The two teams gathered at opposite sides and stared each other down. Even though the game was over, the tensioweeill hadn’t died out.

  “Good game.” Lars stretched his hand.

  “Hmph.” Mike refused the handshake. “You only won because you took us by surprise. We uimated you too much.”

  “, don’t be like that.” Lars thrust his palm... at lightning speed!

  “H-Hey!” Mike failed to rea time!

  “It was a good game.” Lars grabbed Mike’s hand and shook it against the other’s will. “If ya uimated us so hard it made ya lose, that’s on you, ya know? You had the ech to adapt.”

  “Hmph.” Mike gnced away. He didn’t have a good retort at hand because it was true. They did have a lot of time to adapt, yet they still lost in the end.

  This shit is so embarrassing. I ’t stand it. Mike pulled his hand away and gred at Lars. “Yeah, we had some time to adapt. But, we sure weren’t expeg to be dealing with a basketball freak.”

  “What basketball freak?”

  “YOU, dumbass.” Mike just barely held himself from snapping at the smiling idiot in front of him. How he keep smiling like that even now? We’re enemies, so he’s supposed to hate uts and to get angry at my provocations. But, this guy...

  “You’re a weirdht,” Mike said.

  “How so?”

  “Nothing about you makes sense. You py basketball this well, so what the fuck are you doing in a video game club? You should be on the school’s basketball team, for fuck’s sake.”

  “I used to py basket ba grade school,” Lars said. “It was fun times. But, then I came aancers and I like it more now.”

  “Hmph. What a waste of talent.” Mike scoffed. The guy in front of him was so skilled that Mike was willing to swallow his own pride and plement the guy. Ahat idiot was wasting it all away.

  “Nah, it’s not a waste, dude,” Lars insisted. “If ya think I’m good at basketball, you should watch me py Shooter and Slinger in Mancers. I’m mopping the floor with everybody there, yo!”

  “Is that so.” Mike found himself submitting against Lars’s unwavering fidehis guy isn’t right in the head, I’m vinced of that now. And, that’s why I’m sure he’s telling the truth. He’s probably good at Maoo, just as he cims.

  A meically skilled freak like this, bined with an overdose of positivity and fidence, could probably perform well in about any petitive sport. It art of his gehis dude orts freak.

  “So, how about it?” Lars asked. “Did we vince ya enough that our club is super mega petitive and all?”

  “Hmph. Maybe just a little.”

  “A little? Dude, we beat ya! How’s that not impressive?”

  “You just happeo have members whood at basketball.” Mike shrugged. “Nothing impressive about that.”

  “Huh, really?” Kai interjected. “Then, you also don’t feel anything about the fact you lost to a team with a girl?” She lifted her . “And remember, we started from an even score, so it’s not like we even had the lead there.”

  "Tch." Mike grimaced. "It's a stretch to call a pyer like you a 'girl'."

  "Thanks for the pliment," Kai replied with a fident smug. "Anyway, yoing to leave Ben alone nht?"

  "I have no idea what you're talking about." Mike shrugged. "We're just friends who sometimes hang out, that's all."

  "Wha-!?" Kai jumped. "Wait, didn't they promise to stop if they lose?" She turo her teammates but everybody averted their eyes. Nobody wao face her head-on. After all, Mike was teically correct.

  "I didn't promise shit," Mike said. "You guys just begged to prove a point by challenging us. And yeah, you lucked out a us, that's all there is to this story."

  "Bastard...!" Kai ched her fists and strode forth with heavy stomps, but Lars stretched a hand in front of her.

  "Rex, dude." Lars smiled. "Everything is A-Okay. Dude is right. He didn't promise anything. He just agreed to py us."

  "But, that's...!" Kai couldn't believe it. Then, what did we even py so hard for!? It makes us look like idiots!

  "We just proved a point," Lars expined. "Dude said we’re a casual video gaming club, so we showed him we're all serious dudes here."

  "And? That's all?"

  "Yep."

  "Huh..." Kai sighed i and turns to Yuel. "Are you guys for real? Is that the best you could e up with, 'Chessmaster'?"

  "We didn't have that many options," Yuel expined. "But, I had a feeling it might e to this. Thanks to you subbing i a nice guarantee."

  "Thanks to me...?"

  Yuel stepped forward and faced Mike head-on. "Just so you know, we recorded the game."

  "You did what, now?" Mike flinched.

  "We got it all on camera," Yuel repeated. "It mostly features the sed half, but that's the iing part anyway."

  "You're bullshitting me. You don't even have a camera."

  "Oh, you didn't know? Tablets e with cameras these days."

  "Are you pig a fight, fucker?" Mike was being visibly agitated. For the first time today, the guy was finally crag under pressure. "You're bullshitting. You couldn’t possibly have any free time to... oh."

  His eyes id on the boy standing behind Yuel. It was Vi, the guy who hahe sg during the first half. After the girlie subbed in, Yuel and Vi switched roles for no apparent reason.

  I thought he was just letting the uy rest, but this is what they were up to...! Mike couldn't believe they pulled such a stunt right under his nose. What an annoying bunch of shitheads!

  "We also happen to have a guy who excels at video editing," Yuel delivered another blow. "I'm sure he make you look really bad in that video, am I right?"

  "I wouldn't stoop so low," Vi replied with a smile. "I have no i in making anybody look bad. However, I am very much obsessed with making good pyers shiherefore, I shall capture all their greatest moments! For example, all the times Kai tripped her oppos with Rhythm Breaker!"

  "Geh." Mike’s punch itched. He wao sucker punch these two nerds, but a guardian hound was in his way. As long as Lars was standing there, Mike couldn't touch these fuckers.

  There was no other choice. He'll have to wreck these nerds in their own mind games.

  "Rec people without permission is a crime, you know." Mike leveled an argument. "We get the teachers involved."

  A predictable ter. Yuel saw this move from a mile away. "If you get the teachers involved, you'll be digging your own grave."

  "How so?"

  "Don't you think it'll make them iigate all the circumstances of what transpired here today? And, this time, Ben won't keep his mouth shut. Right, Ben?"

  "Y-Yeah," Ben nodded. "Sorry, but I'm done c things up. If they ask me what's being going on, I'll tell them everything."

  "You what?" Mike grimaced. "You’ll tell them what, exactly?"

  "Everything," Beed. "Do you really wao expin?"

  "You know what gonna happen if you talk, right?" Mike gred with all the iy he could muster.

  "Haha." Lars tered with a casual ugh. "Is that a threat, dude?"

  "Who knows."

  "May I say something?" Ben sheepily stepped to the frontline. He was doh being protected by everybody around him. This was his problem, so he had to give the final push himself. It was time to resolve this issue ond for.

  "Mike, Larry, James," Ben addressed each of his former friends in order. "I'm really sorry for what I've done."

  How many times had he apologized by now? It was never enough to vihe boys tive him.

  heless, this was Ben's final apology. He had been apologizing for over a year. If they still 't five him after all this time, then sorry to say, but it was their problem.

  Ben finished serving his sente was time to set himself free and focus on the club he worked so hard to get into.

  "Sorry, but I 't hang out with you anymore at the expense of club activity. Our team is petitive and we’re training toward winning the regionals. I have to work hard as well."

  "Hah." Mike sneered. "Are you even going to py in any tour matches?"

  "I don't know yet," Ben admitted. "But, I want to keep on improving so I get closer to that goal. Even if I remain a substitute this year, I want to make sure I'm ready to do my job when I'm subbed in. I want the team to win!"

  That was the roar of his soul. It was the first time in his life that he came at Mike sly. Mike was bound to be furious about this, or so Ben thought.

  "You feel that strongly about it, huh." Mike pursed his lips and gave Ben a long, hard look. For a moment, he couldn't reize the boy in front of him.

  Was this really the same wimpy Meatball who always followed the trio like a helpless puppy? When did Ben develop such a strong passion?

  All of a sudden, that Meatball was showing uiermination. It almost felt like the petitive spirit of a real warrior.

  What the fuck is going on? Mike shuddered. Are you saying this scrubby Mancers club is really such a big deal? "Winning the regionals"? Are you dumb or something? This team gets eliminated in the first round every damn year!

  A, Mike had to cede on one point. The group in front of him didn't look like a bunch of losers. As frustrating as it was to admit, these guys just mopped Mike's team in basketball.

  Yes, mopped. The game ended as 21-20 on paper but it was more like 24-20 without the point corre. On top of that, these guys had a deadweight like Ben oeam, yet still, they prevailed.

  Maybe, this year, the Mancers club isn't as me as it used to be. Mike examihe group iail. It's probably these guys. They seem like petitive monkeys, so they probably reied the club.

  Lars, Kai, and probably that smartass Yuel too. With tryhards like that in the club, it wasn't hard to imagine how they painted everybody else in their own petitive colors. These guys even influehe wimpy Ben so much.

  One way or another, Ben found something to be passionate about. Mike looked at his own palms. Then, what about me? Or Larry? Or Jay? Did we find anything like that in the past year?

  The three of them joihe basketball club on a whim after beied by the Cssmancers club. They enjoyed peting as a trio and they liked basketball as a whole, but that was the extent of their passion.

  More than g about improving at basketball, they focused on being butthurt about how nobody except Ben made it into the Cssmancers club. It hurt their pride, so they took it out ohe one who "cheated" his way in.

  But, was that really "cheating"? Did he break the w in some way? Did he it any fouls?

  No, Ben hasn't done any of these. He was just a little more passionate, a little more determihan the rest of them. Therefore, he worked just a little harder than them and got ahead.

  Thinking ba it, he robably the most serious about the game already back then. Perhaps it was iable. After all, Mike brought Cssmao the table rgely because of Ben.

  The Meatball sucked at pretty much every sport, so pying together with him always felt like carrying dead weight. Therefore, when Mike heard about Cssmancers, a video game team sport, he decided to suggest it to the group. It sounded like a petitive game in which Ben won't be totally useless, so it was worth a try.

  Turned out Mike struck gold with that suggestion. Not only did Ben finally bee useful in a team game, but the others ehe game too.

  It was an ued development born from a simple whim of Mike’s. Ahis one i whim ged Ben so much. It gave the guy something to be genuinely passionate about.

  Unfortunately, Mike and the others haven’t found anything like that to this very day. Maybe, deep down, it seeded jealousy.

  Mike liked petition, so the idea of improving at a game for the sake of trampling strong oppos sounded appealing. But then, why didn't he pursue any such goals?

  Even though Mike was a member of the basketball club, he barely put any effort. He and his homies often skipped practid didn't take the drills seriously.

  But, why? Why didn't Mike put more effort? It's not like he didn't possess the talent. If anything, the way he rivaled a beast like Lars in 1v1s attested for his skill.

  heless, why didn't he pursue the petitive se as strongly as Ben? Instead of spending the past year doing something meaningful with his life, Mike was stu the past, bming Ben for dumb shit.

  What was the point of it all? After ing this far, Mike couldn't even fathom the answer. It just kind of happehere was no deeper meaning for any of it.

  While Mike's time was frozen in the past, Ben slowly but surely pulled ahead. The wimpy kid became a determined pyer who sought to stand at the top of the petition. That realizatio a shudder down Mike's spine.

  What was I doing all this time, seriously? Mike sighed. Before I noticed, Ben got so far ahead of me. I also want to live like that, challenging stuff with my pals. So, you know what? I should just freaking do that.

  "I've had enough." Mike smiled wryly.

  "Eh?" Ben blihe sudden ge in demeanor caught him off guard. For the first time in ages, Mike's expression was soft and friendly, just like it used to be.

  "Do whatever you want," Mike said. "If Cssmancers is that important for you, then go ahead, keep chasing that dream of winning the regionals."

  "Ah! T-Thanks!" Ben's eyes turned glossy.

  "Idiot, what are y about?" Mike made a face. "Besides, you got nothing to thank me for."

  "That's not true at all. It's thanks to you that I started pying Cssmancers."

  "Ah, well..." Mike didn't have a retort. It was true, albeit exaggerated. It all started on a whim, nothing more. But clearly, for Ben, it was a life-gi.

  "You do what you have to, and I'll do my own thing," Mike procimed. "I'll also try throwing myself at something and see how far I go."

  "Are you going to take basketball seriously!?" Ben's eyes lit up. He looked like aed puppy who spotted a bone. "I always thought you bee a pro if you try!"

  "P-Pipe down, will you." Mike averted his eyes. "I haven't decided on anythi. But, for starters, me and the homies gonna take practice seriously. We'll see where things go from there."

  "Hey," Larry interjected. "Where the heck did that decision e from? Don't drag me into random shit you’re making on the spot, man."

  "Then, are you saying you’re satisfied with this result?" Mike poi the score, the 20-21 that was effectively a 20-24. "Maybe we’re not the stars of our club but we still py regurly. A, we just got our asses hao us by some nerds who py a video game. Don't you think that's me as fuck?"

  "Well yeah, it's me, but..."

  "So, let's make sure it won't happen again," Mike said. "If Ben aim for something big like winning the regionals, then why 't we, too?"

  "Whoa..." Larry blinked. "Alright, imposter. Who are you and what did you do to Mike?"

  "Heh." James snickered. "It's more like 'Wele back, real Mike.' The imposter finally left."

  "Huh, maybe that's true." Larry smiled wryly. "But, are we really gonna give Ben just like that?"

  "I’ve been always saying it's dumb to keep this grudge going for so long," James argued. "Yeah, that dawg pulled a fast one on us, but . He didn't deserve all that."

  "Wha the-!? Flippin' opportunist!”

  "Whoa!" James made a dash for it.

  "e here, you little...!" Larry gave chase.

  The rest of the group watched that childish dispy in silence. A few of them cracked a muffled ugh.

  "I won't lose to you." Mike stretched a hand toward Ben. "Let's see which of us wins the regionals first."

  "Deal!" Ben did the handshake with both hands as if the guy in front of him was a celebrity. Then again, for Ben, that wasn't too far from the truth.

  In the past, Mike was kinda like a hero for Ben. But, for the past year, this same hero has been ag more like a vilin. He lost against the ive emotions that dwelled inside him.

  However, at long st, Mike broke free from these shackles. He regained his for and was ready to take on the world, just as he used to do in the past.

  As far as Ben was ed, this py ending. But, some disagreed...

  "So," Kai whispered. "Are we just going to let these guys off the hook? They're bullies, you know."

  "Ben appears to be satisfied with this oute," Vi said with a teary eye.

  "Are y?"

  "Indeed!" Vi admitted. "It is such a toug se! Former friends turned rivals turned friends again! The redemption arc has reached a happy ending!"

  That’s what he said. But, in truth, that was only half the reason for his tears. He was happy for Ben, but this se touched him beyond just that.

  I'm so gd it worked out! Vi had to stop himself from wailing like a newborn. This rescue operatio the world for him.

  Even though he was three years too te to achieve anything of substance, Vi finally rescued somebody from bullying. He made up for the crushi he suffered wheried to help the bullied cssmate ba grade school.

  Of course, it’s not like this small amount of redemption was going to enough to erase his sin. But, at least it made him feel a little better about himself. For once, he achieved something of substance!

  I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to help you back then, Matt. Vi apologized to a person who wasn't there. Where was that boy now? What was he doing? Hopefully, he found his own p this world and was leading a happy life, one free of any bullying.

  Vi failed to save that boy, but the experience made him learn a couple of important lessons. Thanks to that, he and the others successfully toppled the bullies today and rescued Ben! Everything was ing together like one big jigsaw!

  Therefore, frankly speaking, Vi didn't care about going any further here. It to Ben to decide whether these bullies deserved any additional punishment. Those four supposedly used to be real friends, so things weren’t so simple here.

  There was a long period of ongoing bullying but there were also good times, back when they had a genuine friendship betweeherefore, fiving Mike’s gang might be alright here.

  "I also think it's okay," Lars said. "Mike became a ged man, I see it in his eyes. He's a real basketball pyer now! You better start following his progress from here on out. Dude gonna win the regionals for the school, believe it!"

  "That sounds like a load of crap." Kai made a face.

  "I guara!" Lars gave a thumbs up. "Dude already almost match me in a 1v1. Not t or anything, but that's a pretty big deal. If he puts some more effort into it, he gonna bee a national-level beast." He grinned with aed glint in his eyes.

  "Huh.” Kai scowled. "So, we gonna five that scum because Be press charges and because he's apparently a good athlete???"

  "I'm also irely satisfied with this clusion," Yuel admitted. "But, for now, Mike’s ge of heart looks genuine enough. The world isn't made of heroes and vilins, everybody got circumstances. From what I gathered, Ben supposedly did something to hurt them in the past, that’s why they were mad at him for all this time."

  "Yeah, right. I bet he just felt bad about the fact he got into the club while his pals failed."

  "Maybe that’s all there is to it, but I suspect it’s more plicated than that. Either way, I agree we should wait and see what happens. If these guys really stop the bullying, I say we five them. After all, hatred only begets more hatred. It's an endless cycle."

  "You're all too soft." Kai refused to let go. "What if they act like goody-two-shoes for a few days and theurn their usual routine?"

  "Well," Yuel said. "For starters, we have the video rec of this match."

  "Were you seriously pnning to use that?" Kai couldn't believe that daredevil.

  "Yeah, I was. I noticed these guys hold their pride in high regard, so anything that stain their reputation be an effective threat."

  "You legit scare me sometimes."

  "I'll take that as a pliment." Yuel smiled. "Anyway, even without the rec, Ben said he won't keep quiet anymore if the bullying resumes. So, no matter how you look at it, these guys already lost. Doing anything more to them is like trapping the enemy king without delivering a mate, then promoting all your pawns into queens before you go for the kill."

  "No idea what that even means."

  "Basically, it's like pounding a knocked-out oppo."

  "So, you’re saying it’s an overkill, huh." Kai crossed her arms and gave it a thought. "Alright, we let them off the hook this once."

  "Why thank you," Mike interjected sarcastically. "But don't worry, we're done being stupid. I mean, Larry still looks a little unsatisfied, but I'll make sure to smae seo him if he tries anything funny."

  "Sounds good enough for now," Kai answered ftly. She wasn't fully vinced yet. This gang leader was a sly bastard at times, so all of this might be just an act.

  "You don't trust a thing I say, do you." Mike scratched the back of his head. "Well, you’ll be vinced with time." He turo Yuel . "Say, about that video you recorded..."

  "Don't worry, we won't post it," Yuel promised. "But, we already uploaded it to cloud and we won't hesitate to use it if you start things up again."

  "Right, but that's not what I wao know," Mike said. " you send me a copy? It might be worth reviewing so we see what embarrassing mistakes we made."

  "Oh." Yuel blinked. Could it be Mike was inally a very petitive pyer and simply lost his way somewhere along the way?

  "Sure, we send you a copy."

  “Thanks.”

  With that, the two sides parted ways. The gang of ex-bullies left peacefully without pulling anything. It seemed they were really about to turn over a new leaf, and the same applied to Ben as well.

  "T-Thank you very much!" Ben bowed to each of them in order. "I'm really sorry fing you into all of this. It was all my fault. If only I spoke up sooner..."

  "It's alright now." Vi patted the boy on the shoulder. "You were in a difficult situation. There's nothing for you to apologize for, not a sihing."

  "Thank you." Ben smiled brightly, brighter than he ever did at the club. A gigantic load fell off his shoulders. "From now on, I'll make sure to attend all club practices! And, I'll always still until the very end! S-So, let's win the regionals this year!"

  At long st, Stratus became a truly ueam. With Ben joining in as a full-timer, their strategic options increased tenfold! In particur, Ben's defensive pystyle might e into py in case they run into a strong aggressive Top Laner.

  And so, the team was now ready to start preparing for the scrimmage. This seatch will be their greatest challe, a fight against the most fearsome team in the region - Leopards, the ued regional champions.

  DarkestCymore