Cote: Elite in Action

Kayden - Part 13

Over time, Kayden Osawa kept the promise he once made to the team: to stay a little longer. It wasn't just a trophy they lifted after that historic final, but many more that came after. However, unlike the rest, Kayden didn't seem excited about the medals or cups. For him, the real trophies were the people.

Seeing his teammates transform, grow, and achieve goals that once seemed impossible... that's what mattered to him. Those kids who, at first, couldn't coordinate a pass or last ninety minutes without giving up, were now complete players. Players with heart, with ambition, with discipline. Each of them, in their own way, had awakened their own potential.

And that had been Kayden's true mission from the beginning.

He hadn't joined them for glory, fame, or the simple thrill of a game. He had done it to prove — more than anything to himself — that even a group of misfits could be reborn if someone believed in them enough. And now that they had achieved it... Kayden knew. His time with them was coming to an end.

Since the first championship, he had quietly been preparing them for his inevitable departure. More intense training, more complex strategies, individual sessions to polish their weaknesses. He didn't want them to depend on him, but to learn to depend on themselves and each other.

Because he knew that, sooner or later, his restless spirit would drive him to seek a new challenge. A new spark that would reignite the fire within him. That was his nature. To chase the impossible, just to see if he could achieve it. But before leaving, he wanted to make sure of one thing: that when he was gone, the team wouldn't crumble... but soar even higher.

And so, one afternoon like any other, as the sun gently bathed the field where everything had begun, Kayden stood in the center of the grass, watching his teammates train. His gaze wasn't melancholic, but satisfied.

Ren was no longer just the short guy who ran aimlessly; now he was a nimble midfielder with impressive game reading. Haruto, who once trembled every time he received the ball, had developed a confidence that showed even in his posture. And Daiki, the captain, had learned not only to lead but to inspire.

Kayden smiled. Not with sadness, but with pride.

"They're ready," he whispered to himself.

That night, after practice, he gathered everyone in the locker room. The atmosphere was relaxed, filled with jokes and laughter... until Kayden spoke.

"I want to say something."

Everyone fell silent immediately. It was rare to see Kayden so serious.

"I've decided this will be my last season with you."

The reaction was instant. Faces of surprise, confusion... even some hurt looks.

"It's not because I don't want to be here," he continued, his voice firm but gentle. "Quite the opposite. This team... you all... meant more to me than I can explain. But my role here is done. And I know you can continue without me. You don't need me to hold your hand. You can walk on your own... even run."

Daiki was the first to speak, with a nostalgic smile.

"So what are you going to do now, genius?"

Kayden looked at the ceiling, as if trying to find the answer among the beams.

"I don't know yet. Look for another disaster... something impossible. Something no one else wants to try. It's not about the destination for me... it's the journey."

And with those words, they all understood. Kayden Osawa wasn't just a soccer player. He was a catalyst. A free spirit who appeared just when things were about to collapse... and turned them into legends.