"... I'm naming you co-captain alongside Takahara."
The words hung in the air like a bomb.
Akira had been planning to decline the team offer. The commitment, the attention, the risk of exposure… all of it seemed like more trouble than it was worth.
But looking at Kenji's expression, seeing the absolute fury building behind those eyes, something shifted in his calculation.
This was an opportunity. A chance to keep teaching Kenji lessons he desperately needed to learn. Plus, the social capital of being co-captain would open doors: more routes, more possibilities, and more ways to build his power base.
"I accept," Akira said. "Thank you, Coach."
Kenji exploded. "Co-captain?! Coach, you can't be serious! I've been on this team for three years! I've earned that position!"
