Backstreet No. 7

The sun had begun to rise, casting a warm glow over the astro turf pitch. The chill from the early morning air slowly began to dissipate, but the tension in the air remained palpable.

The players, who had previously been chatting and stretching in small groups, straightened up as Head Scout Dong-Yul returned from the main building with a clipboard in hand. Flanking him were two junior scouts, both with stern expressions.

Dong-Yul's presence immediately commanded attention. Without a word, he approached the group, and the chatter ceased.

"Your groups have been decided," he said, his tone unwavering. "They are as follows..."

Lucas instantly felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He stood among the crowd, eyes locked on Dong-Yul, nervously waiting for his name to be called.

One by one, the players were called into their groups. "Eito Kagura, Group 3. Hwang In-Su, Group 4." The names kept coming, each met with varying reactions of relief or disappointment. But when the next name was called, a shift occurred.

...

"Marco Rodriguez."

The moment the words left Dong-Yul's mouth, all eyes turned to the Filipino prodigy.

Marco stood tall, his smug expression suggesting that he knew this was a mere formality. He flashed a confident grin as he took a step forward, his posture exuding arrogance.

"Group 1," Dong-Yul said, nodding toward the forward.

A collective sigh of relief spread through the remaining groups. Marco was known for his exceptional footballing ability and his presence in the first group meant less competition for those in the others.

His reputation was both a blessing and a curse for the players in Group 2, 3, and 4, but most were just glad to be rid of him for now.

Finally, the moment came.

...

"Lucas Jin-Hoo Kim, Group 2."

Lucas felt a sense of both relief and anticipation as he stepped forward. His heart raced, but he quickly composed himself, nodding respectfully toward Dong-Yul before making his way to his assigned group.

As he walked, he overheard some of the players whispering amongst themselves, a few throwing him curious glances. But one voice rose above the others.

"Hey, don't play selfish you got it?!"

Lucas turned sharply, eyes narrowing. A short, stocky youth with an unfriendly expression glared at him from the corner of the group. His features were partly Korean, and his posture screamed tension.

"Didn't ya hear me?!" the boy sneered again, stepping closer. "I know who you are, Jin-Hoo Kim of Seoncheok. Mark my words, I won't let you get the better of me. It's every player for himself. Don't think we're a team, got it?"

Lucas' fists clenched, but he forced himself to remain calm.

He could feel the boy's eyes on him, challenging him, but Lucas wasn't about to rise to the bait. This wasn't about proving himself to anyone else, no, it was about securing his place in one of the best teams in the K-League.

"Got it," Lucas replied coldly, his voice steady. "And don't worry, I'm not here to make friends."

The boy's sneer deepened, but he didn't respond. Instead, he turned away, muttering something under his breath as he joined the rest of the group.

Just then a voice called out to Lucas from behind him.

"Don't worry about Seung-Hyun."

Lucas turned to see an older boy, around 18 years old, flashing him a reassuring smile. The boy was tall, his broad shoulders making him stand out among the others. His platinum blond hair was styled perfectly, and his sharp features resembled those of a K-pop star.

"What can you expect from the stuck-up son of the technical director?" the boy continued, letting out a soft laugh, clearly unfazed by the tension.

"Technical director?" Lucas asked, raising an eyebrow. "You mean..."

"Yes, his father practically runs this program and everything else to do with this team," the boy replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Aren't you surprised that someone like him is here?"

Lucas glanced over at Seung-Hyun, who, despite his prideful stance, lacked the athletic build of a typical soccer player. The boy was portly and weak-looking, far from the powerful frame Lucas was used to seeing in serious soccer players.

In fact, it wasn't hard to imagine Seung-Hyun living in a lavish, gated part of Seoul, surrounded by maids and servants—his every need catered to. Struggle, it seemed, was foreign to him.

"Anyway," the older boy continued, his tone shifting to something friendlier. "My name is Mun Kyung-Sam. It's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about Seokcheon's best player." He gave Lucas a warm smile, offering a hand in greeting.

"Nice to meet you, Kyung-Sam. Ah, then I suppose I need not introduce myself" Lucas said.

Kyung-Sam's smile widened. He looked genuinely friendly and open, a stark contrast to what Seung-Hyun had shown earlier.

"I'm two years older than you, so I guess that makes me the 'elder' here," Kyung-Sam joked. "But don't let that fool you. I'm still just a player like you. Just a little more... developed." He flexed his arm slightly, showing off his muscular physique.

Lucas could tell that Kyung-Sam was the type of guy who commanded attention without trying and despite his flashy appearance it was obvious that he had the skills to back it up.

"You've got a lot of potential, Jin-Hoo," Kyung-Sam added, lowering his voice just slightly. "I can tell from the way you carry yourself. This trial? It's just another stepping stone for someone like you."

Lucas felt a flicker of appreciation for Kyung-Sam's words, but his focus was unwavering. He had come here to prove himself, and no matter who stood beside him or against him, he wasn't going to back down.

If he were to succeed in making the team he would make Sin-Joo proud above all else.

"Thanks, Kyung-Sam," Lucas replied, nodding. "But I'm here to earn my place. No space for complacency."

Kyung-Sam chuckled, clearly enjoying the determination in Lucas's eyes.

"I respect your determination. You're gonna need it. But don't worry, Seung-Hyun won't last long here. He might have his father's influence, but that won't matter on the field."

The two junior scouts moved through the crowd, handing out colored bibs. Each group would wear a different color to distinguish themselves during the trial matches.

The air grew thicker with anticipation as the scouts passed out the bibs one by one, the colors a visual reminder of the fierce competition that lay ahead.

Lucas turned his attention to the sidelines as the sound of Dong-Yul's voice rang out, calling them into position for their first match.

He could feel the weight of the challenge ahead, but with Kyung-Sam's words of encouragement in his mind, he felt ready.

"The first match will be Group 1 against Group 3."