The first game between the Leopards and Stratus came to an end. It was a one-sided match for the most part, but at the very st moment, Stratus unched an ued attack that threateo turides around.

  Fortunately, the Leopards didn’t submit to that wild assault. Even amidst the chaos, they exhibited their ironcd defense against the enemy’s swift surprise attack.

  While fending off the wild attackers, the Leopards ultimately sealed the deal and toppled the enemy Colossus.

  In the end, the regional champions won, just as it was supposed to be. However, the endi a bad aftertaste heless.

  I dragged the game out in order to aggravate our enemies, but... Cato frowned as he checked out his teammates.

  There were sighs of relief, tired expressions, and eye rubbing. There were all signs of exhaustion a. Even though they won, the Leopards looked far more draihan their oppos.

  This wasn’t in the script... Cato pursed his lips. He, too, was a little too tired for fort. That st battle took a big toll on him, so much that he couldn’t genuinely celebrate this victory.

  heless, as the captain, Cato wasn’t allowed to show such weaknesses. No matter how he felt about this clusion, he was obligated to put on a smile and act fident.

  “Good game, guys~” Cato forced his lips to curve into a smile. “That st part was a little intense, wasn’t it? They really spooked us with that terattack, haha.”

  “Yo, that st battle was wild!” Ronald grinned. “These mad ds really almost turhe tables on us. That dang Gunz even killed me, dammit! But hey, I protected my bro, so I did my jht?” He turo his older brother for firmation.

  “Yeah, you did well,” William responded with a tired sigh.

  “I always got your back, bro!” Ronald gave a thumbs up.

  Out of everybody here, Ronald was the only oill brimming with energy. Either he was thickheaded enough to not be affected by that st battle, or he was just putting on a ving front.

  I ’t believe I’m saying this, but... ade a face. For once, I’m gd we have one happy-go-lucky fool on our team. If the eeam was in a slump, then I’m not fident I would’ve been able to pull all of them on their feet. Then again, I’m sure Coach will do that just fine... oh, speaking of the devil.

  Cato gulped as his eyes met with Ruez’s. The coach was eagerly waiting for the team to step dowage. That look in his eyes was quite familiar…

  Oh no, I know that look, haha... Cato’s smile twitched. He’s going to chew us out, isn’t he? Especially me, right? But, fair enough. A big part of it was my fault, so as the captain, I’ll take responsibility for this.

  The pyers of Stratus have already left the stage, but most of the Leopards still remained rooted in their seats, save for Cato and Ronald. Those two were on their feet, trying to i some positivity into the dry atmosphere. But, it wasn’t going too well.

  Everybody was a little worn out by that st battle, but that wasn’t all. They had a very good reason to remaied ahe iable.

  They know Coach is going to reap us apart, haha... iled wryly. Holy, I don’t want to hear this lecture either, but we have no choice.

  “Alrighty, let’s go,” Cato finally spoke up. “Don’t worry, I’ll tell Coach it was my decision to prolong the game.”

  “Of course you will,” Sonya asserted. “I was going to report as much even if you tried to py dumb.”

  “Ouch, haha...” Cato produced a dry ugh. “I suppose I deserve it.”

  “You totally do, man.” Ronald nodded. “If bro didn’t make the call back there, we’d still be stuck deg what to do with the enemy’s backdoor. Seriously, that’s why I always say bro should be the captaihe best at this stuff, word.”

  “Is that so.” Cato trembled. I punch this guy? Just once? Pretty please?

  “Well,” Matthew started. “It’s not like William’s decisions were necessarily the best optioher way.”

  “Well excuse me, but at least I made some sort of decision.” William shot a gre at the piner.

  “Guys, guys. Please.” Cato cpped once. He tried to make the cp as loud as possible, but the volume paled in parison to Ruez’s thundercp teique

  heless, even this shallow imitation of the coach’s teique got the job done. Everybody paused and turheir eyes on Cato.

  “There’s o bicker over that right now, is there? Coach is going to chew us out more thay in a few seds, so let’s reserve our energy, alright?”

  “True.”

  “Yeah.”

  Slowly but surely, everybody left their seats and headed toward the waiting room. There, Ruez was waiting for them with his arms crossed.

  He’s not amused! The eeam shuddered at the realization. The coach’s frown was visible from a mile away. Gulp.

  “So,” Ruez started. “I see you’ve finally gathered the ce to e here, that’s already a good start. For a moment, I thought I’d have to go up there ach you.”

  “..........” Everybody kept their mouths shut and avoided eye tact. Somebody’s gulp echoed loudly in this deafening silence, making the others’ throats feel dry all of a sudden.

  Amidst the silehey exged awkward gnces with each other. Clearly, everybody was curious who’ll be brave enough to step forth and face the coach’s whip.

  Eventually, everybody’s eyes id on Cato. As the captain, they expected him to serve as the meat shield for the rest of the team, especially sidering how much of the fault y with him.

  Yeah, yeah, I know. iled wryly. I’m the sacrificial mb here. Fine, I’ll do my job. He stepped forth. “We really messed up at the end there, didn’t we? There, I said it.”

  “At the end?” Ruez blinked. “Hmm. I’d say you pyed reasonably well there, given the circumstances.”

  “Oh, did we?” Cato was taken aback for a moment. This didn’t sound like something Ruez would say while wearing such a frowny expression. That fact alone was enough to send a chill down Cato’s spine.

  “Surely,” Ruez tinued. “You uand that your problem started way before you go to that point?”

  “Well...” ore or less imagined in what dire this lecture was going to go. Everything is going to fall on me, isn’t it? Curses...

  “Well?” Ruez eyed ead every pyer in order, not just Cato. “Does anybody voluo aell me, where did ygest problem start in this game?”

  “Whearted needlessly dragging out the game, obviously,” Sonya answered, mercilessly throwing Cato uhe bus.

  “Good answer.” Ruez nodded.

  “Just to be clear, I was against this idea,” Sonya stressed.

  Oh, but you didn’t resist much, did you? You shrewd little traitor. Cato wao retort but he shut his mouth. Then again, I did my best to pressure her into this, so that’s also partially on me. Ehe~

  “Sing out the game wasn’t your idea?” Ruez questioned Sonya.

  “No, of course not. I even argued against it.”

  “Is that so. Then, may I know which of you were in favor of that game pn? Please, raise a hand.”

  “...............” Nobody uttered a word. They exged awkward gnces, which mostly flew in Cato’s dire. It’s as if everybody ointing at him with their gazes, shouting “Here’s the criminal!” without directly exposing him.

  “, don’t be shy,” Ruez urged. “Raise your hand if you were in favor ing the game out. Don’t worry, I wo you.”

  Maybe you wo us, but you’ll criticize us to death for sure. Cato gulped. Darn, this is sure awkward. Well, I did promise I’ll take responsibility, soes…

  And so, Cato alone raised his hand. He became the sacrificial mb for the sake of the eeam. Nobody else was willing to join him in this valiant sacrifice.

  Actually no, that wasn’t quite true. There was one person willing to share the burden.

  “Should I join you?” Matthew asked with his eyes, with his hand half-raised.

  “Nah, no need.” Cato shook his head. “This was my mistake, so I’ll take responsibility.”

  Matthew lowered his hand, leaving Cato as the only oh his hand in the air. He was singled out as the criminal of the group.

  “Cato, huh.” Ruez nodded. “Well, I suppose that much was obvious.”

  “Haha…” iled awkwardly. He was totally pnning to e after me first if I didn’t raise my hand, wasn’t he? So, as scary as it is, it’s always better to fess. Phew, bullet dodged.

  “Anybody else?” Ruez sed the team one more time. It seemed like he was expeg to find aplices in the crowd. Or, was he just applying pressure? Either way, it was best to put ao this pointless interrogation.

  “It was only me,” Cato spoke up. “I was the one pushing fing out the game.”

  “Is that so?” Ruez narrowed his eyes. “Very well. Then, pray tell, what pelled you to pursue such a game pn? Though, I have a feeling I already know the answer. It’s always the same deal with you, isn’t it?”

  “Haha...” Cato cracked a dry ugh. “Well, it’s the same master pn as usual. I wao tire out our oppos as much as possible, to throw them off their game early.”

  “Mhm. This is a valid strategy under some circumstances for sure. But, did you properly at for how strong and uable your oppos were this time?”

  “Well, I thought I did...”

  “But, it turned out you uimated them, right?” Ruez asked. “Your face tells me you’ve already figured it out on your own, so I suppose there’s no poiuring you further on this point. It was no doubt a big mistake, but I’m sure you’ve learned your lesson, am I right?”

  “Of course.” Cato nodded. “ game, we’ll it up properly once we get the upper hand early. No more stalling.”

  “Good, that’s what I wao hear.” Ruez nodded. “Now, with that trivial part out of the way, let’s talk about the real problem I have with your performan this game.”

  “The real problem...?” Cato blinked. “Wasn’t it the way we dragged the game out?”

  “It’s curious that you say ‘we’ even though you’re the only one who stepped forward to admit that you were in favor of the idea.”

  “Well, it’s just a figure of speech.”

  “That doesn’t quite hold in this case,” Ruez insisted. “Perhaps you’re the only one who pushed for that kind of strategy, but there’s a little problem there. You see, this team isn’t made out of five Catos.”

  “Haha, of course it isn’t. That’d be weird.”

  “Yet, it’s curious, isn’t it?” Reuz eyed ead every member. “Supposedly, Cato was the only one in favor of prolonging the game, yet somehow the eeam went along with that pn. How is that possible?”

  “..........” Nobody proposed an ahey all shifted their eyes away, exging awkward looks.

  “Well? Does anybody want to expin how it happened?

  “Well, I wasn’t particurly against it,” Matthew admitted.

  You didn’t have to say that. iled wryly. But, thanks.

  Matthew ended up branding himself as a partial aplice to Cato. That helped not only Cato but the rest of the team as well. The guy was literally taking a shot for the team. What a martyr!

  “Hmm. Is that so.” Reuz nodded. “Very well. Sio is yood friend, then for the sake ument, let’s suppose you were on his side and even actively supported his idea. In that case, we now have 2 votes in favor of Cato’s pn. Then, what about the rest of you?”

  “I was against it,” Sonya repeated.

  “I was also totes against it, man!” Ronald tuned in. “That pn sounded dumb as hell.”

  “Is that so.” Ruez nodded. “Then, it sounds like we have a 2v2. Alright then, Will, what about you?”

  “I...” William pursed his lips. I see where Coach is going with this. Sigh.

  It’d be so easy for him to say that he agreed to that game pn and call it a day. That’ll probably spare everybody the lecture.

  But, that won’t be eruthful. Furthermore, that kind of weak attitude might hurt the team in the long run.

  The coach wasn’t interrogating them without a purpose. He was trying to drill an important lesson, ohat William has already learned during the st game.

  In fact, everybody in the Leopards has long since been aware of this problem. It’s just that they haven’t run into a critical problem until now, so nobody bothered to speak up about it.

  So, perhaps now was a good time to face that problem and discuss it. It probably won’t ge anything right away, but it just might bee a trigger for future ges...

  DarkestCymore