Chapter 21: THE TURNING POINT

The school bell finally rang. Its long echo resonated through the corridors of Phoenix Academy, signaling that the school day was over. Students started pouring out of their classrooms, the sounds of laughter and chatter filling the air. Some ran toward the gate with bags swinging from their shoulders, others walked leisurely while chatting with their friends. But in Class IX-9, the atmosphere was different. The girls didn’t leave right away. They stayed in their seats, waiting for instructions from Kai, who stood at the front of the class with a serious expression.

"Alright, everyone," Kai said in a firm voice loud enough for all his students to hear. His eyes moved from one face to another, making sure everyone was paying attention. "We start training today. According to the schedule we’ve already made, Monday and Wednesday we focus on basketball and volleyball. So today, we’ll practice basketball and volleyball."

"I’m ready, Sir!" Rin exclaimed enthusiastically, her fists clenched on the desk. Her eyes sparkled with excitement she couldn’t hide. "I can’t wait to start basketball practice!"

"I’m ready for volleyball too," Ella said calmly, her notebook already open in front of her, pen in hand ready to take notes. "I’ve written down all the techniques you taught us yesterday."

"Good," Kai said with a small smile, feeling warm seeing their enthusiasm. "Now, follow me to the field. We’ll start with a warm-up together."

"Mr. Kai," Mira called out, raising her hand enthusiastically. "Can we play around a little before the serious training? Mira wants to feel the ball first! Mira is curious!"

"No, Mira," Kai answered firmly but gently. His eyes looked at Mira with full understanding. "Warm-ups are important. You could get injured if you play without warming up first. Your muscles need to be prepared beforehand."

"But Mira has never been injured!" Mira protested with a small pout, her lips slightly pursed. "Mira is always fine!"

"Not yet," Kai said. "But there’s a first time for everything. Better to prevent than to cure. I don’t want to see any of you lying in the infirmary because of an injury."

"But—" Mira tried again.

"Mira," Ella cut in from the side, her voice firm. "Mr. Kai already said it. We warm up first. Don’t make him upset on the first day."

Mira pouted her lips but didn’t argue further. "Alright, Sir. Mira will warm up first. But after that, Mira wants to run as fast as she can!"

"You’ll run as fast as you can," Kai said with a small smile. "But only after the warm-up is done."

The students walked toward the basketball court behind the school, where Kai had already prepared all the equipment since noon. Basketballs were neatly arranged at the edge of the court, cones for drills were set up properly, and water bottles were placed within easy reach. Aria and Fay were already sitting on the sidelines with bags full of food and drinks they’d prepared since morning.

"Aria, don’t forget to prepare enough drinking water," Kai said as he passed them.

"Already prepared, Sir," Aria answered proudly, pointing to the bottles neatly arranged on the small table she’d brought. "I’ve prepared for everyone. There’s plain water, and also isotonic drinks for those who need extra energy."

"Good," Kai praised, feeling pleased with Aria’s initiative. "You’re doing your job well. Keep it up."

Aria smiled at the praise, feeling appreciated for the first time in a long while. Fay smiled to herself beside her, her gaze drifting toward the field.

On the court, Kai led the warm-up for fifteen minutes. He moved among them, watching every movement carefully, making sure no one made any mistakes that could cause injury. Occasionally he stopped to correct one of his students’ positions.

"Rin, straighten your legs when you stretch," Kai said while watching Rin, who was a little careless in her movements. His hands moved to help correct Rin’s position. "Don’t get injured on the first day. We still have a lot of training ahead."

"Yes, Sir," Rin answered with a little embarrassment, then quickly corrected her position. "But it hurts, Sir! My muscles feel like they’re being pulled!"

"It’s supposed to hurt," Kai said calmly. "But that’s a sign that your muscles are working. After a few times, you’ll get used to it. I felt the same way before."

"Really?" Rin asked doubtfully, her eyes narrowing. "You’ve felt this kind of pain too?"

"Yes," Kai answered. "Even more painful than what you’re feeling now. But I pushed through, and now I can stretch without any pain."

"How long did you train until it didn’t hurt anymore?" Rin asked curiously.

"A few weeks," Kai said. "But everyone is different. What matters is consistency."

"I’ll try," Rin said with new determination.

"Mira, don’t get too excited," Kai added when he saw Mira moving too fast and almost losing her balance while stretching. "Warm-ups should be done slowly and in a controlled manner. Your body needs time to adapt before heavy training."

"Sorry, Sir!" Mira exclaimed with a cheerful smile, not looking offended at all. "Mira is too excited! Mira can’t wait to start running!"

"You won’t be able to run if you get injured during the warm-up," Kai said in a half-serious tone, his eyes looking at Mira firmly. "So calm down first."

"Okay, Sir," Mira answered with a little embarrassment, slowing down her movements. "But Mira is curious, Mr. Kai, were you this excited when you trained before?"

Kai paused for a moment, remembering his past filled with non-stop hard training under the scorching sun and rain. "I was excited too," he finally said, his voice a little softer. "But my excitement was different. I trained to survive, not to win."

"Survive?" Mira asked with wide eyes, her curiosity growing. "From what? From who?"

"From many things," Kai answered shortly, not wanting to explain further. His eyes avoided Mira’s gaze. "Now focus on your training."

Mira wanted to ask more, but she saw Kai’s expression change—there was something in his eyes that made her not dare to ask further. "Okay, Sir."

After the warm-up was done, it was time to start the main training. Kai looked at the groups that had naturally formed on the field. Rin and a few other students interested in basketball had gathered on the main court with balls in their hands, tossing and catching them with enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Ella and a few other students interested in volleyball had gathered on the volleyball court on the other side, starting light warm-ups with volleyballs in their hands.

Kai decided to start with basketball first. He walked toward the main court where Rin was already standing with a ball in her hand, her eyes sparkling with excitement she couldn’t hide. Her red hair fluttered in the cool evening breeze, and she’d already started bouncing the ball with an imperfect rhythm.

"Rin," Kai said while holding a basketball in his hand, feeling its rough leather texture. "I’ll teach you the most important basic technique in basketball. First, the correct way to dribble. This is the foundation of all movements in basketball."

"I’m ready, Sir!" Rin exclaimed enthusiastically, her fists clenched in front of her chest.

Kai demonstrated dribbling with both his right and left hands, moving back and forth with a steady rhythm. His body moved gracefully and controllably, as if the ball were an extension of his hand. "Never look at the ball when dribbling. You need to be able to feel where the ball is without looking at it. Your eyes should always be looking forward, watching your opponents and teammates."

Rin tried to follow Kai’s instructions, but she struggled at first. Several times the ball slipped from her hands and rolled to the side of the court, forcing her to chase after it while grumbling.

"Ugh!" Rin exclaimed in frustration, her fists clenched at her sides. "This is hard, Sir! Why does the ball keep slipping away?!"

"Everyone finds it difficult at first," Kai said patiently, picking up the ball and handing it back to Rin. "Even professional players went through this stage. Practice makes perfect. Try again."

"But why does it look so easy when you do it?" Rin asked curiously, her eyes looking at Kai with admiration. "Have you played basketball before?"

Kai smiled slightly, remembering his past filled with intense physical training. "I’ve trained in many things, Rin. But basketball isn’t my main specialty. I just learned from experience."

"What kind of experience?" Rin asked curiously, her eyes sparkling.

"Survival experience," Kai answered shortly, not wanting to explain further. "Now focus on your training. You won’t become a good basketball player just by asking questions."

Rin nodded, although her curiosity was still strong. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes for a moment to calm herself, and tried again. This time, she managed to dribble better than before. The ball didn’t slip away, and she could move a few steps before losing control.

"Good," Kai praised with a smile. "Now, add some speed. Don’t be afraid of losing the ball. The faster you dribble, the harder it is for your opponent to steal it."

"But what if the ball slips away again?" Rin asked hesitantly, her hands still gripping the ball tightly.

"Then you pick it up and try again," Kai answered firmly. "That’s what training is. You fail, you learn, you try again. Nothing in life is instant, Rin."

"But what if I keep failing?" Rin asked, her voice starting to sound a little doubtful. "Will I never be able to do it?"

"You won’t keep failing," Kai said with undeniable conviction. "Because I’m here to help you. Trust the process. I’ve seen many people succeed after struggling hard."

"Really?" Rin asked, still a little doubtful.

"I never lie," Kai answered. "Now try again."

Rin increased her dribbling speed, and after several focused attempts, she started to look more confident. Her sharp eyes focused on her hand movements, and her body moved with a better rhythm. Sweat started to dampen her forehead, but she didn’t stop.

"Mr. Kai!" Rin called out while continuing to dribble, her voice full of excitement. "I feel better now! I’m not losing the ball!"

"Good," Kai praised, feeling proud of Rin’s progress. "Now try doing it while running."

"Running?!" Rin exclaimed in surprise, almost losing the ball. Her eyes widened. "But I just learned to dribble while walking!"

"You said you wanted to be the best, right?" Kai said, looking at Rin with a challenging gaze. "Then practice until you can do it while running. A true basketball player can dribble with their eyes closed."

"With their eyes closed?!" Rin exclaimed even more surprised. "That’s impossible!"

"Not impossible," Kai said. "I can do it. And you can too, if you’re willing to practice."

Rin let out a long sigh, but she didn’t give up. She started running slowly while dribbling, and although the ball almost slipped away a few times, she managed to keep it with difficulty.

"Now, I’ll teach you about shooting," Kai continued, taking a position near the hoop. "Your feet should be shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and your hands should form the right angle. The ball should come off your fingertips, not your palm."

Kai demonstrated the correct shooting technique, the ball sailing smoothly and going through the hoop without touching the rim. Rin watched carefully, her eyes following every movement Kai made.

"Wow," Rin murmured in awe, her eyes wide. "You can do it so easily. The ball is like... like it knows where to go."

"Because I’ve practiced," Kai said. "And you can too, if you’re willing to practice. Nothing is instant."

When her turn came, Rin tried shooting the ball toward the hoop. The ball bounced off the rim a few times before finally going in with a satisfying swish sound.

"Yes!" Rin exclaimed happily, jumping a little. "I did it! Mr. Kai, did you see that? I did it!"

"I saw," Kai said with a small smile, feeling proud of Rin’s progress. "That’s good. But you need to be able to do it consistently. Try again."

"One more, Sir?" Rin asked with a wide smile, her eyes sparkling. "I want to feel that victory again!"

"Ten more," Kai said firmly, leaving no room for negotiation. "Consistency is key. One successful shot means nothing."

"Ten?!" Rin exclaimed in surprise, her eyes widening. "But I just—"

"You said you wanted to be the best, right?" Kai cut in, looking at Rin with a gaze that made her unable to argue. "Then practice until you can do it with your eyes closed. The best players don’t rely on just one lucky shot."

"But—"

"Rin," Ella called out from a distance, her voice clear across the field. "Listen to Mr. Kai. He knows what he’s doing."

Rin let out a long sigh, but she didn’t give up. She continued practicing her shots, and after several determined attempts, she started to find her rhythm. The balls started going through the hoop more consistently, and her smile grew wider with each success.

"Mr. Kai," Rin called out while taking a short break, sipping water from the bottle Aria had provided. "How long do you think it will take for me to become a good player?"

"That depends on you," Kai answered. "How hard you’re willing to train and how much you want to learn."

"I’ll train as hard as I can!" Rin exclaimed enthusiastically, her fist clenched in front of her chest. "I promise!"

"Good," Kai said. "But remember, the most important thing in basketball is teamwork. You can’t win alone. Even the best players need teammates. You need to learn to read your teammates’ movements and make the right pass at the right time."

Rin nodded, and for the first time, she looked at her friends who were also training on the same field. Her eyes sparkled with new spirit.

After the basketball session, Kai walked toward the volleyball court on the other side. Ella was already waiting with a volleyball in her hand, her notebook already full of scribbles from the previous explanations. Her sharp eyes looked at Kai with full attention.

"Ella," Kai greeted as he approached. "I’ll teach you the basic techniques of volleyball. First, the correct hand position for receiving the ball."

Kai demonstrated the correct hand position for receiving the ball—hands clasped together, arms straight, and knees slightly bent. "Never receive the ball with open palms. Use your forearms to direct the ball. This will give you better control."

Ella tried to imitate Kai’s movement, but her first ball went flying in the wrong direction, almost hitting one of her friends.

"Try again," Kai said patiently, picking up the ball and handing it back. "Focus on your hand position and direct the ball where you want it to go."

"But it feels weird, Sir," Ella said, a little frustrated. "My arms feel stiff."

"That’s normal," Kai said. "You’re not used to it yet. Keep practicing, and eventually you’ll feel comfortable."

Ella tried again, and this time, the ball moved in a better direction, although it still wasn’t perfect.

"Good," Kai praised. "Now, I’ll teach you about serving. There are two common types of serves, underhand and overhand."

"Mr. Kai," Ella asked while holding the ball tightly. "What do you think is the hardest thing about volleyball?"

"Communication," Kai answered without hesitation. "Volleyball is a team sport. If you can’t communicate, you’ll lose many points. The ball moves fast, and decisions have to be made in fractions of a second. One miscommunication can cost you a point."

"So we have to talk a lot?" Ella asked, quickly writing in her notebook.

"Yes," Kai said. "You need to tell your teammates where the ball is going to land, who’s going to take it, and where you’re going to position yourself. All of that has to be done quickly and accurately. There’s no time to hesitate."

"But what if we’re not used to talking while playing?" Ella asked, a little hesitant.

"You’ll get used to it," Kai answered. "Practice makes everything a habit. Start with small things, like saying ’mine’ when you’re going to take the ball, or ’yours’ when the ball lands near your teammate. Over time, it’ll become a reflex."

"I’ll try," Ella said, writing down everything Kai said.

"Now, try an underhand serve," Kai continued. "I’ll show you how."

Kai demonstrated the underhand serve with slow, clear movements. Ella watched carefully, then tried to do it herself. The ball flew short and landed near the net.

"That’s okay," Kai said. "You need practice. Try again, this time with a little more power and aim the ball a little higher."

Ella tried again, and this time, the ball flew farther and crossed the net well, although it still wasn’t perfect.

"Good," Kai praised. "You’re starting to understand the technique. Practice more until you can do it consistently."

"Mr. Kai," Ella called out while taking a break, sipping water from her bottle. "How do you know so much about sports? It seems like you master every sport."

Kai smiled slightly, remembering his past filled with intense physical training. "I don’t know much about sports, Ella. I just know about body movement, about balance, about strength and weakness. It’s all the same, no matter what the sport is."

"But you look so confident when teaching," Ella said. "Like you’ve done this many times before."

"I’ve done many things," Kai answered. "But teaching is new to me. I’m learning along with you."

Ella fell silent, thinking about Kai’s words. Then she smiled a small smile—a smile rarely seen on her face. "Thank you, Mr. Kai. I’ll train seriously."

On the sidelines, Aria and Fay watched everything that was happening with full attention. Aria looked at Kai, who was busy training her friends, and she felt something strange in her chest—something like gratitude.

"Fay," Aria called softly. "Do you see how Mr. Kai is training them?"

"I see," Fay answered with a wide smile. "He’s patient, isn’t he?"

"Very patient," Aria said. "I’ve never seen a teacher like him before."

"Because he’s different," Fay said. "He cares about us."

"Do you really believe that?" Aria asked, still a little doubtful.

"I believe it," Fay answered with surprising conviction. "I can see it in his eyes."

Aria fell silent, thinking about Fay’s words. Then she smiled a small smile. "Maybe you’re right."

After the volleyball practice was over, Kai gathered all his students in the middle of the field. The sun was starting to set on the western horizon, creating a beautiful orange sky with gradients from orange to purple. The students looked tired but happy, sweat dampening their foreheads, and smiles never leaving their faces.

"Alright, everyone," Kai said in a firm voice. "Today’s training is over. Tomorrow is Tuesday, we’ll focus on archery and the relay race according to the schedule. Make sure you come on time at 3 PM."

"Yes, Sir!" the students exclaimed in unison, their voices echoing across the now-quiet field.

"Mr. Kai," Mira called out with her hand raised. "Can Mira run faster tomorrow?"

"You’ll run as fast as you can," Kai answered. "But remember, the relay race isn’t just about speed. It’s about teamwork."

"But Mira loves speed!" Mira exclaimed.

"And Mira also loves winning," Kai said with a small smile. "So Mira needs to learn to work with the team."

"Alright," Mira answered with a slight pout, but her eyes were still sparkling. "But Mira will still run as fast as she can!"

"Mr. Kai," Nora called out in a soft voice. "What should I bring for archery practice tomorrow?"

"Bring your bow and make sure your bowstring is in good condition," Kai answered. "And don’t forget to bring drinking water. Archery practice can exhaust you because of the concentration required."

"I’ll make sure of it," Nora said seriously.

"Mr. Kai," Luna asked in a voice almost like a whisper, her eyes looking at Kai with hope. "Can I become a good archer?"

Kai looked at Luna gently. "You’re already a good archer, Luna. You just need to believe in yourself."

"But I always fail," Luna whispered, her eyes looking down at the ground. "Every time I try, I always fail."

"Failure is part of the learning process," Kai said. "Every time you fail, you learn something new. What matters is that you don’t give up."

Luna looked down, but there was a small smile on her lips. "Thank you, Sir."

"Mr. Kai," Iris called from behind, her voice full of curiosity. "Tomorrow we’re doing the relay race, right? I’ve already prepared my new shoes."

"Good," Kai said. "But remember, new shoes need time to adjust to your feet. Don’t push yourself too hard."

"I know," Iris answered with a confident smile. "I’ve already read about it."

"Mr. Kai," Rin continued in a loud voice. "Can we practice basketball again tomorrow? I want to get good quickly!"

"Saturday and Sunday are rest days, Rin," Kai said. "But you can practice on your own at home if you want."

"Really?" Rin asked with sparkling eyes. "I can practice on my own?"

"Of course," Kai answered. "Independent practice is also important. But don’t overexert yourself."

"I promise!" Rin exclaimed enthusiastically.

After all the questions were answered, the students started to head home. Kai sat at the edge of the field, staring at the darkening sky. Stars started appearing one by one, creating a beautiful and peaceful view.

"A good first day," he murmured to himself, feeling a pleasant exhaustion. "Hope tomorrow is even better."

He looked toward the gate, where his students were starting to disappear one by one. He saw Rin still jumping around with enthusiasm, Ella walking calmly while reading her notes, and Mira still laughing with Aria.

"I’ll make them win," Kai whispered to himself. "I’ll prove that they can."