Episode 1 – "The Fire That Never Died"
Word Count: ~2,700 (More coming in future episodes)
[Opening Scene – Flashback]
Wide shot: A roaring stadium, 80,000 fans chanting.
Commentator (V.O.):
"Once again, Hiro Ren weaves past defenders like a phantom! What a shot—AND IT'S IN!! A goal for the ages!!"
Slow motion: A legendary striker, HIRO REN (Kaito's older brother), scores and smiles to the camera as fans scream.
Cut to:
Young KAITO REN in the stands, eyes glowing with admiration.
Beside him, their mother watches proudly.
[Sudden Cut – Tragedy Strikes]
Scene: Later in the match.
Hiro makes another dash, but suddenly collapses on the pitch.
Crowd: "GASP—!"
Kaito leaps from his seat.
Kaito (young):
"Nii-chan!?"
[Scene Shift – Present Day, 5 Years Later]
Narration (Kaito):
"After my brother's death, football died for me too… but his fire never left me."
Scene: KAITO REN, now 16, stands before the gates of PHOENIX ELEVEN Academy.
Sign:"PHOENIX ELEVEN: Japan's #1 Youth Football Academy"
Kaito clutches a necklace with Hiro's jersey tag, staring at the gate like it's the final boss.
[Scene – Academy Grounds: Player Trials]
Montage of players running drills, showcasing talent.
Enter: COACH KUROBANE, tall and fearsome with a whistle around his neck.
Kurobane (shouting):
"This is not a school for dreamers! It's a forge. And only weapons survive fire. Now—Show me what you've got!!"
[Scene – Kaito's Tryout Begins]
Kaito lines up among 50 other tryouts. Among them is a silver-haired teen, RIKU AYAMA, already juggling a ball with surgical precision.
Kaito (inner thought):
"His control… it's unreal."
Riku (coldly):
"If you freeze now, you'll never make it."
Kaito (smirks):
"I don't plan on freezing. I came to burn."
[Trial Challenge: 3v3 Elimination Match]
Kaito's Team:
Kaito (Striker)
Shun Tachibana (Winger, wild and fast)
Daichi (Defender, unsure)
Opponents include players twice Kaito's size.
Coach Kurobane (watching):
"Let's see if the fire still lives in Hiro Ren's little brother…"
⚽ MATCH BEGINS ⚽
Kaito tries too hard to solo. He loses the ball twice. Riku watches disapprovingly from the sideline.
Shun:
"Oi! Stop hogging the ball, Firehead!"
Kaito (gritting his teeth):
"…Sorry."
Kaito begins passing. Shun uses insane aerial agility to return a cross.
Kaito traps the ball mid-run, closes eyes for a moment… FLASH OF HIS BROTHER'S MOVEMENT
Kaito:
"Phantom…Drive!"
He shoots—a beautiful, bending curve.
Goal.
Silence. Then: CHEERING.
Coach Kurobane (quietly):
"…So the fire hasn't died."
[Scene – After Trials]
The board posts the selected players.
Kaito searches, panicked. Then… he sees his name.
"#10 – Kaito Ren – SELECTED"
Beside him, Riku also sees his name. Their eyes meet.
Riku:
"You got talent, Ren. But talent burns out. Can you last?"
Kaito (smiles):
"I'm not here to burn out. I'm here to become a wildfire."
[Closing Scene – Dorm Rooftop, Night]
Kaito looks at the stars, clutching Hiro's jersey tag.
Kaito (to the sky):
"Nii-chan… I'm starting my journey. This time, I'll finish what you began."