, and looks around at her teammates, their faces bright with exhilaration.

After ten years, F.C. Tokyo finally won another league title.

“To Sakura! Our Top Scorer!” Yunjin shouts, and the cheer is taken up by the entire team.

More bottles are uncorked, and the air fills with the sweet scent of champagne. Later, when the celebrations are over and Sakura changes her clothes by her locker after taking a shower, Chaewon taps her on the arm.

“Someone’s here to see you,” she says, pointing at the door behind them.

Sakura frowns. Her mother told her she couldn’t come due to her work at the hospital, but then who else could be visiting her?

She steps outside the locker room, and there, at the end of the long corridor, she sees the unmistakable, long dark hair, the cropped hoodie, and the denim shorts.

“Kazuha . ” Before she realizes it, she’s already sprinting down the corridor and into the arms of her girlfriend.

Kazuha catches her and, lifting her off the ground, spins them around.

“What are you doing here? I thought your season ended next week,” Sakura asks after she’s put back on the ground, but with Kazuha’s arms still around her.

“It does, but I couldn’t miss seeing you lift that trophy. Congratulations. You truly deserved it.” Kazuha leans her forehead against Sakura’s.

“I wouldn’t have done it without you,” Sakura admits.

“Nah, don’t be so humble,” Kazuha says, then kisses her softly on the lips. “Next year, we’re holding that trophy together, okay?”

Sakura nods, maybe a bit too eagerly, but she doesn’t care. Despite the LA team expressing their hope she’d stay with them, Kazuha has already decided she will be coming back to Tokyo.

“I have a present for you,” she says, taking an envelope out of the back pocket of her shorts and handing it to Sakura.

Inside, Sakura finds an airplane ticket to LA. Speechless, she stares at her beaming girlfriend.

“You’re coming back with me tomorrow. After such an eventful season, you deserve some vacation.”

Sakura squeals, like, actually squeals in delight, which surprises even herself. But then again, she has never been on a proper vacation. It was always just an endless cycle of tournaments and training sessions.

And now Kazuha…

“Hey, hey, hey, no crying.” Kazuha cups her cheeks, squishing them gently.

Sakura holds back the tears, shaking her head. “I love you. So much,” she mumbles.

Kazuha’s face lights up with a smile. “I love you, too. So, so much.”

Sakura doesn’t think she’ll ever grow tired of hearing these words.

🌸🍃

The sun dips towards the horizon, painting the sky in pink and orange hues. The gentle waves of the ocean lap against the shore, their soothing sound mingling with the distant calls of seagulls. The sand beneath Sakura’s feet feels cool, a stark contrast to the warm, golden light that bathes everything in a soft glow.

She stands at the water’s edge, the breeze tugging at her hair, sending loose strands dancing around her face. And she feels just so…calm. She tries to recall the last time she felt so at ease, but nothing comes to mind.

Throughout her life, her heart and mind have always been filled with countless doubts, questions, and fears. But right now, there’s none of that. All thanks to a certain girl, who just wanted to play beside her, yet ended up doing so much more for her. Who became her teammate, her friend, her lover, her everything .

Without Kazuha, she’d still be attending her dad’s gruelling training sessions until she got injured again. Without Kazuha, she might have never freed herself from his influence. Without Kazuha, she’d end up being just like him—bitter, cruel, and lonely.

She feels Kazuha’s presence before she feels her touch—a scent of jasmine and comforting warmth that wraps around her heart. Her arms snake around Sakura’s waist, pulling her into a tender embrace.

Sakura leans back against her, feeling the steady rise and fall of Kazuha’s breathing. She wouldn’t mind staying like this forever.

“What are you thinking about, hm? ” Kazuha whispers against her temple.

“Us. You.” Sakura tilts her head slightly, catching a glimpse of her girlfriend’s serene expression.

“Mhm, I knew you were thinking about something happy.”

Chuckling, Sakura shifts slightly and buries her face in the crook of Kazuha’s neck, closing her eyes.

“Haachan?”

“Mhm?”

“Thank you for finding me.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Saachan.”

And in that moment, Sakura knows that with this silly, beautiful, kind-hearted girl by her side, she’ll be okay. They will be okay.

Because Kazuha has changed the game and, for the first time in Sakura’s life, made forever possible.