Chapter 665: The streets of Madrid


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    The security team tightened their formation, creating a protective bubble around Hiro. Even if someone tried to get close to Hiro, they were quick to interrupt their advance.


    Hiro remained in the bubble of protection and advanced unhindered.


    However as Hiro moved forward, fans surged closer, eager to catch a glimpse of their new hero. Hiro could audibly hear the growing chant, "Vamos! Takahashi."


    The growing chant echoed across the crowd, a testament to the immense expectations ced on the young Japanese.


    Even though Hiro advanced slowly, he soon reached the ck car parked outside the airport. Upon reaching the car, Hiro paused briefly before entering the car awaiting him. Turning back to the crowd, Hiro raised his hand and gave a respectful bow-a gesture of gratitude and humility that resonated deeply with the supporters. The cheers grew deafening.


    Inside the car, Hiro leaned back in his seat, exhaling deeply. His heart was still racing, not from nerves but from the sheer intensity of the wee.


    The response of the Atletico fans overwhelmed him. He could tell from their wee that they expected great things from him. The hype outside clearly indicated the weight of expectation ced upon him.


    For a moment, Hiro felt overwhelmed.


    However, he didn''t feel scared. Thinking about the expectant gazes he received, Hiro felt even more pumped.


    ''I can''t let them down,'' Hiro thought, determination aze inside his heart.


    While Hiro got seated, Pablo nced at the rearview mirror. He was worried that Hiro might feel overwhelmed by the reception.


    However, to his surprise, Hiro appeared much calmer than he expected.


    "Quite the reception," Pablo remarked with a grin as the car pulled away from the airport.


    Hiro nodded, gazing out at the sea of fans still waving him off. "Yes," he said softly. "I hope I can live up to their expectations."


    "Don''t feel pressured. You have only arrived here," Pablo said. He was well aware even star yers sometimes struggle to adapt.


    So, unlike the expectant fans outside, he wasn''t impatient.


    Having seen Hiro''s past performances, Pablo believed that Hiro was quite a good signing. Well, considering the price tag, he even believed that Hiro was a much better deal than Joao Felix.


    Inparison to the clubs that paid hefty sums to sign promising young talents, it could be said that they had snatched Hiro on a bargain.


    To be able to sign one of the hot prospects for a measly sum of 30 million euros, what more could they ask?


    Hence, Pablo was satisfied with the deal.


    Well, it would have been a different case if the signing had been done before the World Cup when Hiro was still rtively unknown.


    ********


    After a few days of his arrival in Madrid, Hiro was on his way to the club for the first time. Having traveled from afar, the meeting with the club president and staff was ced on ater date.


    Also, essing his medical report right after the nended would be rather unreasonable. In the meantime, Pablo helped him familiarize himself with the town. The club had already prepared an abode for him to reside. So, there wasn''t any need for him to go out of his way to look out for a temporary residence.


    This also saved him a lot of time and effort.


    Having arrived here in the middle of the season, the club was as hectic as it could get. Right now, Atletico wasfortably sitting in the third position behind the league leaders Barcelona and Real Madrid.


    Even though Hiro had arrived unannounced, Kubo after learning of his arrival had weed


    him.


    Inside the car, Hiro nced at his phone, his screen disying the blessings and wee messages of his teammates and people close to him.


    The atmosphere inside the car was rather silent.


    Breaking the silence, Pablo asked, "This is your first time visiting the club in person right?"@@novelbin@@


    Hiro nodded, his figure reflecting on the phone screen. He wore a ck sweater, and formal loose-fitted grey pants, andyered the sweater with a ck trench coat. His chunky ck leathered boot produced a thudding sound every time he moved.


    "Don''t get me wrong for saying this but I find you quite unusual," Pablo said, his tone polite but filled with curiosity.


    It being winter, Pablo had dressed cozily.


    The ck shirt he wore was tucked inside his formal ck pants, and a red tie hung from his neck. Inside he had worn a thermal t-shirt to keep him cozy, and he hadyered a ck zer toplete his outfit.


    From the day Hiro had arrived, the hairstyle of Pablo was the same. It was almost as if he wore a wig or perhaps he always set his hair.


    Upon hearing this, Hiro looked at Pablo and said nonchntly, "I get that a lot."


    Well, hearing such ament wasn''t anything unusual for Hiro. After all, he heard those kind ofments frequently. So, Hiro didn''t feel anything when he heard them.


    "Precisely because of such a response, I found you unusual. For some reason when I''m talking to you, it doesn''t feel like I''m talking to a young kid. But rather it feels like I''m talking to someone my age," Pablo said steering the steering wheel.


    The car rounded up a corner, and the streets Hiro had passed a few days earlier came into


    sight.


    "Even on the first day, you didn''t reveal any nervousness in your face despite being swarmed. And now as well, you appear unusually calm," Pablo continued with his gaze fixated on the


    road.


    The street outside was rather silent, the European-style cafes and shops providing an aesthetic charm to it. Compared to the first time, he had passed this street, it was rather


    empty.


    Back then it was bustling with people.


    The cafes were filled with people and the atmosphere was rather bustling.


    However, now, it was entirely different. It felt like an entirely different ce.


    Maintaining the calm on his face, Hiro answered, "I wouldn''t be called a professional if I panicked and became nervous every time, would I?"