Satoko Tawada is an office worker in her thirties who is just coasting through life without connecting to anyone or feeling much emotion. One evening on her way home from work, she sees a kid practicing soccer in the park. At first she doesn’t pay the child much mind but when she sees a random man trying to talk to him, she intervenes and sparks a friendship, offering to show him some soccer tips as she used to play. Seeing the boy, Mashuu, is clearly neglected by his parents, Satoko offers to practice soccer with him regularly.
This is a smooth start to what looks like an interesting series. I hear it’s very controversial but it’s pretty tame so far, like Karate Kid where a young troubled person has an older mentor but it all could go sideways as the series goes on. But in this volume, its sweet that Satoko is being supportive to Mashuu. They seem to have found each other when they needed to. 4 out of 5.
