Not knowing what his vice-captain was thinking, Kenneth recalled the conversation he had with his friends two days earlier—the day they won their semi-finals and took a step closer to the final game of the Winter Cup.
Everyone thought Harmony hadn't shown up, even for the semi-finals, but in reality, she had been there all along, quietly observing the game from a corner of the gym, careful not to draw attention to herself.
She was waiting outside the gymnasium when Kenneth and the rest of the team stepped out, cheering for the win they had just secured. Luca and Gabriel had been praising Kenneth's gameplay, their excitement still fresh. None of them expected to see Harmony standing to the side, seemingly waiting for them.
When they noticed her, their expressions of surprise must have been obvious because Harmony raised an eyebrow, her usual indifferent demeanor unwavering.
"I had time, so I came. But I can leave if I'm not welcome," she said, her tone casual but pointed, as though their shocked looks amused her.
"No, that's not it at all!" Beatrice stepped forward quickly, recovering from the initial surprise.
"Did you watch the game too?"
"I did. It was a great game, but…" Harmony trailed off, a faint frown forming on her otherwise composed face.
She seemed to hesitate, as though weighing whether to say what was on her mind. And glancing at the people staring at them.
Noticing her reluctance, Luca jumped in.
"Why don't you join us for a meal? You can tell us what you observed about Kenneth's gameplay then."
Harmony remained silent for a moment before nodding.
They all headed to a nearby restaurant and secured a private room, not wanting to draw attention. After all, Kenneth and Justin had become quite recognizable after their string of victories in high school basketball.
…
As they settled in and began chatting about the game and random topics, Luca turned to Harmony.
"So, what was it you were trying to say earlier?"
Harmony glanced at him, then at Kenneth, her expression unreadable. Finally, she spoke.
"Was it about my gameplay?" Kenneth asked, his mouth full of grilled meat.
"…"
Harmony remained thoughtful while Kenneth kept stuffing his mouth.
"You made so many mistakes that I'm wondering why you're so happy about your win right now," she said bluntly.
*COUGH COUGH*
Kenneth choked on the food in his mouth, and the entire table froze in shock at her words.
"I… apologize for being rude," Harmony added, her tone still even but seemingly genuine.
Her indifferent expression, however, made it hard for anyone to tell if she truly meant it.
Kenneth, now recovering with the help of a glass of water handed to him by Gabriel, furrowed his brows.
"Alright, then. Tell me what mistakes I made."
His pride had clearly taken a hit.
Harmony thought for a moment before replying.
"Well, for example, in the first quarter, you went for a layup, but if you had passed it to your shooting guard, you could've set up an open three-pointer…"
"And when you drove into the paint and lost the ball, your point guard was ready for a pass, but you didn't notice him…"
"There was also the second quarter when…"
"And…"
Harmony continued listing off his mistakes, her observations precise and detailed. With each comment, Kenneth felt himself shrinking in his seat.
Glancing at his friends, Kenneth glared, "You two said I played great! What was that about?"
Both Luca and Gabriel raised their hands defensively, though Gabriel added a sheepish shrug.
"She's not wrong… those were small things, but they could've had a big impact. Though admittedly we did not thought of it until she pointed it out."
Harmony noticed their reactions and, after a moment, added, "But…"
Everyone turned to her, waiting.
"That pass in the final seconds of the first quarter was a good decision. It confused the opposing team and secured another two points for you…"
"And the rebound in the second quarter was well-timed…"
"Your steals were excellent throughout the game as well…"
Kenneth blinked at her sudden praise, then abruptly stood up and circled the table. To everyone's confusion, he dropped to one knee in front of Harmony.
Harmony's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Grabbing her hand, Kenneth declared with a grin, "Manager!"
*SLAP*
Luca, sitting beside Harmony, smacked Kenneth on the back of the head.
"…"
Even Harmony seemed speechless, her gaze darting to Luca and Gabriel as if silently asking if Kenneth was always like this.
Kenneth, undeterred by the slap, tightened his grip on her hand and repeated with enthusiasm, "Manager!"
Beatrice and Katherine's jaws dropped at his dramatic outburst, while Justin burst into laughter.
Standing up, Justin hauled Kenneth back to his seat, the latter shouting as though being separated from a long-lost love.
"Manager!"
Harmony sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. Gabriel was already massaging his temples.
"The finals tomorrow is your last game as a high school student. What do you even mean by 'manager'?" Gabriel snapped, his exasperation evident.
Kenneth slumped in his chair, his shoulders drooping at the realization.
"…"
Harmony, meanwhile, was utterly flabbergasted, unsure how to respond to the bizarre turn of events.
"Leave him be," Luca said with a chuckle.
"He always gets like this when he's excited. He'll get over it soon enough."
Noticing Harmony still deep in thought, Luca tilted his head.
"You seem like you've got something more to say."
Harmony looked at him, momentarily stunned. After a pause, she nodded.
"I do have a suggestion, based on the strengths and current lineup of the other team. You do understand your current problem, right?"
Kenneth straightened in his seat, his earlier antics forgotten.
Indeed, their championship opponent, Easton High, was no ordinary team. Though they had lost during the elimination round in the previous season, that defeat had sparked a transformation. They'd been dominating this Winter Cup with sheer size and momentum. Kenneth knew Easton High's current height advantage was their greatest weapon—and their greatest threat.
"Let's hear it," he said, his expression serious.
Harmony leaned forward, her calm demeanor once again asserting itself.