10 When I learned their identities. My eyes popped!

Kai gave it his all. He didn't have the best passing ability, but he knew where he must pass to at the very moment. His leg tensed as he struck the ball with all his might. It didn't matter where the ball ended up anyway, what counted was the intention behind it.

Christopher moved instinctively. His movement was fluid and unpredictable as he moved to pursue his own purpose, his own desire, and his own ambition to score the goal. And to teach Lucas his place!

A grounded ball, hit with speed as it rolled from back to front with murderous intent. Christopher dashed towards it, his eyes locked onto the ball since the very moment Kai that intercepted that cross. Lucas pulled on Christopher's arm sleeve as he did whatever was necessary to slow him down. There was a difference in pace between the two players. In a foot race, Christopher would beat Lucas without a doubt.

A dogfight for the pass. They struggled against one another, physically fighting for the ball. It was inevitable. Against the speedy Christopher, Lucas couldn't do anything but watch himself being left in the dust. He outstretched his arm hoping to perform a tactical foul, but it was no use. He was too far behind. Christopher was gone.

He controlled the ball with devastating finesse, it was as if the ball was an extension of his own body. His technique was sublime as he received it with grace. Christopher eyed the open net, a tsunami of adrenaline and arrogance poured over him as he released his best shot.

It was direct, like a knife stabbed straight into the heart. The net rattled as the ball crashed into its destination. Despair and frustration apparent on Lucas's face, he split on the futsal court as he bit his lips.

Christopher was bathed in his own glory as he grinned at the losing side. 2-0 was more than enough to send a soul-crushing defeat. His heart was pumping, he barely had any touches on the ball for the entirety of the match. Scoring a goal with his first touch on the ball was so… satisfying.

"Shall we continue, Lucas? Or should we call it a day and admit defeat?" Christopher rubbed the score into Lucas's snobby demeanour.

"Tsk." Lucas bitterly eyed his mortal enemy before turning his gaze to the scrawny Asian teenager. "I didn't lose to you… I lost to him!"

"I guess I assembled a better team." Christopher smugly stated, giving the impression that Kai was part of his squad since the very beginning.

"Hand it over, Lucas. You know the deal."

"F**k me sideways!" Lucas punched the air as he left the court.

All the other players looked at the scene in amusement. Kai eyed Dan who was catching his breath on the floor and offered his hand.

~~~

Lucas came back with an item. Kai observed it with rare interest as he questioned what Christopher and his enemy betted on. It was soon apparent why they were so desperate to win this match.

The snobby defender begrudgingly handed over a piece of fabric.

Christopher was over the moon as he received the item. Like a child, he rubbed his chin against the surface of the fabric. Then slowly and meticulously, Christopher slowly unfolded the cloth to reveal what it truly was.

Lucas gave him a shirt. A football shirt.

The red and white stripes formed the most contrasting of colours. Its blue-collar and signature shield-shaped logo was recognisable to any football fans in the world.

Atletico Madrid.

Christopher turned the shirt around

Diego Costa.

No.19

Kai nodded at this. It was only last year (2013/2014) that Costa broke all records and became an Atletico Madrid legend, scoring a combined season 36 goals. It was the season he was pushed into the limelight, becoming a hot property that every major European club wished to get their hands on.

However, players' shirts like these are easy to get their hands on. Clubs sell their player jerseys in their club shops and they cost no more than 70 euros at best.

However, Kai was rubbing his eyes as he noticed a small detail. He first thought there was a small stain on the Diego Costa shirt. He mistakenly thought it was a piece of dirt, or maybe a drink stain on the shirt.

It was neither of those. It was a signature.

It was signed by the legend himself. Diego Costa's personal signature.

Kai had his eyes popping out of his head as he failed to believe what he was seeing. Signed shirts like these are a commodity in the footballing world. Not to mention that popular players' signed shirts are even harder to come by! Just how did Lucas get his hand on this treasure?

~~~

Dan approached Kai from the side as they gazed at the scene. It was like a child finally getting the desired toy they were so desperately pleading with their parents for.

"Christopher wanted that shirt quite badly. I swear Costa is like an idol for him."

Kai was suspicious as he stared at the shirt. "Is that real? That signature?"

Dan nodded his head after a few moments. "Guaranteed to be real. Lucas got the credentials to prove it too."

Kai raised his eyebrows. "..credentials?"

The defender slapped his forehead as he realized he was talking in riddles. "Lucas and Theo are brothers… and they're both youth players for Atletico."

Kai's heart was about to burst from all the shock he was hearing. Did he play with the prospects of Atletico Madrid? Isn't this like an honour? Kai must remember this experience, he exchanged playing time with possible future stars in the world of football!

Wait… Kai thought deeply for a moment as he calmed his adrenaline. He had two assists for this match, both goals were created by him. It seemed his ability isn't that far behind academy players his age.

Dan was speechless at how quiet Kai became. What's so strange about playing with youth players from other academies? And more importantly, Dan eyed Kai up and down as he reevaluated him in his heart.

"Who do you play for?"

"Hm?"

"Which club are you contracted to?"

Kai felt his face heating up, his face turning bright red as he heard this question. "I'm… not contracted… yet."

Dan was frozen as he heard the words. What kind of joke is this?! Dan's a promising player himself and could proudly call himself one of the best defenders in his age group. He hadn't seen kids his age have this much… innate football understanding. If Kai doesn't even have a club, what is he? Isn't he akin to trash then?

"… you kidding."

Kai's already bright red face became even worse as he covered his embarrassment with his hands. "I'm still on trial."

No matter. Dan quickly regained his composure. Rather than being negative, he should be positive! Look at the bright side!

The defender put his hand on Kai's shoulders in a comforting manner. "I can't promise anything… but I'll see what I can do."

This caught Kai off guard. See what I can do? "Are you contracted?" Kai asked.

Dan only laughed it off, as if he had been amused by a silly statement. "Contracted? Kai… look at everyone here. You think we're just some casual teenagers that play football for fun?"

He's right. Kai saw many more attacking patterns with Christopher than with Leroy, the striker of his local club. And the brothers; Lucas and Theo, are like defensive robots compared to the players at his club. If Dan was at his local club, Kai wouldn't be surprised if he gets promoted to the senior team immediately! Even Maxwel was dangerous in his own right, always lurking in the shadows and waiting for that perfect opportunity to pounce and score himself.

Kai himself had to use [ De Bruyne Vision ] to its full capacity just to keep himself up to speed with the intense futsal match.

"Here's my number. Keep in touch, yeah?" Dan offered as he showed his mobile phone.

"Of course." Kai diligently recorded Dan's phone number into his contact. Friends are hard to come by. He sucked at making friends, and he didn't quite favour being a loner like his past life.

"Oh. What's your last name, Dan?" Kai suddenly asked. He was intrigued as he only know everyone's first name.

The robust defender offered his warmhearted smile.

"It's Zagadou. Dan-Axel Zagadou."

....

The glass cracked as Kai's phone dropped onto the floor. Just when Kai thought he couldn't get any more surprises, more came his way. Zagadou... Zagadou. No wonder Kai always thought he looked familiar. He played with a star! A future football star!

Wait...

Kai eyed Lucas and Theo. His brain raced as he recalled his future memories. His knowledge of the future, was in his grasp at he scratched his archival of player knowledge. Brothers? Atletico Madrid? Defenders?

They're.... they're the Hernandez brothers! Lucas Hernandez and Theo Hernandez!

But there's more. Christopher? French? Slender build? Speedy? Forward?

Christopher Nkunku!

Oh.

There's also Maxwel Cornet...

.

Kai fiddled his fingers as his heart raced. "guys.... can you sign my shirt? Please?"