The cool evening breeze swirled through the dense forest, rustling the leaves and whispering secrets through the trees. Kaiser stood by the riverbank with Rukia, a faint shadow of unease still lingering in his gaze after seeing the girl who looked strikingly like Raku.
"Did she really look like her?" he asked, breaking the silence.
Rukia nodded after a brief pause. "Yeah… she did resemble her."
Kaiser looked away, brushing the thought aside with a sigh. "Break's over. Let's head back."
Meanwhile, not far from the boys' camp, the girl who had called out to Raku earlier nudged her with a smirk. "You know him, don't you?"
Raku nodded slowly, eyes still fixed on the path ahead. "Yeah… he was my friend. We went to the same elementary and middle school."
The other girl grinned. "You should totally introduce me. He's seriously hot. Like, model-level hot."
Raku rolled her eyes and shoved her lightly. "Shut up. Let's get back to the camp."
But as they walked, her mind drifted back—back to the days when she and Kaiser were inseparable. When heated debates turned into laughter and silent gazes said more than words ever could. So, I'll finally meet him again, she thought, heart thudding with a strange mixture of anticipation and fear.
Back at the main camp, Shinoa returned to their tent with her arms full of firewood. Her mind, however, wasn't on the task. What are those two doing right now…?
Her imagination, fueled by jealousy, played a cruel trick on her—an image of Kaiser and Rukia kissing by the stream like they had once done in the school. She shook her head violently. No! He wouldn't… would he?
Before her thoughts could spiral further, the rest of the group returned. Rukia and Kaiser arrived with two full buckets of fresh fish. Shinoa crossed her arms, her voice edged with irritation.
"What took you so long?" she snapped. "Where were you?"
Rukia didn't reply immediately. Instead, she lifted the bucket with a smile. "Here. Fresh catch."
Kaiser held up his own catch with a smirk. "Not bad, huh?"
Realizing her tone, Shinoa sighed and bowed her head slightly. "Sorry. I overreacted. I was just worried…"
Rukia chuckled. "Worried something was going on between us, huh?"
Kaiser groaned. "Do you two always have to bicker like this? Focus, please. We've got work to do."
He quickly assigned roles. "Hiraku and I will clean and cut the fish and vegetables. Shinoa, Rukia—you handle the cooking. Raju, you're on rice duty."
As everyone got to work, they were surprised—no, shocked—by Kaiser's knife skills. His hands moved with expert precision, slicing through vegetables with speed and grace, filleting fish as if he'd been trained in a professional kitchen.
Hiraku blinked. "Bro… where did you learn this?"
Kaiser didn't even look up. "Picked it up over time. Now stop gawking and focus."
Everyone chuckled but followed his lead. Even Rukia and Shinoa shared a smile, their earlier tension softening in the warmth of shared effort. Well, everyone except Raju.
"I can't even get the rice to boil right!" Raju shouted, exasperated.
Kaiser walked over, inspected the pot, and sighed. "You're a beast on the field, but in the kitchen, you're a disaster."
"Shut up," Raju muttered.
Eventually, the meal was complete, and everyone headed to the large dining tent to present their food. Other groups brought their dishes, but one stood out: Kaiser's team.
The presentation was top-notch, the aroma mouthwatering. Other students gathered around, praising their work. Hiraku, ever the opportunist, took advantage of the attention.
"Ladies! For just $3, you can taste one spoon of Kaiser's legendary handmade food!" he announced.
Despite their protests, Shinoa and Rukia were powerless against the swarm of girls ready to pay. Within minutes, Hiraku had made a small fortune.
"I'll split it with you, Kaiser," he said proudly.
Kaiser rolled his eyes. "You're unbelievable."
Just as things seemed to calm down, a familiar and slightly drunken voice rang out.
"Well, well, well… I didn't know you were such a great cook," said Mitsuha Tachibana, stumbling into the tent with a goofy smile.
Kaiser froze. "Ma'am… you're drunk."
Before he could react, she leaned in—and kissed him right on the lips.
Everyone gasped. Kaiser immediately pushed her away. "What the hell are you doing?!"
She giggled. "What? I was just tasting the food again…"
Shinoa's face turned red with rage. "That's harassment! If the genders were reversed, this would be a huge scandal!"
Mitsuha waved it off. "Come on, don't make a scene."
But Kaiser raised his hand. "She's right. You crossed a line, sensei. You're drunk, and maybe you don't realize it, but this isn't acceptable."
The room fell silent. Mitsuha pouted but walked away without another word. The rest of the evening passed quietly, everyone shaken by the unexpected turn of events.
Later, as night fell and the campers settled into their tents—one for girls, one for boys—Kaiser lay on his back, staring at the ceiling.
Will I really meet her again…?
A voice answered from outside.
"Yes. You will."
Kaiser sat up, startled, but the voice was gone.
Far away, the scene shifted to the Holy Cross Academy's main building. A tall, long-haired man stood before the principal, his presence commanding.
"I want him in the football club," he said.
The principal looked up from his papers. "Kaiser Klein?"
"Yes. The kid's got potential… and fire. Let's see if he can handle true pressure."
The pieces were beginning to move. And soon, Kaiser's peaceful days would be tested like never before.