Mark Lenders, known in the original Japanese version as Kojiro Hyuga, stands as a central figure in the narrative. He is the eldest of two brothers and one sister. His childhood was defined by economic struggle after his father's death when he was nine, forcing him into various part-time jobs like lifting goods at fruit and seafood markets to help support his family. This labor from a young age built his significant physical strength. Shaped by these early hardships, he initially displayed a cold-hearted, reckless, and arrogant demeanor. Yet beneath this rough exterior lay a strong sense of empathy and care for his family, close friends such as Takeshi Sawada, and eventually his teammates. This duality earned him the nickname "Fierce Tiger" for his wild and untamed playing style, which contrasted with his more laid-back and calm nature off the pitch. His first romantic relationship was with Maki Akamine, a softball player. His football journey started at Meiwa Elementary School, where he served as captain and led his team to the national tournament finals. He later attended Toho Academy, winning a national championship in high school and establishing himself as the ace striker for the Japanese national team across U-15, U-19, U-23, and senior levels. His technical approach evolved from relying on raw power and formidable shooting to incorporating more technical skills like post play and dribbling. He developed his signature Tiger Shot through rigorous training, later enhancing his arsenal with more powerful and precise variations: the Neo Tiger Shot, the Raiju Shot, and the Wild Tiger Shot. He often trained with weighted or smaller footballs to improve. After high school, he pursued a professional career in Italy, initially signing with Juventus. A diagnosed muscular imbalance from intense training led to a loan move to Serie C1 club AC Reggiana to adapt to professional demands. There, he succeeded in helping Reggiana earn promotion to Serie B, scoring a decisive hat-trick against FC Albese. His longstanding rivalry with Tsubasa Ozora was a defining aspect of his journey, often finishing second in their direct confrontations. Their dynamic shifted from intense rivalry to mutual respect and eventual friendship as teammates on the Japanese national team. He played crucial roles in international tournaments, such as scoring a last-minute winning goal for Japan U-15 against Italy and being a key scorer in the World Youth campaign. His professional path included a return to Juventus for a special collaboration campaign involving a limited edition shirt release. For the Japanese Olympic team, he formed a two-top forward combination with Ken Wakashimazu known as the Meiwa Combi, utilizing coordinated plays and a Twin Shot technique.