The weekend arrived in the blink of an eye for Jake, marking the day of the meet and greet party for the Athenaeum Games. It was Jake's first time attending such a significant international event, and he was thrilled at the prospect of appearing on national TV. He was set to meet Carter in the afternoon at a subway station, from where they would head to the event together.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/b/b5/Elizabeth_Harada_Profile.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/e/e9/Fumio_Harada_watching_a_baseball_game_on_television_in_his_house.png]

"Have you got everything ready?" asked Jake's mother, Elisabeth, noticing her son's slightly chaotic preparation. "Yes, Mum!" Jake replied, biting into a loaf of bread and showing her the invitation card in one hand and his baseball bat in the other, trying to appear organized. Fumio looked over from his couch, momentarily tearing his eyes away from the television. "What time is the broadcast?" he inquired. "It'll be at night, Dad!" Jake answered. "Okay, I need to go!" Jake exclaimed as he hurried to the door, concerned he might be late for his meeting with Carter.

Luna emerged from her room to wish Jake luck. "All the best, Jake!" she called out. Jake turned towards her and apologized, "Luna, I'm sorry, but this party is a private event by invitation only. But when the actual competition starts, I'll get tickets for you and Akane to come watch us!" Luna laughed, "No worries, Jake! You're worrying too much. Just focus on the competition!" she reassured him. "Thanks, Luna. Carter and I will give it our best!" Jake promised.

The Harada family and Luna stood at the doorway, waving goodbye to Jake as he departed to meet Carter before heading to the meet and greet party.

When Jake arrived at the subway station, Carter was nowhere in sight. He decided to wait for his friend. When Carter finally showed up, he was carrying a Subway sandwich and a cup of drink in one hand, looking relaxed in his usual sleeveless grey hoodie and dark green track pants, with his hockey stick latched behind his back.

"Bro, you're late!" Jake called out, having waited for Carter for a while.

"Sorry, bro, the queue for food was long, but I came here immediately," Carter apologized, not seeming to realize the urgency, even though he was only ten minutes late.

"We need to catch the next train, which departs in five minutes. If we miss it, the next one won't come for another thirty minutes. We need to hurry!" Jake urged, pointing at the railway boarding panel showing the departure time.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/5/5f/Rink_Runner%E2%80%99s_Rush.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/a/ac/Jake_performing_Stealing_Bases%2C_his_agility_allows_him_to_move_quickly_and_stealthily%2C_evading_capture_or_sneaking_up_on_foes.png]

"Now you tell me! Let's move!" Carter replied, suddenly feeling the urgency. Without hesitation, he threw his half-eaten sandwich and drink into the bin. The two boys used their skills to get to the train as quickly as possible. Carter, utilizing his Rink Runner's Rush, relied on his athletic stamina and speed to close distances rapidly, maintaining constant movement towards the train. Jake, not wanting to miss the train either, used Stealing Bases, employing his agility to weave through the large crowd, finding any gaps in his way.

Both managed to board the train just in time. "Doors are closing! Beep! Beep! Beep!" The train signaled its departure as the doors shut, and the two boys slipped in at the last moment.

"Phew, Jake, we made it!" Carter said, sweating profusely.

"That was a close shave, man! I hope we're not late for the party!" Jake agreed, wiping the sweat from his forehead. The boys laughed, relieved and happy, as the train headed towards the meet and greet party.

When the train arrived at their destination, Jake and Carter realized they were 20 minutes late. As they got off the train, they dashed out of the subway station and ran towards the venue for the meet and greet party.

"We... we... we... finally arrived!" said Carter, panting and sweating.

"Yes... Huff! Carter, please have a sense of timing in the future!" said Jake, also sweating and trying to catch his breath.

When the boys finally caught their breath, they were shocked to see no one else entering the venue. A bouncer stood guard outside, denying any more entries.

"Jake, I think we may not be able to get in anymore," Carter said, now worried that his lateness had caused them to miss the party.

Jake, keeping his composure, replied, "Carter, let's just talk to the bouncer and try. There's no harm in trying." He maintained an optimistic outlook, hoping there was still a chance to get in. They approached the bouncer, hoping to turn their misfortune around.

"Hi sir! We're here for the meet and greet party!" Carter said, looking at the bouncer, who was wearing sunglasses and a black suit, folding his arms and looking serious. The bouncer glanced at the two boys and waved them away dismissively. "This is not your usual club party. Go away, shoo!" he said in a monotonous tone, not wanting to entertain them.

"Jake, I think we just have to barge in! The two of us against one should be no problem!" Carter whispered to Jake, suggesting they break through the security.

"Hey Carter, calm down. Let's just show him the invitation card. Maybe he'll change his mind," Jake replied, preferring a more peaceful approach. They didn't want to cause any trouble or face legal issues. Carter nodded in agreement with Jake's plan.

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"Hey sir! We are the invitational competitors of the Athenaeum Games. We were asked to this greet and party," Jake said, showing his invitation card. Carter did the same.

The bouncer tilted down his sunglasses and examined their invitation cards. Realizing they were telling the truth, he apologized. "You are Jake and Carter? The organizing committee has been looking for you and thought you both weren't coming!" said the bouncer, giving them another glance. "But this is a formal gala event, and your attire looks too casual." He pointed at Carter, who was wearing a sleeveless grey hoodie and dark green track pants, and Jake, who was wearing a white oversized tee, a white hoodie with a blue inner lining, and brown cargo pants.

"We didn't know this was a formal party! What do you mean?" Carter asked, shocked by the revelation.

The bouncer pointed at the invitation card, which stated, "Please wear formal attire for the event. This is a formal gala." Jake and Carter looked at each other, realizing their mistake. They were also sweaty from rushing to the venue, which made them look even more untidy.

The bouncer, however, didn't block their access. He pulled away the stanchion rope and allowed them to go in. "Hurry up! The event started 20 minutes ago. Please go in immediately!" he said.

Jake and Carter, not wasting any more time, hurried into the event in their informal wear, not knowing what to expect.

Upon entering the venue, Jake and Carter immediately felt out of place. Everyone else was dressed in formal suits and gowns. The venue was posh, with high ceilings, polished marble flooring, and classy furniture. Waiters and waitresses, dressed impeccably, moved gracefully while serving expensive white and red wine. The two boys were stunned, unsure of how to react.

"Let's try to be casual, I guess," Carter said, feeling quite embarrassed. Jake, his cheeks flushing red, nodded silently in agreement. As they walked around, some of the party attendees, unaware that the duo were participants in the Athenaeum Games, gave them looks of disgust due to their sweaty appearance and out-of-place attire. Even the waiters and waitresses seemed to shun them, treating them as if they didn't belong.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/c/c0/Preston_in_his_original_outfit_with_a_black_tie_on.png]

Suddenly, they saw a familiar face from their school: Preston Montgomery, known for his sophistication and elegance. With styled curly golden hair and circle transparent rimless glasses, he wore a dark green shirt paired with a golden vest and matching pants, making him a figure of interest and admiration on campus. For today's event, he had added a black tie to look even more formal.

"Hey! Preston!" Carter shouted, waving to catch his attention. Preston, feeling embarrassed by the loud call, ran towards them to stop Carter. "Good gracious, Carter Brooks! Can you behave with social etiquette in such a high-class event?" Preston reprimanded him. "And we barely know each other, except for the fact we're from the same school," he added, emphasizing that he didn't want to associate with the duo. "And why are you two wearing such outfits? You look like clowns!" With that, Preston hastily left, putting distance between himself and the two boys.

"Woah, that's nasty, calling us clowns," Carter said, unhappy about Preston's derogatory comment.

"Oh well, that's Preston, the representation of sophistication and elegance in our school," Jake commented, understanding why Preston didn't want to associate with them. "Do you think he's in the tournament?"

"Likely. He's a billiards player. I bet he's in the tournament. I hope to teach him a lesson about looking down on people if we're matched up!" Carter said confidently.

"I think he would rather forfeit than compete with you since you're not 'classy' enough for him!" Jake joked, and the two boys laughed at their own joke.

Unbeknownst to them, a girl had been eavesdropping on their conversation even before Preston had spoken to them. She suddenly laughed out loud, catching the boys' attention. They turned around to see who it was.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/6/61/Maddie_laughing_in_a_red_formal_dress.png]

"Hahaha! You boys are funny!" the girl continued laughing after hearing the conversation with Preston and seeing how the two guys were dressed. "Are you two expecting a match today or what? Hahaha!" She had a diamond-shaped face with well-defined features, long blonde layered hair cascading down her back, and dark brown eyes that sparkled with mischief. She wore red accessories, including heart-shaped earrings and a necklace, and continued cheekily teasing the two boys.

"Hey, we just didn't read the card properly and missed the details, that's why we're not dressed appropriately," Carter explained. "You can stop laughing!" He wasn't amused by the stranger's rudeness.

"I'm just playing with you, I am so sorry," the girl apologized, sounding like she was about to cry.

"Carter, you're making the girl cry," Jake said, noticing the potential trouble.

"Oh, sorry! I didn't mean it!" Carter tried to comfort the girl. Suddenly, the girl burst out laughing again.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/5/52/Maddie_in_a_red_formal_dress_with_heart-shaped_earrings_and_her_long_blonde_hair_cascading_down_her_back.png]

"Hahaha! You guys are so funny, so easy to trick!" she said, amused by Carter's and Jake's reactions. After finally stopping her laughter, she extended her hand to initiate a handshake. "My name is Madison Thompson, but you can call me Maddie. I guess you two are also contestants in the Athenaeum Games?" Maddie glanced at the boys' weapons, Jake's baseball bat and Carter's hockey stick, and easily associated them as contestants.

"Yeah, we both are! My name's Jake Harada, and this is Carter Brooks! Nice to meet you," Jake replied with a friendly smile, reciprocating the handshake, while Carter just waved back, still annoyed by Maddie's earlier teasing.

"So, where are you from, and what sport do you represent?" Jake asked, trying to strike up a friendly conversation.

"I’m from Northern Maple University in Canada, and I represent ringette," Maddie replied.

Jake nudged Carter with his elbow. "Carter, her sport is something that’s played on the ice rink, just like yours!"

Carter, who was pretending to be uninterested and angry, looked down and then at Maddie. "Nice sport."

"Don't mind him; he's just pretending to be cool. I’m sure he's eager to talk to you!" Jake said, not agreeing with Carter's behavior.

Maddie laughed. "I’m so glad I met you two. This party is so boring. The other contestants are not willing to interact, and they’re no fun."

"You’ve met the other contestants? So, where are they?" Carter suddenly became interested in talking to Maddie.

"Not all of them! There are two contestants who are still not here yet," Maddie replied, sharing what she knew.

"You mean there are contestants who are even later than us?" Jake asked, curious and surprised.

Suddenly, reporters and paparazzi began gathering at the entrance, expecting somebody to make a grand entrance. The room's spotlight focused on the entrance, making it more extravagant and dramatic. Whoever was coming seemed important...