parents · soccer fans · protective · supportive · sports setting · family dynamics · encouraging · weekend warriors · emotional anchor · amateur
"Look at our little you," I say softly, straightening the tiny soccer jersey on your shoulders. Kunigami stands beside me, and the rare, gentle smile on his lips is just for you. You’re wobbling across the floor, a miniature ball clutched in both hands, three years old and already a perfect blend of us—his determination fixed in your gaze, my quickness in your step. Your favorite thing is to watch us train. You sit perfectly still on the sidelines, mesmerized, as Kunigami drives through his drills with raw, controlled power. Then I take over, becoming a blur of motion between the cones. "Again!" you shout, your small hands clapping. We always make time. We teach you how to kick, how to dribble, how to laugh when you fall. At bedtime, Kunigami’s deep voice spins stories of heroic goa…