The night was still. Stars flickered above like distant whispers, and the forest around the camp had fallen into a tranquil silence. Kaiser, lying on his sleeping mat inside the boys' tent, stared at the dark fabric above him. He was still thinking about the voice he heard just moments ago—a clear, confident "Yes, you will." But when he stepped outside to check, there was no one there.
A chill passed through him, not from the cold, but from uncertainty. "Was that... just a delusion?" he muttered to himself. Shaking his head, he sighed. "I'm just tired," he said, and returned to his place in the tent. As sleep crept in, his last thoughts were oddly comforting.
Tomorrow will be another day full of surprises. More jogging with Shinoa, probably more bickering between her and Rukia… A soft smile spread across his face. It's chaotic, but… strangely fun.
The next morning, the sky was still tinged with the golden hues of dawn when Kaiser tied his shoelaces and stepped out. As expected, Shinoa was already waiting, stretching by the camp perimeter. She waved casually, wearing her usual teasing grin.
"Ready to be left in the dust?" she asked.
Kaiser smirked. "Let's see if you can keep up this time."
The two began their morning jog, the gravel crunching beneath their feet as the woods slowly awakened around them. They moved in sync, their steps light but fast. Suddenly, Shinoa stumbled on an uneven patch of ground. But before Kaiser could react, she planted one hand against the earth and performed a quick roll, landing gracefully on her feet again.
Kaiser raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "I knew you were athletic, but to think you're this flexible and strong…"
Shinoa shot him a mischievous look. "Rare for you to hand out compliments."
"I compliment when it comes from the heart," he replied bluntly.
"Oh?" she leaned toward him as they jogged. "So you really meant it?"
Kaiser groaned. "Shut up."
He accelerated his pace to escape the teasing, but Shinoa wasn't far behind.
"You're fast, I'll give you that," she called out. "But I can still keep up!"
Kaiser grinned. "Impressive. 100 meters in what? Eleven seconds?"
"Yep!" she said proudly, then added with mock drama, "But why am I even boasting to someone who runs it in 9.5 seconds? Ugh."
"Don't be too hard on yourself."
Their jog ended back at the camp, where the others were slowly beginning to stir. Rukia was still asleep, sprawled across her mat, while Hiraku and Raju were chatting with classmates near the campfire.
Kaiser sat down, his hair damp with sweat. Shinoa joined him, her expression curious.
"So," she began, "what would you do if I got drunk and kissed you, like Sensei did?"
Kaiser blinked. "First off, you're not even old enough to drink."
She pouted. "You're such a mood killer."
"I would get mad about the kiss," Kaiser said thoughtfully, "but I'd be more mad that you drank. Alcohol's dangerous. It ruined my father… and our family."
A moment of silence followed. Then, to his surprise, Shinoa reached out and embraced him.
"Don't worry," she whispered. "I was just teasing. And what's in the past… we can't change that. So put on a smile, alright?"
He looked at her, her words piercing deeper than she knew. He offered a faint smile. "Thanks."
"Anyway!" she perked up, "You remember I'm in the badminton club, right?"
Kaiser nodded. "Yeah. How about a match, then?"
Shinoa grinned. "Game on."
Using their camp-issued badges, they projected a holographic badminton court. Shinoa even brought out a portable net and poles. As the net rose and the rackets were distributed, the match began with a burst of energy.
Kaiser started strong, but Shinoa was relentless. Her shots were sharp, her movement fluid. At halftime, the score was 11–5 in her favor.
"Wow," Kaiser muttered as they switched sides. "You're not holding back."
"You told me to play at full strength," she said proudly.
But things changed in the second half. Kaiser, ever the analyst, began recognizing her patterns. His game evolved mid-match. Each of her smashes was returned with greater precision. The score began to close: 13–18, then 15–19, and soon, 21–15.
The final rally was intense. Shinoa launched a powerful jump smash aimed straight at him, but he deflected it with flawless timing. He then performed a counter smash—his weight shifted fully to his left, his racquet aimed to the right. But at the last second, he twisted his wrist and redirected the shot to the left, catching her off guard.
"Game," Kaiser said, panting.
Shinoa dropped her racket, stunned. "How are you… so perfect?"
That word hit him hard.
"Perfect…"
His mind traveled back to middle school. Raku.
The test results had just been released. Raku had scored 99 in every subject. But she still placed second—Kaiser had scored a perfect 100 across the board. She had marched up to him, frustration in her eyes.
"Why are you perfect?" she had demanded.
He was confused at first, thinking she was talking to someone else. But when she said his name, he had answered, "Because I'm worthy."
"Why are you worthy and we're not?" she had said. "Born better than us? That's not fair."
Kaiser had replied, "I wasn't born better. I study eight hours a day, I train, I practice. My only talent is adaptability."
She had interrupted him, "Next time, I'll beat you."
"You're free to try," he had smiled. "But don't be disappointed."
Back in the present, Shinoa waved her hand in front of his face.
"Stop daydreaming," she teased. "So what's your answer?"
Kaiser smiled. "Because I'm worthy."
Shinoa narrowed her eyes. "You and that smug answer…"
Suddenly, a voice echoed from the camp's speakers. "Kaiser Klein, Hiraku, Raju, Hiori, Rensuke, and Itoshi—report to the principal's tent."
The group exchanged confused looks but obeyed. Upon arrival, they found a tall, elegant man standing beside the principal. His long, flowing hair and sharp gaze gave off an undeniable presence.
"I'd like to introduce you all to Kaito Goldat," the principal announced, "the current best footballer in the world and owner of Red Key Club."
Kaito's eyes scanned the room—but stopped on Kaiser.
"Greetings," he said. "As you know, I'm half-Japanese and half-Swiss. I want to elevate Japanese football to new heights. That's why I'm here."
The room went silent.
"I want to build something great with young talents like you. Will you join my club?"
The students were stunned. Hiraku whispered, "Is this real?"
Everyone agreed eagerly—except Kaiser. He remained quiet.
Kaito noticed. "What's your answer, Kaiser Klein?"
Kaiser took a breath. "Can I give my answer after the school camp ends?"
Kaito smiled. "I expected that. Take your time."
Papers were signed, handshakes exchanged, and excitement buzzed in the air. But as Kaiser stepped outside, lost in thought, someone suddenly yanked him behind a nearby tree.
And in that moment, things started to changed.