The pain arrived like a tide.
Gold City clutched her left ankle, kneeling on one knee, with a fine cold sweat beading on her smooth forehead.
She bit her lower lip, stubbornly refusing to make a sound.
"I don't need you to interfere..."
Her voice contained a suppressed pain, yet it still held its usual cold arrogance.
Her golden eyes still held an unyielding spirit, but her slightly trembling body revealed her struggle.
Kaito clearly perceived that this was an opportunity.
He advanced quickly, with a decisive yet kind tone.
"I am the physiotherapist, let me see your injury."
"Physiotherapist?", Gold City asked with disdain.
"I don't need anyone's help."
"Really?"
Kaito crouched down calmly.
"Then why is your ankle so swollen? If we don't treat it now, you won't be able to continue training later."
These words hit Gold City's weak spot.
She pursed her lips, and the resistance in her eyes diminished slightly.
Seizing that opening, Kaito had already half-knelt in front of her and reached out to gently grasp her slender ankle.
"Don't touch me!"
Gold City instinctively tried to withdraw her foot, but Kaito held it firmly.
"If you truly don't care about your injury, you can leave right now."
Kaito looked up and met her eyes.
"But I know you are not the type to give up easily."
These words paralyzed Gold City.
She couldn't give up, especially at this critical moment.
"What do you know?"
Her tone was still firm, but she no longer resisted.
"I know how to read people."
Kaito gently pressed her ankle with his fingertips.
"And I know even better how to help someone who refuses to admit defeat to recover."
When his fingers touched a certain pressure point, Gold City couldn't help but gasp.
"Does it hurt?"
Kaito instantly lightened his touch.
"This pressure point connects to the meridians of the entire leg; it is normal to feel pain when pressing it."
"Who... who said it hurt?"
Gold City turned her face away; her earlobes were slightly red.
Kaito couldn't help but smile.
"Alright, then tell me, is it sore or swollen now?"
"Both," Gold City admitted reluctantly after a while.
"But it is much better than before."
"That means your injury is not very serious yet."
Kaito's technique became more skillful.
"If you receive timely treatment, you will recover quickly."
Gold City remained silent for a moment, then suddenly asked.
"Why are you helping me?"
"Because it is my job," Kaito replied indifferently.
"Just a job?"
Gold City raised an eyebrow, her golden pupils scrutinizing him.
Kaito stopped his movements and looked at her seriously.
"Also, because I admire people who refuse to bow to fate."
These words made Gold City fall into complete silence.
She gazed at the concentrated profile of the stranger, letting her guard down for the first time.
A few minutes later, Kaito slowly released his hand.
"That is all for today, I will return tomorrow at the same time to give you treatment."
"And what if I don't come?", Gold City habitually countered, but her tone had softened considerably.
"You will come."
Kaito stood up, showing a sympathetic smile.
"After all, you long to return to the field more than anyone, don't you?"
He left the ointment and turned to leave.
Gold City watched him depart, without uttering a single word of rejection for the first time.
The door closed gently.
In the isolation room, Gold City gently moved her ankle, which had improved a lot, and a faint, unconscious curve formed on her lips.
"An interesting physiotherapist...", she murmured to herself.
"Tomorrow I will see what other skills you have."