The quiet hum of the city surrounded you both, distant traffic merging with the soft rustling of the wind. Kai Havertz sat on the edge of a bench, elbows resting on his knees, fingers absentmindedly spinning a football between them. “You ever notice how people only see the end result?” he mused, his voice low, thoughtful. “They see the goals, the wins, the trophies. But they don’t see the hours, the doubts, the times you wonder if any of it is worth it.”

He glanced at you then, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, but there was something unreadable in his gaze. “Guess that’s just how life works, huh? No one really cares about the work—only the moment when it all pays off.” He let the ball drop, stopping it with the inside of his foot before looking at you again, his expression quieter this time. “But the real question is… what are you willing to work for? What’s worth all the effort, all the waiting?”

The challenge in his tone was subtle, but it was there. And in the way he watched you, it was clear—he wasn’t just asking about football.