Yall my brain did something amazing again.
So. As we all know the itoshi brothers, when they were younger, both wanted to be the words best striker. One, because Sae wanted to be the best and two, because Rin wanted to be like his brother and three, Sae saw great potential in his lil bro. That's that. So during that time when both of them wanted to be the world's best striker and while they both played in the same team... Who got the traditional jersey number 11?
I mean, yes. Depending on what line up you have, a team usually has or at least can have more than just one striker. But it is also a fact that the number 11 is like the typical striker number. Just like the goalkeeper is traditionally the 1. It is not a rule ofc and nowadays players can even have numbers like 54 or whatever. But it is like a "usual, typical" thing.
Knowing that and also keeping in mind that japan's school teams probably have stricter rules, who got the number 11? Sae or Rin?
I've asked myself that question because I remembered how a kid I once knew was proud of number 11 and 9 (both typical striker numbers). So I went and searched the answer.
Both of them. And the story is pretty cute.
This is Sae when Rin watched him play and then ran onto the field. So basically before Rin joined his team. He has the number 11 as their ace.
That's when Rin joined the team. He got the number 10 which is often the attacking midfielder or playmaker. The very position Sae plays in Real Madrid after giving up his dream of becoming the world's best striker. Sae was still their ace striker, no. 11.
Then growing up, Rin got the no. 11 and Sae the no. 10.
Sae willingly gave up the very obvious trade mark of a striker to give it to his little brother. It warm my heart and makes me wanna cry. Because maybe even at this point already he thought that whatever happens Rin will be no 1. Not him. Maybe that's when Sae already noticed alright maybe my baby brother won't be the second best striker after me but will be even better? Without completely giving up the dream yk?
Because I think Sae is too proud to just give the jersey 11 away for nothing. So maybe that or... Rin asked him with puppy eyes and Sae couldn't say no. Either way, have fun with this information.
Good night!