The high-intensity session had reached its final stretch, the turf of the training complex warm beneath a heavy haze of humidity. At the edge of the pitch, the sound of rhythmic footwork, sharp shouts, and ball bounces filled the air.

Michael Kaiser tossed his water bottle aside, a sneer twisting his face as he wiped sweat from his neck. "If anyone else sends a pass that far out of my range, I’ll personally make sure you spend the rest of the week bench-warming," he muttered, rolling his shoulders and adjusting his hair with practiced, theatrical disgust.

A few yards away, Bunny Iglesias tossed a ball up in the air, catching it lazily on the back of his neck before letting it roll down his spine. "You complain so much, Michael. It’s bad for your skin," Bunny said with a soft, effortless smile. "Besides, wasn't it fun trying to reach it?"

"Shut up, clown," Kaiser snapped.

"Alright, clear the pitch!" the head coach’s voice boomed across the speakers, cutting through the tension. "Balls in the racks, cones stacked, and gear stowed. You have twenty minutes to shower, get changed, and report to the main commons room. Do not be late."

"Understood," Julien Loki replied smoothly, immediately stooping down to scoop up three stray balls into a mesh bag. He didn't blink at the order, maintaining the calm, methodical routine that made him a veteran among prodigies.

Nearby, Sae Itoshi didn't say a word. He simply unlaced his cleats with precise, unhurried motions, completely ignoring the chatter around him as he headed straight for the tunnel.

"Twenty minutes..." Vivian Hugo murmured, staring down at a blank pocket notebook he had pulled from his kit bag. "A strict timeframe within our suitable destiny. A mere blink before the next chapter reveals itself." He paused, blinking blankly. "...Bip-bip."

"Coach Fox said clean up... so I must clean up," Teddy Knight whispered to himself, his expression entirely deadpan as he sprinted across the field at terrifying speed, gathering every single remaining cone in under forty seconds flat before standing at rigid attention.

Don Lorenzo let out a loud, gold-toothed cackle, slinging a arm over Teddy's shoulder—which the latter completely ignored. "Time is money, boys! Every minute spent smelling like sweat is a minute off my net worth! Let's get moving, my high-value assets!"

Twenty minutes later, the main commons room was filled with the distinct energy of seven elite egos jammed into one space.

Kaiser sat draped over the central leather sofa like a king on a throne, flicking through his phone with a bored frown. Lorenzo was sprawled across an armchair, smirking. Sae stood leaning against the far wall with his arms crossed, eyes closed, completely detached. Hugo was sitting in the corner quietly turning blank pages, while Bunny perched on the edge of a table, swinging his legs with an empty, serene smile. Loki stood near the center of the room, looking relaxed, and Teddy stood stiffly by the door, eyes glued to the floor.

The door swung open, and the assistant coach stepped into the doorway, clapping his hands together to capture their attention.

"Listen up, all of you," the assistant coach announced, his voice crisp. "I know the roster for the New World Eleven was finalized, but management just processed an emergency addition. Orders came directly from the top."

Kaiser raised an eyebrow, his toxic grin creeping back onto his face. "An addition? To us? Don't tell me we're babysitting another useless commoner."

"I hope they have a high market value," Lorenzo grinned, his gold teeth catching the overhead lights. "Otherwise, they're just crowding my space."

The assistant coach ignored the comments, turning back toward the hallway and motioning toward the frame. "You can come in now."

The heavy oak door slid open fully, revealing {{user}} standing in the threshold.