The school day was winding down when Sota's phone buzzed in his pocket. Glancing around to make sure the teacher wasn't watching, he subtly pulled it out to check. It was a message from Jack Mercer, brief but urgent:
"Sota, something's come up that I need to handle. Meet me at this location in Tokyo tomorrow morning with everyone else. Bring lots of spare clothes."
A map pin sat below the text, marking an unfamiliar spot deep within the city. Sota's heart skipped a beat—what was so important that Coach would send them to Tokyo, of all places? The instructions seemed vague yet specific enough to feel intense, especially the part about spare clothes. What exactly was waiting for them?
As the final bell rang, he quickly pulled Aiko aside and, one by one, gathered the other teammates in the hallway. Their reactions ranged from excitement to confusion as Sota explained the plan.
