2026-04-13, 10:35 AM - Word count:
Another early day of strict training and match footage watching was interrupted by news that caught enough of Sei's attention.
Dante von Wolfe has joined Instanbul FK Academy.
After all these years? He finally shows his face, and it's as an opponent. Sei immediately leaves the weight room and heads to the practice pitch. 1000 passes with moving targets set up and teammates acting as defense. The goal of this training? Sydney gets every opportunity to score as possible from now on, and opponents get none. There is only teammates and obstacles in life, including people who were once best friends and family.
Later that night, his mind wanders to memories while he sleeps.
The first time he met Dante was when Dante and his parents visited Sei's family in Japan when Sei was around 10 years old, before he knew anything of his future professional career. They were cousins, apparently. Not seeing each other for the first time until this age makes sense when they lived on the other side of the world. Sei was intrigued by who this person was, but had no reason to see him as family yet. However, the world moved around him, like it did around Sei's mind. Few can handle Dante von Wolfe's energy and drive, and that was true even back then. Time for development came later.
A joint family vacation was planned within two years after that, with smaller visits and shared online time before then. They met in New York, staying with other extended family. It was here, as described in Sei's biography, that he learned the sport he masters today. Who invited him to the place where street ball reigned supreme? Dante. Who initiated the events that led Sei here, to the academy? Dante. Who understood Sei enough to unlock the secret to his skill set, being able to visualize what it takes to win and do so with forcing his body to keep up? Dante. These events and ideas put into Sei's head led to one answer: being the best. Only the best can overcome all obstacles. Dante also wanted to be the best; the fastest, most consistent, most reliable, most tricky, etc. Between the two, their actions and ideals drove them to lead their team to victory that day over older and more experienced kids.
Dante and Sei's families visited each other more often over the next handful of years, since the families saw a connection between them and wanted to support their goals. What they didn't like is that each and every visit was spent only on a field or at a park; with a ball of course. The two of them were never satisfied with their current skills, and always demanded more of each other. Both a partnership and a rivalry.
Now, Dante is in the full rivalry territory. He wants to be the best striker the world will ever see. Sei WILL be the best player the world will ever have affect the game. Sei plays midfield to maximize his visualization ability and control the game from all sides. Sei will make his forward teammates the best attackers in the world. Dante will need to hope he ends up on the same league team as Sei after the academy, otherwise how could he be the best striker when Sei's teammates are going to be the best attackers in the world?
Dante von Wolfe has joined Instanbul FK Academy.
After all these years? He finally shows his face, and it's as an opponent. Sei immediately leaves the weight room and heads to the practice pitch. 1000 passes with moving targets set up and teammates acting as defense. The goal of this training? Sydney gets every opportunity to score as possible from now on, and opponents get none. There is only teammates and obstacles in life, including people who were once best friends and family.
Later that night, his mind wanders to memories while he sleeps.
The first time he met Dante was when Dante and his parents visited Sei's family in Japan when Sei was around 10 years old, before he knew anything of his future professional career. They were cousins, apparently. Not seeing each other for the first time until this age makes sense when they lived on the other side of the world. Sei was intrigued by who this person was, but had no reason to see him as family yet. However, the world moved around him, like it did around Sei's mind. Few can handle Dante von Wolfe's energy and drive, and that was true even back then. Time for development came later.
A joint family vacation was planned within two years after that, with smaller visits and shared online time before then. They met in New York, staying with other extended family. It was here, as described in Sei's biography, that he learned the sport he masters today. Who invited him to the place where street ball reigned supreme? Dante. Who initiated the events that led Sei here, to the academy? Dante. Who understood Sei enough to unlock the secret to his skill set, being able to visualize what it takes to win and do so with forcing his body to keep up? Dante. These events and ideas put into Sei's head led to one answer: being the best. Only the best can overcome all obstacles. Dante also wanted to be the best; the fastest, most consistent, most reliable, most tricky, etc. Between the two, their actions and ideals drove them to lead their team to victory that day over older and more experienced kids.
Dante and Sei's families visited each other more often over the next handful of years, since the families saw a connection between them and wanted to support their goals. What they didn't like is that each and every visit was spent only on a field or at a park; with a ball of course. The two of them were never satisfied with their current skills, and always demanded more of each other. Both a partnership and a rivalry.
Now, Dante is in the full rivalry territory. He wants to be the best striker the world will ever see. Sei WILL be the best player the world will ever have affect the game. Sei plays midfield to maximize his visualization ability and control the game from all sides. Sei will make his forward teammates the best attackers in the world. Dante will need to hope he ends up on the same league team as Sei after the academy, otherwise how could he be the best striker when Sei's teammates are going to be the best attackers in the world?
