As the sun was about to rise, we see the Hypower Eleven in their school's parking, awaiting their team bus to take them to London to face the London Academy in a friendly.

"Can't believe this is our first match together," Denise said.

Uno chuckled. "Technically, it isn't the first match, but it's the first match where all of us will play together," he said as the others began to pull out their phones to take photos of the sunrise near the stadium.

"It's going to be surreal to be playing with THE Uno Winter. I remember when everyone was signing up and seeing everybody there when I visited my cousin," Denise said.

Everybody turned to look at her. "Your cousin? Who?" Jada asked, curiosity in her eyes.

"Oh, it's Ashton. Ashton Star." As she said his name, everybody stared at her with wide-open eyes.

"So you are former Captain Ash's younger cousin?!" Uno exclaimed, trying not to swear. "How come you didn't tell us? And how come we didn't notice the connection?" Angelo asked, Denise just pondered for a moment.

"Maybe because I thought you lads and lasses knew already, and maybe because I was forgettable when we first all became classmates last year," she said sadly, remembering the days before she joined Hypower.

"Nonsense, you weren't that forgettable, you were just quiet and shy. Don't think like you are invisible, I can attest to that," Uno said, placing his hand over her shoulder.

"Thanks, Captain, thanks," she said, blushing lightly.

"Anytime, Denise, anything to help out my Co-Captain."

Lance chimed in. "I still remember when Ashton appointed you as his co-captain, Uno. He had a lot of faith in you."

"Yeah, I remember that day like it was yesterday," Uno said, smiling. "Ashton was a great captain. He taught me a lot."

"He definitely did. It's great to see that you're carrying on his legacy," Matt said.

The bus finally pulled up, and the team started boarding.

"Alright, everyone, find your seats! We've got a long ride ahead," Lorenzo called out.

As they settled in, Meric turned to Uno. "So, Captain, any special strategies for today?"

Uno grinned. "Play our game, stay focused, and most importantly, have fun. It's a friendly, but it's still a chance to show what we've got."

"Can't argue with that," Meric said, nodding.

The bus ride was filled with chatter, jokes, and a few songs.

As the team finally arrived in London, they were greeted by a representative from the London Academy who led them to their accommodations. The team was abuzz with excitement, chatting and joking as they made their way to the dormitory-style rooms that had been arranged for them.

"Alright, everyone, grab your room keys and settle in. We'll meet in the lobby in an hour to head to the training ground," Lorenzo called out as he handed out the keys.

Uno and Denise found themselves with a single key.

"Looks like we're rooming together, Co-Captain," Uno said, handing the key to Denise with a grin.

Denise smiled nervously. "Yeah, should be fun."

As they opened the door to their room, they saw two single beds on opposite sides of the room. Denise mentally sighed in relief, glad that she wouldn't have to sleep directly next to Uno. She still wanted to impress him and earn his love, but having some space was comforting.

"This is nice," Uno said, dropping his bag onto one of the beds. "Plenty of room to spread out."

"Yeah, it is," Denise agreed, placing her bag on the other bed.

Uno immediately started unpacking. He laid out his sleeping clothes on the bed and then moved to the walk-in closet. He carefully hung up his Hypower jersey kit, with its blue torso, white collars, green long sleeves, and matching green shorts. Next, he placed his iconic blue suit on another hanger.

"Never leave home without it," he said, noticing Denise watching him. "You never know when you might need to look sharp."

Denise chuckled. "Always prepared, huh?"

"Always," Uno replied with a wink. He then organized his Converse shoes along with his custom New Balance cleats.

Denise began unpacking her own things, hanging her Hypower jersey kit next to Uno's. She neatly placed her clothes in the dresser and lined up her cleats and other shoes at the bottom of the closet.

Uno glanced over. "You got everything you need?"

"Yeah, all set," Denise said, closing the closet door. "It's nice to have some space to get organized."

"Definitely," Uno agreed. He plopped down on his bed and stretched out. "This is going to be a good trip. I can feel it."

Denise smiled and sat on her bed. "Yeah, I'm excited. The training ground is supposed to be amazing."

"I'm looking forward to checking it out," Uno said. "We've got a lot to prove, and this is our chance."

"You're right," Denise agreed. "We've trained hard for this."

Uno sat up and looked at her. "And we've got a great team. I know we'll do well."

"Thanks, Uno. That means a lot," Denise said, feeling a blush creeping up her cheeks.

"Anytime, Denise," Uno said with a smile. "Ready to head down and meet the others?"

"Yeah, let's go," Denise said, standing up.

As they left the room and headed to the lobby, the team was already gathering, buzzing with excitement about the upcoming training session.

"Alright, everyone, let's get moving," Sherwin called out. "Time to show London Academy what Hypower is made of."

The team headed to the training ground, chatting excitedly. When they arrived, they were in awe of the state-of-the-art facilities.

"Wow, this place is incredible," Jada said, looking around.

"Yeah, we're lucky to be training here," Angelo added.

Uno gathered everyone together. "Alright, team, let's make the most of this. Train hard, stay focused, and remember, we're here to have fun too."

"Let's do this!" the team cheered in unison.

As they began their warm-up exercises, Denise glanced at Uno, feeling a sense of pride and determination. She was ready to give it her all and show him just how much she had to offer.

After a long day of travel and initial training, the Hypower Eleven returned to their accommodations, tired but exhilarated from their first session on the London Academy's training grounds.

Uno and Denise headed back to their room, ready to wind down.

"Today was intense," Denise said, kicking off her cleats and sitting on her bed.

"Yeah, but we handled it well. You were on fire out there," Uno replied, hanging up his training gear and grabbing his sleeping clothes.

"Thanks, Uno. You were pretty amazing too," Denise said, feeling a blush creeping up her cheeks again.

Uno chuckled. "Thanks, Denise." He headed to the bathroom to change.

Denise took the moment to change into her own sleeping clothes. She couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. Sharing a room with Uno, the boy she'd admired for so long, was both thrilling and daunting.

Uno came back out, looking relaxed. "Your turn," he said with a smile.

Denise quickly changed and joined Uno back in the room. He was sitting on his bed, scrolling through his phone.

"Anything interesting?" Denise asked, settling onto her own bed.

"Just checking messages. Lance is already talking about strategy for tomorrow," Uno said with a grin.

"Lance and his strategies," Denise laughed. "He's always thinking ahead."

"That's what makes him a great player," Uno said. He put his phone down and looked at Denise. "You nervous about tomorrow?"

"A little," Denise admitted. "But mostly excited. We've trained so hard for this."

"Yeah, we have. And we've got a great team. We'll do well," Uno reassured her.

Denise nodded. "I just want to make sure I give my best."

"You always do," Uno said, giving her a warm smile. "That's why you're my co-captain."

"Thanks, Uno. That means a lot," Denise said, feeling her cheeks heat up again.

"Anytime," Uno replied. He stretched out on his bed, looking comfortable. "So, what do you think of the London Academy's facilities?"

"They're incredible. It's like a dream come true to train there," Denise said, leaning back against her pillows.

"Yeah, it's definitely a step up from what we're used to," Uno agreed. "But it's a good challenge."

Denise nodded. "It is. And I'm ready for it."

"That's the spirit," Uno said with a grin. "We'll show them what Hypower is made of."

"Absolutely," Denise said, feeling a surge of determination.

They chatted for a while longer, discussing the day's training and their plans for tomorrow. The easy conversation made Denise feel more at ease.

Eventually, they decided it was time to sleep. Uno turned off the lights, and the room fell into a comfortable silence.

"Goodnight, Denise," Uno said from his bed.

"Goodnight, Uno," Denise replied, feeling a sense of contentment. She closed her eyes, a small smile on her face, as she drifted off to sleep, ready to face whatever challenges tomorrow might bring with Uno and the team by her side.

Denise woke up to the faint light of dawn filtering through the curtains. She glanced at the clock; it was still very early. She looked over at Uno's bed and noticed it was empty. A folded note lay on his pillow.

Curious, she picked it up and read:

"Good morning, Denise! Went for an early run to clear my head. Be back soon. - Uno"

She smiled to herself. "Of course he went for a run," she murmured. She placed the note on her bedside table and sat up, stretching. Her fingers brushed her collarbone, and she froze for a moment, feeling a slight panic.

"Where's my necklace?" she whispered, her fingers moving frantically over her neck. She exhaled in relief when she felt the cool metal under her fingertips. "Thank goodness," she sighed, clutching the small pendant.

She got up and walked to the bathroom, needing to freshen up. As she washed her face, her thoughts wandered back to Uno. She remembered the way he smiled at her, the way he spoke with confidence and warmth.

Denise leaned against the sink, looking at her reflection in the mirror. "Uno..." she whispered softly, feeling a flutter in her chest. She imagined him coming back from his run, sweaty and glowing with energy, his eyes meeting hers with that familiar warmth.

She let herself get lost in the fantasy, imagining Uno's strong arms wrapping around her, his voice whispering her name. Her cheeks flushed as she whispered, "Uno..."

The sound of her own voice brought her back to reality, and she shook her head, feeling embarrassed by her thoughts. She splashed her face with cold water, trying to clear her mind.

"Get it together, Denise," she muttered to herself. "Focus on the game. There's plenty of time to impress him."

She dried her face and headed back to the room, determined to get ready for the day and focus on the important tasks ahead. But the lingering warmth from her thoughts stayed with her, a reminder of her feelings for Uno and the hope that one day, he might feel the same way about her.

Denise took a deep breath as she returned to the room. She noticed the early morning light streaming through the curtains, casting a warm glow. An idea struck her, and she quickly moved to the door, locking it securely. She then closed the curtains, dimming the room into a cozy, private space.

Her thoughts drifted back to Uno. She sat on her bed, the image of his smile and the way he carried himself filling her mind. She closed her eyes, letting herself get lost in the fantasy. Her fingers traced the necklace around her neck, and she whispered softly, "Uno..."

In her mind, she imagined Uno returning from his run, his shirt clinging to his toned body. He'd look at her with those intense, warm eyes, and slowly walk over to her. Denise's breathing grew heavier as the fantasy played out. She imagined his hands gently touching her face, his voice soft and tender as he whispered her name.

"Uno..." she whispered again, her voice trembling.

Her fantasy grew more vivid, and she could almost feel his breath against her skin. Denise's heart raced, and her hands moved over her body, the sensation intensifying with every touch.

Just as she was about to reach her climax, the sound of a door slamming brought her back to reality. She sat up abruptly, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She quickly composed herself, realizing she needed to prepare for the day ahead.

---

Meanwhile, Uno was at a nearby convenience store, browsing the shelves for some drinks. He picked out a couple of energy drinks and a bottle of water. As he approached the counter, the cashier greeted him with a smile.

"Morning! Early start today?" the cashier asked.

"Yeah, got a big game coming up. Just needed to clear my head with a run," Uno replied, placing the drinks on the counter.

"Good luck with the game! You guys are from Hypower, right?" the cashier asked, ringing up his purchases.

"That's right," Uno said with a nod. "We're facing London Academy in a friendly match."

"That sounds exciting. Hope you guys do well!" the cashier said, handing him his change.

"Thanks, we appreciate it," Uno said, taking the bag. He glanced at his watch, realizing he should head back soon. "Have a good day!"

"You too!" the cashier called as Uno walked out of the store.

As he jogged back to the accommodations, he felt a sense of determination and readiness for the day ahead. He couldn't wait to get back to the room and see Denise, to share the excitement of the day with her and the team.

Arriving at the room, Uno unlocked the door quietly and stepped inside, seeing Denise looking more composed and ready for the day. He smiled, placing the drinks on the table.

"Got us some drinks for the day," he said, handing one to Denise. "Ready to take on London Academy?"

Denise took the drink, her heart still racing from her earlier thoughts. She smiled back at Uno, feeling a surge of determination. "Absolutely. Let's show them what we're made of."