“Lol, you serious?” Roi asked. Howard just called him and Dan to expin the crazy bet he made with Yuel.

  “Wait,” Dan said. “You really gonna step down from being the captain if you lose?”

  “Not sure what I'll do about being the club captain,” Howard answered. “But, I will surrender him the Support role as promised. So, yes, this is no joke. It's a serious match if that's what you're asking.”

  “Huh...” Dan eechless.

  “You really think you win, bro?” Roi asked. “It'll be me and Dan on Yuel's team, ya know. You don't think Tai and GG bance us out, do you?”

  “Of course not. But, where's the fun if it's not challenging, right?”

  “Lol, somebody likes to live dangerously.”

  “Anyway, that's the gist of it,” Howard said. “Until the mat Friday, sider Yuel your captain. Cooperate with him on whatever he asks and prepare for a tough match. I don't want to see you put on an embarrassing performance just because my position is at stake.” It wasn't a request; it was an order. They weren't allowed to eveertaihought of sg off. It was a serious match through and through.

  “Heh,” Dan chuckled. “Bet you also gonna say you'll kick us off the first string if we don't py well, amirite?”

  Hmm. Hoaused for a moment. Normally yes, he'd threaten them with something along these lihat'd to ehey’re 100% trated oask at hand and will be able to draw out their full potential.

  However, right now, these two were his “enemies”. Howard wanted a fair match with Yuel, but there's no reason to go out of his way to ighe enemy’s fighting spirit. That's the job of the enemy captain, not Howard’s.

  “Nah,” Howard said. “We all know you're better than Tai and GG in your main roles. No matter who wins the match, I'm sure you'll keep your positiardless. That is, as long as you don't embarrass yourselves with a shabby performand py worse than Tai and GG.”

  “Lol, it takes a special kind of skill to py worse than these kids”

  “Yeah,” Dan added. “They don’t even main these roles. y better than them even with our eyes closed”

  “Good.” Howard nodded. From their tohey were going to put on a det fight. However, they won’t be fighting with their positions on the line, so they'll be tough oppos but not overwhelming. Unless Yuel ignites a fme ihere's nothing to worry about... right?

  , Howard informed Gilbert. However, here he assumed a different tone. Gilbert was on Howard’s team, so he had to treat this match as a matter of life ah. Therefore, maximum motivation!

  “Also,” Howard added after expining the basics. “This match will double as a sele test for the first string, whicludes you too. It's a good ce to test how much July has improved over the year.”

  “Hm,” Gilbert was silent for a long moment. “You mean it? You really sider pig her for the first string over me?”

  “Elly trained with her and said she improved a lot. So, who knows how good she is by now.”

  “I see. I'll py with that in mind.” Gilbert said. There was stroermination hidden underh his tone. Even though he didn't seem to believe Julia had any ce to steal his spot, he wasn't going to take any risks. After all, it’s Gilbert, he hated risks no matter how small they were.

  Alright, nothing to worry about here. Howard o himself. Gilbert's motivation should now be at its peak, so he'll put on a good show on Friday. Julia will no doubt also be motivated for this match, so Gilbert will have to squeeze every st bit of fighting spirit to overwhelm her.

  , there's Taison and Gregory. These two will be a little harder to handle because Howard didn't know them that well. He has known Gilbert since grade school, but he only spent one year in the club with Taison and Gregory. They didn’t really have that many meaningful iions.

  heless, Howard had a rough idea of how to press their buttons. These two will have to do their absolute best this to get obliterated by Roi and Dan, so their motivation will have to be beyond its maximum. The problem was: they were a rather selfish bund they didn't have anything particur at stake this match.

  As the captain, that's up to Howard to solve. He had to make sure all his soldiers were psyched for the uping matd it didn’t matter what he had to do to that end. For starters, Howard ihe problem kids to his house and expihe situation face-to-face.

  “Man,” Taison was the first to pin. “Why we gonna do this shit?”

  “I sed that se,” Gregory added. “It feels like we're just being used for your little game. We're also pyers, you know. What about our ces of getting into the first string, huh?”

  “They exist,” Howard answered right away, he was already prepared for this. “Even though I only made a promise with Yuel, I think of this match as a general ‘first striio’. In a way, you could say I'm using him to test other pyers like you.”

  “Kek, smartass.”

  “Khaha, I'm lovin’ it!”

  Alright, they were amused by this little wordpy. Things started off on the right foot-

  “Except, there's a problem,” Gregory was quick to cat. “We also y Carry and Support. How does that fit into your test?”

  “Hey, the man is right!” Taison filed his arms and added noise.

  Sharp little... Howard frowned. Well, this sucked. Then again, he khis was going to be the main issue with these two troublemakers. They’ll be pying Top and Jungler in the uping match, but that's not their main roles. Same as Yuel and Lars, these two aimed for Support and Carry. In a sehey were rivals too.

  It’s a tough spot. How should Howard wing this? He had multiple ideas prepared, but couldn't tell which of them will lead to success.

  “Too bad,” Howard said, his tourning colder. “Support and Carry are taken.”

  “Yeah,” Gregory retorted. “Except, yiving Yuel and Lars a ce to grab the roles.”

  “Not really because there’s no ce I’ll lose. This is just a way to drop Yuel off my case. Gotta crush him thhly, so he doesn't dare to speak about being Support while I'm here.”

  “Kek, savage.” Gregory's attitude started ging, it was easy to tell by his tone. Hot oep closer to verting these two.

  “I’ll give you two a ce as well if you really insist,” Howard said. “But, you really think you take on me and Ellen? You don’t wanna embarrass yourselves, do you?”

  “Heh, well...” Gregory averted his eyes.

  “I totally should be a starter, yo!” Taison insisted.

  “My,” Ellen interjected. “You want to steal my spot? Taitai you're so cruel~ Sob, sob.”

  “Gah, well...” Taison scratched his head. “Guess I wait for year...” Good job, Ellen.

  “That's why I said,” Howard steered the versation ba track. “Think of this match as also a test for you. Not for Support and Carry as you’d ideally like, but for Top and Jungle. I want to see how you fare pared to Dan and Roi. These are your sedary roles and I know you hahem well. Who knows, maybe you’ll show enough potential to bee a starter.”

  “So,” Gregory adjusted his gsses. “You're saying this is our ce to debut with our sedary roles. Hmm.”

  “Hell yeah!” Taison excimed. “I'm totally in, man! Gonna blow Roi out of the water, khaha!”

  “I believe your oppo would be Dan, though.” Gregory corrected.

  “Oh, true dat. No matter! I'mma wreck them both! Because I'm da best!”

  “Dumbass,” Gregory chuckled. He pted for a moment, then spoke up again. “You're really sayi a ce?”

  “Perhaps,” Howard shrugged. “Anything is possible. You were greenhorns when you first joined, but you've already spent a year in the club by now. The first year is the most important frowing, so only now we really test how good you are. I'm sure you improved a lot, so let's see if yood enough to earn yourselves any starter positions.”

  “Hell yeah!” Taison nodded exaggeratedly. “Nationals, baby! Here es yo boi DaBestBro!!!”

  “Somebody's here already in La-La Land.” Gregory smiled wryly. Judging by his tone, he wasirely vinced yet. Howard had to give him one more push. But, what else was there to offer as a reward?

  “My,” Ellen tilted her head. “You really don't know how to dream big, GG. Maybe that’s why you're not a starter yet. Ever thought about that?”

  “Who the fuck are you calling GG.” Gregory frow her, but she dodged it.

  “Anyway, GG. You better think about what's important here.”

  “And what's importaly?”

  “That Yuyu is trying to bee the team's Support. If you don't cooperate with us, we may actually possibly kinda lose, you know. You really wanna see Yuyu bee a starter before you?”

  “No way,” Gregory replied instantly, his eyes sharp like a bde.

  Here we go. Howard nodded. Ellen did a good job striking a ta girl. This should be in the bag now. “You're all juniors, so I'm sure it'll suck to see another junior bee a starter before you. Especially, Yuel and Lars.”

  “You say that again.” Gregory made an expression of disgust.

  “If you want to prevent it from happening, we really need your cooperation here. And as I said, who knows? Maybe you’ll evehem to the pund bee starters before them.”

  “Heck yea!” Taison made noise again. “I gonhe nationals before Lars, yo!”

  We got this one in the bag alright. Howard restrained himself from grinning. Unfortunately, the job won’t be doil both troublemakers are persuaded.

  “Fine,” Gregory adjusted his gsses. “I'm in. I don’t thi much of a shot at the first string, though.”

  “You never know what gonna happen,” Howard objected. “There's always a ce.” He told this tory, even though he said the plete opposite to Roi and Dan. But hey, it's not like he lied to either side. There was a ce but it was miniature, especially fory. Taison had a much better ce of proving himself as a valuable Juhrough solid meical skill, but he probably won’t beat Dan’s versatile arsenal of css options.

  “Oh, and guys,” Ellen said. “You haven’t heard the best part yet. If we win, Honna treat all of us to some pizza. From his own pocket, of course~”

  “Wha-” Hasped, but celebrations broke out before he got to react.

  “Sweet deal, yo!” Taison pumped a fist and grinned from ear to ear. “You’re a real bro, man!”

  “You should’ve started from that,” Gregory adjusted his gsses and smirked. “Now I’m totally in.”

  Damn you, Elly. Good move. Howard had to hand it to her. In for a penny, in for a pound, literally. “Yeah, it slipped my mind. Pizza for everybody if we win. You start pg orders now.”

  With that, everything was set in pce. Gilbert was motivated to not lose his spot, whereas Taison and Gregory were motivated to stop their rivals, get a starter spot themselves and most importantly: get some pizza! What a bunch of shallow brats...

  Gilbert came over ter that day and the team began training for the uping match. Before anything else, Howard made sure to study the strengths and weaknesses of the juniors. Especially their weaknesses, because Yuel was undoubtedly familiar with them and will try to exploit them. Howard had to form his strategy around that.

  After a first fruitful day of practice, everybody left except for Ellen. She probably po sleep ain because she’s too zy to head home; what a spoiled princess.

  “So,” Ellen dropped on the sofa beside him. “Feel fident about our ces?”

  “Of course. We got this in the bag. Good thinking there with the pizza by the way.”

  “Anything for you, darling.” Ellen giggled as she rubbed her head against his arm, like a kitten asking to be petted. “So, you gave all of them a motivation boost, but what about me?”

  “You really need one?”

  “Probably not,” Ellen smiled like a fox. “It’ll be good enough if I just get Lars off my case. He still tries to challenge me every now and then, saying some nonsense about taking my spot and what not. He’s such a pain. I’ll gdly break him if you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t,” Howard shrugged. “He’s a strong boy, he take it. Besides, the only one you ever ‘broke’ was Trever and he already had stability issues in the first pce. You just like pying the witch, don’t you?”

  “Tehe, maybe~” Ellen stuck out her tongue. Esmeralda was rubbing ooo much. Ellen ied not only her pystyle from that witch but also some questionable personality traits too. Well, it was endearing in its own way. Kinda. Maybe.

  “Anyway,” Howard said. “You got plenty of motivation.”

  “Buuu~t,” Ellen rubbed her nose against his arm. “You need everybody in absolutely top form, right? So, giving me something special may make me work even harder~”

  “Like what?”

  “Hmm, I dunno~” Ellen put a finger on her lips. “Something special only couples do. I mean, aren’t we dating and stuff?”

  “First time I hear that.”

  “Meanie~” She pinched his arm. “Weeeell, I’m not saying you have to, but a kiss could be nice.”

  “Here you go.” Howard brought his lips toward her and gave her a peck. On the forehead.

  “W-Wha!?” Ellen jumped backward, her face flushed. “T-Tell me before you do that kind of stuff! Jeez, you barbarian. Hmph. Besides, what I meant is more...” She tapped on her lips.

  “This of it as advance payment,” Howard smirked. “You’ll get the rest once we win.”

  “I’m holding you on that, you know.” Ellen poked his cheek while pouting, but her expression soon transformed into a beaming smile. She was already motivated before, but now her motivation was through the roof. With this, Howard’s eeam was guarao put on a strong performance. He did his job.

  “I’m beat,” Howard leaned ba the sofa and closed his eyes. Finally, he could rest a little.

  We’re all fident and fired up, just like you wanted. Ellen caressed Howard’s hair. But, what about you? Who’ll reassure YOU that we’re going to win? Who’ll promise you a reward for your hard work?

  Ellen was the only one by his side here. She’s the only one who could reassure him, to promise him anything. No matter how tough and fident Howard acted, deep down he was uneasy too. This match was more than just seleg the starters, it’ll decide whether Howard’s ambition of winning the nationals will e to fruition. Failure wasn’t an option.

  “Don’t worry,” Ellen held his hand. “I’ll do anything to win this. I’ll break anybody who stands in your way.”

  “Heh, that nonsense again,” Howard smiled dimly and ched her hand. “I’m not worried. It's just warm up for us. Our real battle with these brats will be in high school after they get some petitive experience. So, in two or three years. Then we'll know for sure who's really better.”

  “But, aren’t they going to Ivy just like us?” Ellen pointed out. “How we gonna face them in high school?”

  “I don't pn on going to Ivy,” Howard answered. “Remember how I told you about Grandview High?”

  “Yeah, the oh the stro high school team, right? What was it again... Dystopia, I think?”

  “Utopia. Anyway, that's where I'm pnning to go. ”

  “W-Wait!” Ellen jumped and ched his hand. “That's like oher side of the try!”

  “No shit, Sherlock.”

  “T-Then how you gonna study there? You 't just take a bus or train there every m.”

  “A schorship that es with living at the dorm. They offer them to promising Mancers.”

  “B-But what about me!?” Ellen finally asked what was really eating her. Hoo leave!? To the other side of the try!? To leave Ellen behind!? T-T-That's just... N-No...

  “You try following me if you want.” Howard shrugged.

  “Wha... But I... I thought...” Ellen's eyes became glossy. How could this... But they were... She...

  “Joking, joking,” Howard ran a finger across her cheeks to wipe her tear. “I won't leave you behind. Because then, I won’t have anybody to mess around with, right? Haha.”

  “You jerk! I hate you!” Ellen buried her nose in his arm.

  “Pying for Utopia is the shortest way to the pro league,” Howard expined. “Many pyers there receive offers even before they graduate. If I go there and show results, I’ll be able to py together with sis as a pro in just a few years. But, if you’re not on board, I’ll rethink things,

  “No, I’m totally fih it if that’s what you want. But, what our ces?”

  “Sis talked to the school about us. You know, giving a little ‘pro reendation’. They said we’ll have a det ce if we get to nationals this year and put on a show. If we bee the champions, it's pretty much settled.”

  “So, we just have to win.” Ellen rubbed her cheek on his arm.

  “Yeah, easier said than dohough. That's why the mat Friday is like the first trial. If we 't beat Yuel’s team with this arra, I won't feel fident about our ces iionals.”

  “We'll beat them.”

  “Yeah, we will. We have to.”

  They remained hugged together for a while longer...