Nagisa's POV

It's been two weeks since I started practicing soccer again. Every day, I wake up at 4 AM, head to the field, and warm up with some exercises. Then, I practice with the ball until 5:30 AM before going home, taking a shower, and heading to school. No one in class knows about this—except Koro-sensei—and I prefer to keep it that way.

The crisp morning air, the sound of my feet hitting the grass, and the rhythmic thud of the ball as I dribbled—this routine had become my sanctuary. Each day, I pushed myself a little harder, refining my passes, increasing my stamina, and sharpening my shooting accuracy. Some mornings, exhaustion clawed at my body, and my legs screamed in protest, but I clenched my fists and fought through it. Soccer wasn't just a game for me anymore—it was a goal, a dream, and a way to prove something to myself.

Third-Person POV

"Alright, class, here are the test results. You all did great!" Koro-sensei announced cheerfully, his tentacles moving swiftly as he handed out the papers.

"Yeah!" the whole class cheered in unison, relieved that their hard work had paid off.

As the students collected their test papers, Nagisa glanced at his score. It was good, but not perfect. He knew he could have done better. Between soccer practice and studying, balancing everything was becoming a challenge. Still, he wasn't going to let that discourage him. If anything, it only made him more determined to work even harder.

Karma leaned over with a smirk. "Yo, Nagisa, you're looking more tired than usual. Burning the midnight oil, or is there something you're not telling us?"

Nagisa chuckled weakly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Something like that."

Koro-sensei, who was nearby, glanced at Nagisa knowingly but said nothing. He had already noticed the changes—Nagisa's reflexes were sharper, his endurance had increased, and there was a quiet confidence in the way he moved.

After class ended, Nagisa made his way to the staff room, hesitating slightly before knocking on the door.

"Koro-sensei, can you help me out with something?" he asked.

"Of course, Nagisa! What do you need?" Koro-sensei responded, his large, round eyes twinkling with curiosity.

Nagisa hesitated for a moment, shifting on his feet. He wasn't sure why he felt nervous. Maybe because asking for help felt like admitting he needed it.

"Can you... help me with some soccer practice?" Nagisa finally asked, his voice steady but quiet.

"Definitely, Nagisa! I have nothing else to do!" Koro-sensei declared enthusiastically, his tentacles wiggling excitedly.

With that, the two made their way to the field. Koro-sensei's incredible speed made him the perfect training partner. He dodged effortlessly, forcing Nagisa to adjust his strategies, anticipate movements, and refine his accuracy. "If you can score against me, you'll be able to handle anyone!" Koro-sensei teased as he blocked another shot with ease.

Nagisa gritted his teeth and repositioned himself, focusing. He feinted to the left, then quickly shot the ball to the right. It soared past Koro-sensei's defenses and into the goal.

For a second, silence.

Then Koro-sensei beamed. "Well done, Nagisa! That was a fantastic shot!"

Panting, Nagisa wiped the sweat from his forehead and grinned. "You're... way too fast, Sensei."

"If you can react quickly enough to outplay me, normal opponents will feel like they're moving in slow motion," Koro-sensei said with a chuckle.

Nagisa smirked. "I'll hold you to that."

By the time they finished, it was already 6:00 PM. Nagisa's legs felt like jelly, but the exhaustion was satisfying.

"Now, you should head home. It's getting late," Koro-sensei advised. "I'll see you in class tomorrow!"

Nagisa's POV

After getting home, I took a long shower, letting the warm water soothe my aching muscles. Changing into comfortable clothes, I sat down to study. By the time I finished, it was 8:00 PM. I still had two hours before my mom got home, so I cooked dinner and started eating.

"Man, I can't wait until the soccer league starts," I murmured to myself, flipping through TV channels absentmindedly.

After some time, I checked the clock—it was almost 9:00 PM. The exhaustion from the day finally caught up with me, and I decided to turn in early.

Third-Person POV

Morning:

Nagisa woke up and followed his usual routine, completely unaware that someone was watching him. Hidden behind a tree near the field, a pair of curious eyes observed his every move.

Class went on as usual, but something felt different today. Nagisa couldn't quite shake the feeling that he was being watched.

Nagisa's POV

After school, I was heading home when I suddenly heard someone calling my name. Turning around, I saw Yukiko-san. I greeted her politely.

"Hello, Yukiko-san. Is there something you need?" I asked.

"Nagisa-kun, what are you doing here at this time, still in your school uniform? Didn't you go home after class ended?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. Her bright smile made my heart skip a beat.

'What should I say? I can't lie—I'm a terrible liar—so I have no choice but to tell the truth,' I thought. "Well... you see, I was playing soccer. I finished early today."

Kanzaki's POV

'I didn't know Nagisa played soccer,' I thought, surprised. Then a realization struck me. "Wait a minute... that guy with the light blue hair... that's you, isn't it?" I asked, my face heating up.

My childhood crush—the one I used to admire—was none other than Nagisa. The thought made my heart race.

"Uh, yeah... that's me..." Nagisa replied, looking slightly confused. His innocent response only made my face turn even redder.

"Yukiko-san, are you okay?" he asked in a caring tone.

"I'm fine, Nagisa! Why do you ask?" I said quickly, trying to hide my embarrassment.

"Well... your face is red. Wait, let me check." Without hesitation, he placed his hand on my forehead.

My heart nearly stopped, and I had to force myself not to faint on the spot.

"I'm fine, Nagisa. Don't worry about it," I assured him, hoping he wouldn't notice how flustered I was.

"Okay... if you say so," he said, though he didn't sound entirely convinced. After a brief pause, he added, "How about I accompany you home?"

His tone left no room for argument—he wasn't taking "no" for an answer. I sighed in defeat and said, "Alright... yes."

And with that, we walked home together. My heart pounded with every step, and I couldn't help but steal glances at him. 'Nagisa-kun... you haven't changed a bit since back then, have you?' I thought to myself, feeling a warmth I hadn't felt in years.