This is not a secret base. Sitting at my desk at home without needing a password, I opened my computer and lit a Winston—not stolen from my dad. I imitated that famous bass riff, letting the ash fall, but I didn’t smoke the filter all the way. The two shadows lined up on the pitch seemed to stretch on endlessly. That scene suddenly came back to my mind.
Verse 1
The dry sound of the guiro was etched, and the sound of a wood bass playing echoed. Night came──. Keigo HIGASHI opened the screen of his mobile phone and saw unwarranted words. When he turned off the screen light, the only moonlight shone. Such nights made him feel sad, but he was not afraid. He had spent such nights over the past few years.
"Together for 14 and a half years"
He wasn't very talkative, but there was someone standing beside him. When dawn came and he went to the usual Kodaira Ground, Masato MORISHIGE was there by his side.
On June 5, 2026, FC Tokyo announced that their contract with Keigo HIGASHI would expire at the end of the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League.
The final match in blue and red begins. Upon arriving at MUFG Stadium, they get off the team bus and enter the locker room. He tried to keep it "as usual." However, when he opened the door and saw a different seating arrangement than usual, Keigo was surprised. "It was always in jersey number order, so I never sat next to Mori-kun (Masato MORISHIGE). But Yama-san (Yukinori YAMAKAWA) arranged for our locker rooms to be next to each other," he smiled involuntarily at the thoughtful gesture of the stylish kit manager. The numbers 3 and 10, who have run together, prepare side by side.
The time to leave the locker room arrived. Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI called out, and normally, captain Sei MUROYA would have closed the huddle and rushed out onto the pitch.
"I kept saying, 'I'm fine,' but..."
When asked for a final word, Keigo choked up, saying, "I've been holding it in all along," with emotions he had been suppressing since the day before.
"Just for today... play for me..."
It took about 30 seconds to utter that one phrase. However, for his close teammates, it was an unfamiliar expression. Until then, they had never heard Keigo say anything like "for myself."
"After all, I wanted to win in Tokyo one last time."
However, just like Morishige, he knows well that "life is more unfair than expected." In his last match, Cerezo Osaka took a three-goal lead by halftime. Every time the goal net shook, he bit his lip and thought, "We’re unlucky."
Still, at the 17th minute of the second half, Ryunosuke SATO scored a goal from a short counterattack, narrowing the gap to two goals. The voltage surged all the way to top gear, and the number 10 appeared near the touchline at MUFG National Stadium at the 31st minute of the second half.
"Nothing in particular is different from usual. I just want to play true to myself so I have no regrets. That’s how I’ve always played."
He wore the armband passed down from Muroya on his left arm, and his first touch came three minutes later. Receiving the ball from Alexander SCHOLZ and facing forward, he delivered that signature curling floating pass. Although it unfortunately didn’t reach Muroya, he immediately thrilled the crowd with his true skill. One minute later, he played a one-touch through pass in a tight area, and at the 42nd minute of the second half, he accurately switched the play with a side change pass to Leon NOZAWA on the right side. He showed all the plays characteristic of him. Still, the wall of Cerezo Osaka could not be broken down.
The 432nd official match marked in blue and red ended with the bitter taste of defeat. At the moment the match ended, he muttered, "No, we can't win."
"Soccer is fascinating. It's not a world where you can win just with some kind of emotion. Honestly, I would have preferred a happy ending. But I was truly made aware of how difficult it is to win a match and that you can't win easily. After all, Cerezo was also an incredibly good team, and it was a day that made me realize how tough this world really is."
Chorus1
After retreating to the locker room, Morishige, who was sitting next to him, said "Here" and handed over the number 3 jersey, exchanging it for his own number 10 uniform that he was wearing.
"I was thinking of saying this first. I only wanted the uniforms of Yuto NAGATOMO and Mori-kun. I absolutely wanted to display them at home. After all, the best memory is playing together with the three of us."
The team manager asked us to wear training gear for the home final ceremony. However, Pim said, "I haven't taken a photo with Keigo yet," and slipped on the number 10 jersey he had on hand before heading to the pitch. Seeing that, Keigo thought the following.
“I’m really happy. He may seem clumsy like that, but at heart, he’s kind. It’s all packed in there. In places like that.”
After the greetings from the coach and captain ended, everyone gathered and made a lap around the stadium, and an announcement was made inside. The next moment, the home goal stand buzzed with excitement, and Keigo's chant was sung. Prompted, he stood in front of the microphone and opened his mouth, saying, "This is goodbye, isn't it?"
"I am truly proud to have been able to play for this beloved team for 14 years. But as I thought about not being able to win in the end, I felt like I was missing something, and it made me realize even more that soccer isn’t that easy."
He continued, somewhat self-deprecatingly, "I had been holding back tears for about two weeks, but I ended up crying before today's match, and thinking that it might have caused some stiffness among the players, I feel a bit sorry about that."
In response to that, loving boos came flying from the stands. "This is it, after all." Smiling gently, he said, "I really love this team, and I hope to come back someday. Thank you so much for these 14 years," shedding tears as he bowed his head.
"This is intense"
On the pitch at National Stadium, enveloped by the chorus of the blue and red singers chanting "Oh Keigo HIGASHI," I also donned the number 10 jersey and posed for a photo alongside Morishige. The two of us exchanged brief words of appreciation: "Mori-kun, thank you so much," and "Thank you for everything until now."
Verse 2
The announcement of the contract expiration from the beloved club where he spent 13 and a half years came the day before the match. That day, after the full team practice in Kodaira, two shadows moved side by side as usual──. After finishing their individual training following the full practice, without any prior arrangement, Morige and Kei OMOTE ran on the pitch together for 20 minutes as they always did.
Afterwards, during the group interview, he was asked this by the press.
"You were running with Morishige-kun just now, what were you talking about?"
Keigo held back his tears tightly.
"We played together at Oita Trinita as well, but I was always watching your back and truly learning a lot. You are the person who taught me what it means to be a professional, so I can only be grateful. I wanted to see you off, but since I’m the one leaving first... It’s a bit of a regret, and of course, I don’t know what will happen to Mori-kun next season, so that part is a little disappointing and there’s also a bit of frustration. But this is the nature of this world, so things don’t always go as imagined."
I didn’t shed tears because there was someone crying beside me. Although he rarely praised me directly, Morige was always by my side──.
Morige quietly slipped past the group interview where Higashi was being questioned, so I stopped him and called out, "Can I say a word?"
"A single word is not enough."
At first, he deepened his usual dimpled smile like always. Then, when asked, "At the end, the two of you were running together, right?" he replied, "I feel like I could run for hours," but the words trailed off and didn’t continue.
"Lonely..."
The fragments of words, lost and directionless, could not form into a voice. Just after letting out a long sigh, large tears began to fall from his eyes.
"No good... call me again."
Having said that, he left the place. It was the first time I had seen Masato MORISHIGE, a strong man, shed tears in front of others──.
After a short break, I called Morige's mobile phone through the club's public relations.
"To be honest, I feel lonely. Really lonely. Including my time in Oita, it's been 14 and a half years... When you hear 14 and a half years, it feels really long, but looking back now, it went by in the blink of an eye. It was natural for Keigo to be here. I never imagined he would be gone. Today, that reality has started to sink in, and I still can't believe it."
That was his first words. When I asked again about the reason for his tears, he shrugged it off saying, "I almost cried (laughs)," and continued like this.
"Because, if you count from when he was in high school, we've known each other for 15 or 16 years. There's no other player I've played with this much. So, these past two or three years have been tough for both of us, but including those parts, we've been through good times and hard times together. Tears do come, that's for sure..."
The post-practice runs had become an irreplaceable time for the two of them. Nagatomo also joined in, and the senior group would always have casual conversations that eventually turned to topics like "what it takes for Tokyo to win" and "what it takes to become champions." It was the same even at the end.
"Even while running, it was so like Keigo to be talking about what it would take for Tokyo to win the championship. We talked about other things too, but ultimately, we kept saying things like, ‘This is what Tokyo needs to do to win,’ or ‘That’s how it has to be.’ It really showed how much he loves Tokyo. But of course, that’s to be expected."
On the day it was announced that his contract would not be renewed, even though he knew it would be his last practice, he was still thinking about the team as usual. Surprised by that, and immediately agreeing with Morige’s comment, "That’s so Keigo," I then noticed his voice trembling again over the phone.
"That's right. That's Kei OMOTE, always thinking about those around him and saying 'for the team' so easily... but no player has expressed it as much as he has. He's a great player and was definitely a better captain than me. Kei OMOTE... no, I'm about to cry..."
I waited through the silence that followed the deep sigh of the running partner’s “Ah.” That moment was long enough for me to recall that it was also Keigo who had handed down the first car Morige ever bought. It was a quiet and warm time. Then, once again, a voice came through the phone.
"He is someone who has faced soccer with such dedication. I think he will achieve a good result in the end. He kept doing what he always did until the very last moment, never getting sentimental, always joking around, and I believe he left Kodaira in true Keigo fashion."
He loved Tokyo more than anyone else and spent 14 years always wanting to lead this team to victory. That’s why, right up until just before he and Morige ran together in Kodaira for the last time, he never missed staying behind to practice passing, saying, "I’ve been creating chances with a single pass all this time. As long as I’m an active player, I have to keep honing that." He showcased all of that fully in his final dance.
When asked about his last run in Kodaira, Keigo gave a unanimous response.
"After all, I wanted to win the championship. That’s why I’ve been working with Mori-kun for 14 years. We’ve always talked about this and that. It’s not just because it’s the last time; we’ve done it routinely every day. Mori-kun also thinks that winning the championship is truly difficult, and we’ve carried that burden together. So, it feels a bit sorry that one of us is leaving."
Even though he was the one being sent off, he kept expressing his thoughts about someone until the very end. His eyes were bright red, but he teased a little and said, "I almost cried too, but I held it back. He’s about three years older, right? He’s a senior from the Oita days, and I really think we had a good distance between us. We’ve walked this path respecting each other. That distance was probably a good thing. I’m probably the only one who made Mori-kun cry, right? Make sure to record it properly. Mori Shige’s tears will go viral," and then he nodded and rephrased it with feeling.
"But, I'm happy."
The pitch at the National Stadium is a memorable place for the two of them, where they lifted the cup at the 2020 J.League YBC Levain Cup Final. At the moment the match ended, Keigo also rushed out from the bench and naturally went to embrace Morige.
"There are things only the two of us understand. We've seen both the good and bad sides of this team. That's why it's a bit disappointing that one of us has to leave first, or rather, since I was in the position to see him off, that alone makes me feel lonely."
That’s why it was surprising when Keigo said just before the match, "Just for today, for myself." It might have been the first and last selfish request since he became captain.
Chorus2
Inside MUFG National Stadium, numerous jerseys with the first worn numbers in blue and red, 38 and 10, were displayed. Upon reaching the goal stand lined with banners reading "We love you," "KEIGO 10," and "See you again," the blue and red singers passionately sang the farewell song, "You’ll Never Walk Alone."
"I can’t forget the atmosphere of the 2019 season when we were fighting for the championship. After winning, we sang 'You’ll Never Walk Alone' and said, ‘Let’s win again.’ Somehow, that came back to me. 'You’ll Never Walk Alone' has many meanings. I wonder if it will also become a song with various meanings for the other players. I want Tokyo to become more and more associated with 'You’ll Never Walk Alone.' Once again, I thought it’s a really great song."
He was hoisted into the air by his teammates and tossed five times.
Then, with eyes swollen and red from tears, he climbed behind the goal and gripped the megaphone handed to him.
"I really wanted to win. But truly, thank you very much. I believe I was able to play for these 14 years because there were so many people supporting me. I always tell my kids not to cry, not to cry, yet here I am crying myself."
Once again, your concern for others came before yourself. Until the very end, that's just who you are──.
“The only remaining regret is leaving Morishige behind... maybe next year? I don’t know when exactly, but when that time comes, please send him off with a big celebration. I want to keep playing a little longer, but my team hasn’t been decided yet, so it’s still up in the air. In the future, I want to become a coach. If I could do that with this team, it would be the best thing ever, but please don’t boo me when we lose (laughs). Thank you so much for the truly amazing views at the end. I hope this team becomes even stronger, and I’ve worked hard for that, but I believe the younger players will carry it forward. Please continue to support Tokyo. Thank you very much.”
Reluctantly, he left the pitch at the National Stadium. Keigo appeared in the mixed zone and said, "It was fun. Winning is difficult. I learned the true difficulty of soccer at the end," with a bright expression on his face.
Verse 3
There were times when I was hurt by someone's heartless words.
Even on days when it felt like I might collapse from under my feet... I couldn’t keep crying forever.
He even tried to empathize with the accumulating hate. That was Keigo HIGASHI. He would grasp the raised middle finger with his own hand and try to sit down face-to-face, saying, "Let's talk."
“It’s natural to have various opinions, and it’s not like I’ve been trying to be liked by everyone. I’m happier to be appreciated by those close to me. If that’s how it ends up after conveying my feelings, then it can’t be helped. As a player, I’m supposed to communicate through my play, not words. But sometimes, having conversations like that is important, and how people judge it is up to them.”
He was a player who faced fans and supporters more than anyone else. There were times when he went out alone in front of the fans and supporters who stayed behind the goal. Unlike someone who is inarticulate, he spoke openly about his love, saying "I love Tokyo" and "I love this team."
"I believed that facing things head-on was important. I have always faced this team for 14 years. I think that is a crucial part. But conversely, if you are directing your energy toward me, that means you care about me, right? If you truly didn’t care, you would be indifferent. At that point, you are seeking something. Even if you talk to someone who is unresponsive, that gap can no longer be bridged. But you’re different from those people, right? Because if you have the same level of love for Tokyo in the first place, you can’t just ignore it."
The time when the people who gathered to send off Keigo held up the numbers 10 and 38 at the National Stadium, each recalling memories from the years they counted, was truly precious.
"To be honest, being seen off with such a scenery and atmosphere felt almost like I was retiring (laughs). I was really happy to see that so many people were holding up the numbers 10 and 38. It proved that facing Tokyo for 14 years was not a mistake. I was so glad that there were so many people who understood what I had done. Social media might be fake... that’s common these days, right? But the scene at the National was real, and I thought I had to believe in that. That’s probably what made me happiest. To be understood, acknowledged, and maybe for people to realize even a little how much I love Tokyo. That feeling welled up inside me and turned into tears again."
Chorus3 ～Refrain～
A lifetime’s worth of tears were shed. So, my dear ones, I hope you will continue to stand by Keigo HIGASHI, who is actually a bit of a crybaby──.
On June 10, four days after the match, we said our final farewell to Keigo HIGASHI in blue and red at Kodaira Ground. The rain that had fallen in sorrow for the parting had stopped, and in front of about 250 gathered people, he concluded with these words.
"I'm sorry. Thank you for coming on such a beautiful day today (laughs). Between the last match and today's rain, I suddenly thought on the way here by car that I really don't have much luck. If I talk too much, I might start crying again... But truly, being able to see that kind of scenery in that kind of stadium at the end made me feel really happy as a player, and I can only be grateful to everyone. Honestly, in many ways..."
After saying that, he said, "That's crazy," took a rest beat to regain his rhythm, and then returned to playing.
“I was also told many things... and because I’m human, it was really painful... There were times when I wondered why, even though I love Tokyo so much, things just didn’t click. But at the end, seeing so many people drape my uniform over their shoulders and hold it up, I realized there were this many people supporting me. That truly made me happy, and it made me realize at the very end that what I did over these 14 years wasn’t wrong. I was really glad about that.”
With a trembling voice, he said, "Thank you," and the cherished scene stored deep in his heart came to mind, causing his emotions to overflow once again.
"No, I didn’t plan on crying, but today was just too much. That day, I cried so much that my head hurt and I couldn’t sleep, but honestly, I still hadn’t fully realized it. I’ve been coming here for 14 years. I’ve had many feelings, not just the ones I mentioned earlier, but also many good and fun experiences. Looking back now, I truly think it was incredibly enjoyable. Personally, I still want to play a little longer as a player, but considering my family, I wonder if it’s right to make my daughter transfer schools when she’s in 5th grade. My younger child is still U-6 and doesn’t really understand. I think about my children, and also about my wife, but after discussing with my family, if there’s a team where I can give my all, I want to keep going a bit longer. After that, as I mentioned before, I want to become a coach or manager... I haven’t met many good managers, so I wonder what it would be like if I became one myself..."
Thinking he had taken it seriously, he replied, "Just kidding (wry smile)," lightening the mood as he spoke.
“At this point, that’s how I feel, so there’s still a lot for me to learn as a player. After that, I plan to think about the next stage. I’m glad I could communicate like this again today, and since I’ve always watched the blue and red, it’s sad that I won’t be able to see that anymore, but I believe the time will come when we definitely meet again, so please take care of me then. Thank you very much for today.”
The person who was said to be the only regret said, "Regarding Keigo, it’s not really about praising or not praising him. Before I knew it, he had become a comrade. Of course, from Keigo’s perspective, he probably saw it as a 'senpai-kohai' (senior-junior) relationship, but for me, it wasn’t like that. We’ve been through the bitter and sweet here. He was even captain. Keigo understands that, because that’s just who I am," he said. In the end, he still didn’t praise him directly. But he sent words like a love letter, tied to a carrier pigeon as usual.
"I think Keigo is a player who deserves to be loved. To be honest, I wanted to see him off properly. With this, I feel like I've seen off everyone for now. I've seen off all the 'sons.' I've seen them all off, one by one. I wonder... Keigo said he wants to become a coach, so I'm sure that's what will happen. Sooner or later, he'll definitely come back to Tokyo. He must love Tokyo more than anyone else. I've been here a long time too, but I realized once again that I have more attachment than anyone else and have spent my time thinking about Tokyo. After all, it's Keigo HIGASHI."
In the letter, I wanted to retort, "Sons? No, they're brothers," but I decided not to add any corrections. The final scene shows the two of them smiling, thinking, "Of course Keigo would be worried too."
After finishing writing this story, I lit a Winston cigarette I bought at my usual convenience store. I imitated that famous bass riff as I tapped off the ash, but I didn’t smoke it all down to the filter. The two shadows lined up on the pitch seemed to stretch on endlessly. That scene suddenly came back to my mind again.
I typed rapidly on the keyboard, bringing that scene to a close.
“Having spent 14 and a half years together, they surely won’t be able to create comrades who surpass each other from now on. Everyone thinks so too, right?”
I typed that and turned off the power. The shadow that stretched along the long railway track moved one step further away from that spot.
The dry sound of the guiro is etched, and the sound of the wood bass playing resonates. The night, freshly repainted, comes again──.
(Honorifics omitted in the text)
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
