[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-foresight":3,"chapter-foresight-foresight-chapter-9":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","FORESIGHT",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1847407,2452,"Chapter 9 9: Surprise Trainer","foresight-chapter-9",9,"\u003Cp>Evening\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Kai's room, Billy's house, London]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The loft-style room was modest—about 10 square meters, with a sloped wooden ceiling. Aside from the bed and a wardrobe, there wasn't much else. A single window sat near the ceiling above the bed, framing a quiet slice of the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai had never cared much for luxury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the salary he earned from Arsenal was saved, minus a small token of appreciation he gave to Billy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the moment, he was sitting cross-legged on his bed, rolling a ball around with his feet, working on the basics—touch control, light taps, short flicks. Every minute counted. He didn't want to waste even one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Progress was slow, but Kai was patient. He believed that if he kept going, his moment would come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he practiced, a memory surfaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(Flashback)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The league starts tomorrow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dinner, Kai sat with Billy and his family to watch the Premier League preview show. It was a preseason staple, full of bold predictions and overcooked analysis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pundits named the teams they expected to shine that season: Manchester United, Manchester City, as the favourites and Everton as the dark horse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsenal, however, had been listed under \"teams likely to underperform.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Billy had nearly exploded. He spent the next five minutes ranting about how clueless the analysts were and accusing them of stirring up drama for clicks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(Flashback ends)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Kai knew better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless something miraculous happened, Arsenal was in for a rough start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lost in thought, his concentration slipped, and he hit the ball too hard. It bounced up and smacked the ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a tired sigh, Kai let himself fall back onto the bed, gazing up at the night sky through the slanted window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear and starry—a rare peaceful moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as sleep began to creep in, there was a knock, followed by the slow creak of the door opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You still awake?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kevin, in pajamas and rubbing one eye, leaned into the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai sat up, a bit puzzled. \"What's up, Kevin?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kevin hesitated at the door, then came in and quietly shut it behind him. He walked over, eyes wide with something like admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai noticed his expression and blinked. \"What's that look for? Do I have something on my face?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kevin shook his head. \"I heard what happened with Mike.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai's eyebrows lifted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He's kind of a legend around here—a bully and an athlete. And you…defeated him like a superhero.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai scratched his neck, slightly embarrassed by the attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kevin sat down on the edge of the bed, motioned for Kevin to sit and sighed. \"I wish I could be like you. Maybe then I wouldn't get picked on so much.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai looked at him for a long second, then said gently, \"Kevin, you've got more fight in you than you think.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kevin shook his head quickly. \"No way. There are too many of them. I can't win.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai chuckled. \"It's not about winning every fight. It's about standing up for yourself. If you keep staying quiet, it'll never stop. Bullies don't respect fear—they feed on it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kevin looked down. \"But I don't even know how to start.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai smiled. \"Then let's find you the right weapon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai was up early as usual, ready for his run. To his surprise, Kevin was already at the door, dressed in a tracksuit and gripping a baseball bat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he saw Kai, Kevin walked over proudly and pointed at the bat. \"This was signed by my favorite player—David Seaman.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai grinned. \"So this is your weapon, huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kevin nodded with conviction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai nodded back and started jogging. Kevin, humming a tune and swinging the bat, followed after him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn't get far before Kevin started lagging behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whew… I can't go any farther!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai turned back, smiling. \"Then hang tight. I'll finish and come back for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay!\" Kevin raised his bat. \"I'll practice my swings here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai ran for another half hour, finishing as usual at the nearby hill to cool off. When he returned to the spot, Kevin was completely worn out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai ended up carrying him home on his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Billy and his wife were already up. After greeting them, Kai took a cold shower and left for the training base.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Arsenal Training Base, London]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The base was buzzing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Media reporters gathered outside, cameras ready for anything interesting. Kai passed by, unnoticed—still just a youth player.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, someone called out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They're coming!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The low hum of an engine grew louder, and moments later, a light gray team bus, Arsenal's crest gleaming on the side, rolled out slowly from the base.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reporters surged forward, snapping pictures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai stood quietly to the side, watching the bus as it drove off. The windows were tinted black. He couldn't see inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he kept looking until the bus disappeared down the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someday, he thought. Someday I'll be on that bus, fighting for Arsenal's honor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, he ran into Chamberlain, who came bearing bad news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pat's gone with the team!\" Chamberlain said, exasperated. \"So what the hell are we supposed to do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai blinked, connecting the dots. The assistant coach had left with the senior squad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were unsupervised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait the surprise he promised\" Kai muttered. \"He didn't say anything that before leaving?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nope.\" Chamberlain asked. \"So... what now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai shrugged. \"We wait.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A beat passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wanna just repeat yesterday's training?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chamberlain sighed. \"Guess we don't have a choice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They jogged a few laps to warm up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, by the way,\" Chamberlain said, grinning, \"I got jersey number 15!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai side-eyed him. \"Didn't you join earlier than me? Why'd it take this long?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chamberlain shrugged. \"Who knows?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They moved on to short passing drills—about five meters apart, continuous passing with light movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai noticed right away: Chamberlain's passes had extra weight behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was eager—desperate, even.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Kai, who still needed to wait for a work permit to be eligible, Chamberlain had no such hurdle. He was English and more than qualified. He wanted in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, the first team hadn't called him up. He wasn't even on the roster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The frustration showed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai had tried to reassure him—\"It's just groundwork, we need a solid base\"—but Chamberlain remained restless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truth be told, Kai was uneasy too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So many talented youngsters had vanished into the abyss of Arsenal's bench. He didn't want to be one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that Pat had arranged special training for them gave him hope. But even then, patience was hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they continued training, a voice interrupted them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mind if I join?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both of them turned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man in Arsenal training gear stood a few meters away. He looked about 1.8 meters tall, solid build and, friendly face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai didn't recognize him at first—until the man walked closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Arteta?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mikel Arteta, the man who would one day captain Arsenal and become its strategic core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arteta smiled. \"Pat told me there'd be a surprise here. Didn't expect it to be two teenagers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not that young,\" Chamberlain said defensively. \"I'll be twenty in two years.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arteta shrugged. \"Fair enough. So, can I join you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chamberlain opened his mouth to refuse out of habit, but Kai cut him off quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course!\" Kai said with a grin, giving Chamberlain a playful punch in the stomach. \"Idiot—that's our guest coach. Experienced midfielder. You want to chase him off?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arteta chuckled, watching them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his eyes lingered on Kai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat's words echoed in his head: \"You might find your future partner there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arteta didn't say anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply pulled off his warm-up top and said, \"How about some offensive-defensive drills?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai nodded. \"Sounds perfect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1279,"2026-06-09T07:00:21.211Z",1,"novelbin.me","28b1e266b02a7b9166d55ada7340ab8d9b977ef8c9f2eccf0a2534474bc5cc74","foresight-chapter-10","foresight-chapter-8",405,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fforesight-cover.jpg"]