[More important than being gentle is the familiarity of that voice.
At once, Sakuma recognizes its owner and, even before he successfully brings a vibrant red and white soccer ball to a halt at his feet and turns to gaze at the other boy, he's wearing a small, satisfied smile. It's impossible to hide how much he appreciates receiving that compliment because he's worked hard to get to where he is, but he's even more grateful to have found the company of another friend from home, someone he and the others can count on to some extent, whose soccer isn't so different from their own. Even if there appears to be things that Kidou is keeping from Kiyama, having allies is a blessing and a comfort.
Sadly, the moment he makes eye contact is about the same time that feeling of satisfaction slips away, too.
He's been warned about the time discrepancies the Porter causes and has even witnessed for himself what it is like to be drawn from a different point in time than his friends, but Sakuma hasn't prepared himself for being barely recognized or even borderline forgotten. It is a strange feeling being regarded in that way when, back home, despite not being extraordinarily close, he and Kiyama were still teammates, both of them players for Inazuma Japan. The sting he feels at that friendship suddenly seeming nonexistent is small but nevertheless persistent, lurking just beneath the surface of his newly neutral exterior.
Here they are, having to start all over again. It's yet another thing Sakuma can add to his growing list of reasons why he doesn't much care for this world — none of which are Kiyama's fault, of course. And it's for that reason he so willingly offers his name when it seems like that's what the other boy is reaching for.]
...Sakuma Jirou.
[As far as (re)introductions go, this isn't too bad a place to begin. All things considered, it could certainly be a lot worse.]
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At once, Sakuma recognizes its owner and, even before he successfully brings a vibrant red and white soccer ball to a halt at his feet and turns to gaze at the other boy, he's wearing a small, satisfied smile. It's impossible to hide how much he appreciates receiving that compliment because he's worked hard to get to where he is, but he's even more grateful to have found the company of another friend from home, someone he and the others can count on to some extent, whose soccer isn't so different from their own. Even if there appears to be things that Kidou is keeping from Kiyama, having allies is a blessing and a comfort.
Sadly, the moment he makes eye contact is about the same time that feeling of satisfaction slips away, too.
He's been warned about the time discrepancies the Porter causes and has even witnessed for himself what it is like to be drawn from a different point in time than his friends, but Sakuma hasn't prepared himself for being barely recognized or even borderline forgotten. It is a strange feeling being regarded in that way when, back home, despite not being extraordinarily close, he and Kiyama were still teammates, both of them players for Inazuma Japan. The sting he feels at that friendship suddenly seeming nonexistent is small but nevertheless persistent, lurking just beneath the surface of his newly neutral exterior.
Here they are, having to start all over again. It's yet another thing Sakuma can add to his growing list of reasons why he doesn't much care for this world — none of which are Kiyama's fault, of course. And it's for that reason he so willingly offers his name when it seems like that's what the other boy is reaching for.]
...Sakuma Jirou.
[As far as (re)introductions go, this isn't too bad a place to begin. All things considered, it could certainly be a lot worse.]