It was that afternoon. Right after finishing practice focused on physical training for students whose bodies had stiffened during the break, the coach gathered all the students in the club.
“Before we finish today, there are a few things to announce.”
At his words, the sound of swallowing could be heard from various places. Spring semester, when the graduation of the 12th graders was just around the corner.
The kind of story that would come out of the coach’s mouth at this time was obvious. At least one thing was content everyone could anticipate.
“All you 11th graders know, but new students will be coming in next fall semester, right? It’s also the start of the game season.”
The coach continued explaining how important the captain’s position was.
As he said, the fact that new students were joining the club didn’t actually help much with the team’s strength. Not immediately, at least.
They weren’t given even two full months to practice. Starting from the middle of fall semester, official games would be held right away, and they had to compete in them.
“Moreover, the 12th graders who occupied nearly half of the starting lineup will graduate, so those positions will all be vacant. We have to fill them, so it’s a natural result that the existing starting lineup pool will change.”
When trying to maintain the team’s completeness while excluding the 12th graders, the starting members tended to be made up of those who had been together rather than new ones.
For this purpose, Platts operated the club in a way that trained without the 12th graders starting from spring semester.
Of course, there were definitely those who broke through the situation where starting members were half-decided with their own strength and secured a starting position.
Henry Lowell as a freshman had been like that, and Declan Russell right after transferring had been like that.
This was the reason for selecting the captain one semester early.
The captain had to be able to harmonize the existing starting members with the new starting members well and lead them as one team.
Additionally, there was the opinion that if someone was already holding the center as captain when freshmen entered, the atmosphere would be established more easily.
Therefore.
“Within this week, we’re going to select a new captain to fill David’s position.”
For Platts, selecting a new captain along with the retirement of 12th graders was a rite of passage that took place every spring.
Perhaps feeling that their graduation was approaching right before them, the 12th graders all had extremely restless faces.
“Those who want to run for captain can submit an application, and recommendations are also possible. Especially 12th graders. If there’s a good candidate for your juniors, I hope you’ll recommend them.”
Words exactly as expected flowed from the coach’s mouth.
Having finished speaking, he looked at the students. The first to raise his hand was David.
“Yes, David.”
“I’ll recommend Henry Lowell.”
The coach nodded as if it was a name he naturally expected to come up. When Henry looked across at him, he winked at Henry.
Henry, who had been smiling slightly, made eye contact with Declan, who was sitting between David and himself.
As if burned by fire, Henry hastily turned his head and avoided his gaze.
“Any more?”
In fact, the captain of this football club had been half-decided long ago.
Because Henry Lowell was there.
With everyone believing and convinced that Henry would become captain, it wouldn’t be easy to bring up another candidate.
“If there’s no more… Hm?”
A questioning sound burst from the coach’s mouth as he was about to wrap up the situation. Even without checking, you could tell that someone had raised their hand.
Henry, who became curious about who it was, turned his body to find the person who raised their hand, and his mouth gaped open without realizing it.
“…Right. Who are you trying to recommend, Dennis?”
The coach also asked the person who raised their hand with a stiff face. At the face and voice heavily laden with mischief, not only Henry but the atmosphere within the club sank strangely.
“Grady.”
Henry let out a silent sigh.
Grady William. A defender in charge of cornerback, and at the same time, one of Colton’s group.
Now that Colton Columbus couldn’t come to school, he was also the one acting as the head of the group in Colton’s place.
Henry was also half-convinced that Grady was the person who had put Declan in the dunk tank at the Powder Puff eve party.
It was absurd. The moment Dennis raised his hand and said Grady’s name, hadn’t the atmosphere within the club sunk coldly?
There was no way they couldn’t have felt this air changing in an instant. Unless they were idiots.
Even the coach, who couldn’t directly show his desire to oppose, made a face that wanted to ask “Are you serious?” right away.
Grady, whose name was called, had an indifferent face. He didn’t seem to have any intention of declining the recommendation he received or giving up.
Even though it was clear it would be Henry Lowell.
“Ahem, right. Then let’s put Grady on the ballot too. Any more?”
The coach, trying hard to feign composure, said. This time, no one raised their hand.
“Okay, then let’s wrap up this matter… I have just one more announcement. This Friday, there will be a mentoring session for 11th grade athletes.”
Struggling to maintain his face that was trying to harden, Henry tried to focus on the coach’s words.
“Attendance is mandatory for athletes.”
At his words, sighs flowed from various places.
“Ah, is it really mandatory?”
“What if something comes up then?”
It was a protest filled with voices that absolutely hated it. As if he had anticipated even these questions, the coach smiled shallowly.
“I’m announcing it in advance so you won’t say something came up then.”
At his words, the student who had asked the question pouted.
“It’s a mentoring that all the 12th graders have attended. It’s usually conducted a bit later, but this time it’s like that because the graduates coming as our club seniors’ schedules didn’t match.”
“Who’s coming?”
At his question, the coach raised the corners of his mouth in a confident smile.
“A total of two people will come. One of them is a player named Warren Fisher. If you’re interested in going pro, you roughly know him, right?”
As soon as he heard his words, Henry realized why the coach had been so confident. Whether dreaming of going pro or not, anyone who loved football would want to meet him.
While the students murmured among themselves, Henry swallowed to moisten his dry mouth.
Warren Fisher. He was one of the key members who led Platts to the state championship victory when Henry was still in 8th grade in middle school.
Recently, he had completed three years in the NCAA league and immediately debuted in the pro scene through the NFL draft.
He was someone continuing his player career in the form closest to the ideal that the current Henry was thinking of.
Probably every Platts student dreaming of being a football player would know him.
The coach, who observed the students’ reactions, looked extremely proud.
“Warren Fisher was really hard to book. He’s a wide receiver whose value is rising rapidly these days. For my sake, at least, don’t skip it.”
He said while making eye contact with each student who showed signs of becoming a pro player.
“Is only that person coming?”
“No, of course not.”
Someone asked the coach. Shaking his head and denying that question, the coach continued.
“Among your seniors, there’s someone named Tyler Minter who works as an operations manager for a New York team. This guy was also a player, but a few years ago he quit due to injury and became an operations manager. He’ll be helpful for people interested in administrative positions within organizations rather than being players.”
At his explanation, several students could be felt taking interest. The initial atmosphere of ‘why would we do such a thing’ had long since completely disappeared.
“Even students who aren’t athletes can participate, so if you have friends around you hoping for this career path, feel free to spread the word.”
“Yes!”
At his explanation, the excited 11th grade boys answered energetically as one.
“Right. That’s all for announcements. Everyone can go rest. Eat a delicious dinner, and see you tomorrow.”
He, who looked at the students still feeling young freshness with satisfaction, announced the end of today’s activities. Everyone got up from their seats, clutching their hungry stomachs from the intense exercise.
As expected, David approached Henry’s side as he got up and walked slowly.
“Henry!”
“Ah, David.”
While answering his voice, Henry’s eyes busily searched for Declan.
Henry was terribly conscious of Declan whenever he happened to have a conversation with David. If before he was conscious that he might be cursing him, now it was a bit different.
He had come to worry that he might still think Henry liked David.
“Who are you looking for so busily? Joseph?”
David, who saw Henry’s eyes moving busily, asked.
“No… It’s nothing.”
While lying, Henry’s eyes, which had been moving here and there, successfully found Declan.
He was heading toward the locker room.
Only after Declan Russell disappeared from view could Henry face David.
“Um… Really?”
David asked back nonchalantly, but his face seemed to be gauging something. Knowing that he was regarding him suspiciously, Henry hastily changed the subject.
“It really was nothing. Anyway, why did you call me?”
“It’s nothing much. Just. Actually, if you and Declan didn’t improve your relationship by this semester, I was thinking of recommending someone else for the captain position.”
“…What?”
Only then did Henry look back at David with a face that had snapped to attention.
“You might think it’s cold, but I wondered if it was right to put you, who couldn’t handle your relationship with just one classmate, in the captain’s seat.”
David’s face as he explained was so serious that Henry had no choice but to listen to David’s words. Though he was hurt given the years spent with him, he knew David’s words weren’t wrong.
Because even if he had been David, he wouldn’t have wanted to push someone like his past self as captain.
“So it was fortunate. Since you unusually didn’t come to church on Christmas, I asked Iris, and she said you were being nursed by Declan with a flu?”
“Ah. Yes, well…”
“And you spent time together without fighting.”
“Yes… We did…”
Though it was the truth, it was quite strange that through this, David had decided to recommend him for the captain position as planned.
“I called you to say you thought well. Do well. Okay? I’ll look forward to good news.”
“Yes…”
Henry answered David with an awkward smile. Between the two who were about to wrap up the conversation, an unfamiliar voice interjected.
“You’re talking as if you’ve already seen the voting results, David?”
