After the chaotic training session with Rika and the embarrassing encounter with Coach Tanaka, Shun finally returned to his dorm.
His body ached, but nothing felt better than a hot bath after training.
Steam filled the small dorm bathroom as he leaned back, letting the heat soothe his sore muscles.
"Hah… that was exhausting."
His mind briefly replayed the moment when Rika landed that bicycle kick perfectly.
"Tch. Show-off."
Still, he couldn't help but grin.
Once he was done, Shun threw on a loose T-shirt and sat at his desk, flipping open his textbooks.
He didn't waste time.
Math. Science. English.
Even if it was off-season, he had to keep his mind sharp.
If not soccer, then study.
Time passed quickly, and before he knew it—
5 AM.
The dorm was slowly waking up.
His teammates started stirring one by one, groaning as they begrudgingly left their beds.
Renji, still half-asleep, sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Bro… it's the holidays. Go play games, sleep, do something else…"
He squinted at Shun, who was already deep into his notes.
"Why are you studying at this moment?"
Shun didn't even look up as he flipped a page.
"If not soccer, then study."
Renji stared at him, then sighed.
"Bro, you're a machine."
Shun smirked.
"Then why are you awake? Go back to sleep."
Renji grunted and flopped back onto his bed.
"You better not complain when we're all playing games later."
Shun just shrugged.
"We'll see."
The dorm slowly filled with the usual morning chaos—teammates arguing over the bathroom, others still refusing to wake up, and the smell of instant coffee and toast filling the air.
A normal, peaceful morning…
But for Shun, it was just another day of chasing something greater.