I staggered into my room, collapsing onto my bed with a groan. My muscles ached, and exhaustion washed over me like a heavy blanket. The day had been a whirlwind—convincing Takeshi, Hiroshi, Kazuki, Riku, and Shun to join the Kagawa Knights felt like climbing a mountain, but I had finally done it.
As I stared up at the ceiling, the weight of my choices settled in. Would we really be able to go pro together? Or was I just dragging them down into another mess?
Suddenly, the familiar holographic screen flickered to life above me, interrupting my thoughts. The system's interface materialized, glowing ominously in the dim light of my room.
[New Team Formation Required]
"Great," I muttered, sitting up. "What now?"
The screen shifted, displaying a list of my new teammates: Takeshi, Hiroshi, Kazuki, Riku, and Shun. Underneath, a bold title appeared.
[Team Name: Yoroshi Knights]
I stared at the name, anxiety churning in my stomach. This was my chance to prove myself, but the stakes felt higher than ever.
"Yuki, pay attention," my older self's voice echoed in my mind. "You need to be wary of certain individuals as you move forward."
"Who?" I asked, a sense of dread creeping in.
"Jamal," he replied, his tone grave.
"Jamal?" I echoed, incredulous. "He's my best friend! What do you mean?"
"Watch him closely. In the future, he will betray you and become your biggest rival in the MBL. He's not who you think he is."
My heart raced at the thought. Jamal had always been there for me, always cheering me on. "You can't be serious. He would never do that!"
"Trust me, Yuki. I've seen it. The path you're on is fraught with treachery. You need to be ready," he warned.
I rubbed my temples, trying to process everything. "So what do I do? Just avoid him?"
"You'll have to confront him at some point. But for now, focus on building your team and improving your skills. Don't let distractions cloud your judgment."
With that, the screen faded, leaving me alone with my racing thoughts. I had so much to figure out, and the weight of my new responsibilities pressed heavily on my shoulders.
Days turned into weeks as I trained with my new teammates, the Yorochi Knights slowly coming together. But not everyone was happy with my decision to leave my former team. Rumors swirled, and the tension escalated.
One afternoon, after a particularly grueling practice, I returned home to find a message waiting for me. It was from my old coach, demanding I meet him at the gym.
"Perfect," I muttered sarcastically, knowing he wouldn't take my departure lightly.
When I arrived, the atmosphere was thick with anger. My former teammates shot me daggers, their disappointment evident. My old coach stood at the center of the gym, his arms crossed and face stern.
"Yuki, what were you thinking?" he boomed, his voice echoing in the empty space. "You've abandoned your team for what? A chance to play with some new faces?"
"I had to do what was best for me," I replied, trying to keep my tone steady. "We just won a championship, and I need to take my career seriously."
He shook his head, his disappointment palpable. "You don't understand the consequences of your actions. This isn't just a game, Yuki. You'll regret this."
I clenched my fists, frustration boiling over. "I'm tired of being told what to do! I need to make my own choices, even if they're hard!"
"Hard choices? You're throwing away everything we built!" he shouted back, but I stood my ground, determined to prove him wrong.
As I left the gym, I felt the weight of betrayal heavy on my shoulders. My old teammates had turned against me, and I couldn't help but feel the sting of their anger.
But my thoughts soon turned to Hana. She was pursuing her music career, and I wanted to support her as best as I could. I sent her a message, hoping she'd be free to hang out.
She replied almost instantly, her excitement radiating through the screen. "I'd love to! Let's meet at the café later?"
I agreed, but a nagging feeling crept into my mind. What about Jamal? He'd been spending more time with Rika lately, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
Days passed, and I found myself at the gym one evening, unable to shake the feeling of unease. I noticed Jamal and Rika laughing together, their chemistry evident. The more I watched, the more frustrated I became.
"No way," I muttered to myself, feeling the anger simmering beneath the surface. "I'm not letting this slide."
Without thinking, I stormed into the Kagawa Knights' gym, my heart pounding. The moment I entered, I caught sight of Jamal, who was in the middle of a practice drill.
"Jamal!" I called out, my voice sharp.
He paused, glancing over with surprise. "Yuki? What's up?"
I marched over, fueled by anger . "We need to talk."
"What's there to talk about?" he replied, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about," I said, my voice low. "Why are you hanging out with Rika so much? It's like you're trying to make a move on her."
His expression hardened, the amusement fading. "Are you seriously accusing me of that? You think I can't have friends?"
"I'm just saying—"
"Just saying what? That you're jealous? You left our team, and now you're acting like you have some kind of claim over Rika?"
I felt my temper flare, frustration boiling over. "I'm not jealous! I'm trying to look out for her!"
Suddenly, Rika stepped in, concern etched across her face. "What's going on here?"
"Yuki thinks I'm trying to take you away," Jamal scoffed, crossing his arms defiantly.
"Yuki, what's this about?" Rika asked, her voice soft but firm.
"Stay out of this, Rika. It's not your fight," I snapped, my anger blinding me to her feelings.
Jamal took a step forward, his eyes narrowing. "Maybe you should back off, Yuki. You don't own Rika, and you have no right to dictate her friendships."
"Yeah? Well, maybe I'll just show you who's really in control here," I shot back, fists clenching at my sides.
And just like that, the tension boiled over. Jamal lunged forward, and I met him halfway. The gym erupted into chaos as we collided, the sound of our bodies hitting the ground echoing off the walls.
"Stop it! Both of you!" Rika yelled, trying to pull us apart, but our anger drowned out her voice.
In the midst of the scuffle, the gym door burst open, and Hana rushed in, her eyes wide with shock. "What's happening?"
She took in the scene—me grappling with Jamal, Rika desperately trying to intervene—and her expression shifted from concern to disbelief.
"Yuki! Jamal! Stop!" she shouted, her voice piercing through the chaos.
I froze, realizing how ridiculous this all looked. The anger simmered down, but the weight of the moment hung heavily in the air.
With a deep breath, I stepped back, allowing Jamal to rise. "This isn't how it's supposed to be," I muttered, feeling the weight of my choices crash down around me.
But as I looked into Jamal's eyes, I couldn't shake the feeling that this confrontation was only the beginning of a much larger conflict. What is this system turning me into?