Ren expected Daigo's gruff shadow waiting by the tunnel. Instead, two league officials in black suits blocked his path.
"Ren Tachibana. Please remain here."
Their tone was sterile, cold. Behind them, a third official handed Daigo a sealed envelope. The coach ripped it open, cigarette trembling between his fingers. His face darkened.
"Suspended?!" His growl shook the hall. "For what?"
The official's voice didn't waver. "Allegations of interference and unsanctioned training practices. Effective immediately, Coach Daigo Kenzaburo is barred from the National League grounds pending review."
Gasps echoed. Reporters nearby scrambled, holo-cams flickering alive.
"Coach Daigo—legendary ex-champion—suspended?"
"Is Messiah #99 being abandoned again?"
Ren's chest tightened. He reached forward, but Daigo slapped his hand away.
"Brat. Don't show weakness now. This is politics, not sport." He crushed the letter in his fist. His scarred eyes locked onto Ren's. "You stand without me. Prove you can."
Then security escorted him away. The sight of Daigo—shoulders broad, but shackled by bureaucracy—stabbed deeper than any loss.
Media Frenzy
The news broke instantly. Screens around Aurelia Prime screamed headlines:
"COACHLESS MESSIAH?"
"LEGEND SUSPENDED FOR 'ILLEGAL METHODS.'"
"TOP 99 CRACKS UNDER PRESSURE?"
Ren stumbled into the locker room, numb. Shizuka leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "This is their move. They're testing if you crumble without him."
Maria twirled her ponytail, smiling too casually. "Or if you'll rely on... other partners." Her eyes glimmered. "Like me."
Mio clutched Ren's wrist, soft but firm. "Ren... don't let them decide your story."
The three of them together—icy, fiery, gentle—felt less like support, more like a storm. Ren exhaled hard. This is harem pressure in 4D.
His HUD blinked, glitchy letters crawling across the screen:
[Warning: External Interference Detected]
[Coach Channel: Locked]
Alone in the Dark
That night, Ren sat on the court under dim training lights. No coach. No drills barked at him. Just silence.
He served. Missed. Served again. Net.
He clenched 「Fallen Star」 so hard his knuckles whitened. What am I without Daigo?
The HUD pulsed faint:
[Autonomous Trial Extended → 30 Days]
[Clear Condition: Remain in Top 100 without Coach Support]
Ren collapsed onto the glass floor, sweat pooling beneath him. He stared at the rafters, hearing Daigo's voice only in memory.
"Brat. The world's rotten. But the court is pure. Prove it with your racket."
Ren sat up slowly. His breath steadied. His eyes narrowed.
"...Fine. If they want me coachless, I'll fight coachless."
The court lights hummed, almost like applause.