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Chapter 10 - Hearts on Fire

Episode 10 – "Hearts on Fire"

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Scene 1 – Flamengo Training Center – Morning Before the Game

Paulinho, Vitão, and Kadu are sitting in the shade, eating mortadella sandwiches and playing cards.

Paulinho: — Truco! Six!

Vitão: — I'm gonna play a wild card here...

Kadu: — If you lose again, you'll have to run naked on the field!

Paulinho: — Whoa, Kadu, let's keep things decent!

Coach Bruno Salgado shows up and yells:

Bruno: — IF YOU RUN NAKED ON THE FIELD, I'LL PUT YOU AS A DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER MARKING NICOLAS!

Paulinho (panicked): — Lord have mercy...

Cut to Nicolas Agustin training alone — serious, focused, drenched in sweat.

Blake (walking up): — What would the team be without you, captain?

Nicolas: — A bunch of extras with talent but no brains.

Paulinho (from afar): — I heard that, man!

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Scene 2 – Somewhere Else – Dark Room – Secret Meeting

Takashi Ren, in a suit, walks into a high-level sports facility.

In the room: Kaio Itami (Palmeiras) and Hajime Sakamoto (Santos).

Takashi Ren: — You know why you're here?

Kaio: — Because we're going to the U-20 Asian Cup?

Takashi: — Exactly. And I want both of you on the Japanese U-20 national team.

A mysterious vibe fills the room. The screen fades to black.

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Scene 3 – Stadium – Atlético Mineiro vs Flamengo – U-20 Brasileirão – Round 3

Announcer:

— Today, Flamengo faces one of the most organized teams in the competition: Atlético Mineiro, led by the legendary goalkeeper Ortega and the Chilean playmaker Ítalo Rezende, already making waves across the continent.

Flamengo starting lineup:

Goalkeeper: Marcão

Defense: Tião, Gerson

Defensive Midfield: Nicolas Agustin

Midfielders: Miguel Nakamura, Vitão

Forwards: Blake, Paulinho, Kadu

Blake (looking at Camila in the stands): — Today is for her too...

Camila (smiling, wearing a Flamengo jacket): — Go, my prince.

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Scene 4 – Match Begins – Atlético Pressures

Ortega shouts instructions. Ítalo controls the ball, spins, and nearly scores.

Announcer:

— Atlético is pressing! But Nicolas Agustin is a wall!

Paulinho (defending): — Take it easy, hermano. I still want to keep my teeth!

Nicolas delivers perfect passes, controlling the midfield almost single-handedly.

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Scene 5 – Flashback – Matheus Blake's Past

Narrator changes tone.

Narrator:

— While the match heats up… let's turn back time.

London. A young Matheus sits with his English grandfather, listening to tales of knights and battles.

Grandfather (deep voice):

— Blake… you're a direct descendant of a royal guard knight. Honor, wisdom, and courage… that's your legacy.

Cut to the airport. Eleven-year-old Matheus, crying, moves to Brazil with his Brazilian mother after his father's passing.

Matheus (in thought):

— I'm not English. Not Brazilian. I'm Blake. And my throne is the field.

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Scene 6 – Second Half – 1x1 Score

Ítalo scores first. Miguel ties it up with a screamer from outside the box.

After the match, in the locker room, Nicolas lifts the team's spirits.

Nicolas:

— It's a draw, but we faced a giant. And every one of you played like a warrior.

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Scene 7 – Night – Plaza Near Flamengo Training Center

Camila and Blake are sitting, sharing açaí.

Camila: — So you've got knight's blood?

Blake (laughing): — And you, queen's.

Silence. They look at each other. Camila touches his hand.

Camila: — If you're a king… I just want to be your shield.

Blake kisses her hand.

Blake: — And I'll be your eternal number 10.

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Final Scene – Scoreboard – Brasileirão Standings

Flamengo is in second place. Vasco is making a comeback. Atlético leads the table.

Narrator:

— Paths are crossing. Love is blooming. Rivals are rising. And the flame of victory burns brighter...

END OF EPISODE 10

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