The stadium buzzed with the excitement of the ongoing Clash Trigger trials. Ryusei sat on the bleachers, sipping from a water bottle while Kenji rambled on about their next match. Despite his casual demeanor, Ryusei couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching him.
"Ryu, are you even listening?" Kenji snapped, waving a hand in front of his face.
"Huh? Yeah, yeah. Stick to the plan," Ryusei muttered distractedly, his eyes scanning the crowd.
At that moment, a voice called out from behind him. "Still as clueless as ever, huh, Ryu?"
Ryusei froze. That voice—it was familiar, yet distant, like a fragment of his past resurfacing. He turned around, his eyes widening as they met the confident smirk of a tall, athletic figure.
"Ren?" Ryusei said, almost disbelieving.
Watanabe Ren, his childhood friend, stood before him. Ren had moved to the United States years ago, chasing his dream of becoming a professional CT player. His return was unexpected, and judging by the sharp glint in his eyes, he hadn't come back just to catch up.
"Long time no see," Ren said, crossing his arms. His presence was magnetic, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.
"Watanabe Ren? The Watanabe Ren?!" Kenji stammered, nearly dropping his water bottle. "The Rising Star of the International CT League?"
Ren chuckled. "I see my reputation precedes me."
"What are you doing here?" Ryusei asked, still trying to process the sudden reunion.
"I'm back for the National League qualifiers," Ren replied casually, though his eyes studied Ryusei intently. "I heard Japan's competition is getting tougher, so I figured I'd test the waters. And imagine my surprise when I saw your name on the roster."
Ryusei frowned. "You're competing in the trials?"
Ren smirked. "Not exactly. I've already qualified for the league, but I'll be watching the top teams closely. You know, scouting the competition."
Kenji looked like he was about to explode with excitement. "You and Ryu know each other?!"
"We go way back," Ren said, leaning against the railing. "Ryu used to be the kid everyone underestimated. Quiet, awkward, but always surprising people when it mattered most. Guess some things never change."
Ryusei rolled his eyes. "And you're still as arrogant as ever."
Ren laughed, the sound easy and familiar. "Maybe. But I've got the skills to back it up now. What about you, Ryu? Still playing it safe, or are you finally stepping up?"
Before Ryusei could respond, an announcement echoed through the stadium.
"All participants for the next trial, please report to the field."
"That's us!" Kenji said, grabbing Ryusei's arm. "Come on, we don't want to be late!"
As they headed to the field, Ren called out, "Hey, Ryu."
Ryusei glanced back.
"Don't hold back. I want to see what you're really made of," Ren said, his tone serious.
Ryusei didn't reply, but a faint smirk tugged at his lips as he turned away.
The Trial
The next match was a Team vs. Team battle, with each side tasked to protect their flag while trying to capture the opponent's. Ryusei's team had struggled with coordination earlier, but his leadership had begun to pull them together.
As the match began, Ryusei took his position as an All-Rounder, adapting to the flow of the game. Kenji, their designated Shooter, provided cover fire while their Tanker fortified the base.
"Ryu, watch your right!" Kenji shouted as an opponent charged toward him.
Ryusei spun, deflecting the attack with swift precision. His movements were instinctive, almost second nature, as if he were channeling the survival skills of his past life.
From the stands, Ren watched intently, his arms crossed. He couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu. There was something different about Ryusei—something he couldn't quite place.
The match ended with Ryusei's team securing a narrow victory. As they left the field, drenched in sweat, Ren approached them.
"Not bad," Ren said, clapping Ryusei on the back. "You've improved."
"Thanks," Ryusei replied, his tone neutral.
"But you're still holding back," Ren added, his voice low enough that only Ryusei could hear.
Ryusei's eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Ren shrugged. "You've got talent, Ryu. But I can tell you're not giving it everything you've got. You're hiding something."
Before Ryusei could respond, Kenji interrupted. "Ren, you've got to train with us! Imagine how much better we'd be with you on our team!"
Ren smirked. "Tempting, but I've got my own team to worry about. Besides, Ryu doesn't need me holding his hand. He's more capable than he lets on."
Ryusei's jaw tightened. Ren always had a way of getting under his skin, but this time, his words struck a nerve.
As the day ended and the trials concluded, Ryusei couldn't shake the feeling that Ren's return wasn't just a coincidence. His friend's presence stirred something within him—a challenge, a reminder of who he used to be, and a hint of the battles yet to come.
For the first time in years, Ryusei felt the stirrings of his old self. Theodore, the forsaken prince, wasn't dead after all. And with Ren back in his life, the line between his past and present began to blur.