Cote: Elite in Action

—Kay! Kay! —a sweet, childish voice called out Kayden's name, full of energy.

—What is it, Sakurako? —Kayden responded calmly, without taking his eyes off the book he was holding. The young man was sitting on a park bench, right where he had spent most of his afternoons over the past year. Many things had changed during that time, especially the closeness he had developed with little Sakurako.

The girl leaned slightly toward him, gently stroking her long brown hair.

—I think your hair is too long... Do you want me to cut it? —she asked with a charming smile.

Kayden let out a soft sigh and shook his head, without stopping reading.

—It might be a bit long... but the answer is a resounding no —he replied firmly.

Sakurako puffed out her cheeks, making an adorable pout.

—Kay! Don't you trust me? My aunt has been teaching me how to cut hair for quite some time. I know how to do it! —she said, placing a hand on her chest with an air of confidence.

Kayden raised an eyebrow, slightly curious.

—Oh, really? And how many people have you left without ears in the process?

The girl puffed her cheeks even more, offended.

—None! I've only practiced on one person... —she mumbled.

—Your cousin, I suppose? —Kayden guessed with a slight smile.

—Yes! His name is Shouei Barou. He's amazing at playing soccer —she replied proudly.

—I see... —Kayden couldn't say he was particularly interested in that Barou guy, but soccer did spark a bit of curiosity.

Suddenly, Sakurako lit up as if she had just had a great idea.

—Kay! Would you like to come watch tomorrow afternoon's game? My aunt invited me, but I'd like you to come with me. Please! —she said, looking at him with bright eyes and putting on her best puppy-dog face.

Kayden closed the book and looked at the girl. That expression was hard to refuse.

—If your aunt agrees, I wouldn't mind going with you —he finally agreed.

—Yeah! —Sakurako exclaimed, throwing herself at him to hug him enthusiastically.

As Kayden gave her a few light pats on the head, he couldn't help but think about soccer. He had never played it, only seen it on TV when he was at Sakurako's house. The girl's father was passionate about the sport, so the occasional play had caught his attention.

For some reason, he now felt a certain excitement about seeing how boys his age played. Maybe soccer wasn't as boring as he had thought. For some reason, he wished the day would pass quickly so he could watch the game.

...

Disappointment. That was the only word that crossed Kayden's mind as he watched the game Sakurako had invited him to.

—Wow, look, Kay! Barou has already scored three goals! He's really good! —Sakurako exclaimed with a bright smile, not taking her eyes off the field.

—Of course, Saku. My little Barou is the best —said Hina proudly. Sakurako's aunt and Barou's mother couldn't help but brag about her son whenever she had the chance. Like any mother, she was his biggest fan.

The atmosphere in the stands was lively, with constant cheers and applause. Kayden, Sakurako, and Hina were in the front row, where they had a perfect view of the match. Right in front of them were the coaches of both teams, shouting instructions at their players.

Despite the energy that filled the place, Kayden was... bored. A slight grimace of annoyance crossed his face as he rested his chin on the palm of his hand. Soccer itself hadn't disappointed him, but children's soccer had. Maybe it was because the game wasn't professional at all — it seemed more like a casual match between boys who barely understood strategy and technique. Even for someone who had never played before, like him, the level seemed mediocre.

—So, Kayden... what do you think of the game? Are you enjoying it? —Hina asked kindly, looking at him curiously. Sakurako had mentioned that it was his first time attending one.

Kayden took his eyes off the field and looked at Hina. Even though they hadn't talked much in the past, she had always been kind to him. However, he could sense that, beneath that friendly smile, there was a strong and determined character.

—Do you want me to be completely honest? —Kayden asked, with a serenity and maturity unusual for someone his age.

Hina raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised by the boy's serious tone. Although she still wasn't used to that peculiarity of his, she decided not to hold him back.

—Of course —she replied, smiling with interest.

Kayden redirected his gaze to the field, where Barou continued to dominate the ball with ease. Despite the clear difference in skill between the players, he couldn't help but feel disappointed.

—It's not what I expected —he admitted bluntly—. I thought there would be something more... interesting.

Hina blinked a few times, processing the response. Although the comment wasn't precisely negative, there was something about Kayden's honesty that caught her attention.

—What exactly disappoints you? —she asked, genuinely curious.

Kayden shrugged. His tone remained neutral, but his words were blunt.

—The match itself. It's not as exciting as I imagined. There's no coordination or clear strategy... it looks more like a competition of who can run the fastest. It's chaotic and improvised. If you look closely, each player is on their own, waiting for someone to do something brilliant.

The coaches of both teams, who were right in front, heard Kayden's comment and couldn't help but turn around with surprised expressions. The opposing team's coach, who was losing by a considerable margin, frowned.

Hina let out a small laugh, understanding the boy's point of view.

—Well, it's true that at this age they still have a lot to learn. Although, to be honest, Barou has a special talent. He always stands out in every match.

—I noticed that —Kayden replied without giving it much importance—. But talent alone isn't enough. If you don't learn to work as a team, that "talent" will become an obstacle. Unless, of course... you possess the epitome of talent. One so overwhelming that you can do it all on your own. But those cases are extremely rare, almost unreal.

Kayden's words resonated with coldness and precision, as if he were stating an undeniable truth. The opposing coach let out an ironic laugh and turned to him with an annoyed expression.

—Hey, kid! —he called out, crossing his arms—. So you think we play badly, huh? Wow, what a mouth you've got! Why don't you come down here and show us how it's done? Come on, I'd love to see you do it!

Kayden looked at him calmly, not letting himself be intimidated by the man's challenging attitude. Hina wanted to intervene, but Kayden raised a hand to indicate it was fine.

—If you want me to do it, I have no problem —Kayden replied calmly, standing up and walking toward the area where the coaches were.

The coach raised an eyebrow, surprised at how easily the boy had accepted the challenge. A mocking smile appeared on his face, thinking it would just be a good lesson for that cocky kid.

Hina and Sakurako exchanged glances, a bit worried but also intrigued. Meanwhile, Kayden moved forward with a relaxed attitude, without showing the slightest hint of nervousness.

The game was about to get a lot more interesting..

....

The sun shone brightly over the soccer field, and the scoreboard reflected a commanding lead: 4 - 0 in favor of the red team. The blue team, to which Kayden had just joined, was completely demoralized. The players were exhausted and frustrated, while the red team celebrated with cheers and taunts, confident of their victory.However, everything changed the moment Kayden took position in the center of the field. Most of the players watched him with skepticism. What could that guy, who was barely playing for the first time, do? But those who knew Kayden, especially Hina and Sakurako, noticed something different in his eyes: a mix of calm and determination.

The referee signaled, and the ball started rolling again. The red team quickly tried to secure control, with Barou —their best player— charging like an untamed beast towards the rival goal. However, Kayden intercepted the ball with a flawless move of anticipation, placing his foot with precision to steal it in an instant.

Before anyone could react, Kayden lifted his gaze. His spatial awareness made the entire field unfold in his mind like a dynamic map. Without hesitation, he sent a long pass to one of his teammates, making the ball soar through the air like a perfectly aimed projectile.

—What kind of pass was that?! —exclaimed a spectator.

The ball landed right at his teammate's feet, who, surprised by the precision, advanced a few meters before passing it back to Kayden, almost instinctively.

Kayden received the pass at midfield, and without stopping, he charged the ball forward. Two defenders tried to close him down, but with a swift body feint, he left them behind, combining speed and balance with a fluidity that seemed unnatural.

As he reached twenty meters from the goal, Kayden paused for a second, calculating the goalkeeper's position. He bent his right leg and unleashed a thunderous shot. The sound of impact echoed like a cannon shot, and the ball soared like a comet towards the top left corner.

—GOOOAL! —the spectators shouted, stunned by the power and precision of the shot.

The scoreboard now read 4 - 1, and a spark of hope began to ignite in the blue team.

The red team was clearly in shock. Barou gritted his teeth, furious, and took the ball after the kickoff, determined to regain control. However, Kayden was already there, covering the space and predicting his move. With a quick change of direction, Barou tried to dribble him, but Kayden reacted before Barou even finished turning.

—How the hell did he read me?! —Barou growled.

Kayden left him behind, ignoring his rival's stunned gaze, and advanced straight for the goal. This time, three defenders tried to close him down, but Kayden performed a series of quick feints, leaving each of them planted on the ground. When he reached the penalty area, the goalkeeper came out to challenge, but Kayden tricked him with a subtle touch, lifting the ball over him and scoring the 4 - 2.

The match continued with the red team desperately trying to maintain their lead, but Kayden was on another level. He recovered balls, delivered long passes, and executed quick combinations that bewildered the opponents. Barou, in a desperate attempt, charged straight at him, determined to use brute force to take him down.

—I won't let you pass! —Barou yelled.

Kayden faced him with a cold, composed demeanor. When Barou lunged, Kayden used an elastic dribble, leaving his opponent on the ground. The crowd was left speechless.

—What was that?! He embarrassed him! —someone shouted from the sidelines.

With the path cleared, Kayden advanced towards the goal and shot once more from just outside the area, piercing the net mercilessly. The score was now 4 - 3.

The red team had no answers left. Barou, filled with frustration, lost focus, and his team started to collapse. Kayden took advantage of every mistake and orchestrated fast plays that dismantled the defense.

With a through pass to himself, surrounded by defenders who seemed like statues in comparison, Kayden cut inside and fired another powerful shot that ended in the top corner. 4 - 4!

In the final minutes of the game, with the red team completely mentally defeated, Kayden recovered the ball in midfield, dribbled past three opponents, and from an incredible distance, shot with a power that made the goalposts vibrate. A screamer!

The red team was already resigned, but Kayden didn't stop. With every play, he made his superiority clear, scoring two more goals before the referee blew the final whistle. The scoreboard showed an incredible 7 - 4, with all the goals scored by Kayden.

The field fell silent for a moment, until an eruption of applause came from the makeshift stands. The players from the blue team surrounded Kayden, lifting him in the air while he remained calm, almost indifferent to the celebration.

Barou, on the other hand, was on his knees, staring at the ground with a mix of disbelief and fury. He couldn't understand how someone who had never played soccer had taken his pride from him in such a way.

Hina and Sakurako, from the sidelines, cheered excitedly, unable to process what they had just witnessed.

—That guy... —murmured the coach, watching with a mix of awe and respect—. He's a monster.

Kayden, meanwhile, simply shrugged at the congratulations, wiping the sweat from his brow. To him, winning had never been the problem. The real challenge was in keeping the interest.

...

The field was almost empty now. The red team had quietly withdrawn, devastated by the crushing comeback, while the blue team continued celebrating in the distance. Kayden stayed on the field for a moment, gazing at the sky and catching his breath. That's when he noticed it: Barou was still there, sitting on the grass, his gaze lost and his brow furrowed.

Kayden slowly approached, making little noise, and stopped next to him. Barou didn't look up, but clearly knew he was there.

"What are you still doing here?" Kayden asked in a relaxed tone.

Barou let out a low grunt, still clenching his fists against the grass.

"I don't get it..." he murmured, without turning his head. "How the hell can you be so good? That was my field... My domain... And you took it like it was nothing..."

Kayden remained silent for a moment, looking at his rival without losing his usual calm. Then, he smiled and shrugged.

"Do you want to know the secret?" he said, leaning slightly toward him.

Finally, Barou lifted his head, his gaze still full of frustration but also curiosity.

"Once I step onto the field…" Kayden began, crossing his arms, "I always think of myself as the king of the place. Everyone else is just peasants, and I'm the only king. So, everyone will do what I say. There's no one who can beat me."

Barou's eyes widened in surprise, processing Kayden's words. The dark-haired boy straightened up, thinking Barou would understand the joke and relax a little. However, what he saw was something else.

Barou tightened his fists even more, his face showing absolute seriousness and resolve.

"The king…" he murmured to himself. "So, that's the secret... No matter who's on the field... I'm the king..."

Kayden watched him for a moment, slightly confused by how intense Barou looked. He sighed and scratched the back of his neck, realizing Barou had taken what he said seriously.

"Eh... It wasn't that deep..." he muttered to himself, while Barou stood up with a new spark of determination in his eyes.

"Next time..." Barou declared, looking him straight in the eyes. "I'll show you that I'm the real king!"

Kayden smiled sideways, silently enjoying the unexpected result of his joke. Without responding, he simply raised a hand as a goodbye and walked away calmly, leaving Barou lost in his own declaration.

In the background, although Kayden wouldn't admit it, there was something amusing about seeing how his words ignited the spirit of someone so proud.