“…Hm? Grady did?”
I’ve never heard that Grady looks after juniors in that way?
Unable to overcome his doubt, when Henry’s head tilted askew, Kevin added an explanation.
“Yesterday evening… Grady contacted only the 9th and 10th graders separately. He said he’d give them brief practice before the scrimmage, so those who wanted should come out.”
“Only 9th and 10th graders? Excluding 11th graders?”
“Yeah, when I came out, there were no 11th graders.”
Only then did Henry roughly catch on to how the situation had played out.
Grady wasn’t someone who usually meddled in others’ affairs. He was greedy and often prioritized his own interests.
Such a man had excluded 11th graders, called out juniors, and voluntarily helped with training.
Wasn’t what this situation indicated excessively transparent?
The 12th graders who wouldn’t participate in voting anyway. The 11th graders who already had a long time with Henry Lowell, making them difficult to sway.
It seemed Grady had decided to make the 9th and 10th graders, who had relatively weaker bonds with Henry, into his allies.
How much did he want to be captain that he’d pull off something so unlike him? Henry smiled at Kevin, who was observing him to see if he’d get angry.
Because he truly didn’t care.
Henry knew that the image he had built up wouldn’t crumble so easily.
“Grady has an eye for the game. It must have been very helpful.”
Only after Henry’s generous words were heard did Kevin show a relieved expression and smile.
“Yes! Grady looked at everyone meticulously and gave advice too.”
“I see. Both Grady and you all must have worked hard.”
Perhaps because he felt he had earned Henry’s praise, Kevin smiled broadly.
Not long after, once the students who had played the scrimmage caught their breath, the coach came forward and organized the situation. After announcing tomorrow’s schedule, club activities ended.
This was when there were three days left until the vote to select the captain.
***
The next day too, after finishing classes, Henry headed straight to the field.
Today was the day to select those who would fill the vacancies of the 12th graders based on yesterday’s scrimmage and conduct a scrimmage together with the existing starting players.
It was then that the coach, who had finished the temporary starting lineup by calling out each position and name as soon as stretching was over, dropped a bombshell.
“I heard that on Monday night, Grady watched practice for the 9th and 10th graders yesterday.”
The coach, who had been just as puzzled as Henry while watching the game, said.
It seemed he too, like Henry, had grabbed students after the game ended and asked them.
At this story they were hearing for the first time, everyone except the 9th and 10th graders murmured. Henry heard Joseph, who was standing behind him, muttering.
“Wow, he’s doing everything to become captain.”
Sorry to Grady, but Henry agreed with Joseph’s words.
Though it would be more helpful for him to leave Colton’s group, he thought.
He probably didn’t know what was causing his bad reputation.
To hold back the laughter that was about to burst out, Henry fixed his gaze forward, pretending to listen intently to the coach’s words.
“So. This practice, I’m going to leave all parts of the game to Henry and Grady without intervening. After all, Henry is an offensive player, and Grady is a defensive player, right?”
The words that followed brought Henry, who had been distracted elsewhere, back to the present.
“Moreover, you’re both trying to become captain, right? It’s a very suitable attempt to see both of your leadership and inclusiveness.”
He spoke as if proud that his idea was quite brilliant and great.
Not having heard about it beforehand, and with no proper excuse, there was no room to refute his words. All Henry could do was accept the proposal.
After having a brief strategy meeting with Henry and Grady as captains of each team, practice began.
As always. The ball began to move with Henry’s call.
Compared to the defensive team with many member changes, the offensive team had relatively few changes. The only changes were the guard, tight end, wide receiver, and halfback. Only 4 out of 11 people.
On the other hand, the defensive team, where more than half—6 out of 11 people—had changed, had a slightly different situation.
“Move according to the situation! Don’t just rush at the ball mindlessly, keep your vision wide! Once advancement is blocked by us, then think about where the ball will go next!”
Grady’s clear shout rang out over the field.
His face was drenched in sweat.
Perhaps frustrated that they weren’t following as he wanted, as they failed defense several times, irritation gradually began to seep into his voice.
In fact, the offensive team commanded by Henry was struggling just as much.
Even in the midst of this, Henry tried not to lose his composure and gave instructions, and though lacking, those who received Henry’s instructions did their best.
They failed occasionally, but he thought it couldn’t be helped.
It was their first time coordinating together, and it was natural that the newly joined couldn’t perform as well as the existing 12th graders.
Henry tried to resolve this after each offensive play ended. He explained to those still inexperienced what they should focus more on, and asked the existing members to take on a bit more of a role.
Of course, Henry Lowell himself was also concentrating about three times more than usual and running around about twice as much.
The offensive play that started again.
It was when the offensive team’s wide receiver received the ball and was about to pass it to Henry.
“A defender should have stuck to him already! It’s already too late! Block Lowell!”
Grady shouted at Kevin, who was going toward the wide receiver, while running toward Henry who was alone at the front. Kevin, who flinched and turned his body belatedly, was blocked by Joseph.
“Oh, no you don’t.”
Kevin had a better build than Joseph, but seemed to be far lacking in strength. Though you could see him trying, he couldn’t push past Joseph at all.
Frustrated with him, Grady shouted.
“If you can’t do it with strength, dodge or just stick to him and run! Don’t forget that offensive players can’t do anything except block with their bodies, ugh!”
Grady, who had been shouting, let out a pained groan. It was because he was blocked by Declan Russell.
Taking that opportunity, the wide receiver safely passed the ball and delivered it to Henry. Henry, who caught it tightly, immediately ran out toward the end zone.
It was a clear solo run.
“Touchdown!”
Henry shouted.
It was another successful offensive play.
Henry ran to the receiver who had delivered the ball to him to praise him. It was when he wrapped his arm around his neck and was vigorously messing up his hair.
A sharp voice was heard.
“Do you have no will to win? Or do you not know the rules?”
Henry’s actions stopped.
The voices of those who had been roaring at tasting success also abruptly cut off.
In an instant, coldness descended onto the field.
When he turned his head, he saw Grady with a sweat-drenched face, unable to control his anger.
“If you can’t even do the basics, how are you going to be a starter? Dodge or stick and run! If you think you’re too late, you should give up on blocking Lowell and think about going back to the person holding the ball to at least disrupt the pass!”
“I’m sorry. But…”
“Where’s the ‘but’ in a game we’ve already lost? We’ve already given up points! You were blocked by a defender, and if you can’t shake him off, are you just going to stand there forever? You should find what you can do!”
Far from lowering, Grady’s voice was getting louder and louder. Kevin, who was hearing his rebuke right in front of him, hung his head deeply.
Finally, unable to watch the situation any longer, the coach hastily intervened between the two.
“Grady, calm down. We’re practicing.”
“It’s too basic a part to understand and pass over as practice! How many times could we have blocked it already…!”
Grady still couldn’t overcome his frustration and fumed. The coach, who sighed, said.
“Grady. I know well that you’re overflowing with competitive spirit. Sometimes your competitive spirit becomes a good driving force for winning.”
“Then!”
“But, Grady. Look around you. Does this look like training where winning and losing is most important?”
Only then did his mouth close. The coach gestured to the others on the field.
“Let’s take a break. Grady, you cool your head. You said you want to be captain. Is this the attitude of someone who wants to be captain?”
Like Kevin who had been hearing his rebuke just before, Grady’s head dropped. Henry, who had been quietly watching that sight, was about to walk into the bench when a low mutter stuck in his ears.
“It’s easy to say. The tempo is different from the offensive plays I’ve blocked so far, so it’s difficult.”
It was the mutter of Kevin, who had been rebuked by Grady.
