The first day of training in Yuel’s camp has been progressing smoothly. However, it came to an abrupt halt.

  “Well,” Dan stood up. “I’m beat. That’s it for me.”

  “Yeah,” Roi left his chair too. “I think that’s enough for today.”

  “But, it’s only five,” Yuel argued. “We still keep going for a while. They lock the gate at around eleven.”

  “Haha!” Roi ughed. “You’re not seriously saying we should stay here the whole night, are ya?”

  “May as well suggest we sleep here.” Dan chuckled.

  “Actually, that’s not a bad idea.” Yuel o himself.

  “,” Roi shrugged. “We still got four days. We got plenty of time.”

  “We ONLY got four days,” Yuel corrected. “We o dedicate every st sed to this, or else we won’t win.”

  “Zero trusts in your team, huh.” Roi shook his head. “Overw yourself not gonna do you any favors.”

  “That’s hardly overw,” Yuel argued back. He just couldn’t help it. Every sed, every millised, of practice was of utmost importance for this newly formed team. They had to pour their everything into practice to get a real ce at beating Howard’s team.

  “We must win no matter what,” Yuel insisted. “We 't waste a single moment.”

  “Yeah well,” Roi shrugged. “We don't practice that much even on the first string, you know.”

  “But, you do get to practice with pros. I bet it's great to gain so much experien such a short time.”

  “Oh,” Roi averted his eyes with an awkward smile. “You heard about that, huh.”

  “Not from you, that's for sure.” Yuel judged Roi and Dan with his eyes. Even though these two visited the clubroom, they tered a word about training with pros. Dan was ohing, but Roi usually bragged about any “cool” games he had. Ahis same Roi kept silent about pying pros. The two of them followed Howard's instrus to a T like faithful soldiers.

  “We just didn't want to make you feel bad,” Dan expined. “I asked Howard what are the ces of letting some of you guys py with the Sweepers, but he said that's not gonna happen. Sucks, I know.”

  That excuse again. Yuel frowned. It’s the same excuse Have him before. Did Ho as far as pnning what excuse they should use in case they’re questioned? sidering how good he reparing the perfect defehat's more than likely.

  “Anyway,” Roi shook his head. “What’s that got to do with our training today? Just because we ’t py any pros doesn’t excuse training 25 hours a day, ya know.”

  “My point was: everything is different here,” Yuel expined. “The resources we got for training and the amount of time we have to prepare for the match - everything is different from yur training. The first stris a year to prepare for tours, but we don't have that kind of time. Our match is on Friday.”

  “And that's an excuse to work ourselves to the bone? You gotta take a breather too, man.”

  “We don't have time for any ‘breathers’.”

  “Well then,” Dan said as he approached the door. “You two keep discussing this until midnight, but I gotta go.”

  “Wait, we-”

  “Sorry, I didn't sign up for this. Even if you were Howard or ‘The President of the Universe’, I still wouldn’t stay extra hours after such a long day.”

  “Because you don't have anything at stake this match, right?” Yuel pressed. Ugh, what a pain. As he feared, Roi and Dan weren't quite on the same page as. They didn't have anything to lose in this match, so they didn't feel like doing their best. They won't be putting on their best performan Friday,...

  “Hey now, kid,” Roi raised his voice. “Don't make me mad. That retty insulting, you know. We told ya we'll be taking this match seriously, right? We're petitive pyers, so it’d be great if you didn’t look down on us.”

  “Ugh.” Yuel ched his fists and gritted his teeth. Roi's gre was sharp like a knife, ready to dig into Yuel as soon as he utters a single word. But, this discussion was too important. This was no time to be intimidated. Yuel couldn't possibly give-

  “Yo, my dudes,” Lars weighted down on Yuel's shoulders with his arm, stopping Yuel fruing further. “Let's just leave it at that. Yuel is just nervous about the matd all. Ya know, being the captain and all.”

  “I'm not- ugh.”

  “Look how stiff his shoulders are.” Lars squeezed Yuel's shoulders, doing what he probably thought was a “massage”.

  “Aah!” This was no massage! It ublic execution in broad daylight!

  “These shoulders are made of rocks I'm tellin’ ya, haha.”

  “Ugh...!” Yuel’s bones were gonna break!

  “Heh,” Roi chuckled. This wasn't funny, goddammit! “Sorry, I also pressed too much. I know this match is important for you, guys. I was in your shoes st year, we also had a simir ‘starters seleatch. So, no way me or Dan gonna do anything to ruin your ces.”

  “You heard the man.” Dan nodded in agreement.

  “I see,” Yuel mumbled. Somehow, the whole argument now felt childish and embarrassing. “Sorry, maybe I'm really a little nervous.”

  “Don't sweat it,” Roi gave a thumb up. “There's still time. Get used to it little by little.”

  “Sure.” Expect, there's NO time. Sigh, whatever. Roi probably had good iions when he said that, so Yuel didn't retort.

  After they reached a promise of sorts, Roi and Dahe clubroom.

  “Guess that’s that,” Yuel sighed and turo Lars. “Thanks for stepping in before it got ugly. It’s okay, you let go of me now.”

  “No problem, dude,” Lars tio press Yuel's shoulders, applying his “Massage from Hell” ultimate. “It'll help ya rex.”

  Yeah, I'll be very rexed after this. In my grave. Yuel mentally retorted. Though, he had to admit this massage had some effect. Lars's grip had like 600 horsepower and hurt like hell at first, but it started feelier over time. I’ll just ehis punishment. I probably deserve it anyway.

  “Did I really say too much?” Yuel asked.

  “You’re asking if you acted like a total ass?” Julia crossed her arms and lifted her . “Yep, like a total ass. We're not your sves, you know.”

  “Yeah, I just...” Yuel pursed his lips. He just wahe team to spend as much time as possible on preparing for this fateful match. His and Lars's futures were riding on it. The oute of this match will decide whether they'll spend the year as real pyers or as nothing more than cheerleaders for the first string.

  “It's not like I enjoy stayihe whole day either, ya know,” Julia said. “I'm doing you a huge favor, so you better be grateful.”

  You're only here because Lars is here. Yuel squinted his eyes but kept his mouth shut. He had enough tedious versations for one day.

  “Thanks, July!” Lars fshed her a smile. “Let's all train to death so we get on the first string together!”

  “Y-Yeah!” Julia's cheeks were tinted pink, which made her beaming smile look that much cuter. She could actually be su agreeable girl when she wanted. A shame that Yuel was on her bcklist.

  With their determination reaffirmed, the three of them stayed in the clubroom until 10pm. Yuel still wao keep going, but now it was really getting te and his mom called to ask where he was. So, with that, their first day of training was over. Only four days left until the match.

  “Seeya, my dudes.” Lars waved.

  “Don’t fet that pn we discussed.” Yuel waved back.

  “No problem, I’mma practiunslinger before sleep. Let’s all do our best!”

  On that note, Yuel and Julia parted ways with Lars a on together because their houses were in the same dire.

  Once Lars vanished from view, Julia stopped and spoke up. “I'll do everything I this Friday.” She ched her fists and her eyes glinted like a bde.

  “Of course,” Yuel nodded. “After all, it's an important match for Lars.”

  “Don't get me wrong,” Julia shook her head. “True, I want Lars to bee a starter because he deserves it. And well, I guess you too. Kinda. Maybe.” It felt like she was going to choke to death while pushing these words through her throat. “But, I also y on the first string, you know!”

  “Oh.” Yuel just stood there. The chilling night breeze hit against his skin, but he didn’t budge. Julia wao bee a starter? This was new.

  It’s something Yuel has been notig throughout the year, but now it was clearer than ever: Julia ged a lot. What started as a silly desire woradually transformed into a geerest in pying petitive Cssmancers. Though, Julia will poke his eyes out if he says that out loud.

  “That's good to hear,” Yuel found himself smiling. “You've bee a strong pyer, so there's a ce you’ll be picked..”

  “Sheesh, please. You ftter me.” Julia covered her mouth like some sophisticated dy, except the expression she was hiding was definitely far from dylike. “Praise me more!” her eyes said. Yuel had to poke at that smug.

  “But, if you really want to py your best, you have to learn how to use yressive-”

  “Nope! Nopenopenope!” Julia exaggeratedly waved her arms. “I know, I know. o rub it in. Sheesh, you 't say anything hout following up with a jab, you? We're trying to be positive here, so learn to read the damn mood.”

  “Sure...” Says the girl who almost coughed blood when calling me “kinda maybe det”.

  “Also,” Julia tinued. “Once we win, I pn to fess.”

  “fess what?”

  “To Lars, you idio- Ahem. To Lars, of course, you dummy.” Julia put on the fakest friendly smile ever.

  “Huh, I see.”

  “What's with the weak rea?”

  “Well...” You should've fessed to him ages ago. No idea what you're waiting for. Yuel stopped himself from blurting these thoughts. Stop. Read the mood. Don't poke her. This was was a rare occasion when “Nice Julia” graced Yuel with her divine presence. Or, at least it was “Julia Who Wants Him Dead a Little Less Than Usual”

  “I mean,” Yuel finally tinued. “That’s between you and Lars. Why are you telling me?”

  “Because you’re the captain, duh.” Julia thrust her fi him. “It’s your job to make sure we win, so better work yourself to the bone!”

  My job? Cssmancers was a team game st time I checked. Yuel was this close to shooting back at her but he somehow held himself.

  “Got it?” Julia repeated. “You gotta make sure we win so I fess to Lars!”

  Just go fesses already. Sigh. “Yes, yhness. I'll do everything in my power.”

  “I sense sarcasm but I'll let it slide,” Julia crossed her arms. At first, it looked like she was about to pin about something again, but instead, she smiled softly. “Well, I'll do my best too, so let's win this thing.”

  “Definitely.” Yuel smiled bao matter how annoyed Julia usually was, Yuel couldn't help but melt during these rare moments when she showed her bright smile. It turned any nonsense she pulled intivable. With the streetlight shining on her, she looked like an angel. She was cute- no, beautiful. It's no surprise she opur with boys at school.

  Also, despite being a pain every so often, Julia actually had a modest and diligent side to her. For a long time now, she has beely p extra hours into practig Cssmancers without showing off to Lars. She worked on her deaking with Yuel, she practiced her aggressive pystyle on Yuel and she got general advice from Yuel.

  They really trained a lot together. Maybe that's why Yuel couldn't help but give her a pass for anything she did. He saw with his own eyes how hard she worked and how much she developed as a pyer. Julia’s training became even more inteer the StormBlitz vs. Leopards scrimmage. She won't admit it, but she must have been really frustrated that she didn't get to py oage that day.

  Seeing all that, Yuel couldn't help but root for her. Even though Julia treated him like trash, he wao see her succeed. He wao bask in the warmth of her brilliant smile, even if the smile wasn't meant for him. Perhaps, he even... well, that didn’t matter.

  Anyway, same as Yuel and Lars, Julia had a lot riding on this match. She had to help Lars get into the first string, she wao use the victory as good timing for a fession and she also wao debut in the petitive se herself.

  Julia had to win no matter what, even if it meant pleading with Yuel. She was far from polite or straightforward about it, but this whole versation was her unique way of asking for Yuel's help with the uping match. And, Yuel was pelled to ply.

  Yuel, Lars and Julia - all three of them had aire year of their lives at stake this match. They had to win. No, they WILL win this. As the captain, Yuel will ehat. Even against Howard, he'll find a way.

  Tomorrow, I should ask Roi and Dan to stick at least until 6pm...