Chapter Text
Chapter 13
Neil had no idea what the outside world wanted from him.
The stylists stormed into the PR room like a pride of lions, while Neil and Jean were nothing more than two gazelles caught in their path.
Riko had already hinted that Neil was "stealing his show," but Neil still had no idea what that actually meant.He wasn't allowed to watch the news.Or read it, Or listen to it.
The only things he ever learned about himself or Jean came from the Exy commentators, shouting their names over the arena speakers during games.
He had never imagined what it was like to have people from outside Evermore Castle compliment him, praise his performance in Exy without stopping, and treat him as though he were something worth admiring.
That he was alive.
It was a reality he couldn’t connect with the life he knew.
it was scary.
Neil couldn’t keep up with the conversations.
The four women talked over one another as they circled him and Jean, tugging at their hair, adjusting their clothes, and gently but firmly pushing them down into chairs whenever they tried to stand.
Everything happened at once, leaving Neil with no idea who was saying what anymore.
Jean looked just as bewildered.
He kept glancing from one stylist to the next, as though he, too, had completely lost track of what was happening.
“My God, your eyes are heavenly. We have to highlight them. A little kohl here, maybe some - ”
Neil shook his head.
“No.”
The stylist kept talking without taking a breath.
Neil looked completely overwhelmed, his eyes darting between the brushes, powders, and hands reaching toward him.
Jean bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from intervening.
Judging by the expression on Neil’s face, he looked thoroughly traumatized.
By then, one of the stylists had already started applying makeup to Jean.
“We have to bring out those incredible cheekbones.”
Meanwhile, Neil kept instinctively turning his face away whenever a brush came near him.
“Oh, sweetheart, you have to hold still,” another stylist laughed softly. “Don’t worry, I barely need any powder. The fans are already obsessed with your scars, and your skin is naturally flawless. Honestly...”
Neil froze.
He had no idea how to respond to someone praising the very things he had spent years trying to hide.
Jean noticed the panic beginning to creep in.
Without a word, he reached out and offered Neil his hand.
Neil took it immediately, clinging to it like a drowning man reaching for a lifeline.
Only then did the tension in his shoulders ease, if only a little.
“Wow. Just... wow, boys.”
The stylist took a step back, admiring her work with a wide grin.
“With the two of you on the cover, Exy Sports is going to sell out in no time.”
Nothing about this felt real.
The only familiar thing in the room was the black-and-red Ravens suit they wore.
Then they were told to stand together for the photos.
With their Exy sticks.
Something felt wrong.
Cameras.
The Exy stick could have been something else.
A knife.
A weapon.
A club.
A...
His mind stopped before it could finish the thought.
The flashes of the cameras and the sound of the shutters brought memories rushing back.
Images surfaced without warning.
Lola.
Blood.
His father laughing, standing beside him with the axe, showing him how to do it properly.
How to make it hurt.
But never fully through a camera lens.
Never a complete picture.
Only him.
A little boy.
His breathing grew uneven.
Or maybe it had stopped completely.
He couldn’t tell anymore.
“Neil...”
“Neil!”
A reporter clapped her hands sharply.
The sound exploded through the room like a gunshot.
“Alright, boys.”
Neil blinked.
The world around him was nothing but a blur.
Jean took his hand again.
Neil focused on the contact.
On the warmth of Jean’s fingers around his own.
On the simple reminder that he was here.
Neil looked at Jean.
Slowly, the world started to come back into focus.
The women around them were still blurred.
The cameras were still distant shapes.
But Jean...
Jean was clear.
Jean was the one thing he could see.
He pictured himself somewhere else.
Somewhere where it was only him and Jean.
Jean had never made him do anything terrible.
Jean had never hurt him.
He wasn’t in his father’s basement.
He wasn’t a frightened child covered in blood, forced to obey horrific orders.
He was here.
In a room with Jean.
“Neil,” Jean murmured with a faint smile, “try not to look like you're about to die.”
Neil glanced at him.
“Think about yesterday’s joke.”
A small smile finally spread across Neil’s face.
It looked more like a mask than a real smile.
“What was it again?” Jean prompted.
“A Leberkäse sandwich started walking down the stairs,” he said with complete sincerity. “Then it realized it couldn't walk... so it went back up.”
Jean let out a quiet snort.
It was, admittedly, an exceptionally terrible joke.
But it worked.
Neil did what he always did.
He followed instructions.
Look here.
Turn your head.
Move there.
He didn’t question it.
He just obeyed.
After what felt like an eternity, they had apparently “got everything they needed.”
Whatever that was supposed to mean.
Finally, they were allowed to remove the makeup.
Neil insisted on doing it himself.
He couldn’t handle anyone else’s fingers on his face anymore.
Jean looked over the laptop with them.
Neil had shut down again.
He simply stood there and waited.
One of the women glanced at the screen and smiled.
“His PR training still needs some work,” she snickered.
Another looked back at the photos.
“But his looks make up for it.”
****
That evening, Kevin waited for Jean and Neil’s call.
Andrew was there too, though he stood by the window, smoking as if he had far more important things to do.
Neither of them admitted how long they had been waiting.
Kevin pushed his hair back again, only for it to fall into its usual unruly mess.
A habit that always appeared when he was both excited and nervous.
Every time their voices came through the phone, Kevin felt the same quiet relief.
They had made it through another day.
Jean told them about the photoshoot and how they would soon be appearing in all their glory in Exy Sports.
“Wow, Jean... that’s awesome. But... Exy Sports was always Riko’s spotlight,” Kevin hesitated.
“How did that even happen? Was that Tetsuji’s decision? Or... what is Riko going to say about that?”
Jean hummed in agreement.
“Riko has nothing to say about that.”
Kevin went quiet.
That answer caught him off guard.
But he knew better than anyone that Riko was not their biggest problem in the Nest.
Andrew simply held out his hand toward Kevin, expecting him to pass over the phone.
He handed it to him, and Andrew asked in his usual flat tone:
“Did the little birds get let out of their cage?
How traumatized are you after the photoshoot?”
Jean corrected him quietly.
“The photoshoot was here. Well, I survived it. I’m not entirely sure Neil did.”
The fake amusement in his voice faded into a quiet snort.
Kevin asked cautiously:
“Are we on speaker?”
“No,” Jean replied flatly. “Neil is still in the bathroom, washing himself like a maniac. He’s convinced there’s still makeup left somewhere.”
Kevin struggled for a moment, unsure how to phrase it.
“Have you... I mean... what’s going on with Neil?”
Jean sighed softly.
“What isn’t going on with him?”
“Yeah... no. I mean physically. He... sometimes he just seems to switch off during games. I know what he looks like when he’s somewhere else in his head. I’ve seen that before."
His voice lowered.
“But this is different.”
Jean was quiet for a long moment.
“You noticed it too.”
“Yeah... How long has this been happening?”
Jean grew more uneasy with every second.
“I don’t know exactly... Maybe always?”
He paused.
“But it’s never affected his playing before.”
Another silence followed.
“Recently...” Jean lowered his voice. “Sometimes his body does things on its own. His fingers. His arms...”
Suddenly, Kevin heard movement in the background.
Then the quiet sound of a door opening.
And Neil’s voice.
Jean immediately covered the seriousness in his tone.
“Hey, Neil. Kevin’s on the phone.
“Wait, I’ll put him on speaker.”
Neil said into the phone:
“Hey, Kev. Did you kick the Foxes’ asses because of your game against the Trojans tomorrow?”
Kevin snickered.
“Yeah, but most of them will have forgotten again by tomorrow.”
Andrew’s voice drifted in, with mock humor.
“Hmm? What exactly do you mean by that, Kevin?”
Kevin laughed.
"Some of them already forgot.”
Neil didn’t hesitate and turned the question toward Andrew.
“If you play the way you played against me, they won’t have a chance.”
Andrew’s voice remained flat.
““They’re probably not as interesting to play against as you.”
Neil paused, was confused.
“Oh? I’m interesting? How do you mean that?”
“I didn’t say you were interesting. I said your playing was, idiot.”
Neil asked, genuinely curious:
“You mean that?”
Andrew paused.
“Yes.”
Kevin’s voice cut in from the background.
“Listen to that. Andrew is actually talking about Exy.”
“Shut up,” Andrew said, completely unimpressed.
Kevin’s voice carried a hint of pride when he told them:
“I’m going to play striker in the first half tomorrow.”
Jean and Neil exploded with surprise and excitement.
Neil’s voice immediately brightened:“Kevin!! that’s incredible. I’m really happy for you.”
Jean couldn’t keep the smile out of his voice.
“Just protect your left hand, okay? Don’t push yourself too hard. Everyone is already going to be impressed just seeing you back on the court.”
Kevin tried to sound annoyed by their reaction, but he couldn’t hide how much it meant to him.
Neil added immediately:
“Yeah. Don’t get too full of yourself.”
A small laugh escaped him.
“I’m actually looking forward to it. We’re allowed to watch other Exy games now. In the common room. Yours too.”
There was a brief pause.
“That’s really cool.”
Andrew huffed quietly through his nose.
“Junkie,” he muttered.
*******
The Trojans stepped onto the court to the sound of cheers.
They waved to the crowd, smiling as brightly as the fans themselves. They didn’t just play for their supporters - they connected with them.
They were called The Sunshine Court for a reason.
Then it was time for the Foxes’ entrance.
“And now, fans, listen closely... because today we have something truly special. After everything he’s been through, after months away from the court... Kevin Day is back in the lineup!”
The stadium exploded.
The screams and stomping were so loud that, for a moment, it sounded like the entire arena might collapse.
“That’s right! After his accident, Kevin Day returns to the court today. The former striker is making his long-awaited debut!”
Even the Trojans couldn’t help but celebrate with him.
They jumped, throwing their arms into the air, smiling as they shared in the crowd’s excitement.
The Foxes cheered.
Nicky twerked.
Andrew, however, made no attempt to join in.
But Kevin’s smile and the slight shine in his eyes still reached him.
It made Andrew feel something he would never admit out loud.
Pride.
Like a bird watching its chick finally leave the nest.
They all knew what this moment meant.
Kevin Day wasn’t just returning to Exy.
He was taking back something everyone thought he had lost.
******
The game started fast.
The Trojans played confident, coordinated and effortless.
Jeremy was directing plays with the same bright confidence he showed the crowd.
But Kevin was ready.
For the first few minutes, he stayed cautious, testing his hand, testing his limits.
After the first goal from the Trojans, Matt passed the ball to Kevin.
Kevin ran with quick, short steps and then shot.
The Trojans’ goalie couldn’t reach it in time.
Kevin’s right hand was strong, as if it had always been his dominant hand.
The stadium erupted.
Jeremy grinned and joined the cheering.
“Day! Day! Day!”
Kevin laughed.
“Don’t get sentimental.”
Jeremy only laughed harder.
“Can’t help it.”
The next play was faster.
Jeremy pushed forward, expecting Kevin to follow his old patterns.
Kevin didn’t.
He couldn’t deny that Neil had always inspired him.
Kevin tried to let go of some of the strict routine the Ravens had drilled into him.
To play more by instinct.
To take situations as they came and work with them.
He had learned that from two people.
And for the first time in a long time, Kevin wasn’t trying to prove he was still the best.
He was simply playing.
When the first half ended, the score was close.
The Trojans were smiling and clapping hands.
The Foxes were shouting happily, pulling each other into hugs.
Andrew simply sat down on the bench with a bottle of water, his expression making sure nobody was stupid enough to think he wanted to participate.
And Kevin walked off the court knowing one thing:
His hand wasn’t what defined him.
His love for the game, and his skill had always come from his mind.
He was back.
******
The Trojans won.
But the Foxes had put up a good fight.
The atmosphere was too good for anyone to be truly disappointed.
Even Kevin looked quietly pleased.
Standing under the lights again - Hearing the fans.
Feeling the vibrations beneath his feet.
Holding his Exy stick in his hand.
It was incredible.
That was all he had wanted to accomplish today.
*****
The Trojans celebrated with nothing but respect and pride.
So they invited Wymack and the entire Foxes team to celebrate with them.
Jeremy threw an arm around Kevin’s shoulders and led him with the rest of his team toward their large common room.
The atmosphere was so light and joyful that Kevin couldn’t help but think of Jean and Neil.
About his time in the Nest.
About how beautiful the game could actually be when it wasn’t tied to fear.
No tension.
No punishments.
No isolation because two points were missing from a predetermined score.
No fear of saying the wrong thing.
Just laughter, music, and people talking over each other.
Jeremy introduced them around, and soon Foxes and Trojans were mixed together.
“Still can’t believe you’re actually on the court again” one of the Trojans said to Kevin.
Kevin looked down briefly.
“Honestly... at the beginning, I wasn’t sure I would be.”
Then Jeremy grinned from ear to ear.
“Good thing you’re stubborn.”
Kevin raised an eyebrow.
Across the room, Nicky was already talking to several Trojans like they had known each other for years.
“So you’re telling me you all just... like each other?”
A Trojan laughed.
“That’s generally how teams work.”
Nicky looked genuinely impressed.
“Interesting concept. We should try that sometime.”
He glanced toward Seth.
Nearby, Matt and another Trojan compared playing styles.
A few steps away, Andrew sat back and watched everyone with his usual unreadable expression.
A Trojan walked past and smiled at him.
“You having fun?”
Andrew looked at him.
“No.”
The Trojan laughed.
“Thought so.”
Andrew took a sip of his drink.
Kevin watched the room for a moment.
Jeremy noticed his expression.
“You okay? Nothing like the Ravens, right? You like it with the Foxes?”
“Yeah,” Kevin answered quietly.
“Completely different.”
Then he smiled.
“I like this bunch of chaotic people.”
Jeremy grinned mischievously.
“Actually... while we're on the subject of the Ravens.”
Jeremy glanced at Kevin.
“Jean caught my attention during our game against them. We’re going to approach him. We’re looking for a backliner.”
He said it so casually.
Like it was just a normal transfer.
Like they were simply looking for a backliner.
Kevin stared at him.
“Jean?”
Jeremy blinked.
“Yeah. Jean. He’s incredibly precise, and he has an exceptional ability to read his teammates and the court.”
He took another sip of his drink.
Then he added with a wink:
“And he’s very pretty.”
Kevin stayed quiet for a moment.
A strange feeling settled in his chest.
Kevin thought of Neil.
“Don’t you need a striker too? I mean, for next season or—”
Jeremy immediately raised a hand with a laugh.
“Uh, you’re talking about Nathaniel, right?”
He smiled and shook his head.
“That duo at the Ravens... Jean and him are perfectly in sync. They’re almost impossible to beat. Trust me, I’d take Nathaniel too if I could.”
He let out a quiet laugh.
He shook his head, still smiling.
“He’s absolutely insane.He’s the best striker I’ve ever seen.”
Jeremy’s expression turned more thoughtful.
“But he’d be way too expensive for us. Way above our budget for a striker we don’t actually need."
A small hint of disappointment crossed his face.
He smiled apologetically.
“And honestly... Jean deserves to be seen as more than just Nathaniel’s backliner. I’m not even sure we could afford Jean’s transfer fee.”
Kevin hoped this was the way out Jean deserved.
But another part of him selfishly hoped Jean would stay with Neil.
Because Neil needed at least one person who treated him like a human being.
For the rest of the evening, Kevin remained caught between those two thoughts.
Between wanting Jean to be free.
And wanting him to stay.
****
After the celebration, when the noise had finally faded and they were back at the hotel, Kevin was still quiet.
Andrew stood beside him on the balcony, lighting his second cigarette.
He tended to smoke more when he had been drinking.
“What are you thinking about?”
Kevin sighed and looked away.
“The Trojans want Jean.”
Andrew stayed silent for a moment, then hummed.
“He could get out,” Kevin said quietly. “A real team. A life.”
Andrew watched him.
“Would they even let him go?”
Kevin looked down.
“He was sold by his father too... but his father was a businessman. I don’t know what his contract looks like.”
He exhaled deeply.
“Neil was bought with blood money. I know at least that much. Neil will never just walk away from his contract.”
A pause.
“Jean might. If Tetsuji agrees.”
Andrew leaned back against the railing.
“Neil will be alone then.”
Kevin looked at him.
“He’ll force Jean to leave if it ever becomes a possibility.”
Andrew blew smoke into the night sky, watching it dissolve and disappear.
“A martyr.”
Kevin let out a quiet laugh.
“Yeah..”