The final whistle echoes like a death knell.

Jae-hyun, drenched in sweat, stands motionless on the pitch. The scoreboard reads 3–0 — another crushing defeat. The jeers from the crowd pierce deeper than any injury. His team’s season is over. His career... is over.

A forgotten name on a third-division team. No fans, no future, no glory.

Jae-hyun (thoughts):

So this is how it ends…?

He drops to his knees. Years of sacrifice, grueling practice, missed birthdays, injuries... for this?

Jae-hyun (thoughts):

I gave it everything. Wasn’t that supposed to be enough?

The stadium fades. Darkness creeps in. And then—

---

Scene 2: The Voice Beyond

A strange stillness.

Weightless. Silent.

Jae-hyun opens his eyes. He isn’t in a stadium anymore. He’s floating in a void — neither cold nor warm, but heavy with presence.

A voice, deep and gentle, resonates all around him.

Mysterious Voice:

"Jae-hyun, your passion never wavered, even in failure. You played with heart, even when the world turned away."

Jae-hyun:

"Who... are you?"

Mysterious Voice:

"Think of me as a watcher of paths. Your thread has been cut — but your will refused to fade. So here you are."

Jae-hyun (whispering):

"Am I dead?"

Mysterious Voice:

"Yes. But not for long."

Time twists. Memories flash — goals missed, mistakes made, chances lost. And then... stillness again.

Mysterious Voice:

"This is your second shot. Don’t waste it."

---

Scene 3: Back to the Start

Jae-hyun jolts awake, gasping.

The air smells like spring. He’s lying on a patch of grass, under a clear blue sky. Around him: the familiar buildings of Daehan High School. The same field he practiced on as a teenager.

His hands — younger. His legs — stronger.

Jae-hyun (in disbelief):

"No way... this can’t be..."

He sprints to the locker room mirror. Staring back is the 17-year-old version of himself — sharp eyes, messy hair, lean build. It's real.

Jae-hyun (thoughts):

I’m... back?

It’s the spring of his second year in high school — the year everything started. The year he began dreaming of the pros.

He clenches his fists, trembling — not from fear, but from determination.

Jae-hyun (thoughts):

This time… I know what’s coming. I know the mistakes. The tactics. The players who’ll rise. And I know how to beat them.

---

Scene 4: A New Fire

Later that afternoon, the football team gathers for practice. His teammates laugh, unaware of the fire burning inside Jae-hyun.

He jogs onto the field. Every blade of grass feels familiar — but different.

Coach Park:

"Alright, warm-up laps! Move it!"

As Jae-hyun runs, memories of the past timeline flash in his mind — the drills, the pain, the failures. But now, he sees it all with new eyes. He begins strategizing, observing how each player moves.

He’s not just training. He’s calculating.

Jae-hyun (thoughts):

I was too focused on talent before. But this time… I’ll outthink everyone.

---

Scene 5: Old Friend, New Self

After practice, Lee Soo-kyung — midfielder and Jae-hyun’s childhood friend — jogs over, tossing him a water bottle.

Soo-kyung:

"You okay? You look... different."

Jae-hyun (smirking):

"Just focused."

Soo-kyung:

"Huh. Focused Jae-hyun is kinda scary. What’s gotten into you?"

Jae-hyun:

"Let’s just say I’ve seen what happens when I don’t give it my all."

She laughs, brushing it off — but something in her eyes lingers. She can tell something’s changed.

Soo-kyung (softly):

"Well... welcome back, I guess."

---

Final Scene: The Goalpost

As the sun sets, Jae-hyun stays behind, staring at the goalpost.

Jae-hyun (thoughts):

I wasn’t born a genius. But I’ve lived this before. And this time… I’ll make every second count.

Zoom in on his eyes — steady, sharp, burning.

Jae-hyun:

"Second Shot… starts now."

---

End of Chapter 1 – “The Rewind”

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