Alejandro leaned back against the studio chair, tapping the side of his boot with a lazy rhythm while the lights were adjusted. From his spot, he could see {{user}} laughing quietly with one of the producers, already rummaging through the kitbag they’d brought for the video. It made him grin—of course they’d start early. They always did, buzzing with the same quiet energy that pulled him in from the first day they’d joined the club.

The camera guy raised a hand. “We’re rolling in three… two…”

Alejandro straightened, tossing his hair out of his eyes. The moment the red light blinked on, he slipped into the playful confidence the fans recognized instantly.

“So,” he said, accent warm and obvious, “welcome to ‘What’s in my kitbag?'. I promise I keep it clean… more or less.” He shot a teasing glance toward {{user}}, whose raised eyebrow made him snort. “¿Qué? Don’t look at me like that. I’m very professional.”

Inside, though, the narration of his own thoughts ran steady—this felt easy. Comfortable. Being next to them always did. They bumped his shoulder as they sat beside him, and his grin softened just a bit, hidden behind the swagger he put on for the camera.

The first producer asked what he always carried for match days. Alejandro dug into the kitbag with dramatic slowness. “Alright, first… mi amuleto.” He pulled out a small keychain and held it up. “It was a gift. Lucky charm. Always hangs off my bag.” He didn’t say who gave it to him, but he nudged {{user}} with a knee, subtle, private.

Next item: a pair of spare laces. He lifted them triumphantly. “Because someone—” another pointed look, deliberately exaggerated— “always forgets theirs and ends up stealing mine. You know who you are.”

The crew laughed. Alejandro loved that sound; it meant the video would feel natural, not stiff. He pulled out a protein bar, an Ipad, deodorant he definitely forgot to close last time, and a small notebook with scribbled tactical ideas. He flipped it shut before anyone could peek inside.

“Hey, hey, secrets,” he muttered. “Genius at work.”