"What is the meaning of this? Is this all you could do with all the money I'm investing into your education?!" Mr Arase yelled as he looked at his son's semester results.
Out of the 12 courses Joshua offered he got five D's and a couple C's and B's. "Not a single A on here, just average in everything that you do this boy. How can you even be my son?!" Joshua's father asked harshly.
"That's enough Kingsley, how could you say that? He's trying his best please." Joshua's mother came to her son's aid as she hugged him protectively.
"He'll work harder this time and get a better result. You have to encourage him, not tear him down." She continued, trying to convince her husband his reaction was too aggressive.
"My friend's children all attend the same school, they always brag about how brilliant their children are. Yet mine is here getting these rubbish grades and you dare defend him, after spending $15,000 every session to train him." Mr Arase said as he got up and made his way to leave the room.
"It's fine, from now I have no expectations from you. Your younger brother is my only hope." He said as he left the gigantic and ornately decorated living room.
Joshua had never been good at school and he knew it. Despite how much he studied and practiced, even with the help of the best tutors money could buy he just couldn't pass exceptionally.
The only thing he was good at was football but his father had always seen his ambitions as foolish. Only a handful of the millions of Nigerian youth could ever make it pro, talk less of making it a full career.
He had convinced his father that he would be scouted in the match organized by the academy and would kick off his football career. His father seemed uninterested, saying it was foolish to support a dream that wouldn't lead to anything except disappointment.
Nonetheless, Joshua's mother came to cheer him on, along with his younger brother Jacob. They sat in the stands surrounded by security personnel as his father was a serving minister.
This was supposed to be his chance to show them what he could do, instead, he had spent the whole game in the shadow of some little midget that wasn't even his age mate.
Even though he was the youngest, Kaiser had gotten the captain's armband and to his surprise, there weren't any protests from any of his other teammates.
He was booked with a yellow card and his tackle led to an opening that helped Team B to score first. And just to add salt to his wounds, that same midget was the one that just scored the equalizer to carry the team back into the game with an insane volley.
Joshua was fuming, he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth as he looked at his teammates rush to celebrate with Kaiser as the half-time whistle had blown.
It should've been him, why is that little eyesore taking all his glory? He thought within himself.
As Joshua was warring within himself he heard another commotion behind him as he turned around to see a sight that made his heart sink.
It was his father, with his entourage and a couple of friends of his that he could recognize. He had come to watch Joshua play with his friends as well.
"Joshua! What are you doing? Come over for some water. We need to go over the game plan!" Coach Idris yelled which snapped Joshua out of his mini trance.
"Yes, I'm on my way." He said as he began making his way towards his team's bench.
***
Kaiser was hounded by his teammates after he scored the second goal of the match which helped his team to equalize at the end of the first half.
"Osho you're amazing!" Malik said as he rushed and put a hand around his teammate's shoulder.
"Seriously that volley was crazy. I knew you had skills but that surprised all of us." Hezekiah said as he walked alongside the goal scorer.
"You guys did all the work, I just finished the scraps." Kaiser said humbly. He was honestly just happy he had completed half the quest the system had given him.
That goal meant he had a goal contribution and had completed the first part of the quest. He slyly moved towards a cooler with water inside and opened it to grab a bottle of water.
"Display menu." He mumbled as the familiar system screen popped up in front of him. He didn't care about the stats, he just wanted to see his quest bar.
It had gone halfway as he had the goal contribution. But he had to still ensure that his team won the match. Even if not for the quest, he simply hated losing.
Plus the scouts were watching, so a good performance for them increased his chances of getting Into a reputable academy.
From the corner of his eye, he could see Joshua caught up in his thoughts before looking at a group of seemingly influential men before hurrying to the bench after the instructions from Coach Eze.
"Those are his parents." A voice said beside him as the person bent down to grab a bottle of water for himself.
It was Destiny, his team's Right-Mid. He took a generous gulp with his eyes facing Joshua who was no longer walking with the pride he normally carried himself with.
"We go to the same school, so I would know. The reason he acts like that is because he's not good at school. So this is the only chance he has to prove to his father that it's worth chasing this dream." Destiny said with a look of pity in his eyes.
"Both of you were friends?" Kaiser couldn't help but ask.
"Yeah, something like that. But that's another story for another day. For now, we just need to focus on winning. So keep doing what you do captain." Destiny said with a bright smile.
"Osho, Destiny. Both of you come here, we need to discuss our plan for the second half." Coach Eze said as the two boys hurried over to the group.
"First of all I want you all to appreciate Osho." He said as the team gave Kaiser a round of applause. Ordinarily, it wouldn't move him, but maybe because he was in a kid's body it made him happier than it normally would.
"That goal and your assessment of the situation were precisely why I made you captain. The rest of you have done well also, even after conceding that first goal you didn't lose your heads." Coach Eze said to them.
"And Joshua…" he said as silence fell around the group that was cheerful before.
"You need to remember, you're playing for the TEAM. I know you are eager to impress the scouts, but the best way you can do that is by winning as one. You'll get another chance to show that but for now, you'll be substituted." Coach Eze said and Joshua's expression contorted immediately.
"Coach that isn't fair!" Joshua yelled in protest.
"I'm not here to be fair, I'm here to play a team that wins. For now, we need to make changes to better our chances. This isn't up for debate." He said with an air of finality.
Joshua looked at all his teammates, a tiny part of him hoping someone would speak up for him. But that would be foolish, he had treated them terribly all this time. Why would any of them-
"Coach, I do believe Joshua has a part to play in this game. But maybe later on when the other team has their guard down." Kaiser said, shocking everyone, coach Eze included.
"And don't you think you're undermining my authority by telling me that?" Coach Eze asked Kaiser, his expression stern.
"I'm sorry coach, that wasn't my intention. But as the captain, I only have the best interests of this team at heart." He said boldly.
"Joshua has the skills although our chemistry is off, and the other team has noticed that. But I feel that we could use that to our advantage." Kaiser said which intrigued everyone, even his coach.
"Go on…"
*Fifteen minutes later*
"Fweettt!"
The referee's whistle sounded once again. It was time to begin the second half. They had a new plan for how to win the game in the second half, and Joshua was the key to that plan.
You would never have guessed seeing him sitting on the bench though. But it was their best bet as Peter's team seemed to be more cohesive with one another.
Kaiser walked to the center of the circle where the ball was waiting for him with Peter not too far away.
"That was a nice goal you scored at the end of the first half." Peter said light-heartedly.
"I could say the same for you boss." Kaiser replied with a seemingly light-hearted attitude.
"Too bad I'm going to be the one to win this game in the end." Peter said, a bit more seriously this time.
"When the 90 minutes are up, we'll see." Kaiser said as he passed the ball back to Wilfred, the striker who had come on to replace Joshua.
He had to win this game, not just for his team. But also because he didn't want to lose the rewards for completing the quest. He also didn't know what the penalty would be if he lost.
"I'll win by any means necessary."