Ryan sat by the car window, watching the scenery rush by.
It feels like I only entered Blue Lock yesterday, he thought. Back then, I was an innocent, pure-hearted boy… now, after weeks in that madhouse, I swear every other word I say is profanity.
He sighed. "Blue Lock really does corrupt people…"
The first stop on his one-day trip: home.
The car pulled up to a massive mansion gate. Ryan stepped out, stretching his arms before pressing the intercom.
A voice answered. "Excuse me, may I ask who's calling?"
Ryan frowned. "What, the camera's broken? Can't see that your beloved young master has returned? Open the gate already!"
Silence.
"Hey! Did you die or something?"
Still no answer.
Ryan stared at the metal gate, seriously considering climbing over it. Then he remembered
Wait, I have a phone. Mom's definitely home.
He was just about to call when a warm, familiar female voice came through the speaker.
"Wait, wait Ryan, is that you?"
"Yeah, it's me, Mom."
"Really? You're back?! I told you not to join that ridiculous Blue Lock program! You could've gone straight to England or Spain for training! But nooo, you never listen. Now look at you coming home crying to your mother, huh?"
"Can we skip the lecture and just let me in?"
"Oh! Right! I'm just so happy I forgot!"
The gate finally swung open.
As Ryan walked through the garden, the landscapers stopped trimming and stared, then quickly bowed.
"Good morning, young master."
Ryan nodded casually and continued toward the main house.
At the door, he saw a beautiful woman standing with the butler. The moment she spotted him, she ran forward.
"Ryan! You're finally home! I missed you so much! Do you know how boring it's been without you? Your father's only home a few days a week, no one's here to keep me company!"
She threw her arms around him, half-crying.
"Mom, it's been… what, not even a month?"
"You've never been away from me for more than two days! How do you expect me to survive without you?"
Ryan sighed. "You're exaggerating again. I'm fine."
"See? Such a cruel boy. A woman says she misses you, and that's your reply!"
"'Woman'? You're my mother."
"I'm still a woman! If we went out together, people would think we were siblings!"
"Yeah, sure no one's mistaking an auntie for my sister."
"Ryan, you mean little brat!"
They entered the grand hall, chatting. His mother clung to his arm the whole way.
"Let me see, did you lose weight? Is the food terrible there? Are people bullying you because you're too handsome? Should I call the head of the Football Association and have him shut that awful Blue Lock down?"
"Calm down, Mom. Everything's fine. My team just qualified for the next round. I earned a one-day pass for scoring ten goals. Oh and by the way, is the security camera broken? The butler didn't even open the gate for me."
"Oh, that? He went to wake me up! I was napping. The moment I heard you were home, I jumped out of bed to see you. Aren't you touched?"
"Wow, deeply moved," Ryan said flatly.
"You sound so sincere! You should've called ahead. I could've had the whole staff line up at the gate to welcome you!"
"No need for the drama. I just wanted to surprise you before heading out again later."
"'Heading out again later'? Hmph! Off to see your girlfriends, right? So visiting me was just a side quest, huh? Go on then! Leave your poor mother to grow old and die alone in this empty house, my rotting body discovered only after weeks of neglect!"
Ryan chuckled and hugged her.
"Okay, okay. Don't start crying again, you're too old for that. You're still the first person I came to see, aren't you? And come on if I don't see them, how am I supposed to give you grandkids? You want the Hoshino family line to end with me?"
His mother hid a smile. Same old trick. Still works every time.
"Fine," she sighed dramatically. "Go see them. But you're eating breakfast with me first."
"Deal. It's been a while anyway."
The Morning Visit
After breakfast, Ryan got back into his family car and headed to his next destination, the amusement park where he'd arranged to meet Mai.
At the entrance, with fifteen minutes to spare, he sat on a bench, scrolling through his phone.
"Um… excuse me?"
He looked up. A nervous-looking girl stood in front of him cute, maybe a 6 or 7 out of 10, clearly pushed forward by her giggling friends behind her.
"C-can I get your contact info?" she stammered.
Ryan was about to politely decline when a soft arm wrapped around his.
"Sorry, he already has a girlfriend."
The other girl's face went scarlet. She bowed deeply. "I I'm so sorry!"
Then she ran off.
Ryan turned and, of course, it was Mai.
"Well, someone's popular," she said with a teasing smile. "Good thing I got here in time."
"I was just about to turn her down. You kinda ruined my heroic moment."
"I know," she smirked. "You're not the type to flirt."
Ryan grinned. "Then maybe I deserve a little reward for being such a loyal boyfriend?"
"Oh? What kind of reward?"
"Hmm… maybe a kiss?"
"Here? In public?"
Mai glanced around. There weren't too many people. She took a deep breath, rose on her toes, and gave him a quick, fluttering kiss on the lips.
Then she looked down shyly, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Happy now?"
Ryan smirked. "Wow, Mai, couldn't wait to kiss me, huh? I was expecting a cheek kiss, not on the lips. In public, too. How bold."
Her face turned bright red. She started lightly punching his chest.
"You idiot! You have no idea how much courage that took! And now you're teasing me?!"
Ryan caught her fists mid-swing and gently pulled her into his arms.
"Hey, hey… our shy little Mai kissed me in front of everyone. That's amazing. You must really like me, huh?"
Mai rested her head on his chest, breathing in his scent.
"Mm-hmm. I love you the most."
Ryan froze for a second, heart skipping a beat.
"…Come with me."
He led her to a quiet spot behind the restrooms, near a small grove of trees.
He pinned her gently against a tree, tilting her chin up.
"W-wait… here?" she whispered.
"Relax. Just a kiss."
Their lips met again slowly, deeply this time. Time blurred until they finally parted, a thin string of silver connecting them.
Mai leaned against his chest, flushed and breathless.
Ryan whispered in her ear, "That's enough for now. We've got a whole amusement park to conquer. We'll continue… tonight."
Mai smiled softly. "Okay."
A Date Like a Dream
After getting their tickets checked, they entered.
"Where to first?" she asked.
"We've got VIP passes, let's hit the crowded rides first."
Since it wasn't a holiday, the park wasn't packed.
They rode roller coasters, carousels, pendulums, the Ferris wheel, everything.
By noon, they'd already spent half the day playing like kids.
"Ryan, what do you want for lunch?"
"Hmm… not steak. I've had enough steak to last a lifetime."
Mai blinked. "Wait, steak? Every day?"
Ryan chuckled. "No, no. Only top scorers get steak. The last-place guy eats pickled radish for a week."
"Then our superstar really is amazing," she said, smiling proudly.
Whenever someone praised him, Ryan's response was automatic, like a reflex.
"Hahaha! Of course. I'm the strongest!"
"Alright, 'strongest,' what are we eating then?"
"Ramen. Haven't had any in ages."
Mai laughed. "A date with ramen? You're really something else."
"You don't want any?"
"I'll eat whatever you're eating. As long as it's with you, it's perfect."
"Then let's go destination: ramen shop!"
They found a cozy place nearby, ordered, and ate. Ryan finished first and played on his phone while waiting for Mai to finish.
When she did, they stepped back out onto the street.
"So, who's next? Yukino or Utaha?" she asked with a knowing look.
"Afternoon with Yukino, evening with Utaha," Ryan replied smoothly.
"Got it. Have fun then. I'll see you tonight."
"Wait."
Mai paused. "What is it?"
"No goodbye kiss?"
She rolled her eyes. "You really love kissing, don't you? Fine, since you asked."
She leaned in and kissed him lightly again.
"There. Happy now? You're so clingy."
"You don't like it?"
"I do."
They smiled at each other, then parted ways Mai getting into a cab while Ryan pulled out his phone to text Yukino.
Another date awaited.
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