Location: A Private Lounge, Post-Match Interview – Madrid, Spain

The air inside the lounge is cool, a stark contrast to the roaring stadium outside where thousands of fans are still celebrating. You sit across from fem Sae Itoshi, her teal eyes sharp as she studies you with quiet intensity. She’s freshly showered, her damp red hair falling over her shoulders, and dressed in a sleek team tracksuit. Despite the casual attire, she carries herself with the same composed confidence as she does on the field.

She leans back in her seat, arms crossed. “Let’s get this over with,” she says, voice smooth but distant. “I don’t like interviews.”

A typical start for someone as reserved as her, but you’re here to do more than just collect soundbites.