by Alex Ko
“Thanks, thanks, everybody!” she cried. “It feels so great to be here!”
Josh knew precisely what she meant.
The crowd filled the Ajinomoto Stadium with waves of noise that echoed between the huge screens showing advertisements for fizzy drinks. One of them flashed up the score: EXTRA TIME: JAPAN 1 – 0 PORTUGAL.
Josh leaned forward, his heart in his mouth, as out on the pitch the Portuguese striker turned on his heel and managed to get the ball past the Japanese defenders.
“No!” Kiki Chiba squealed and hunched down in the seat next to Josh, half-hiding behind her Japan scarf. The striker barrelled towards the goal with the defenders in his wake. Josh could feel the crowd around him breathing in, clutching their flags, all eyes on the white figure in the goal.
“Save it, Shini...” Josh muttered.
The striker feinted right, then sent the ball arcing towards the left side of the goal. Shinichiro Hanzo – the best player in the J League, maybe the best goalkeeper in the world – leaped like a cat, snatching the ball just before it crossed the goal line. He landed and rolled, the ball safely cradled to his chest.
The crowd went crazy as he stood up and booted the ball down the pitch to the waiting feet of a Japanese midfielder. He turned to the home fans and raised both hands in triumph.
“Go Shini! Hai, hai, hai!” Kiki shrieked happily, leaping out of her seat and jumping up and down.
“It’s not quite over yet...” Jessica said. She was glancing from the action to her watch and back, her face full of tension. “Come on, ref, blow the whistle!”
The Portuguese and Japanese players were scrapping over the ball in the centre circle, fighting for control...
Then the ref blew his whistle.
The crowd roared again. Kiki screamed with joy, the strength of her pop-singer lungs making Josh’s ears ache.
“Come on!” she said, flinging the end of her scarf over her shoulder. “Let’s go down and congratulate him!”
The twins shared a glance. “Erm...okay!”
Josh tried to look cool, casual – but it was hard to be cool and casual when he was being waved through a VIP door and into the private areas of the stadium. The place was massive, and the corridor he, Jessica and Kiki walked down felt like it would never end. Finally, they came to a lift, which took them down to another corridor.
As they walked, Jessica put a hand over her nose. “What’s that smell?”
Josh grimaced. “I think it’s...feet.”
“Ah, here it is,” said Kiki. “Locker rooms.” She pushed open a swinging door, and the twins followed her through into a large room full of wide wooden benches, lockers, and rows of hooks in the walls. It was empty. “We did take a while to get here,” Kiki said. “I guess they’ve all changed. Maybe Shini’s waiting upstairs...”
“Wait,” said Jessica. “Did you hear that?” She walked over to an archway in the wall. An identical room lay on the other side, and as Josh walked up behind her he heard it too – voices.
“Ieie,” one of them said. “No. I will not.”
It was Shini. Josh peered around the archway, and saw him standing with his arms folded and his shoulders hunched, glaring at a man in a large overcoat and a hat. That’s odd, thought Josh. It’s very warm outside and even warmer down here.
Shini looked up and saw Kiki and the twins. The other man glanced at them, though Josh couldn’t see his face. Then he strode off through a door, slamming it behind him.
“Hey, Shini,” Kiki said. “What was all that about?”
“Oh...nothing,” Shini said, shrugging. “He was just a fan. A bit...intense. They ask you very odd things. You know.”
“I do.” Kiki laughed, and it seemed to brighten Shini’s mood. He smiled at her, then at Josh and Jessica. Josh beamed back.
“That was amazing!” he blurted out. “The match, I mean. You were great.”
“Dōmō arigatō.” Shini grinned.
“Shini,” Kiki said, “these are my friends, Josh and Jessica Murata. They’re half-English, visiting from London.”
“Oh really?” said Shini, still smiling. “Who will you be cheering for on Saturday?”
Josh threw a glance at his sister. Jessica shrugged – she didn’t know what to say, either. “Er... I think...the best team should win,” he said.
Shini laughed again. “It’s a good answer! England will be tough. Neil Ash’s right foot is my personal worst enemy this week.”
“But England’s weaker in defence now that Daniel Akimbe’s out with a leg injury,” Josh pointed out.
“But, I hear Karl Clarke is on fine form,” Shini countered. Josh had to concede that one – all the football websites he’d checked said the English Captain was in better health than ever, and playing brilliantly. “This will be a great match,” Shini continued. “I must admit, I am thrilled to meet them all. What club do you two support?”
“Arsenal, mostly,” said Jessica. “But our mum still supports Wingate and Finchley, even though they are in, like, the eighth division.”
“Ah, then the great ‘Clarkey’ is of your home team?” Shini asked.
“Yep.” Josh beamed.
“English football is very physical, right?” Shini asked. Behind him, Kiki was making a big show of rolling her eyes. She had been into the match, but was now giggling at all the football geekiness. Shini didn’t notice. “I hear England has a totally different style of play to the J League, and a different style of management too. Our manager at the Kashima Antlers is very strict, but I hear of English players going to lots of nightclubs.”
“Yeah,” Josh said. “They train hard, but the managers let them have a bit of fun, too. Well, the players would probably riot if they tried to stop them!”
Kiki started to say something, but Shini spoke before she could. “How many games would an English team normally play in a season?” he asked. “And how do English clubs compete in the European leagues?”
“Well,” Josh said, “Premier League clubs play thirty-eight matches in a season, not counting the FA Cup and the European games – the top four Premiership clubs compete in the Champion’s League, and the fifth and sixth and the winner of the FA Cup get to play in the Europa Cup...”
Kiki’s head dropped, and she made a loud snoring sound. Josh laughed, and so did Jessica and Shini. “Sorry, Kiki,” Shini said, patting her shoulder.
Kiki lifted her head, winking at Jessica. “I’m just joking.”
“But England’s a great place to play football, Shini,” said Josh. “We’ve got loads of incredible stadiums, and the most dedicated fans in the world. Just look at our mum with Wingate and Finchley!”
“Shini, do not use my young friends as your personal research team,” Kiki interrupted, wagging a finger at him in a mock telling-off.
“But you know I am very interested in English football,” Shini said.
Josh couldn’t help his eyes going wide. Could Shini be thinking of transferring to an English club? Have I just talked him into it? Josh wondered. Do I get some kind of finder’s fee for that?
“Anyway,” Shini continued, “how could I not want to know how the game is played in England? It is the home of football!”
“Which means it will be even better to beat them at their own game,” said Kiki, with a wink at Josh and Jessica. “Sorry, guys, but it is true!”
“Not very sporting though, old thing,” Shini said, attempting a comically bad English accent.
“All is fair in love and football,” Kiki said, flashing him a twinkly smile.
Now it was Josh’s turn to roll his eyes, but Jessica wasn’t paying attention. She was staring straight at Kiki and Shini.
“Soooo,” she said, “is there something you two want to tell us?”
Find out how Shini’s secrets lead to more
high-kicking ninja action for Josh
and Jess in...
Published in print and ebook
October 2011
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