roccoschili Chapter 113 113: The Wolves Fortress
Chapter 113 113: The Wolves Fortress
The bus doors opened with a soft hiss, and one by one the players began stepping out.Haruma was moving near the end of the line with the Prodigy trophy held firmly in his hands. Behind him, Kurogami followed as the last one, carrying the winning trophy with the same quiet pride.
Just as all the players stepped down, it was finally Haruma's turn, who stepped down
and in an instant his eyes snapped open in disbelief.
Standing outside was the entire senior Tokyo
Wolves team, lined up and waiting. Alongside them were the past coaches, and beyond them was Kento with his entire family including Ayane.
The president of the club stood among them, along with the chairman of the Japan Football Federation and other high-ranking officials.
Sponsors from various brands were present as well, and among them were Shuya and Ameha, who all were applauding.
Gentle smiles rested on everyone's faces, filled with quiet pride and admiration. A few exclusive Tokyo Wolves cameramen moved around, capturing the moment with steady clicks, preserving every second of the scene.
Haruma's eyes moved across the crowd, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. But as his gaze continued, it suddenly stopped on specific someone, causing his eyes to widen.
There, among the crowd, stood his mother.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, yet her smile shone brighter than anything around her, filled with pure, unrestrained pride as she clapped, cheering harder than anyone else.
Haruma stared at her with his eyes slightly wide, his breath catching for a moment as emotions surged within him.
And then her words from the past echoed loud in his mind.
"And I'm sure that one day you won't just play… you will dominate! and you'll see me in the crowds cheering louder than anyone else!"
For a brief second, everything else faded.
In a sudden shift of emotions, Haruma's expression hardened with quiet determination.
Standing tall, his chest broad, he tightened his grip on the trophy and raised it high above his head causing the applause to grow even louder, swelling through the space, while the Young Tokyo Wolves let out a round of cheers, their voices rising in support.
Among them, his mother's emotions surged even higher, her claps growing faster, louder, almost desperate, as if she wanted the entire world to hear how proud she was. Tears streamed freely down her cheeks, yet her smile only deepened, unwavering.
Haruma then slowly lowered the trophy and stepped down from the bus, moving to the side to stand beside his teammates.
The cameras, and all of the attention then quickly shifted back toward the bus door.
A brief pause settled in the air as people turned their focus there, waiting.
Then from inside the bus, Kurogami Shikyo stepped out.
The applause rose again, this time a little louder, more focused, as flashes began firing in quick bursts, capturing the moment.
Holding the gleaming winning trophy firmly in his hand, Kurogami paused for a moment. His face carried a calm mix of pride and quiet awe as he took in the scene before him.
In the crowd, Kento was clapping the hardest with a bright, proud smile gracing his face. Beside him, Ayane applauded softly, a warm expression on her face. Nearby, Raon cheered out loud, clapping over his head with his usual energy.
Among them, Minato-sensei stood with a broad, satisfied smile. Catching Kurogami's eye, he gave a small signal, gesturing for him to raise the trophy.
Kurogami understood instantly. A faint smile formed on his lips as he slowly lowered his gaze to the trophy in his hands, and for a brief moment, he simply looked at it, taking it in.
Then he drew a steady breath and lifted the trophy high above his head.
The reaction was immediate as the crowd's applause surged louder, whistles cutting through the air, cheers rising all around. Smiles spread across every face as the moment swelled with pride and celebration.
Ameha and Shuya stood among the crowd, smiling, clapping softly.
The senior Wolves nearby were applauding with clear pride, their energy steady and full of respect. Nearby, Ryusei and Haruma's mother watched with bright smiles, their eyes fixed on the scene.
Amid the ongoing applause, the president of the Tokyo Wolves stepped forward, accompanied by a few other officials, making his way toward Kurogami.
Kurogami stepped down from the bus and met him halfway. He offered a firm handshake, but the president pulled him in for a brief, warm embrace, patting his back in approval.
Around them, the applause continued to rise, and the flashes intensified, capturing the moment from every angle as recognition met achievement.
The president pulled back with a satisfied smile and gestured for Kurogami to head inside.
Kurogami gave a small nod and fell into step beside him, the trophy still held firmly in his grasp as they began walking toward the headquarters.
Behind them, the rest of the young Wolves quickly followed, forming a quiet line as they moved together, just a step behind their captain, walking into something bigger than just a celebration…
Stepping inside the headquarters, the young Wolves were met with the sheer grandeur of the hall.
The walls were adorned with posters of the Tokyo Wolves' most iconic moments. Massive club logos hung from the ceiling and along the walls, while statues of the club's legends stood proudly around them, watching over the space.
Haruma's eyes widened slightly as he took it all in. His gaze moved from one display to another, memories surfacing, moments he had once watched as a kid, now standing right here among them.
Along one side stretched a large wall of framed jerseys, each sealed behind glass, worn by the legends who had shaped the club's history, including Isamu's 2042 world cup jersey.
Haruma's heart pounded harder with each step, his breath slightly uneven. He kept walking, but his eyes moved constantly, taking in every detail, unwilling to miss even a single part of the place.
At the front, the president led with a calm smile. Beside him walked Kurogami and Minato, along with a few other officials, while the rest of the team followed behind in quiet anticipation.
After a few moments, the president came to a stop causing everyone else to halt as well.
Haruma's attention finally pulled away from the surroundings and as he lifted his gaze forward, his eyes widened further.
Ahead of them stood the Wall of Glory.
It held five trophies.
One of them was the U17 JFC, gleaming under the lights, while the other four were JFC League trophies, each carrying years of legacy. And beside them… a newly placed empty podium stood waiting.
The Wall of Glory was set on a slightly elevated platform, reached by a few clean, shallow steps. It wasn't a full stage, but the subtle height gave it presence, separating it from the rest of the hall, making it feel almost untouchable.
A line of red stanchions marked the boundary below, keeping a respectful distance while allowing a clear view.
To one side of the raised section, a discreet access door was built into the structure, the only way to step inside and place a trophy within the cabinet.
Haruma's eyes were fixed on the Wall of Glory, wide and unblinking, locked onto the gleaming JFC League trophies that the Tokyo
Wolves had won in the past.
Then the president stepped forward with a soft, composed smile. At his signal, a few security guards moved and opened the entrance through the stanchions.
The president walked in and began ascending the shallow steps.
The atmosphere shifted, voices fell silent, leaving only the faint sound of camera clicks as flashes continued to capture the moment, building a quiet sense of anticipation.
Reaching the top, the president stopped before the Wall of Glory and turned to face everyone.
"It's always an honor whenever I stand here."
His voice was steady, carrying quiet authority.
"This headquarters of the Tokyo Wolves… is more than a place to me. It's home. And everyone connected to this club, the players, the staff, the supporters around the world… all are a part of my family."
He paused briefly.
"I've given forty years of my life to this club."
A faint breath escaped him before he continued.
"Every time we lose… we learn. We fall, we rise together. We fight, and we stand together."
His eyes moved across the hall.
"This club has given us heartbreak… and it has given us joy. But every time we win, every single time, it becomes one of the proudest days of my life."
A soft smile appeared on his face.
"And as many of you remember… I once said I was the happiest man alive when we won the U17 JFC back in 2028, under Mr. Isamu."
Isamu stood among the crowd, a warm smile resting on his face as he kept his eyes on the president, his expression reflecting deep respect, and a quiet, lingering emotion for the club that had shaped him.