"Emily?" The voice came at first.
Emily didn't quite catch it the first time, "Hey Emily!" The voice called again.
Emily immediately turned, and behold it was Evelyn, her sister, standing a bit far from her.
Evelyn was wearing a red jersey, not wearing football boots, and had a red bandana on her head.
"Evelyn," Emily exclaimed excitedly and dropped her luggage, rushing towards Evelyn.
As she got to her, Emily hugged Evelyn tightly, but Evelyn, however, gave her a light and cold embrace back.
"How have you been, sister?" Emily asked joyfully.
"I'm better than you, at least my legs are all good," Evelyn replied with a smirk.
Instantly, the expression on Emily's face changed from a joyful one to a blank and almost sad face.
Emily sighed and replied, saying, "never took you for a football fan. Why are you here?" Evelyn laughed and replied, "take a long stare at me, do I look like all these jobless freaks that sit down and watch? I'm a player, bitch!"
"You now play football?" Emily asked surprised.
Evelyn was one that has never fancied playing football since childhood, but it's kind of surprising that she now plays football.
"You can say that again!" Evelyn said.
"Oh, nice." Emily replied plainly.
"I hope your team and mine are in the same group. I'd love to see your faces when you lose." Evelyn said.
Emily just laughed faintly without giving her a response.
"I heard mum is still the Coach and you're now the star player. What a shame!" Evelyn continued.
As they were talking, a guy wearing the same red jersey as Evelyn walked out of a corner and called her, saying, "Eve, your attention is needed!"
The guy was really tall, muscular, and fierce-looking.
"I'm fed up with seeing you losers. Let me go feed my eyes with winners in my hostel," Evelyn said as she spat on the ground before taking her leave.
"Silence is the best answer given to a fool!" Emily said as Evelyn was taking her leave.
Emily's reply infuriated Evelyn, and she turned to Emily, saying, "You really want to be crippled once more, huh?" Evelyn said those words with her fingers pointing at Emily.
"Come and give it a try then!" Emily replied.
Kan, having noticed the tension between them, started moving closer, trying to prevent a fight that might break out.
As he came a bit closer, Evelyn saw him and stopped ranting.
She stared at Kan for a few moments before the same muscular guy who came out before called her once more.
Evelyn didn't give a reply but turned back and met the muscular guy, and they exited into their hostel.
"What was all that?" Kan asked Emily as he approached her.
"It's nothing, really!" Emily replied.
"Who's she?" Kan inquired.
"That's Evelyn, my sister." Emily replied before they started walking towards their hostel.
"Oh, but she looks different in real life from pictures," Kan replied.
"Yeah, but she's still as she is." Emily replied as they entered their hostel.
The interior of the hostel exuded a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere.
As Kan and Emily entered, they found themselves in a spacious common area adorned with colorful posters and banners showcasing the school's sporting achievements.
The walls were painted in lively hues, creating an energetic and lively ambiance.
A comfortable lounge area featured plush sofas and bean bags, providing a relaxed space for socializing and bonding among the football players.
The hostel boasted modern amenities, including a large flat-screen TV and a gaming console, adding an element of entertainment to the communal space.
The corridors leading to the dormitories were neatly lit with soft, warm lighting.
The dorm rooms themselves were well-organized, each bed neatly made with vibrant beddings.
Personalized touches such as posters, trophies, and football gear added a sense of individuality to the living spaces.
The hostel's design seamlessly blended functionality with aesthetics, creating an environment conducive to both relaxation and focus.
The air was filled with a sense of camaraderie and anticipation as the footballers prepared for the upcoming competition, making the hostel a hub of excitement and team spirit.
Kan and Emily found two empty beds close to each other and dropped their luggage beside each bed.
Emily appeared a bit concerned about the encounter with her sister, Evelyn. Their relationship had always been strained, and despite the hope for change after a year apart, tensions seemed to persist.
Wick and Alfred were reclining on their respective beds, much like Kan and Emily. However, the other players were bustling around, creating a lively and noisy atmosphere.
The commotion became too much for Wick, who, visibly annoyed, abruptly stood up and shouted, "Can you shut the heck up?"
His stern voice cut through the noise, instantly silencing the boisterous players. Kan and Emily, who were on the verge of falling asleep, jolted awake.
Recognizing Wick's reputation for being no-nonsense, the players quickly ceased their activities, choosing to sit down quietly. Alfred, with a hint of humor, remarked, "Nice voice. Never pegged you for someone with such a fierce tone."
Wick didn't respond, merely laying his head back on the bed, signaling the end of the disturbance as he returned to his sleep.
As they peacefully slept, a loud beep from the door jolted them awake, its resounding sound leaving no room for resistance.
A player near the door rose and approached it, discovering a screen with a tab that was repeatedly popping up and down.
Pressing the tab, a notification appeared, proclaiming, "It's time for the draws. Get yourselves ready and head to the Great Hall to discover your opponents in the group stages."
The announcement spurred the players into action, prompting them to quickly rise, change, and prepare for the draws despite their lingering sleepiness. With determination, they made their way to the Great Hall.
The Great Hall exuded an air of anticipation as players took their seats, their collective energy pulsating through the room.
The hall, adorned with banners and emblems of various schools, had an elevated platform at the front where officials sat, overseeing the event.
Rows of neatly arranged chairs filled the hall, each one occupied by a player eagerly awaiting the draw.
The atmosphere buzzed with a mix of excitement and tension, the room illuminated by ambient lighting that highlighted the significance of the impending event.
The officials, dressed in distinguished attire, sat at a table on the elevated platform, armed with sheets and equipment necessary for the draw.
The players' chatter gradually hushed as they waited for the proceedings to commence, their eyes fixed on the front where the officials prepared to reveal the matchups.
Kan, Emily, and Wick walked in together, searching for the designated area prepared for their school.
Coach Nami approached them, guiding them to their seats at the end of the designated space, and they settled in, awaiting the commencement of the event.
It was evident that some schools were still finding their way into the Great Hall, leaving a few spaces empty.
After a few minutes, a group of students hurriedly occupied the seats behind them, filling the hall. The event commenced with officials extending welcoming remarks to the attending schools.
However, Kan, Emily, and Wick found it challenging to focus on the officials' words due to the noise and commotion from the players behind them, who were engrossed in chatter and eating.
Abruptly, a cup of liquid substance spilled onto Emily's clothes.
The players responsible didn't offer an apology but continued their conversation. Annoyed, Emily turned to identify the culprits.
Upon turning back, she identified her sister, Evelyn, another lady, and a guy as the culprits behind the drink spill.
"You splashed your drink on my clothes," Emily said.
"Yeah, I did," Evelyn replied.
"Next time, try keeping it close to your mouth and stop swinging it around," Emily retorted before turning to face the officials.
Evelyn, looking for a confrontation, asked, "Else what? Huh?"
"What?" Emily inquired, not catching Evelyn's remark.
"What will you do if I splash it on you again?" Evelyn challenged, wearing a provocative expression.
Emily, recalling her mom Coach Nami's advice to behave, smiled back at Evelyn and turned away.
Unhappy with this response, Evelyn angrily splashed her drink on Emily once more. In the process, some of the drink spilled onto Wick's clothes.
Wick, caught off guard, turned violently, raising his hand to strike her.
In a split second, before he could act, Kan intervened, grabbing Wick's hand and preventing him from making a mistake.
Kan faced Wick and shook his head, signaling him not to act impulsively. Despite his dissatisfaction, Wick, recalling Coach Nami's advice, opted to sit down and mind his own business.
Unaware of Kan's intervention, Evelyn only noticed him when he stood up.
"Aww, someone with sense," she giggled, whispering something to her friends, who burst into laughter. Observing this, Emily shrugged it off and turned her back to them.
Evelyn, seemingly intrigued by Kan, moved closer to his seat and whispered in his ear, "Hey, handsome!"
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