55 Outcast Seniors (1/2)
From the audience, the competitive stage looked completely different. It was gigantic, stretching across the whole stadium as if to declare dominance. The lights were dazzling, turning the stage into a majestic entity. It was a privilege for commoners to gaze upon it.
It's hard to believe that, until recently, Alex also played on that grand stage. He had been looking down on it this whole time, thinking it's lame because it's the second string. Only now that he was kicked off the stage and had to sit among the commoners, he finally appreciated the huge opportunity he was given.
How stupid. It didn't matter whether this was a second string match or a tournament match. Both teams were strong and the competition was fierce. The stage was filled with high-level plays and brilliance. Some visitors from the center even stopped by to watch the match. Yes, to watch this middle school second string match.
Alex should have done more. He should have tried harder. Even though it was just a spot on the second string he should have held onto it with all his strength, so he could keep playing on this majestic stage.
If only he tried a little harder from the beginning, he could have prevented this 1-4 score. Heck, he could have led the team to victory... Okay, maybe that's wishful thinking. But at least, he wouldn't have dragged them down to oblivion.
Alas, he messed up. Big time. He spat at the opportunity Coach gave him. And now he was down here in the audience, while the rest of his team was up there on the grand stage. Jennifer reigned as everybody's beloved queen, whereas Alex was a hated beggar.
It felt like shit. All of it. But, too late for regrets. Everything was his fault, so right now this hall of commoners fit him perfectly.
Alex took a sip of his apple juice, took a deep breath and walked to the seats tucked away at the very back. It should be hard enough to spot him here. Good.
”Oh.” Alex stopped in his tracks. There was already a guy sitting in the back row, glued to a wall like some criminal hiding from the law. Hm? He looked kinda familiar...
What's even more interesting was this fellow's soggy appearance. He was wet. Like, thoroughly soaked. From his hair and down to his shirt. Did he take a shower or something? There were actually shower rooms in ProCenter if memory served.
”Yo,” The guy waved. ”Freezer, right?”
”Yeah...” Alex nodded slowly. So, it wasn't just his imagination. He knew this shower guy from somewhere. But, based on that reluctant greeting, they weren't particularly familiar. Where did Alex meet this guy? And, why was the guy soaked inside the hall? Alex simply couldn't comprehend.
”Oh, this?” The guy pointed at his wet hair. ”Just a fashion statement, haha. Don't worry about it.”
”Huh.” Alex knotted his eyebrows. That's some revolutionary modern fashion right there. Anyway, it's best to keep a distance from this guy.
”Whoa, sitting so far away? Cold.” The guy made a face.
”Do I know you?” Alex finally asked, since guy's overfamiliar attitude starting irking.
”Hey. C'mon, man. We've been playing each other the whole day, ya know.”
”Oh,” It finally hit him. Somebody who played on the stage today and got subbed out. Yes, there was another poor fellow like that beside Alex. ”WildDragon, right?”
”Yep, I knew there's no way you forgot. I'm known for leaving an impression, haha.”
[Yeah, the impression of a chatty idiot who's all talk and no skill.] Alex nodded, which the other guy apparently interpreted as a friendly gesture.
”Trever.” The guy stretched his hand with a smile.
”... Alex.” He dragged his hand to form a handshake across the two chairs separating them. Sigh. What a drag.
The conversation died after that. Good. Now Alex could enjoy his drink in peace-
”Man, Bot is so boring this game,” Trever said out of the blue. ”Last game had some crazy action there, but now both sides are playing some hardcore defense. What a snoozefest, right?”
”... Sure.” Alex shrugged. ”Well, it's not that weird. Elf is designed to play defense.”
”Yep. That's why the Pirate should git gud and pressure him.”
”Hmm,” Alex contemplated what to say. Wait, the heck was he even doing? He just wanted to watch the game in silence, yet something compelled him to respond.
Sigh. Alex was never good dealing with these chatty fellows. ”You say Jenny isn't playing that early game right?”
”Jenny?”
”Oh, I mean ComboBreaker.”
”Heh, her name is Jenny? Noted that down.” Trever grinned like an idiot. Actually, that's wrong. It's not ”like” an idiot, as Trever was most assuredly an actual idiot. Whatever.
”Well,” Trever continued. ”I guess It's up to playstyle? I know a chick who turtles with literally every class and it works for her. But, I believe Pirate better pressure Elf early to control the lane. Weird to see Breaker play like a pussy after she had been kicking everybody's butts with a meme before.”
”Hmm, that's really peculiar.” Or, maybe not really. Had Jennifer ever played Pirate in practice matches and such? Alex couldn't recall a single instance from the top of his head. Then again, the testimony of somebody who barely showed up to practice didn't hold much.
”Oh! Finally!” Trever exclaimed as the situation in Bot heated up. Jennifer unleashed her Kraken, finally going on the offensive. Alas, after a sequence of fast plays, it's Jennifer who ended up fleeing the scene. In the end, the Chronomancer ganked her before she managed to slip away.
”Oh yeah!” Trever jumped from his chair and pumped a fist. ”Nice one, Dan!”
[Too loud. Annoying.] Alex rolled his eyes and took another sip of apple juice.
”Kinda disappointing, though.” Trever sat down and crossed his arms. ”That was kinda one-sided, don'tcha think?”
”... I guess.”
”I mean, it's not like she played bad or anything.” Trever tilted his head. ”How do I put it? She had some good plays there but it's all basic Pirate stuff, ya feel me?”
”Huh.”
”Like, it's the kinda stuff everybody does. Bait with Kraken, rush with Backfire. There's nothing like 'Hey, that move is cool!'. Know what I mean?”
”Sure...” Alex sighed. Still, the information mildly interested him. Assuming this guy knew what he was talking about, it suggested Jennifer was out of her element when playing Pirate. Interesting. It was in line with how Alex never saw her seriously play Pirate or any non-combo Carry for that matter.
Maybe that's why Coach held her back in the second string? Alex had been actually wondering about that for a while now. Why somebody of Jennifer's level was stuck in the second string? As far as her skill was concerned, she was among the top players in the club. In fact, depending on the criteria used for grading players, she may as well be the strongest in the club. Well, after Fenrir, of course. That guy was a legend.
Anyway, there's no reason why somebody like Jennifer would be stopped at the second string. That's unless she had a glaring weakness which Coach refused to overlook. And, this subpar Pirate performance may very well be it.
It's similar to how Alex performed poorly as Electromancer last game, but also very different at the same time. Unlike him, Jennifer never stopped practicing. She just didn't bother playing that many serious matches with non-combo classes, resulting in a lack of practical experience. Her moves were polished, but they lacked a certain level of fluidity which was only achievable by playing many matches.
But at least, unlike Alex, she never stopped polishing her favorite combo skills and that made her a constant threat for the enemy team. Compared to that, what did Alex achieve today with his favorite Warlock? His performance was mediocre at best. He made some impactful plays, but he also messed up in a bunch of critical moments. Sigh.
At least the conversation died out again. Good. Now he could quietly watch-
”Gotta say,” Trever spoke up. Again. ”The stadium is more packed than I expected. I mean, it's just a scrimmage and it's the second string. What gives?”
”Probably spies from other schools or something” Alex shrugged.
”Oh, think they came to check us out?” Trever smirked. ”Makes sense. We're hella strong, after all.” He turned his head from side to side, scanning every corner of the hall.
[If you think there's any paparazzi here to report on you, think again.] Alex rolled his eyes.
”But hey, isn't that weird?” Trever crossed his arms. ”We're the second string, ya know. If they wanna spy on our team, shouldn't they spy on the first string?”
”I suppose.” Alex checked the audience again. Upon closer inspection, he recognized half the faces here despite the darkness. ”Huh, there are some guys from my club. Coach always makes us watch scrimmages.”
”Even the second string matches?”
”Dunno, our second string never had a scrimmage against other schools before. Guess Coach thinks it's worth watching?”
”Heh,” Trever grinned. ”We're the best, so of course we're worth watching!”
[I don't see you on the stage, though.] Alex jabbed internally. ”I agree, though. There have been some high level plays here today. I think your second string is even better than some of the representing teams I've seen this year.”
”Maaaaan, if only we could play in the regionals too.” Trever slid down his chair, staring at the ceiling. ”I actually was on the first string last year, so I played in the regionals. We got our asses handed to us, though. Haha.”
”Must be nice being in a small club.” Alex lowered his eyes. He never even got the chance to be on the first string. If only that damn coach was more willing to enter freshmen and juniors into the first string... [No, stop. That's not Coach's fault. That's all on me. If I kept practicing, I'd be in the first string by now. Maybe I could even get there on my second year, like Fenrir.]
”By the way,” Trever said. ”You guys got a coach, right? How is it? To be in a club with a coach, I mean.”
[How am I supposed to answer that?] Alex rolled his eyes. It's not like he ever was in a club without a coach, so he had nothing to compare with. Not to mention, as far as he was aware, the Leopards were the only middle school team in the region with a coach. ”What do you want to know, exactly?”
”Hmm, I dunno.”