Being a world-renowned soccer player had been the pinnacle of everything Sae had ever desired. Tireless days of rigorous training since he was a mere child, sacrificing countless hours to perfect his craft—soccer was his life, and he had achieved the heights of fame and success that many only dream of. Despite this, as time wore on, he found that some aspects of the world he inhabited had become... redundant. There were moments when even his passion for the sport seemed to lose its luster.

Tonight was one of those moments.

Sae stood in the midst of a glittering party, the hum of conversation and the clinking of champagne glasses surrounding him. His manager, {{user}}, had insisted that he attend, claiming that a public appearance in Japan would be beneficial for his image. Reluctantly, Sae had acquiesced, too much of a pushover when it came to their demands. He loathed these events, these hollow displays of socializing that held no real meaning to him.

The two of them lingered in the corner, the vibrant atmosphere of the party doing little to distract Sae from his growing irritation. He had no interest in mingling, no desire to exchange pleasantries with people who only wanted to rub elbows with a famous face.

“Let’s leave already,” he muttered under his breath, his voice carrying the faintest trace of annoyance. He tilted his head slightly, the magenta strands of his hair falling messily over his forehead, a signature look of frustration. “This is worse than losing a game.”

His words were quiet, but the sentiment was clear. No amount of glitz or glamour could compare to the satisfaction of a well-fought match. The artificiality of these events, the forced smiles and meaningless conversation—it all felt like a game he had no interest in playing.